Article 19

In His kingly office Christ, risen and ascended, possesses all authority in heaven and earth. He spiritually governs His church and exercises power over angels and people, good and evil, to preserve and save His elect and restrain and destroy His enemies. By this power He applies to His elect the benefits of His prophetic and priestly offices, subdues their sins, preserves and strengthens them against Satan, the world, and the flesh, and keeps them in faith and childlike fear by His Spirit. He also governs those under judgment, directing, limiting, and restraining them according to His infinite wisdom.¹