# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1888_S22
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

22 Proceedings of the twelfth convention

The form of the church that God wills is agreement in all articles of Christian doctrine, its orthodoxy. All men ought to be Lutherans, as certainly as God wills that they accept his whole Word and as certainly as the Lutheran church accepts the whole Word. God does not will, e.g., that, while we say on the ground of God's Word: "God alone works conversion," the Ohioans at the same time say that in a certain respect conversion and salvation depend also on man and not on God alone. God does not will that, while we say according to Scripture of the Holy Supper: "It is Christ's true body and blood," the Reformed at the same time assert: it is not Christ's body and blood, but Christ's body and blood is merely signified by bread and wine.

God also expressly commands unity in the doctrine given by him for faith. 1 Cor. 1:10: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord JESUS Christ, that ye all speak the same thing (ἵνα τὸ αὐτὸ λέγητε πάντες), and that there be no divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment (ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ νοΐ καὶ ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ γνώμῃ)." Here it is said as clearly as possible that according to God's will all Christians are to be fully one in faith. Among Christians it is not to be that one holds and puts forward this view, another that, but all are to speak the same in the same mind and the same judgment. Among Christians, who are after all scattered over the whole world, much diversity can and must be found. They differ in languages and customs. They may also shape their services quite differently in outward form. But in One thing there is to be no diversity, but perfect equality is to prevail: all Christians in the whole world are to be one in doctrine.

Eph. 4:3–6: "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit (τὴν ἑνότητα τοῦ πνεύματος) in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." The Apostle here exhorts to preserve the unity worked by the Holy Spirit. He grounds his exhortation by pointing to the chief matters that make up the unity. Christians form, through the working of the Holy Spirit, One spiritual body, have, as One hope of eternal life, so also only One Lord, One faith, One baptism. The spiritual communion that God wills thus exists among Christians only when all have the same one faith, the same Word and Sacrament.

Eph. 4:13–14: "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God (εἰς τὴν ἑνότητα τῆς πίστεως καὶ