# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1872_S9
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 9 —

that is, to everything that is taught in God's Word; "for," he continues, "if you do this, you will save both yourself and those who hear you." God, after all, has revealed not only this doctrine and that, but His whole Word for the salvation of men. "Your Word," says David, "is the right doctrine," not merely this and that in Your Word. Therefore the great apostle to the Gentiles also testifies: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works," and declares in another place that he is "pure from the blood of all men" only because he had kept back from them all "nothing that was profitable" and had not failed "to declare unto you all the counsel of God." And Christ Himself says at last: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Behold, in every single word of God life lies, that is, temporal and eternal life, enclosed as in a seed. The Word of God is an immeasurably rich storehouse of the most manifold lures for people who go their way without God and without hope. God draws one, when his hour comes, by this lure, another by that: what then are we human beings, that we should despise God's wealth of grace and dare to give up even one of His salvation-bringing words?

But to this there comes finally one more thing: As every doctrine of the Word of God is a heavenly seed of rebirth to eternal life, so, on the other hand, every human doctrine in matters of salvation is an infernal seed of Satan's birth unto eternal death. Ah, how many a soul has already been brought by a single false doctrine, once and for all, onto a false road to eternity; by a single false comfort, once and for all, into a false hope of salvation; by a single false threat, warning and punishment, once and for all, into false fear and complete despair, and so finally lost body and soul!

O how important it is therefore, my brethren, that above all we make the salvation of souls the ultimate purpose of our common work in the kingdom of Christ! Then it is impossible that we should not "take heed to the doctrine," and so not be preserved from ever violating faithfulness to God's Word. Whatever doctrine it may then be that we are to keep silent about, or at least let be contradicted, or on which we are to give way, we shall then always declare: Are we to take from a man dead in sins even one means given him by God that could awaken him from death? Are we to take from a man troubled over his sins even one comfort bestowed on him by God that could raise him up? Are we to take from a man lying sick with sin even one medicine given him by God that could make him well? Are we to take from a man contending with sin, world and Satan for his salvation even one weapon handed him by God, with