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LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1971, Page 74

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

IIE /-—

74 THE CONVENTION ESSAY

had “their hearts cleansed by faith,” The writer to the
Hebrews Says that the blood of Christ purifies our con-
Sciences from dead works to serve the living God (9:14),
Peter in his First Letter tells us as those who are rec-
onciled to one another, “

Luther too was deeply aware that coming to faith
does not leave men as they were before. He writes:
“Faith, which is the work of the Holy Spirit, makes
a different heart and mind and so it makes a new

and tiniest part, but altogether and alone to the divine
Operation and the Holy Spirit. To be born anew, to
receive inwardly a new heart, mind and spirit, is solely
the work of the Holy Spirit.” 21

So it is truly there in the true Christian — the new

Think of how, as new creatures in Christ, as citizens
of the new age, we can and must lay aside the old

bless, for to this you have been called, that you may
obtain a blessing.” (1 Peter 3: 8-9)

Then we wil] have the love and forthrightness to
state exactly what we believe and hold as our goals,
when we will] be free to debate without rancor; yes,
then we will begin to actually listen to one another,
Then we will settle theologica) matters on the basis of
God’s Word. Other matters we will settle to the best
of our ability on the basis of our best judgment. With
hearts “cleansed by faith” (Acts 15:9) we will be truly
reconciled with one another,

And when we slip, as we will, then we 80 back to

ing into sharper focus. It is a Ministry of proclaiming
the reconciliation, AJ] the world has been reconciled to

the broad function of Providing the Gospel and the
Sacraments. Article V of the Augsburg Confession so

Ministry means service. In the New Testament
diakonia meant service of various kinds. One kind was
a service of love such as waiting at tables. Thus in