The Smalcald Articles: Luther's confession of faith

The Smalcald Articles are a confession of the Christian faith, written by Martin Luther in 1537.  Last month, our adult class began an eight-week study of the Smalcald Articles.

One remarkable thing about Luther’s confession is its structure. The Articles begin with God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, through whom all things were created. They confess Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is both true God and true man.

But Luther does not leave the confession of Christ at who He is. Who Jesus is cannot be separated from what He has done for sinners. So very quickly, Luther moves to what he calls the “first and chief article”:

“That Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, ‘was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification’ (Rom. 4:25); and He alone is ‘the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’ (John 1:29); and ‘the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all’ (Isa. 53:6); furthermore, ‘All have sinned,’ and ‘they are now justified without merit by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus … by His blood’ (Rom. 3:23–25).”

This is the heart of the Christian faith: God justifies sinners by faith alone, for Christ’s sake, apart from the works of the law. Jesus Christ has done what you cannot do. He has borne your sin. He has died for you. He was raised for your justification.

Everything that follows in the Smalcald Articles stands upon this confession. Nothing can be allowed to compromise it.

Throughout October, our adult class will continue to follow Luther as he examines what happens when Christ’s free gift is replaced with man’s work. Scripture reveals our need for Christ and shows us how God Himself provides what we need—not by calling us to accomplish our salvation, but by giving Christ and His saving gifts to sinners such as us through the means He has appointed.

That’s why this confession still matters. We need the same Christ that Luther confessed. We need the same Gospel: that Jesus Christ was crucified and raised for us, to give His forgiveness, life, and salvation to sinners through His Word and Sacraments.

Join us on Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m. as we continue our study of Luther’s own confession of the Christian faith. 

Grace and peace,

Pastor Raleigh