# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1888_S24
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

24 Proceedings of the twelfth convention

life. But the church does not have "room for all." Rather, here God commands: "Put away from among yourselves that wicked person!" 1 Cor. 5:13. And as for doctrine: "A man that is an heretic ... reject!" Titus 3:10. "Avoid them!" Rom. 16:17.

It was further added: We recognize God's will concerning unity in faith especially also from Christ's high-priestly prayer, John 17. V. 11: "Holy Father, keep them in thy name, those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are." V. 17: "Sanctify them in thy truth; thy word is truth." V. 20–23: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one." Our Savior here prays for the complete unity of his disciples, but for a unity which has its ground in God's name, God's truth, God's Word, etc., thus for the perfect unity in faith. —

In the foregoing exposition the proof is fully given that the unity defined in Thesis I is willed by God. Remarkably, the unionists now appeal precisely to the chief passage on unity in faith, Eph 4:3 ff., to justify their perverse position. They say: "It says: 'Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.' God wills, then, that one should not contend so vehemently about doctrine, but keep peace. You are to extend the hand of brotherhood in love also to those who do not agree with you." There is indeed a bond of peace which encircles the Christian church: love, and love is to prove itself continually in Christendom. But in what? Perhaps in this, that we bind together in outward fashion different spirits "by the bond of peace"? No, precisely in this, that we strive to maintain "the unity of the Spirit." If this passage were to prove anything for the unionists, it would have to read: "Endeavouring to keep the multiplicity in the Spirit."

God's Word also says that we are to let nothing bribe us into departing from true unity. This is shown by a comparison of Rom. 10:1–2 with Rom. 11:28. People often say: "Why will you not be one in love with these people? You see, these people are very much in earnest; they really are zealous for God and Christ. Is it not shameful not to extend the hand of brotherhood to them because they perhaps still err in this and that article?" Paul says of the Jews, Rom. 10: "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but," he adds, "not according to knowledge." The better ones among the Jews