The Second Part is about the articles that pertain to the office and work of Jesus Christ, or to our redemption.
Here is the first and chief article
[1] That Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, “was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification” (Rom. 4:25); [2] and he alone is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29); and “the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa 53:6); [3] furthermore, “All have sinned,” and “they are now justified without merit by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus … by his blood” (Rom. 3:23–25).
[4] Now because this must be believed and may not be obtained or grasped otherwise with any work, law, or merit, it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us, as St. Paul says in Romans 3:28, 26: “For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law”; and also, “that God alone is righteous and justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.”
[5] Nothing in this article can be conceded or given up, even if heaven and earth or whatever is transitory passed away. As St. Peter says in Acts 4:12: “There is no other name … given among mortals by which we must be saved.” “And by his bruises we are healed” (Isa. 53:5).
On this article stands all that we teach and practice against the pope, the devil, and the world. Therefore we must be quite certain and have no doubt about it. Otherwise everything is lost, and the pope and the devil and whatever opposes us will gain victory and be proved right.
