The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1906, Page 4

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

But why is it, then, that not all are saved, since
the whole work of sanctification is the work of God
and He wishes all to be saved? Why is it that the
Gospel has not the same success in all? If God
really wants to save all, and He alone can save, why
are some saved and others not, why do some accept
the Gospel and others refuse it? The answer which
God’s Word gives us, — and, of course, it alone can
give a reliable answer, — is, that they who are lost
are lost by their own fault, because they obstinately
resist the Word and the Spirit of God. While the
Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, it is not
irresistible, that is, its purpose may be prevented
by obstinate resistance. Thus Stephen says, Acts
7, 51: “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in hearts
and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost; as
your fathers did, so do ye.” The Jews, in resisting
the preaching of the Gospel, resisted the Holy Ghost
who works through the Gospel. And what the Jews
did, others have done and still do. Wherever the
Gospel is preached there are those who obstinately
resist the gracious working of the Holy Spirit.

The obstinate resistance of the Jews caused
Christ to cry out, Matt. 23, 37: “O Jerusalem, Je-
rusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest
them which are sent unto thee, how often would I
have gathered thy children together, even as a hen
gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye
would not!’ Jerusalem prevented the blessed pur-
pose of the Gospel by obstinately resisting the gra-
cious will of God. The power of the Gospel not
being irresistible, man by his obstinacy prevents the
gracious purpose God desires to effect by its means.

Let us, then, hold fast to these truths: Man’s
salvation is wholly the work of the Holy Spirit;
God desires all men’s salvation; those who are lost
are lost by their own fault. God desires to work
faith in the hearts of all men, He wishes to keep
them in the faith and to make them eternally happy.
To this end God earnestly and sincerely offers His
grace to all men in the Gospel. Therefore it is not
the fault of God, but of those who obstinately reject
God’s offer of grace, if they do not receive God’s
grace or do not endure unto the end. On the other
hand, that we have become God’s children and have
endured in the faith till now is not because we are
better than others, or were by nature more willing

to accept the divine offer of grace, but the cause is |

to be found solely in the grace of God and in the
merits of Jesus Christ. Whoever, therefore, is lost
is not lost because God does not want to save him
(for God wants all men to be saved), but he is lost

by his own fault; not because God has excluded
him, but because he has excluded himself; not be-
cause God’s grace was not offered him, but because
he refused to accept the offer of God’s grace. He,
however, that is saved owes it alone to God’s grace
in Christ. These truths are briefly but plainly
expressed by God Himself, Hos. 13, 9: “O Israel,
thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine
help.” The cause of salvation is in God, the cause
of damnation lies in man; salvation is God’s work
from beginning to end, damnation is man’s own
fault from beginning to end.

“It is Thy work alone

That now I am converted,

Thy power o’er Satan’s work

In me Thou hast asserted;

Thy merey that doth reach

Unto the clouds, O Lord,

Did break my stony heart

By Thine own mighty Word.”

FP. J. 1.

———

A Lesson.

An English lord had in his service a Christian
gardener, who was very fond of a beautiful flower
which grew in the center of his garden. One morn-
ing the gardener appeared gloomy and downcast.
His lord asked the reason. “O,” said he, through
broken sobs, “death came last night and took my
little daughter. It has broken my heart. I cannot
see why God should so afflict me as to take my
only child.”

In the gardener’s absence the lord transplanted
his favorite flower and put it in his own room.. The
gardener soon made his appearance, still: more de-
pressed. “Some one has stolen our beautiful flower,”
he said, mournfully. “Come into my room,” re-
plied the lord, “and let me teach you a lesson.
There is your flower —or rather, is it not mine,
simply trusted to your care? I have brought it into
my presence that I may better enjoy its beauty and
fragrance.”

The gardener saw the lesson, took comfort, and
repined no more.

God’s Word and Our Faith.

The Word pictures to us the mercy and good-

ness of God; and faith makes us cling to this Word
and keep to it with all confidence. — Luther.