The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-06-12

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNOD Tho
Synod met at the usual hour.
The minutes Of former sessions were
read, corrected and adopted.
II was reported by the President that
Pastors Brand and Wilhelm had returned
home on account Of sickness.
The discussion Of tho theses was then
taken up. Subject:
"Synodieal P6uz"-Pastor Meiier, the
author Of the thesis, frat stated what
gave occasion TO the discussion oil this
subject before this Synod. It's not that
perhaps some among US hold q wrong
position in the matter. One occasion is
this, certain congregations have cast
1t up 10 brethren that our Sy-
nod has made laws respecting pulpit
and altar fellowship. We would show in
these theses that Gods Word alone makes
laws in Themselves binding. Another
occasion for these theses Is the fact that
there are so.called Lutheran OrganiEa.
tiOns in this country which claim law
giving authority over their congrega.
lions, and in case OF division In congte.
cations even claim their properly.
The connection Of theses was then pre-
sented. The first theses Is the foundation.
Christian liberty must be rightly under.
stood, not as il Christians could do what
they please. We here speak Of the liber-
ty Of conscience. In the second theses
we would present the idea that Christians
recognize no Lord but Christ; that is, no
one but Christ alone can rule over our
condolences. In the third thesis we would
declare that Gods Word alone rules and
decides in Gods kingdom; that Is, Gods
Word alone rules over the Christian's
conscience. Thesis four develops the idea
further by declaring that no man or men
can have such right in or over Gods king.
dom. In the fifth thesis this principle Is
then applied to Synods, taking the posi-
ton that Synods have no right TO make
laws for their congregations in the sense
that such laws would be binding, they can
simply recommend and advise. In the
last thesis it is there affirmed that al
though Synods are not necessary to saliva
ton, congregations should connect them.
selves with the Synod for their own good
and the good Of the church in general.
The first thesis was then taken up and
an earnest discussion. followed. The first
thesis reads: In Jno. 8, Sc our Lord do.
clares: "lf the Son therefore shall make
you free yc shall be free indeed" and
thereby teaches that He has made ChriSt-
ians Tree from the curse and restraint of
the law, and from all human restraints.
The first point, that Christ has made us
free from the curse Of the law, was dis.
cussed at length. The Christian is free
from the curse Of the law, We are by ma
ture under this curse. We arc incapable
Of everything good and consequently un-
der the curse, for thus is il written
"Cursed is every ono that continucth not
in all things which are written in the
book Of the law to do them" Whatever
does not fulfill every letter Of the law is
under the curse. This curse includes the
wrath Of God as revealed in the law.
The pnnishments Of the law include also
eternal condemnation.
When we say then that Christ has
made us free from the curse Of the Law,
We declare that he has delivered us from
sin, for lie was made sin for US, from the
power Of the devil who had the power 10
drag us to hell, and from the punishments
and tOrtures OF hell. The word OF God
declares, Gal. 8, 10, "Christ hath redeem.
ed US from the curse OF the law, being
made curse for U.S." Christ hath made
all free through the Redemption. In him
there is freedom. Outside of Him there
is slavery. Those who will not accept
Him will not and cannot DO free. Gods
law cannot condemn lis who are in Christ.
Rem. s, l "Therc is therefore now no
condemnation 10 them which are in
Christ Jesus"
The second point, that We are made
free from the constraint OF the law, wan
then taken up.
A lengthy and earnest discussion fol-
lowed. ,.. .....
The Law threatens and Constrains those
who arc under the law. There is no
freedom IA long as we arc under the law.
"A long as ne do thing because We
must, we arc not serving God. The
Christian finds pleasurein the law Of the
Lord, and thus lives n the law and not
under the law, Rom. G.l4) "yc are not
under the law, but under grace" II
Christianity had fully attained its final
object in the Christian, that is, il he had
no flesh to contend against, but were per-
feet, he would need no Law. 1t is then
not the inner man that needs the law Of
God but only the outer man, that il, our
old sinful nature, the flesh. According TO
l Tim, !, o: 1.-THE law is not made for
righteous man, but for the lawless and
disObedient." In Christ We are perfect,
that is IN so far as we are in Christ.
Christ's righteousness, which we appro-
PIRATE by faith, is perfect righteousness
in which there can be no improvement
made, otherwise it would not be accepta.
BILE with God. The regeneratc cares moth
ing for the works Of the law, but only for
the fruits Of the Spirit, which fruits OF
the Spirit are known by the fact that they
are in accordance with Gods revealed
law.
The discussion is to DO continued.
The afternoon was devoted to business
which would not be Of particular interest
tn The ruhIic