# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1882_S59
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 59 —

chosen, who alone are saved? — No, that I cannot make sense of. But has God revealed His truth to us so that we should make sense of it? No, but we are to believe it, as He has revealed it to us.

"Furthermore Scripture teaches that God has the firm will to call all men to salvation in Christ, that this call is meant earnestly and sincerely, and that the means through which this call takes place are at all times effectual and powerful. Therefore the doctrine of the Calvinists is an accursed doctrine, that there is a twofold calling of God, a serious one for the elect, and one only for show for those who are not chosen. We know only one calling, which God means faithfully toward all. With this calling He calls countless men who are not saved because of their hardness of heart. By the same call He also calls His elect and does nothing special in addition; His call is the same for all.

"That is the doctrine of Scripture concerning election.

"But, someone might say, is it not at bottom a terrible thing about this doctrine of election? No, we answer, if we remain simple in what Scripture says about it, and do not forget that election has taken place in Christ. For like the whole Gospel, so this part of it too is nothing but comfort. Look upon Jesus Christ; there you see your election. Do not speculate about the hidden counsel, but hold to Christ and to the Gospel, which speaks so comfortingly of the universal gracious will and the mercy of God in Christ. Suppose you have been a great sinner, a drunkard, a fornicator. Does it now say: Keep away from Christ, you have no part in Him, the election does not concern you? No, but rather: Christ died for all, His blood makes all clean. Fornicators and publicans will perhaps enter the kingdom of heaven sooner than Pharisees. In Christ, 'whose blood cries continually: Mercy, mercy!', a wide gate opens for all sinners. Even when it says: 'Many are called, but few are chosen': God's election agrees with His mercy, which extends over all. Only believe that you too are elected. — That is how one should speak of election, and take the word of Scripture as it stands." (Compare the synodical report of Wisconsin, page 33 f., and that of Minnesota, page 33 f.)

To cut off all misunderstanding, it should further be taken into account what it says further below in the same reports: "And again, in answer to an inquiry made, the explanation was given that the statement presented of the doctrine of election of grace does indeed reject the doctrine that God elected in view of faith."