# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1914_S16
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

16 Proceedings of the twenty-fifth convention

name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor. 6:9–11.) Thus Christians have become fine, usable writing material. And so Jesus Christ himself uses them to write a letter to the world. He is the author of this letter. But he writes his letter not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God (2 Cor. 3:3) through the means of grace, the Gospel and the sacraments.

In the Old Testament God wrote his ten commandments on Mount Sinai on two tables of stone and had them proclaimed to the children of Israel through Moses (Ex. 24:12); but in the New Testament the Holy Spirit does not write on tables of stone, but on the fleshly tables of the heart. (2 Cor. 3:3.) Yes, into the hearts. For Christianity is not a matter of outward forms and bodily exercises; it does not consist in eating or fasting, pilgrimages or monastic life; it is not merely a matter of the intellect or of memory, a philosophy and the like — no, Christianity is a matter of the heart. Christ writes his Word into the heart; there it becomes alive, enlightens and warms the heart with faith, love and hope, so that this heart in turn radiates light and warmth.

In the Old Testament the glory of the Law was great, so great that the children of Israel could not look at the shining face of Moses when he came down from the mountain. But although the Law was glorious, it was nevertheless only a ministry of death and condemnation; for by the works of the Law no flesh is justified. We cannot be saved by our own good works; we cannot be perfect, as our Father in heaven is perfect. Therefore the letter kills. If we hear the voice of the LORD our God no more, we must die. (Deut. 5:25.) — But the glory of the Law in the Old Testament is by far overshadowed and darkened by the surpassing brightness of the Gospel in the New Testament, by the ministry of the Spirit and of righteousness; for the Spirit gives life. For the Law passes away, but the Gospel remains. "Christ is the end of the Law; whoever believes in him is righteous." (Rom. 10:4.) "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:68.)

Although Christ is the real author of the letter, yet his letter is "written by us," says Paul. (2 Cor. 3:3.) The preachers are the Lord Jesus's scribes. The Gospel is a power of God, but the preacher is the person to bring it close to the heart. In this sense the Apostle also says to Christians: "You are our letter." (2 Cor. 3:2.) — Yet a preacher may claim no credit for this; for he is not sufficient of himself to think anything as of himself, but that he is sufficient is of God. (2 Cor. 3:5.) It is God who supplies the preacher with the ability to write Christ's letter. Therefore to him alone belongs the