# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1908_S11
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1908. 11

Christ." (Müller, 95, § 48.) — The Apology calls this the fides specialis, in contrast to the fides historica.

The Apology continues at the same place: "And lest anyone suppose that it is only a bare knowledge of the histories, I add this: faith is that my whole heart takes hold of that same treasure, and it is not my doing, not my giving or bestowing, not my work or preparing, but that a heart comforts itself with it and relies wholly upon it, that God gives to us, and not we to Him, that He overwhelms us with all the treasure of graces in Christ." In the Latin text it says briefly: "Ne quis suspicetur tantum notitiam esse, addemus amplius: est velle et accipere oblatam promissionem remissionis peccatorum et justificationis."

Luther: "Everything in Christendom is ordained to this end, that one should there daily obtain nothing but forgiveness of sins through the Word and signs, to comfort and raise up our conscience, as long as we live here. . . . But outside Christendom, where the Gospel is not, there is also no forgiveness, just as no holiness can be there. Therefore all have cast themselves out and separated themselves who seek and want to earn holiness not through the Gospel and forgiveness of sins, but through their works." (Large Catechism, Müller, 458, § 55, 56.)

Luther (on Gal. 5:15): "Before the world such estates" (as father and son, teacher and pupil, master and servant) "and works do indeed make a difference; but this outward inequality does not hinder the unity of the Spirit, according to which unity they all have one and the same faith and opinion of Christ, namely this, that we obtain forgiveness of sins and become righteous through Him alone. Accordingly, as far as the outward estate and conduct are concerned, none judges the other, none says that the other's estate and work are lesser and his own better, but each praises the other's doing more than his own, even if his own is better, but with one mouth and spirit they confess that both have one Christ as Savior, with whom there is no respect of person or of works."

From the Discussions.

Following this presentation by the essayist [Referent], various speakers developed the following further thoughts:

Fellowship among brethren in the faith comes about only through faith. — The Holy Spirit indeed also works knowledge of sin through the Law, but thereby no one yet becomes a member of the Church, but still lies in death. —

The great amount of union-making nowadays comes from the opinion that inner fellowship is a thing impossible, whereas