# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S1149
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

.

VL J
We believe and teach: USTIICATION
By His redempti
3y ptive work ist i
of the whole world; hence forghnn ;
Provided for al] men. (This j "ofte
cation.) (

the Propitiatio

ess of sin has been Secured

*<9; Colossians 1; 1 John 2:2,

VI. Co

We believe and teach: NVERSTON
The sinner’s
sinner to f

conversion takes 5
ee es place when God brings the con.

nm Christ as hij i

» but by the Holy Ghost,”

. ts 5: 31 26:18 he a ~9 : fad > Eze -
| ’ Kk

. VII. SAN
We believe and teach: emntcation

rks, without which faith is dead. In glori

serve Him and i
sof Here our neighbor in love, as He

fying God we seek to
directs us in both tabl

n for the «.

" INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 505

his present world the Christian can never attain perfect
s, because sin inheres in him until death. But we strive
goal that is set before us and by daily contrition and faith
iprogress in our Christian life. We look forward to the life
me, when we shall be cleansed of every defilement of sin and
are with Christ His perfect life.
Cf, Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
<1; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:13 and 3:12; Colossians 1:10
6; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 John

cs , IX. THE CHURCH

‘ Halwe believe and teach:

aye All believers in Christ constitute the one, holy, Apostolic (in
tk ament with the Apostles’ doctrine), and catholic (universal)
Church. Jesus Christ is its Head. Through the means of grace He
calis all its members into fellowship with Himself and also unites

-the members in fellowship with one another.

(2): “M9 all members of His Church the Lord has. given all the rights
and prerogatives set forth in His Word. Every Christian has the

right of direct access to God without a human mediator.

To the Church has been given the commission to preach the
Gospel and to administer the Sacraments. It is therefore the duty
of Christians to unite in local congregations for this purpose. In
such local congregations the presence or activity of any unbelievers
or hypocrites does not nullify the power of the Word of God. The
_ efficacy of the means of grace does not depend on the faith of the

administrant, but inheres in the Word of God itself.

(4) In this present world, Christ does not promise His Church
any earthly reign over the affairs of men. His Church will remain
a kingdom of the cross until His return for Judgment; but He will
sustain it according to His promise: “The gates of hell shall not
prevail against it,” Matt. 16:18b.

(5) It is the duty of the Church to be faithful to its Lord and His
Word in all its testimony, to be steadfast in its confession of His
truth at all times, and to avoid and combat error. It is the duty of
the Church to mold and keep its practice in conformity with the
Lord’s directives in the Holy Scriptures. Therefore we dare not
condone error or have altar and pulpit fellowship and unscriptural
co-operation with erring individuals, church bodies, or church
groups that refuse to be corrected by God’s Word. We must also
be alert and susceptible to the Lord’s leading to establish and
maintain fellowship with those whom He has made one with us in
the faith and to seek to win the erring and wayward for unity in
the true faith. We are mindful of our Lord’s intercessory prayer

(3)