# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1888_S12
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

12 Proceedings of the twelfth convention

Art. 7, we find that what suffices for true unity is limited to the Gospel and the sacraments. The dogmaticians speak similarly. Quenstedt says, e.g., that, strictly speaking, by doctrines of faith are not to be understood the moral commandments, precepts, narratives, and so forth. Our church thus is not speaking here of all doctrines, but only of the doctrines of the Gospel, of faith. Are all doctrines to be meant in this thesis, including those that concern the Law? Then the concept of what is to suffice for unity would in the thesis not be quite as in the Augustana [Augsburg Confession]. — It was explained: In the thesis too only the Gospel is meant. When we speak of "articles of Christian doctrine," what is to be understood by it is the revelation and preaching of Christ — Christus revelatus, Christus praedicatus [Christ revealed, Christ preached]. The Law does not come into consideration here. The foundation on which the Christian church is built is Christ, the Gospel. The Law is not peculiar to the Christian church, but is common to all men. If a man knows the whole Law and is also under its working, he still has nothing of what makes a sinner into a Christian and a believing child of God. The Law does not make the church; the Law does not make the church one. That the Gospel alone does. Therefore the Law does not belong in a definition of Christian unity or of unity in faith.

Someone may object: What about the Law? Is it left to the arbitrary will of men? Must we acknowledge as a brother in the faith someone who, e.g., rejects the seventh commandment, but at the same time claims to accept the doctrines of the Gospel? — The Law is already clear to reason; it is already recognized through reason. In Scripture God has only polished up the mirror of the Law anew. To anyone, therefore, who rejects parts of the Law we rightly say: How can you accept the doctrines of the Gospel and belong to the church, if you will not even accept the Law, which is already evident to reason? — Further: if someone, e.g., would not accept the doctrines of sin, of the corruption of man, etc., which are in themselves Law but are also confessed in our Confessions, we know for certain that he cannot be one with us in faith. No one can accept the doctrine of Christ and confess it in full truth who on the other hand teaches: Basically we need no Savior. It is the same with other doctrines whose denial amounts to a denial of certain articles of the Gospel itself. Therefore, e.g., the Pelagians are rejected by the Lutheran church and fellowship in the faith with them is refused. Then we must demand of everyone who claims to be one with us in faith that he submit to every Word of God. That is indeed the ground for