Lutheran Mission in Ireland Middle Parish, Cork City · Grace alone, Faith alone, Christ alone

The First Petition — Hallowed be Thy name.

God's name is indeed holy in itself; but we pray in this petition that it may be holy among us also. This is done when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. This grant us, dear Father in heaven. But he who teaches and lives otherwise than God's Word teaches profanes the name of God among us. From this preserve us, heavenly Father.

The Second Petition — Thy kingdom come.

The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also. This is done when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life, here in time and there in eternity.

The Third Petition — Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also. This is done when God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow God's name nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.

The Fourth Petition — Give us this day our daily bread.

God gives daily bread, even without our prayer, to all wicked people also; but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to know it, and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving. Daily bread includes everything that belongs to the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, cattle, money, goods, a devout spouse, devout children, devout servants, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, discipline, honour, good friends, faithful neighbours, and the like.

The Fifth Petition — And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor deny our prayer on account of them; for we are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them; but that He would grant them all to us by grace; for we daily sin much and deserve nothing but punishment. So will we also heartily forgive, and readily do good to, those who sin against us.

The Sixth Petition — And lead us not into temptation.

God indeed tempts no one; but we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us, nor seduce us into misbelief, despair, and other great shame and vice; and though we be assailed by them, that we may still in the end overcome and retain the victory.

The Seventh Petition — But deliver us from evil.

We pray in this petition, as the sum of all, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from every evil of body and soul, property and honour, and at last, when our final hour has come, grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this vale of tears to Himself in heaven.

The Conclusion — For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

That I should be certain that these petitions are acceptable to our Father in heaven and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us so to pray, and has promised to hear us. Amen, Amen — that is, Yea, yea, it shall be so.

First — What is Baptism?

Baptism is not simple water only, but it is the water comprehended in God's command and connected with God's Word. Which is that word of God? Christ, our Lord, says in the last chapter of Matthew: “Go ye and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Second — What does Baptism give or profit?

It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare. Which are such words and promises of God? Christ, our Lord, says in the last chapter of Mark: “He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

Third — How can water do such great things?

It is not the water indeed that does them, but the Word of God which is in and with the water, and faith, which trusts such Word of God in the water. For without the Word of God the water is simple water and no Baptism. But with the Word of God it is a Baptism — that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three: “By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Saviour, that, being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying.”

Fourth — What does such baptising with water signify?

It signifies that the old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts, and that a new man should daily come forth and arise, who shall live before God in righteousness and purity for ever. Where is this written? St. Paul says in Romans, chapter six: “We are buried with Christ by Baptism into death, that, like as He was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

What is Confession?

Confession embraces two parts. One is that we confess our sins; the other, that we receive absolution, or forgiveness, from the pastor as from God Himself, and in no wise doubt, but firmly believe, that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven.

What sins should we confess?

Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even of those which we do not know, as we do in the Lord's Prayer; but before the pastor we should confess those sins only which we know and feel in our hearts.

What is the Office of the Keys?

It is the peculiar church power which Christ has given to His Church on earth: to forgive the sins of penitent sinners, but to retain the sins of the impenitent as long as they do not repent. Where is this written? Thus writes the holy Evangelist John, chapter twenty: “The Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit. Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.”

What do you believe according to these words?

I believe that, when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command — in particular when they exclude manifest and impenitent sinners from the Christian congregation, and, again, when they absolve those who repent of their sins and are willing to amend — this is as valid and certain, in heaven also, as if Christ, our dear Lord, dealt with us Himself.

What is the Sacrament of the Altar?

It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, for us Christians to eat and to drink, instituted by Christ Himself.

Where is this written?

The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke, together with St. Paul, write thus: “Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread; and when He had given thanks, He brake it and gave it to His disciples, saying, Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the remission of sins. This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

What is the benefit of such eating and drinking?

It is shown us by these words: “Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins” — namely, that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?

It is not the eating and drinking indeed that does them, but the words here written: “Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins”; which words, besides the bodily eating and drinking, are the chief thing in the Sacrament; and he that believes these words has what they say and express, namely, the forgiveness of sins.

Who, then, receives such Sacrament worthily?

Fasting and bodily preparation are indeed a fine outward training; but he is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins.” But he that does not believe these words, or doubts, is unworthy and unfit; for the words “for you” require truly believing hearts.