# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1906_S5
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1906. 5

Doctrinal Discussions.

Be diligent to keep the unity in the Spirit.
(Essayist [Referent]: Prof. J. Köhler.)

The following theses may serve as the basis of our deliberations:
I. What is the unity in the Spirit?

A. What does the expression mean?

1. Not the unity of the Spirit as the third person of the
Godhead, in the sense (a) that He alone is the One who rules in the
Church, or (b) that He creates the unity of the Church, but rather

2. the unity of the spirit, which is the new life created by the Holy Spirit
in the individual Christians.

B. What is the content of this new life?

Faith, hope, love.

II. What should move us to preserve this unity in the Spirit?

A. Its significance as an essential part of the true
Church, ordained by God, brought about by Christ, carried out by the Holy
Spirit among men through the Gospel.

B. Its practical significance in the life of Christians on
earth.

1. Unity of the Spirit and purity of doctrine condition each
other, and likewise

2. unity of the Spirit and purity of conduct.

III. How should the unity of the Spirit be preserved?

A. The meaning of the expression "bond of peace".

1. Not inner peace with God, but the outward
peace of Christians with one another, which binds them to one another.

2. This peace does not stand in opposition to the truth
of the Gospel or to the peace of conscience.

B. Peace is maintained through humility, meekness, patience
and mutual forbearance.

All this can be accomplished only by the power which the
LORD gives through His Gospel.