The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1920, Page 50

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

50 The Lutheran Pioneer.

Love, .the Queen of the Graces.
ad Joun 5, 1—3.

The very weighty statement of the Apostle John
with which we closed the last- article was that of
verse 24 of the fourth chapter: ‘And this com-
mandment have we from Jesus, that he who loveth
God love his brother also.” The first verse of chap-
ter five adds an explanatory thought, while verse
two also contains a closely related truth. Verse
three adds thoughts that enlarge upon these words,
“keep His commandments.”

V.1a: Whosoever believeth thal Jesus is the
Christ is Vorn of God. Here we have a clear and
plain answer to the questions:
of Christianity ?
who has faith in Jesus as his Savior is born of God,
is spiritually alive, hence a Christian. The terms
“Christian” and “believer” are synonymous in the
Bible.

V.1b: And every one that loveth Him that be-
gat, loveth him also that is begollen of Him. As
the love of a child to its father that begot it is the
natural thing in human life, so it is natural for
a Christian to love God who begot him. Nature
moreover implants a heartfelt affection in the child,
not only for its father, but also for.its brothers and
sisters, who also- have the father’s blood in their
veins. So it is but.natural and self-evident that

the believers will not only love their heavenly
Father who begat them by the Word of truth, but
also their fellow-Christians,-they being likewise be-
gotten of God. Hence, if we are genuine Chris-
tians, this love to the brethren will be found in us.
This love is an important token of our spiritual life.

Y. 2 presents another thought: By this we know
that we love the children of God, when we love God,

and keep His commandments. ‘Those who appar-
ently love the Christians, but fail to loye God, our
Father in heaven, and to keep His precepts, do not
really Jove the Christians, His children, either.
Such love is either purely imaginary, or, what is
worse: a device for causing others to admire them,
or for other carnal ends. What seems to be true

_ Christian feeling is at best natural love. It pro-
ceeds from the flesh and cannot please God. If
a person desires to know whether his alms to the
poor, etc., flow forth from real love, let him ask him-
self: Ts it my desire and delight, according to my
inner man; to love God above all things? If it is,
then his, Gharitable deeds are wrought hy the Spirit’;

if not, ‘he has been deceiving himself.

§ children of God.
What is the essence.
Who is a true Christian? He.

V.3a: For this is the love of God, that we keep
His commandments. If a person sincerely loves
God, he will strive to fulfil all His commandments
in desires, thoughts, words, and deeds.

V.3b: And His commandments are nol grievous.
The regenerate can truly
ments, though but imperfectly. The fulfilment of
aur Father’s holy will requires the greatest dili-
gence, the most earnest will power, and unwavering
perseverance on our part. John does not mean to
state that God’s commandments do not necessitate
thorough and hard efforts. But at the same time
they are not “grievous,” burdensome or irksome, to
Why not? Because their fulfil-
ment proceeds from warm and thankful hearts that
are filled with the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of joy and
love, and is thus actuated by love to God and the
brethren. Believers have a renewed will. The tasks
in which a person delights will not seem too hard
for him although they may be difficult and laborious.
Therefore the Psalmist exclaims, “O Lord, I will
run the way of Thy commandments, when Thou
shalt enlarge my heart.” ‘H. Osreruus.

Convention of Luther Conference at
New Orleans, La.

The annual convention of Luther Conference
took place at New Orleans, La., May 26 to 30. The
services and the open sessions were held in Beth-
lehem Chapel while for private’ sessions Conference
sat in Bethlehem School. There were all-day ses-
sions Thursday and Friday and open sessions Thurs-
day and Friday nights.

In-the opening service, Wednesday night, Prof.
H. Meibohm of Luther College occupied the pulpit.
The speaker chose his text from the 3d chapter of
St. Paul’s Epistle to Titus. In his pastoral address,
the speaker dealt wholesome spiritual food both to
the workers-and to the-laymen.

In the open session ‘Thursday morning the fra-
ternal delegates were given a hearty welcome. Supt.
N. J. Bakke represented the Alabama Luther Con-
ference, while Pastor John Alston of Atlanta, Ga.,
represented the Immanuel Conference. The Rev.
0. Lynn .of Vredenburgh, Ala., was also present.

Pastor Lynn was not an accredited delegate, but _
was also welcomed heartily and invited to partici:

pate in the discussions.
‘Teacher Wm. B. Seeberry read a paper under

the heading, “What are We Doing toward the Pres-

.

fulfil God’s command- ¢

;
;
'
1