# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1986_S83
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

82 CONVENTION SERMON

focus on rules and procedures and being right and trying
to justify our behavior and our actions to one another. To
us, too, comes that reminder that being alive in Christ
means to guard ourselves with the power of the Holy Spirit
in Word and Sacraments against turning the life in Christ
into a life of Law.

And then, thirdly, there’s the problem of letting our life
in Christ be afflicted with plain old laziness—as though
there is no good work to do, as though we can go through
life just taking it all in and accepting the grace and life of
God in Word and Sacraments and never being lively for
the Lord. To us, again, comes the reminder of St. Paul:
“Through the law I died to the law so that I might live for
God.” That’s the great joy and challenge and opportunity
that God lays before us in this beautiful word of God that

is the text for our worship this evening. May it be the
constant reminder throughout this convention and
throughout the life of our church body that God’s life is
not cheap. It is dear, very dear indeed. We, who were once
dead in trespasses and sins, are now alive in Christ, who
loved us and gave Himself for us—yes, even for us. May
that word of God’s Good News cheer and comfort your
hearts this evening, and may it guide our decisions as we
live for Him who came that we might have life and have
it more abundantly. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep
your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus until life everlast-
ing. Amen.

Dr. Ralph A. Bohimann, President

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