OSHI Confirmation I believe! Reformation and the Creed

Big Idea

To “REFORM” something means to put it back the way it was meant to be. A “Reformation” is a movement to re-form something, because it has lost its shape. Because of Jesus' reformation of our lives on the cross, we can say, "I believe!"

Opening Prayer

Dear Jesus, In You, what's wrong is made right. You reform our hearts and the world. Help us to boldly declare our faith in you. Amen.

Key Bible Passages

Find and highlight these verses in your Bible. Pick one to memorize.

• Psalm 51
• John 3:16-17 For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
• John 20:31 These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
• Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
• 1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
• Ephesians 2:8-9 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.

Terms to Know

• Article: a part of a creed
• Believe: to know and trust in something or someone
• Creed: a statement of belief
• Faith: A God-given ability to trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life.
• Grace: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. An undeserved gift.
• Indulgence: A guarantee of forgiveness (even if you weren’t sorry) in exchange for money.
• Monk: a person who dedicates themselves to living for God all the time. They live in a monastery and spend hours every day in worship and the rest of the day either learning or serving.
• Protestant: Originally a negative term for people protesting against abuses in the Church. The term now refers to just about any church that isn’t Catholic. However, Lutherans are not Protestants. A Protestant is one who is still “protesting” (and therefore still considers themselves part of the Roman Catholic Church and is waiting for the Roman Catholic church to admit they are wrong.) The Lutheran Church isn’t protesting anymore, we have become “our own” church, believing that what matters is the Bible and God’s promise of eternal life in Jesus. While we desire to be “one” church, we cannot follow those we don’t agree with.
• Reformation: The movement began by Martin Luther in 1517 in Germany to return the church to the Bible as the primary authority over faith and life. It later spread all over the world.
• Trinity: God as three in one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

From the Catechism

What is the catechism? a small book that summarizes what the Bible says and what we believe as Christians

A creed is a statement of belief.

Creeds are written to summarize the teachings of the Bible. In the Catechism, Martin Luther explains the Apostles' Creed, one of the oldest creeds. Martin Luther helped to reform the church and remind everyone what the Bible says we believe.

The creed has three parts or articles, one for each person of the Trinity.

• The first article teaches what we believe about God the Father, our creator.
• The second article teaches about we believe about God the Son, Jesus, our savior.
• The third article teaches about what we believe about God the Holy Spirit, our helper.

You can read about each article in depth in your Catechism.

Our God is 3 in 1. One God in three persons...it's a mystery that we believe.

From Pastor Mitch

During Martin Luther's (he was born in 1483) time, the church taught that you got to heaven by doing “works" or good things or paying money to the church (indulgences). They spent a lot of time makine people afraid of God. They'd forgotten the teachings of the Bible and the creed.

After studying, struggling, and reading the Bible, Martin Luther nailed 95 Theses on the Castle Church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. The door was like a big bulletin board where people posted announcements. Luther’s posting of the theses (statements) was a challenge to the church to open the Bible and remember what the Bible and creed teach about God.

• Who is the head of the church? Jesus!
• Who has the right to forgive sins? Jesus!
• Do you get into heaven by your works or by God’ grace? God's grace!
• Why do the Bible and worship have to be in Latin? They don't!
• Can you really buy forgiveness? No!

And the church was never the same again.

The teachings of Martin Luther and the reformers are summarized in the Book of Concord, published in 1580. It includes many writings that explain what the Bible teaches and what we believe.

Homework

Click on the button to complete your homework.

Closing Prayer

Our God, three in one, Thank you for all those who boldly say, "I believe." Help us to be reformed each day and stand up for who you are. Amen.