The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1920, Page 90

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90

The Lutheran Pioneer.

believe on the name of the Son of God.” By faith
in Christ we have also been regenerated, “born of
God, begotten of God” (v.18), having our Father’s
nature in us. By His Spirit Christ has also sanc-
lified us. Christians withstand sin, “keeping them-
selves” from all coarse and intentional sin, which
would again deliver them into Satan’s hand (v. 18).

Finally, Christ has also granted us the precious
privilege of prayer, which shall not be in vain
(vy. 14.15). .In vy. 16 he writes: “If any man see
his brother sin, a sin which is not unto death [a
sin of weakness], he shall ask, and He shall give
him life [and forgiveness] for them that sin not
unto death. ‘There is a sin unto death [intentional
sin, whereby faith is cast out of the heart]: I do
not say that he shall pray for it.’ It would be
contrary to God’s will to ask for forgiveness for such
a person: . We should rather ask that He would first
grant the man true pentlence. It is our duty to
admonish him in order to regain him.

- John writes in conclusion: “Little children,
keep yourselves from idols [of mind and heart].
Amen.” — Let us thank our dear Savior, who has
made us so glad in whom we are enriched with so
many treasures. Tet us serve Him and none other,
earnestly serve Him in the great work of missions!

Rejoice, ye vales and mountains!
Ye oceans, clap your hands!
Sinee all He comes to ransom,
By all be He adored,.

The Infant born in Bethlehem,
The Savior and the Lord.

And idol forms shall perish,
And error shall decay,
And Christ shall wield His scepter, .
Our Lord and God for aye.
\ H. Ostrerius.

: Christmas and Mission.

Christmas is coming. All hearts are happy at
the thought of its approach. The Church is grate-
fully making preparations for celebrating the birth
of her Lord. Well may all rejoice, for the Christ-
mas-message proclaims good tidings of great joy
which shall be unto all people.

These tidings of great joy are contained in the
words of the heavenly messenger: “Unto you is born
this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is
Christ the Lord.”

The angel calls the Savior born in Bethlehem

“Christ the Lord.” What does that mean? It means

that the Child in the manger is the long promised
Messiah, the great Jehovah, the almighty Maker of
heaven and earth, the Prince of Peace. It means
that the Child lying upon hay and straw in the
manger is very God of very God, Light of Light,
true God, begotten of the Father from eternity.
It means more. It means that He is true man,
mysteriously conceived by the Holy Ghost and in
the fulness of time born of the Virgin Mary, flesh
and blood and bones of her, true man like unto us,
sin excepted. Truly, “great is the mystery of god-
liness: God is manifest in the flesh.”

Ah, Lord, who hast created all,

How hast Thou made Thee weak and small,

That Thou must choose Thy infant bed

Where humble cattle lately fed.

“Unto you is born this day a Savior.” Not for
the good, the righteous, and the believers only was
this Child born, but unto you shepherds, unto you
parents and children, unto you sinners great and
small, unto all people, regardless-of condition, race,
and color. Glorious, sublime tidings of great joy:
Also unto me and for me, a lost and condemned
sinner, was the Savior born.

This is the Christ, our God and Lord,
Who in all need will aid afford;

He will Himself-your Savior be,

From all your sins to make you free.

He who now accepts this Savior, the greatest
gift which God has bestowed on a lost and sinful
world, with a humble believing heart, possesses all
that which He promises through the heavenly mes-
senger: Peace on earth, good will to men, forgive-
ness of sin, life, and salvation.

These tidings of great joy we will not and can-
not keep to ourselves. E{e who thinks he can lock
them up in his own bosom has not yet fully under-
stood the Christmas-message. No, like the first
Christmas messenger we, too, will make these glad
tidings known that they who have not heard or be-
lieved it “may with us evermore such grace with
wondering thanks adore.” We cannot do otherwise,
we must bear witness for our Sayior Lord and help
to advance His kingdom on, earth.

This we Christians do wherever we have oppor-
tunity. ‘To those, however, whom we cannot reach
personally, be they on the home or on the foreign
mission-fields, we will send our missionaries with

_the message: Unto you, even unto you, is the Savior

born. Fear not. Open your ears and hearken to the
angel’s sweet song. Open your eyes and behold the
Grace of God_ that bringeth salvation manifest in