LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 91

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CONVENTION ESSAYS

We Preach Christ Crucified
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, President Rev. Dr. Thomas J. Egger
68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod • July 30, 2023
It is a great honor to deliver the first of four essays for this
convention, all grounded in Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians,
chapter 1. There Paul acknowledges that the message of the
cross seems foolish and weak, but that this crucified Christ is
the power of God, the wisdom of God, and the redemption of
the world.
Tomorrow, Dr. Abjar Bahkou will develop the theme, “Christ,
the Wisdom of God.” Tuesday, Dr. Russell Dawn will speak on
the theme, “Christ, the Power of God.” On Wednesday, Juhana
Pohjola, the courageous bishop from Finland, will deliver an
essay titled, “Christ, the Redemption of the World.”
This morning, my essay elaborates ten brief statements on the
theme, “We preach Christ crucified.”
The times are changing. I don’t know about you, but when I
look around, when I listen to the rhetoric of a world gone mad,
when light is called darkness, and lies truth, and God’s own love
is branded as hate, when I hear stories from dear friends of
children caught up in the whirlwind of the addictions,
ideologies, and self-idolatries of our time, when I hear from
pastors about declining attendance and participation, when I
hear voices of pessimism and cynicism about the church and
her future, it is easy to grow weary; it is easy to wonder whether
the promises and purposes of God for us and for our church still
stand, whether God Himself has not stepped away, a bit, or
something.

Statement number one: Jesus came as a Lamb of sacrifice
for the sins of the world.
In the Book of Revelation, John recounts his vision at the
heavenly throne of God. John describes Jesus there, in heavenly
glory, as a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain. And the living
creatures around the throne of God fell on their faces in wonder
and worship, praising Christ and saying, “Worthy are you!... for
you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation!” And
John saw angels, many angels, numbering myriads of myriads
and thousands of thousands, all saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and
wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and
blessing!” And then, John heard every creature in heaven and
on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in
them, joining in this song of praise to the Lamb who was slain
(Rev. 5:1–14).
Jesus came as a Lamb of sacrifice for the sins of the world. God
sent His Son to us, and He offered up His Son as a sacrifice for
human sin.
John the Baptizer pointed at Him, and declared (John 1:29),
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the
world.”

What should we do in such times? What should Christ’s church
do in such times?
Brothers and sisters in the Lord, we preach Christ crucified. In
such a time as this, and in all times, “Till all the world adore His
sacred name.” 1
We preach Christ crucified. For this Gospel, alone, is the power
of salvation for all who believe (Rom. 1:16). To this high and
beautiful task, God Himself has called us, until the end of the
world. “For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but
we preach Christ crucified,” St. Paul writes (1 Cor 1:22–23 ESV,
as for following quotations, unless otherwise noted).
“We preach Christ crucified.” Four words. In this essay, I want
to offer a few reflections on each of those words, beginning
with the last word “crucified,” and working our way back to the
pronoun “we.” I’ll elaborate on ten basic statements, in all.
Let’s begin with “crucified.”

1

Refrain from the hymn “Lift High the Cross” (LSB 837).

Convention Essays

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 91