# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Mai 1860_S139
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

How the Simple, and Especially the Sick, Are to Be Instructed in Christianity, etc. 139

...and make satisfaction, and yet could never pay it off. But so that you might also be taken out from under this strict and severe judgment of God and this payment, Christ for this very reason became man, that he might bear, pay, and satisfy such guilt and punishment for you, as John the Baptist says, John 1: Behold, this is the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world. And John the Evangelist, 1 John 1: The blood of JEsus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin. As the sayings quoted above further clearly and plainly declare, he died, was buried, descended into hell, and rose again, not for himself, nor for pastime's sake, but for the sake of our sin and what we were eternally bound to pay on account of it, etc. Do you now confess that Jesus Christ, God's Son, died under Pontius Pilate, was buried, descended into hell, and rose again? — There let him say: Yes. — Do you also confess that he died for you? — There let him say: Yes.

13. Well then, since you believe this, you believe in the Holy Spirit, who thus testifies to you of Christ, enlightens and sanctifies you, and you are now freed and released from the payment for sin, that is, from death, hell, and damnation. There Jesus Christ your Lord wishes to stand good for it, and has thus made with you this ineffable, incomprehensible, gracious division — namely, that you should hold to your part, that is, the forgiveness of sins, life, blessedness, and the kingdom of heaven; and that he in turn will hold to his part, namely, your sin, your death, your hell, and damnation. This shall remain settled, which otherwise would forever and eternally have had to remain yours, and his body and life, soul and blood, and all that he is, shall stand surety for it. Will you now do God this honor, which the Virgin Mary also did him, when she said: Be it unto me according to thy word; that you too say from your heart: Be it unto me according to these gracious words of the dear, comforting Gospel? — There let him say: God is gracious and true, and let his word be done.

14. So that you may now be fully satisfied and made sufficiently certain that your sin is forgiven you, and that you are indeed one of the Many for whom Christ, as he says, gave his body and shed his blood, he has now held a Supper, and there, before his death, made his testament, and gave and commanded this to his disciples, that it should be kept and done with you also, and that what he gave to them should also be extended and delivered to you: namely, that the forgiveness of sins and his death should be proclaimed to you; and that his body, which is given for you, and his blood, which is shed for you and for many, should be handed over, extended, given to you to eat and to drink — so that your whole person, that is, your body and your soul, may become partaker of this payment, and you may say that this death and shedding of blood of Christ has truly happened for your good and is surely yours. And when sin, death, hell, God's wrath, and the devil assail your conscience and soul, you could truly answer: