LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 110

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

110

CONVENTION ESSAYS AND REACTIONS

Third, our Commander in Chief, the Lord Jesus Christ,
empowers us. He empowered the early church. Acts 1:8:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes
upon you and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in
all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” The
Holy Spirit has accompained the Gospel of Christ all these
years. He empowers and prepares us through Word and
Sacrament to reach out in order to seek and to save the
lost. He does not expect us to do this in order to be saved,
but because we have been saved by grace through faith.
Telling the Good News about Jesus to those around us is a
good work flowing from faith.
And finally, our Commander in Chief, the Lord Jesus
Christ, suffered and died for us that we might live and
share this new life with others. 2 Cor. 5:14–15: “For Christ’s
love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for
all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those
who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him
who died for them and was raised again.” The Gospel motivates us both to believe in Jesus and to tell the Good News
about Jesus to those around us.
Finally, I would suggest to you that it is time to go to
war. The war is not with each other. The devil is the
enemy. Although Christ won the war for your soul and
mine for all eternity, there are those out in enemy territory
who are lost. We have been prepared through the Word and
the Holy Sacraments to battle for lost souls. If we remain

200l Convention Proceedings

in our base camps, how will those who are dying hear the
Good News about Jesus? It is time to volunteer for “seek
and save” patrols into enemy territory.
Fellow soldiers of the cross, are you ready to go to war?
If so, please stand and sing.
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus Going on before. Christ, the royal
Master, Leads against the foe; Forward into battle See
His banners go!
REFRAIN: Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as
to war, With the cross of Jesus, going on before.
Like a mighty army Moves the Church of God; Brothers, we are treading Where the saints have trod. We are
not divided, All one body we, One in hope and doctrine,
one in charity. REFRAIN.
Crowns and thrones may perish, Kingdoms rise and
wane, But the Church of Jesus Constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never ‘Gainst that Church prevail; We
have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail. REFRAIN.
Onward, then, ye faithful, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices In the triumph song: Glory,
laud, and honor Unto Christ, the king; This through
countless ages Men and angels sing. REFRAIN.
(Congregations at Crossroads—A National Study of
Adults and Youth in The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod, Peter L. Benson, Ph.D., Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, and I. Shelby Andress of Search Institute, October 1995, is available through LCMS Congregational
Services—Evangelism Ministry. 1-800-248-1930, ext.
1713, or christine.ray@lcms.org.)

David P. Mulder, Director
Evangelism Ministry, LCMS