# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1883_S1 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) The Lutheran Aioneer. A MISSIONARY MONTHLY. Pousiisaep By tHe EvaneruicaL Luraeran Synopicat CoNFERENCE OF Our New Volume. By the blessing of God we are enabled to open a new volume of our paper, expecting to pay our regular visits to our readers as usual. During the past year some doors were closed upon our little Pronger in certain quarters. And some of our former friends, we are sorry to say, could not close their doors without call- ing us all kinds of bitter names. Well, we still are in our editorial chair and our little Pioneer still has upwards of 5000 homes to visit. And we know that if God is pleased to own our paper in the coming year, He will open new homes to our little traveler. Trust- ing in Him we go forth to proclaim the pure Gospel of grace. This Gospel of salvation by grace alone may not be popular since it casts down all the wisdom and all the selfrighteous- ness of man. But we don’t care a broken straw for popularity which is gained by flatter- ing man’s sinful self. We know of no good- ness in the corrupt nature of fallen man by which he in any way could aid in the work of salvation. ‘There are no select few whose na- ture is different from that of others. ‘There is no difference; for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,’ Rom. 3, 28—25. We know from the Bible that every man’s nature, be he colored or white, is so totally depraved that he can be saved only by God’s free grace through faith in the finished work of the Redeemer. So on then, my dear little Pronzer, and call sinners to this grace of God offered to them in the Gospel of Jesus. ‘ in!?’—the poor, the wretched, 3 CSin-stained, wanderers ae the fold; ardon freely offer— se Ga a veigh their worth in gold? ‘Call them in!’—the weak, the weary, ‘Laden with the doom of sin; Bid them come and rest in Jesus, He is waiting—‘ Call them in! —the white, he colored; tranger to the feast; g Call them in! the rich, the nobles From the highest to the Jens ee ¥orth the Father runs to mee at > He hath all their sorrows eek 15 Robe, and ring, and royal sane aa Wait the lost ones— «¢Call them in! ” in!’ R. A. BISCHOFF, Editor. Entered at the Post Oftice at St. Louis, Mo., as second-class matter. St. Louis, Mo., January, 1883. *¢¢Call them in!’—the broken-hearted, Cowering ’neath the brand of shame; Speak love’s message, low and tender,— “Twas for sinners Jesus came.’ See! the shadows lengthen round us, Soon the day-dawn will begin; Can you leave them lost and lonely? Christ is coming :—‘ Call them in!’”? ———s +a oo New Year’s Message. The New Year's Gospel brings us this sweet message: ‘‘When eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus,’ Luke 2, 21. It is the gladdest New Year’s message; for that name of Jesus alone can render the new year happy, and can brighten even its darkest and gloomiest days. It brings us all we need for the coming year. In the name of Jesus we have forgiveness of sin. ‘‘ Repentance and remission of sin should be preached in his name among all nations,” Luke 24, 47. Hence the apostle Peter opens the door to the Gentiles, saying, ‘‘To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remis- sion of sins,” Acts 10, 43.; and the aged John sends the sweet message, ‘‘I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake,” 1 John 2,12. How precious that name must be in which we have forgiveness of sin. _ In the name of Jesus we have salvation. ‘© Thou shalt call his name JEsus,’’ said the an- gel to Joseph, ‘‘for he shall save his people from their sins,’ Matth. 1, 21. Without this name our life in the coming year would be but a journey to endless woe. ‘For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,” Acts 4,12. But by faith in this name the greatest sinner can find salvation and enter upon the new year as upon a journey to endless bliss. The Holy Ghost describes the vilest characters, and then adds, ‘‘Such weré some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justi- fied in the name of the Lord Jesus,’’ 1 Cor. 6, 11. In the name of Jesus we have eternal life. ‘‘These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing, ye might have life through his name,’’ John 20, 81. ‘‘These things have I written Norra AMERICA. unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life,’ 1 John 5, 13. If the believer's life in this world ends before the close of the new year, he will be forever with the Lord through faith in the name of Jesus. And therefore he enters upon the new year without the fear of death. He knows he has eternal life; and he knows it, not by what he feels or what he does, but by what is written. He knows it from the Word of the true God, on which he rests with full confidence. In the name of Jesus we have the power of prayer. ‘‘Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it,’’? John 14,13. 14. ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you,” John 15, 16. Well may the believer enter upon the new year full of joy. Days of sorrow and trouble . may come, he can cast all his cares upon the Lord in prayer. If the feeblest believer will sincerely and believingly whisper the name of Jesus in prayer, it will go straight to the heart of God, who hears all prayers in the name of His beloved Son. In the name of Jesus we have the security of acceptable worship and of a godly life. ‘cWhere two or three are gathered together in my name, there am J in the midst of them,” Matth. 18, 20.; ‘‘ Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,’’ Eph. 5, 20.; ‘‘What- soever ye do in word or deed, do all tn the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him,” Col. 3,17. We have work to do in the coming year. If we had to do it in our own name, we would surely fail. But doing our work in the name of Jesus we may be sure of success. We may not see the fruits of our labors, still we know that every work done in His name, however humble, is not done in vain. It is acceptable unto God for Jesus’ sake. Tn the name of Jesus we wish all our readers a, Happy New Year.