2. We confess in the Second Article: _"He,"_ our Lord Jesus Christ, _"descended into hell."_ When our Lord descended into hell, He was no longer dead. It is true, when they took Him from the cross and buried Him, He was really dead. Nobody, indeed, had taken His life from Him, He had laid it down of Himself, of His own free will, laid it down for us that we might not suffer eternal death; _but in His grave Christ, the Son of God, took His life back again. "Christ was put to death in the flesh, but quickened_ [came to life again] _by the Spirit."_ 1 Pet. 3,18. As our living Lord He went down into hell, into the place whither the evil spirits, the devils and condemned men, have been banished. Christ did not enter the gates of hell _in order to be punished there for His sins;_ for our Savior was without sin and blemish. He did not descend into hell _to suffer the penalty for our sins;_ this He had already done on the cross. He descended into hell _to show that He had won the victory over the devil and all his hosts._ "He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them." Col. 2,15. As the triumphant Victor over all His enemies Christ entered hell, the abode of Satan. Now we are certain that the old Evil Foe cannot keep us in his power, that _we are free from hell and damnation._ 3. _On the third day our Lord rose again from the dead._ You have often heard the Easter-Gospel, the joyful tidings of Christ's glorious resurrection: Our Lord is not dead, but He lives. When, very early in the morning, the women came to the grave to anoint the body of their Master, they did not find Him, the grave was empty, and an angel of God brought them the message: _"Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen."_ Luke 24,5.6. After His resurrection our Lord showed Himself to His disciples as their living Savior. They saw Him, they spoke to Him, and ate with Him. _The Lord convinced them that He was risen._ They are the witnesses of His resurrection. Even the _soldiers_ whom the enemies had placed around the grave as a watch, lest His disciples might come by night and steal the body, could not deny that the grave was empty, that the Lord had risen. Matt. 28,4.11-15. _We are sure that Christ, our Lord, is not dead, but lives; for God Himself tells us in His Word that Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father._ Rom. 6,4. Joyously we confess: _"I know that my Redeemer liveth."_ Job 19,25. 4. Christ is risen. He came forth from His sepulcher with _the same body_ that was laid in the grave. _The tomb was empty._ The disciples knew Him when He showed Himself. They saw the print of the nails in His hands and His feet and the wound in His side. He let them touch His body in order to convince them that He was not a spirit. Luke 24,39.40. But after His resurrection His body was _glorified;_ it was free from all human weakness and sufferings, free from death.