Article 18. Of the incarnation of Jesus Christ

Article 18. Of the incarnation of Jesus Christ

We confess therefore that God did fulfil the promise, which he made to the fathers by the mouth of his holy prophets when he sent into the world, at the time appointed by him, his own, only begotten and eternal Son, “who took upon him the form of a servant, and became like unto man,” really assuming the true human nature, with all its infirmities, sin excepted, being conceived in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary, by the power of the Holy Ghost, without the means of man. And did not only assume human nature as to the body, but also a true human soul, that he might be a real man. For since the soul was lost as well as the body, it was necessary that he should take both upon him, to save both. Therefore we confess (in opposition to the heresy of the Anabaptists, who deny that Christ assumed human flesh of His mother) that Christ is become a partaker of the flesh and blood of the children; that he is a fruit of the loins of David after the flesh; made of the seed of David according to the flesh; a fruit of the womb of the Virgin Mary; made of a woman; a branch of David; a shoot of the root of Jesse; sprung from the tribe of Judah; descended from the Jews according to the flesh: of the seed of Abraham, since he took on him the seed of Abraham; “and became like unto his brethren in all things sin excepted:” so that in truth he is our Immanuel , that is to say, God with us.