# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1873_S14
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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wholesome doctrine gives, so far as is necessary for salvation; we, however, recognize the faith of our neighbor only so far as this is possible, when it appears outwardly through the confession. The believing Reformed person, for example, conceals his faith even from us, insofar as he confesses the distinctive doctrines of his church; with him I cannot attain certainty that he is a Christian to the degree that I can with a Lutheran who confesses the same with me in all points. But here too I can be deceived in the Lutheran; it may be that in the end only his confession has bound me to him, and perhaps even drawn me especially to him, while no inner fellowship at all existed or exists between us. What still binds me especially to the Lutheran, whether he be a truly believing man or not, is therefore undeniably nothing but the same confession, hence an outward bond, while inwardly I have a bond of fellowship with no one except with him who stands in justifying faith. So our church confession, too, uses the words used in the theses wholly in the same sense, so that we speak entirely in accord with it, as it says, among other places, in the 7th article of the Apology: "The Christian Church stands not only in fellowship of outward signs, but stands chiefly in fellowship of inward eternal goods in the heart, such as the Holy Spirit, faith, the fear and love of God. And the same Church has also outward signs by which one knows it; namely, where God's Word is preached purely," etc. So it remains: That which binds believing Lutherans, like others, with Christ is nothing other than justifying faith; the fellowship which they now have so with Christ is what in turn binds them inwardly with one another. In comparison with the inner fellowship so created, dogmatic agreement is not essential —: it is not essentially necessary for inner fellowship at all. It is not the real bond that binds inwardly, although the relevant dogmas are indeed a matter of the heart to true Lutherans and to that extent something inward. The kernel and goal also of the distinctive doctrines is without doubt the Lord Christ Himself. We Lutherans are, to be sure, in this respect at an advantage over the children of God in other church parties, since these, through lack of knowledge of our distinctive doctrines, have so many fewer channels to the goal as we do.

On the second thesis: Where justifying faith, which the first thesis designated as the only purely inner bond of fellowship of Lutheran congregations, has been kindled through the pure and clear preaching of the Word of God, it is quite impossible that it should not find its expression in words and so a confession follow. So Peter answered the Lord's question: "But who say ye that I