# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1941_S10
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

6 President’s Address

must plead with God, “Purge me with hyssop”; “wash me”; “cast
me not away from Thy presence”; “deliver me from blood-guilti-
ness.” God grant that such a fervent, heartfelt, penitent plea may
characterize our present synodical convention!

2

On the other hand, from the deepest depths of penitence we
may rise to the most glorious heights of divine assurance, and such
a note of positive assurance should dominate our hearts during this
convention.

David prayed for forgiveness. He was confident and assured

that, though his sins were great and though he deserved only God’s
righteous wrath and punishment, yet the Lord would show mercy.
He stated: “I shall be cleaned”; “I shall be whiter than snow”;
“make me to hear joy and gladness”; “restore unto me the joy of
Thy salvation.” He had learned to know God as a God of grace and
mercy. Hence there is such a positive ring of assurance to his
petitions. ,
We of the New Testament period, with the open book of fulfil-
ment of prophecy before us, have all the more reason to approach
God with positive assurance. What God did for our redemption, the
shedding of Christ’s precious blood and His death on the cross, are
established facts. We know that Christ died for us undeserving
sinners. We know that He finished the task of redemption for us.
We know that we are reconciled to God. We are assured that
there is forgiveness and that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us
from all sins, washes us that we may be whiter than snow. Oh,
thank God for this glorious truth! Let us cling to it with all our
heart.

David was assured of new courage and willingness to carry on
the work of the Lord. Confidentially he asked God: “Create in me
a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” He pro-
fessed: “TI will teach transgressors Thy ways”; “my tongue shall sing
aloud of Thy righteousness”; “my mouth shall show forth Thy
praise.” Greatest eagerness to serve his Lord characterized his
restoration to the joy of salvation. Even so you and I should realize
ever better that itis our privilege to serve in the kingdom of God,
yes, that this is the paramount purpose and objective of our life.
We must permit nothing whatsoever to rémove this goal from our
view. In the world today, so terribly upset and out of joint, it
requires special willingness and courage to serve Christ. The
hellish foe is resorting to a Blitzkrieg upon the Christian Church
because he sees the end of the world approaching. Everywhere
Satan and his wicked allies are parachuting and gliding into the
territory of Christ’s kingdom. It requires manly Christian courage