The Augsburg Confession: The confession of faith, which was submitted to His Imperial Majesty Charles V at the diet of Augsburg in the year 1530Melanchthon, Philipp
Religion
The Augsburg Confession: The confession of faith, which was submitted to His Imperial Majesty Charles V at the diet of Augsburg in the year 1530
Melanchthon, Philipp
Lutheran Church -- Doctrines; Theology, Doctrinal
The Novatians also are condemned, who would not absolve such as had
fallen after Baptism, though they returned to repentance.
They also are rejected who do not teach that remission of sins comes
through faith but command us to merit grace through satisfactions of our
own.
Article XIII: Of the Use of the Sacraments.
Of the Use of the Sacraments they teach that the Sacraments were
ordained, not only to be marks of profession among men, but rather to be
signs and testimonies of the will of God toward us, instituted to awaken
and confirm faith in those who use them. Wherefore we must so use the
Sacraments that faith be added to believe the promises which are offered
and set forth through the Sacraments.
They therefore condemn those who teach that the Sacraments justify
by the outward act, and who do not teach that, in the use of the
Sacraments, faith which believes that sins are forgiven, is required.
Article XIV: Of Ecclesiastical Order.
Of Ecclesiastical Order they teach that no one should publicly teach in
the Church or administer the Sacraments unless he be regularly called.
Article XV: Of Ecclesiastical Usages.
Of Usages in the Church they teach that those ought to be observed which
may be observed without sin, and which are profitable unto tranquillity
and good order in the Church, as particular holy-days, festivals, and
the like.
Nevertheless, concerning such things men are admonished that consciences
are not to be burdened, as though such observance was necessary to
salvation.
They are admonished also that human traditions instituted to propitiate
God, to merit grace, and to make satisfaction for sins, are opposed
to the Gospel and the doctrine of faith. Wherefore vows and traditions
concerning meats and days, etc., instituted to merit grace and to make
satisfaction for sins, are useless and contrary to the Gospel.
Article XVI: Of Civil Affairs.
Of Civil Affairs they teach that lawful civil ordinances are good works
of God, and that it is right for Christians to bear civil office, to sit
as judges, to judge matters by the Imperial and other existing laws, to
award just punishments, to engage in just wars, to serve as soldiers,
to make legal contracts, to hold property, to make oath when required by
the magistrates, to marry a wife, to be given in marriage.
They condemn the Anabaptists who forbid these civil offices to
Christians.
They condemn also those who do not place evangelical perfection in the
fear of God and in faith, but in forsaking civil offices, for the Gospel
teaches an eternal righteousness of the heart. Meanwhile, it does not
destroy the State or the family, but very much requires that they be
preserved as ordinances of God, and that charity be practiced in such
ordinances. Therefore, Christians are necessarily bound to obey their
own magistrates and laws save only when commanded to sin; for then they
ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5, 29.
Article XVII: Of Christ's Return to Judgment.
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