The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1917, Page 50

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50

generate, but also the sons and daughters of the
believers are by nature flesh, not spirit. They
are without the least spark of spiritual life. They
are not only sinful, but “dead in trespasses and
sins” (Eph.2,1); for St. Paul writes concerning
himself and his fellow-Jews, God’s chosen people:
“We were by nature the children of wrath, even
as others,’ the Gentiles (Eph.2,3). Not only the
Gentile, but also the Jewish children were by nature
subject to God’s wrath, hence without spiritual life
and in need of regeneration if they would obtain
eternal life. Man in his unconverted, natural state
cannot inherit the kingdom of God; for “the
natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit
of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither
can he know them, because they are spiritually dis-
cerned” (1 Cor.2,14). “The carnal mind is en-
mity against God” (Rom. 8, 7). Of what use is
Christ’s glorious work of redemption if those for
whom He died reject Him and His salvation? Of
what benefit is the delightful Gospel-message, which
invites us to believe and be cleansed from sin, if
those to whom it is preached refuse to listen, if
they resist the Holy Ghost? Of what value is the
Word of Reconciliation to the human race if its
members will not be reconciled with God by faith,
but stubbornly remain His enemies? In order to be
saved we must believe (Mark 16,16). But this is
impossible for natural man. He can only reject the
Gospel as something that is foolish, and be inimical
to Christ and God. Faith requires spiritual life
and is the beginning of spiritual life. Faith, spir-
itual life, a new spiritual birth, are necessary to
appropriate the message of grace, and thus to obtain
salvation.

Regeneration, accordingly, is endowment with
living faith, which will forthwith bring forth its
fruits, Christian virtues and good works. A person
that believes is spiritually alive. Where there is
faith, there is also love and hope. The following
texts prove that we are born spiritually when faith
is wrought within our hearts: “As many as received
Him [the Light of the world], to them gave He
power to become the sons of God, even to them that
beheve on His name; which were born, not of
blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor “of the will
of man, but of God” (John 1,12.13). Also read
1 John 5,1.4; Eph. 2, 5.8; Gol. 2,12. Many en-
thusiasts nowadays have a vague, erroneous view of
what conversion is; but in the texts quoted above
we have the simple teaching of Holy Writ concern-
ing this point. Regeneration is 2 complete change

The Lutheran Pioneer.

of the heart, a turning from Satan to God (Acts |

26, 18); therefore we call it conversion. Those
that have true faith are converted.

The regenerate are God’s children, because they
are born of God. This, then, answers the question,
Who regenerates us? We cannot by our own reason
or strength believe in Christ. The texts concern-
ing natural. man show this. Also 1 Cor. 12, 3.
God regenerates us. The Bible attributes this work
to the Holy Ghost in particular. The regenerate
are “born of the Spirit” (John 3,5). The third
Person of the Holy Trinity effects this by the means
of grace. By the Gospel He calls and enlightens
us with His gifts (1 Pet. 2,9; 2 Cor. 4,6), so that
we believe in our Savior and rejoice in His grace.
Baptism also gives spiritual life, for it is “the
washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy
Ghost” (Titus 3,5).

We Christians should diligently and conscien-
tiously use the means of grace, in order that the
spiritual life which we received by regeneration
may not become extinct. We must use the spiritual
powers given us by God, utilizing our pounds, as
a person must eat and drink, exert himself, and
be active, leading a rational life, if he would sus-
tain and promote his physical life and health. May,
God, through His grace and by His Spirit, pre,
serve our spiritual life unto our end!

H. Osrernus.

Soe

A Visit to Our Louisiana Mission
Stations.

II.

It is surely a pleasant thing to get back among
old friends and acquaintances after a long absence.
This I found out upon my recent visit to Louisiana.
It did me good to see those again whom I had
ministered to for almost eighteen years, many of
whom I had baptized and confirmed, and some of
whom I had baptized, confirmed, and married.
During the time intervening between my arrival in
New Orleans and the first Sunday, I saw many of
my former members, greeted them, and heard from
them the stories of their ups and downs during the
past eight years.

On the first Sunday of my stay I was kept sis)
busy.,“ I preached at half past seven in the morning
at the First English Church, after service attended —
the Sunday-school there, and at ten-fifteen was at
St. Paul’s Chapel (Colored), to meet with the Sun- ©