The middle of the catechism teaches us to say the gospel without shrinking it.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son made flesh, Israel's Messiah, crucified Savior, risen Lord, and center of all things. He died for our sins and rose bodily from the dead. The Father saves by grace, joining us to Christ through the Spirit; good works are the fruit of received life, not a parallel road to God. The Holy Spirit gives that life and forms holiness in us. Scripture is God's written Word fulfilled in Christ. The Church is Christ's body. Through baptism and the Lord's Supper, Christ gives and nourishes his promised life among people with bodies in his Church.
Several truths belong together.
Christ is not detached from Israel. The cross is not detached from resurrection. The Spirit is not detached from Christ. Scripture is not detached from the Church's worship and obedience. The Church is not detached from Christ's headship. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are not detached from bodily life.
When these truths are separated, distortions appear quickly. Christ becomes a private inspiration. The cross becomes only a symbol. Resurrection becomes only optimism. The Spirit becomes intensity. Scripture becomes a weapon or a self-help source. The Church becomes optional or ultimate. Baptism and the Lord's Supper become magic or bare memory.
Review Practice
Complete these sentences:
- Jesus is not only ___; he is ___.
- The cross means ___.
- Resurrection means ___.
- The Spirit forms ___.
- Scripture gives ___.
- The Church is necessary because ___.
- Baptism and the Lord's Supper show ___.
If the answers become vague, return to the short answers. The catechism works only if the faith can be carried in words people understand.
Related research
Compare this chapter with source documents or study its biblical references.
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