# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S1133
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

568 INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS

tous as the Righteous and
alvation from sin and i

; nee ror Fathon 1 geath, He has designated and manif,
redemption, and sanctification. We theref,

this Hine God, three distinct Persons in ‘the ome Godhead

such tL en gan know of the existence and activity of God. "ac ivi
such k owle Hse the creation of the world, their own
man, and what He has done for oe how He is om aed tow,

known only from God’s revelation of Himself - "Teens Ch be

full of grace and truth,” J

" ohn 1:

: Cf. Acts 14:15-17; 17: 24-31; Romans 1:19
Eph. 2; Col. 1; I Tim. 3:14-17; Heb. 1-3

We believe and teach: 1. Man

God in the beginning created i
accor Siang co His a which God jhad written into ‘man’s bea? ie
man dis ere j F P ’
from God, and bringing sin and death “upon fi ae himself

~20; 2:14-15; I Cor. 2:10.14.

Rom. 5:12, Therefore all men ar i ginal
tor I e b : : oo.
sin; and being unable to observe God's diame ra with oni
willfy vi S continue to transgress God’s holy law i oughta they
eeds. Man as sinner has delivered himself into th

of sin and of the devil i
own powers, Fro on this which man cannot free himself by his

can sot fron desperate condition and tyranny only God

- Cf. Genesis 1-3; Psalm 51 & 130; Romans 1-7; Eph. 4:24: Heb 2:14-18
HI. Redempti .
We believe and teach: wen
God from eterni i
did 04 92 siemnity decreed to send, and in the fullness of time

: fallen man i
sinner’s stead and to sufler Sinnayioh to fulfill the Jaw in the

er’s 2 the sinner’. i in hi
Christ “was delivered for our offe: and wae nent in his read.
Chri vas C neces, and w: i i
ie 53 ne ” Rom. 4: 25. God “laid on Hi the inguin ior 1”
ae ¢ ‘death entered into death in order to bring man held i vy
Erp of a unto life with Himself, In His victory over death He
prings to man a e of freedom from death. God by raisin Christ
somnthe | ea proclaimed to the world that He has acc nted the
nt for man’s sin as completed, and that Christ, ‘the isen
and © ae , Shall reign as Lord forever. men
Con ts: pela 5 att. 20: 28; Luke 24; John ll & 14; A 4 ;

} Mt Cor, 5:14-21; I Tim. 2:4-6; I Peter 1:18-95° 24 Acts 2:22-36;

IV. Electi
We believe and teach: “n

; “ God from eternity, solely be i
without any cause whatever in man. elect
whom He makes and keeps members of His

8race in Christ and
as His own all those
kingdom and heirs of

Holy One, and also as the God of our |

d Holy Spirit in the work of creat
ess our faith if

eR peep

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 569

life. The Holy Spirit by the Gospel has called us and
us of our status before God, testifying to us that He has

eat us for Himself in Christ from the foundation of the world,

rd by the imputation of Christ’s righteousness has given us the

‘and ce that He will present us faultless before the throne of

- glory.
~ C£ Acts 13:48; Romans 8; Eph. 1; I Peter 1:1-9.
an V. Means of Grace
We believe and teach:

God has willed that the knowledge and benefit of Christ’s
yedemption from sin be brought to man through His means of
grace, namely through the Gospel in the Word and in the Sacra-

ments. Through these means He not only offers but actually
* bestows His grace in Christ unto forgiveness of sins and a life of

fellowship with Him.

The Word. Through the Holy Scriptures, which God caused
to be written by men chosen and inspired by Him, God instructs
and assures us regarding His will for us. The Holy Scriptures
constitute His Word to men, centering in the revelation of Himself
in the person and work of Jesus Christ for our salvation. Through

= the Holy Scriptures God continues to speak to men in all ages until

the end of time. He speaks as the infallible and unchanging God,
Whose message to mankind never changes. Since the Holy Spirit
by divine inspiration supplied to the holy writers content and
fitting word, therefore we acknowledge the Holy Scriptures in their
entirety as the inspired Word of God. His Holy Spirit testifies
in our hearts that His Word is true, that He will keep all His
promises to us, and that our faith in Him is not in vain.

We therefore recognize the Holy Scriptures as God’s inerrant
Word, and this Word of God alone shall establish articles of faith
(cf. Smalcald Articles, Part II, Art.II). We pledge ourselves to
teach all things taught in the Holy Scriptures, and nothing but that
which is taught us by God in the Holy Scriptures.

The Holy Scriptures teach both Law and Gospel, but the chief
content of the Holy Scriptures is the Gospel. The Law enters into
the service of the Gospel by bringing man to a knowledge of his
sins and by convincing him that he is under God’s judgment because
of his sins, and by telling the believer what fruits of faith he should
produce.

Baptism. In the Sacrament of Baptism God adopts men as His
children. In Baptism God confers the benefits of Christ’s redemp-
tion and. graciously bestows the washing of regeneration and new-
ness of life. We recognize it as the Lord’s will that men should
be baptized even in their infancy, knowing that the promise of God
also applies to little children.

The Lord’s Supper. In the Sacrament of the Altar Christ gives
us His body offered up for us, and His blood shed for us, to eat and
to drink for the forgiveness of sins, the strengthening of our faith,
and the increase in holiness of life. In this Sacrament we receive
Christ’s body and blood orally as well as spiritually. All communi-
-cants receive Christ’s precious body and blood together with the
bread and wine. but only the believers obtain the blessings of the