The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1917, Page 41

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2.

‘The Lutheran Pioneer,

A MISSIONARY MONTHLY.

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PuBLISHED BY THE EVANGELICAL LuTHERAN SyNopIcAL CONFERENCE oF NortH AMERICA.
REv. F. J. LANKENAU, EDITOR.
Entered at the Post Office at St. Lonis, Mo., as second-class matter.
\ i eS ees =! se ee ates tae at
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‘Vol. XXXIX. ST. ‘LOUIS, ‘MO, , JUNE, 1917. No. 6.
J SS SSS == — —~-— —— ——- =
{ The Church’s Reformation. Lord’s Supper. Only those who have faith in these
{ words, “Given and shed,” ete., have what these
The Christian Chureh was not indeed words “say and express, namely, the forgiveness of
Reformed by Luther’s power; eran ees EECe TO SNS AY , Os. pd en
But God Himself performed this deed sins. : Por the words, Tor you, require all hearts
At His appointed hour. to believe.” While outward preparation is not to
He sent His servant, who exposed be despised, but commended, it is faith alone that
The Antichrist’s deceit, - nleaas awa a yiaine mePiniTints “ =
Dpbelaiicdtrocd i idingasandsdincloned can make a person worthy of participating in this
The “Lamp unto our feet.” wondrous meal. Those that have no faith “eat and
Oh, therefore let us celebrate drink damnation to themselves, not discerning the
The Jubilee with joy, am BO ,2? Pass D , +4 = 3
Asabevary/dnyiredadtenta Lord’s body, 1 Cor. 11, 29. Hence it is necessary
Our hearts to God on high. - that such as desire to commune should first examine
H./Osterius. themselves as to whether they are in the proper con-
dition to approach the Lord’s Table (1 Cor. 11, 28).
‘ The Lord’s Supper. We should come with penitent and believing hearts,
and with the earnest desire and purpose of better-
II. ing our sinful lives with the assistance of the Holy
The benefit of the Lord’s Supper is expressed Spirit. It is God’s will that those who have sinned

in the words, “Given and shed for you for the re-
mission of sins.” Luther writes: “Christ has put
the power of His suffering into the Sacrament, in
order that we there might find it and get it, as the
_words say, “his is My body, given for you for the
| remission of sins.’” ‘That all that receive forgive-

’ ness at the same time receive life and salvation need

* not to be proved to those who are acquainted with

‘the Bible. ‘This benefit is bestowed individually
upon cach Christian who receives the Sacrament
worthily. Ife eats and drinks Christ’s body and
blood as a pledge that his sins are actually remitted
unto him.

This miraculous, salutary power of the Lord’s
Supper is due to the Word of God with which the
bread and wine are connected, and in which they
are comprehended. <As it is in Baptism, so it
is here.

The words, “Given and shed for you for the re-
mission of sins,” also answer the question as to
which communicants will receive the benefit of the

“remembrance of Me.”

grossly and publicly, but have become truly peni-
tent, should show this by making amends hefore
they partake of the Lord’s Supper. When Chris-
tians have aught against each other, there must be
a reconciliation before they approach the Lord’s
Table (1 Cor. 11, 28. 29). Only those who confess
the orthodox faith should commune together, as
the Lord’s Supper is a spiritual bond uniting Chris-
tians with each other, and a testimonial of the unity
of faith (1 Cor. 10, 1%). ‘Being a steward of the
mysteries of God, the pastor should see to it that,
as far as he knows, no unworthy communicant is
admitted to the Eucharist.

We should come frequently to the Ties Table:
Christ says: “This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in
May our sin and spiritual
misery impel us to partake of the Holy Supper,
this precious means of grace, diligently and fre-
quently, following the call of Jesus: “Come unto
Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest.” ; H. OsterHus.