# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1914_S9
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1914. 9

head. He so loved the world that he led a blameless, holy life, so that even the cowardly, corruptible Pilate had to admit: "I find no fault in him." He so loved the world that he gave his life as a redemption for many, so that the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanses us from all sin. The Holy Spirit so loved the world that he has the Gospel of free reconciliation proclaimed abundantly in the world as a free gift of God's grace to the world; he so loved the world that he urges the people: "Why will you die, O house of Israel?" — What more could God have done than he has already done and still does continually?

God is the husbandman, the vinedresser; but in one part of his work he uses the servants of the Word as his helpers. So Paul could declare: "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. For we are God's fellow workers." (1 Cor. 3:6, 9; cf. Acts 15:4.)

Jesus says of his Father and his work: "My Father is the vinedresser." (John 15:1.) He has a vineyard on a fertile hill, and he has fenced it and cleared it of stones and planted it with choice vines. He also built a tower in the midst of it and hewed out a winepress in it. "What more could have been done to my vineyard that I have not done?" (Isa. 5:1–4.)

Now a vinedresser and a farmer also expect fruit from a field on which they have spent so much sweat. So also God from the field of the world. "Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit?" (1 Cor. 9:7; cf. James 5:7.) A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit on it. (Luke 13:6; cf. Matt. 21:34.) God wants all people to be able to be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, for his glory. (Isa. 61:3.) — But what does God find? He came and sought fruit on the fig tree and found none. (Luke 13:6.) The LORD waited for his vineyard to bring forth grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes. (Isa. 5:2, 4.) When the householder sent his servants to receive the fruits from the husbandmen, these took his servants, beat one, killed another, stoned a third. And they did the same a second time; and finally they took the householder's son, cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. (Matt. 21:35–39.)

Should such ingratitude go unpunished? Upon such an ungrateful field God finally pronounces the judgment of devastation. The householder said to the vinedresser: "Behold, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down! Why does it use up the ground?" (Luke 13:7.) "Come now, I will tell you what I will do to my vine-