# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S702
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

4 _' PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

we have. Remember, it is the Christ whose resurrection estab
all truth who said: “teaching them to observe all things w! a
ever I have commanded you” and also: “If ye continue: in se
Word, then are ye My disciples indeed, and ye-shall know:
truth, and the truth shall make you free.” — God grant grace’
also this convention may be steadfast, unmovable in its loya
to God’s Word. May God continue to bless our Church with.
wavering orthodoxy! . ue
A second lesson for our convention the Apostle states ‘in: thé!
words: “always abounding in the work of the Lord.”
Note well that St.Paul speaks of the work of the Lord.!“Wi
must not lose sight of the fact that the work of the Church is’iid
her own work nor of her own choosing, but strictly the Lord's
work. The counsel of the Triune Godhead planned it in eternity;
The. salvation of the sinner, which was the purpose and object
of God’s plan, demanded a staggering sacrifice. The Father
to sacrifice His only-begotten Son, lay on Him the iniquity: of -
mankind, demand of Him atonement for every sin:of all men:
exact of Him payment of the utmost farthing of mankind’s exor#
mous. debt. In the fullness of the time Christ came and catried
out every detail of God’s plan. As our Substitute He fulfilled eve
demand of God’s holy Law, suffered every punishment which th
inexorable justice of God demanded, and sacrificed Himself on th
accursed tree on Calvary’s crest, and then furnished incontrovertibl
proof of the completion of His monumental task by His glorious
resurrection from the dead. On the day of Pentecost the Holy
Spirit solemnly and miraculously inaugurated the Christian Chureh
by turning craven cowards into courageous confessors and “by
adding three thousand to the Church. 7
There can be'no doubt that the planning and execution of ‘oiit
salvation as well as the establishment of the Church was ‘God’
work. You will note, however, that in the latter He employed
His disciples. God, who could have done all of it personally’ of
could have delegated it to His more than twelve legions of angé
chose to carry out His work through us. We Christians are. calied
to work. We must have something to do. Faith must always’
active. It cannot remain without works; otherwise it is d
Hence God graciously grants us the privilege — and an undeser:
privilege it is—to work in His kingdom. cela
However, though we. work, it is the work of the ‘Lord: ’
endows us with the proper gifts and talents, He makes new: creat
tures of us and renders us.willing to place these gifts and talents
into His service. He provides the opportunities and the propér 4