LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 73

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The texts are magnificent! “One act of righteousness leads to
justification and life for all men” (Rom. 5:18). “While we were
enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son”
(Rom. 5:10). (See Pieper 2:347f.) The substitutionary death of
Christ is an objective fact. The price is paid. The gift obtained.
The reconciliation acquired. Indeed, even the justification was
secured outside us in His resurrection. “He was put to death for
our sins and raised for our justification” (Rom. 4:25).
Luther: “Christ became the greatest of all sinners, for He took
the place of all sinners and thus became guilty of all the sins of
the whole world although He was holy and innocent” (LW 26:
280–81). This means that the gift is completed, before us,
outside us. It is extra nos. It depends not a whit upon anything
in you.
Eduard Preuss said, “If the king issues an amnesty and does not
send his messengers, men or letters, to publish it, it will profit
no one. Therefore, God has sent His apostles, and the words of
St. Paul spoken at Antioch, ‘That through this Man is preached
unto you the forgiveness of sins.’” (Acts 13:38) (E. Preuss, 29)
HERE WE STAND. HERE WE GO.
The individual receives the objective gift by faith alone.
“Abraham believed God and it was counted [reckoned,
imputed] to him as righteousness” (Rom. 4:3). The Greek word
δικαιόω, “to justify,” is found 38 times in the New Testament
and means “to declare” or “regard” as righteous.

Justification is the opposite of condemnation. “Who shall bring
any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies” (Rom.
8:33). “And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s
sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought
condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses
brought justification” (Rom. 5:16). Or Matthew 12:37, “By your
words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be
condemned.”
We see in Paul that the justification of the sinner before God is
a free, legal/forensic, act, an accounting righteous, a free
gracious acquittal on account of Christ. “God makes us
righteous in the same way He makes Christ a sinner.” It’s
Luther’s “fröhlich Wechsel” or “happy exchange” (WA 7.25.34;
33.289.19).
That’s our answer to a world plagued by bad consciences.
That’s also the answer to a world plagued by racists and race
tensions. It’s the answer to injustice, to mental illness, to
addiction, to all that ails us. It’s our answer to the abused and
confused. Repent and believe the Gospel. You, YOU, my friend,
in the death and resurrection of Jesus, have been reckoned as
valuable as the blood of Jesus Christ which cleanses you from
all your sins. That is the key to outreach.
Luther said, “Faith does nothing but accept such gifts.” (Luther,
StL XI:1103; Pieper 2:350)
Cyprian of Carthage
I’ve been thinking about St. Cyprian a lot these days. He’s
quoted favorably many times in our Book of Concord. He was
born around A.D. 200, became a lawyer, and was chosen bishop
of the North African City of Carthage during a tumultuous time
for the church and the world. Persecution by the Romans
President’s Report, Part 3

wracked the church and divided it. What to do with those who
compromised with the state religion and burned incense to
Caesar as a god? The rigorists said, “No return to the church!”
Cyprian took a middle road insisting upon serious repentance
and re-admission. Cyprian was martyred on Holy Cross Day,
September 14, A.D. 258 during the persecution of Christians by
Valerian. The Roman official Galerius commanded Cyprian to
“conform to the Roman rites,” i.e. Roman state religion.
Cyprian refused.
Galerius talked to his legal counsel and then pronounced the
sentence.
You have long lived an irreligious life, and have drawn
together a number of men bound by an unlawful
association, and professed yourself an open enemy to
the gods and the religion of Rome; and the pious, most
sacred and august Emperors ... have endeavored in
vain to bring you back to conformity with their
religious observances; whereas therefore you have
been apprehended as principal and ringleader in these
infamous crimes, you shall be made an example to
those whom you have wickedly associated with you;
the authority of law shall be ratified in your blood.” He
then read the sentence of the court from a written
tablet: “It is the sentence of this court that Thascius
Cyprianus be executed with the sword.”
Cyprian replied, “Thanks be to God.”
That was the ultimate “Here I stand” moment for Cyprian and
his church. But Cyprian was not all “stand” and no “go.” About
A.D. 250 a terrible plague swept through the Mediterranean
world. Corpses were piling up everywhere. Cyprian called upon
his Christians to bury the dead, even the dead non-Christians.
He said that their bodies, too, were formed of the dust of the
ground by God Almighty and deserved the greatest reverence.
He urged his Christians to care for the needy Christians and
non-Christians. These acts of love won a tremendous
following, and many came to Christ and the church.
My friends, our world is suffering numerous plagues:
confusion, disillusionment, deception, pain, physical need,
addiction, disappointment, racial tension, anger. False gods
abound. The religion of works and self-gratification pervade.
The demise of families, the rejection of the roles of fathers and
mothers, has people awash in pain and disappointment. There
are millions upon millions who don’t know that their deepest
desire to be somebody, to be counted, to be recognized, can be
met only in Jesus.
This week we will behold many of the great things we as a
Synod are doing globally, and that is wonderful. You’ll meet
inspiring church leaders and others from around the world. But
I want to make this clear: There is nothing more important than
what you do as a Christian in your family, in your congregation,
and in your community, giving bold witness by word and deed to
the love and work of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and
extend that Gospel witness into all the world.
Thank You
I want to thank you for the last 13 years. I want to thank you
especially for the Praesidium. The Synod vice-presidents are
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 73