# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S3
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Cross of Christ,
and assures us

rich the apostle
-en, boldness to
now enjoy the
glory and maj-
st, without any
This is by no
ad acceptable to
_ As Luther has
deserve nothing
lare to approach
my more so than
+ of Holies made
_ We enter “by
ted for us.” The
is flesh.”
me a true human
ashion as a man.
transgression and
r them when He
ed tree. He shed
om all sin. That
*s sight. Further-
Law. He fulfilled
and thus procured
j in that garment,
presence. We can
1.” The true High
yscience. He has
sgression. We are
d. of Jesus.” That
e does not merely
us to the Father.
irect access to the
boldness.

grace! And let us
J in all its fullness.
» enter the holiest,
1 boldness, because
othing grander and
aay ever appreciate

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

II
The Wholehearted Dedication Which This Provokes

God’s infinite grace will surely bear rich fruit. It generates
faith. It is an active, energizing force. It enkindles fervent love.
It arouses unflinching loyalty. It incites undying faithfulness. It
produces definite results.

You will note that, after he had so beautifully and emphatically
set forth the infinite grace of God, the apostle follows with three
exhortations: “Let us.” The first of these exhortations is: “Let us
draw near.” In implicit, childlike faith we approach God and accept
the blessings which Christ has procured for us, indescribable, un-
paralleled blessings. They become our very own for time and
for eternity.

Next the apostle states: “Let us hold fast the profession of our
faith without wavering.” Faith in Christ seeks expression. The
sacrifice which Jesus brought for us sinners, the perfect redemption
which He accomplished for us, the reconciliation with God which
He effected for us, get to be a matter of confession. They are great,
eternal, unchanging truths. The Christian wants to say with Simon
Peter: “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal
life; and we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son
of the living God.”

The faith which we profess embodies more than the deity of
Christ, the vicarious sacrifice which He brought, the perfect re-
demption which He wrought. It includes also the truths which He
taught. We must remember that He Himself said: “If ye continue
in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed, and ye shall know
the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ He Himself prayed
in His great sacerdotal prayer: “Sanctify them through Thy truth,”
and then added the significant words: “Thy Word is truth.” In the
same prayer He told His Father: “Neither pray I for these alone,
but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word.”
Jesus Himself quoted Scripture, saying: “Tt is written.” He insisted:
“The Scripture cannot be broken.” He gave His church the assign-
ment: “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have com-
manded you.” The truths of God’s Word are the faith which we
should profess without wavering.

All this is of special importance at this time. God has gra-
ciously remembered our beloved Synod with purity of doctrine
for 109 years. This is marvelous mercy. None of us have deserved
this grace. We cannot thank God sufficiently for this blessing.
However, at this time we face the sad fact that sister synods in
the Synodical Conference have accused us of false doctrine and of
causing divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which they