Chapter II
CHAPTER II: WHICH TELLS WHAT THE PROPER DOCTRINE OF THE GOSPEL IS
§ 13. From these descriptions of the Gospel given either immediately by God Himself or through the prophets and apostles, it is easy to conclude what the genuine and proper doctrine of the Gospel is, namely, the free promise of the forgiveness of sins, of righteousness, and of eternal life for the sake of Christ, who was promised in the Old Testament and revealed in the New, who made satisfaction for our sins on the altar of the cross and earned perfect righteousness for us, which He gives and applies to us through faith. Therefore all the declarations of the Holy Spirit, whether they occur in the Old or New Testament, pertain to the doctrine of the Gospel which: (1) Speak about God’s grace and mercy. This is because, since the fall, there is no hope for God’s grace for anyone on the basis of the Law or works but in Christ alone, “from whose fullness we receive grace for grace” (John 1:16). “This is the beloved Son of God in whom also we are made precious to God” (Eph. 1:6).
(2) Those which speak about the person and the salutary office and benefits of Christ, the Redeemer and Mediator. This is because the Law demands our payment and obedience to it, but it ignores Christ and His benefits. Anselm [of Laon] (preface to Matthew): “The material1 of the Gospel consists of seven benefits. The first benefit is that Christ became man; the second, His Baptism; the third, His suffering; the fourth, that He plundered hell; the fifth, that He rose again; the sixth, that He ascended into heaven; and the seventh, His second coming in which He will repay His own people.”
(3) Those which speak about faith, through which we are made sharers of Christ’s benefits. This is because “the Law is not of faith, but the man who does them shall live in them” (Gal. 3:11–12).
(4) Those which speak about the Sacraments and about their end2 and use. This is because the Sacraments are the seals and promises of the Gospel, the divinely established means to stir up, increase, and strengthen faith. Circumcision is called “the seal of the righteousness of faith” (Rom. 4:11).