Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-23
.LUTHERANS NEAR
END OF SESSIONS
Convention Of Central Illinois District
Of the Synod Of Missouri May be
Closed Tomorrow Neon.
a SACRED CONCERT Is GIVEN
Professor 4. Vessel Of Lake Forest IN
Organ RecitaI-Yo Vocal Numbers
BIZ Emmanuel Choir.

The Central Illinois district OF the
Lutheran synod of Missouri resumed
its sessions at Immanuei's Lutheran
church this morning after q recess
since Saturday noon. Saturday after
noon the delegates were taken for an
excursion ride up the river as the
guests Of the congregation Of Imman-
uel's church and they had most en-
joyabIe trip
While the conference itself held no
sessions yesterday, special services
were held at the chruch in which
members Of the visiting delegation
took part. At the morning service the
sermon was delivered by Rev. II. Witt
rock Of New Berlin. The speaker took
as his text Acts 5.27-42 with the
theme, The Glorious Victory of the
Gospel over an Unbelieving World
Last night the members OF the con
gregation and conference enjoyed a
musical treat at an instrumental and
vocal concert. Besides the congrega-
tional singing the special features
were q number Of choral selections by
the mixed choir of Immanuefs church
and an organ recital Of several CLASH
cal sacred selections by Professor 4.
KaeppeI who is the teacher Of organ
at the teachers seminary Of the de-
nomination at River Forest.
Sessions Near Close.
Discussion of the treasurer's report
further committee elections and re-
ports were the principal subjects at
the business session this afternoon. It
is likely that all remaining business
may be disposed OF before the close Of
this session and in that case the con
ference VIII close with the ending of
the doctrinaI discussion tomorrow
noon.
Tonight at 7.30 o'clock the c0mmup-
ion service will he celebrated. The
Rev. 0. 1. Holenstein Of Peoria preach
es the pastoral sermon, the Rev 3
NeHendorf Of St. Peter delivers the
confessional address.
During this mornings session the
doctrinaI discussions on Justification
were resumed. The Rev. Fiach con
unued the reading of his paper on the
subject, showing that God is moved TO
justify the sinner solely by His grace
and the merit of Jesus Christ
The Bible describes it to MS as
an attribute Of God. namely His
goodness manifested toward the u0-
worthy sinner. Some tbeolog+ans.
on the other hand, describe grace as an
attribute of man, and put this interpre-
taton on the Biblical doctrine of Justi-
fcatiou If we are justified freely. by
the grace Of God. this can only mean
that there is no quality. no worthiress
or merit of any sort in man which
could hove God to Justify MIN.
Definition Of Redemption.
We are justified for Christ's sake. or
the redemption which is in Christ
Jesus By this redemption the Bihla
means a ransom which Jesus paid to
set the sinner free. Man was debtor
to God through sin. and was bound to
pay the utterm0st faTthing. But man
could not pray and therefore out Of
His abundant grace and mercy. Go!
gave the world His own dear Son
Jesus paid the debt Could he do that.
and how The answer as given us in
Gods word is. The Blood Of Jesus
Christ. His Son. cleanseth US from all
sin" Thus the justified sinner can
boast; BY grace I'm saved. Jesus re-
deemed us from the curse of the rasg.
He fulfilled the whole law in mans
stead He shed His blood for the sias
of the whole world His words on the
cross, 1T is finished" mean that za
rifice has been offered which is accept
able to God and which avafIs for all
sinners at all times. Here is the four-
dation of our justification. the merit Of
Jesus Christ God was in Christ, re
the world unto Himself. not
imputing their sins unto them. Christ
was delivered for our offences. and
raised again for our justification.
justification in Old Testament.
It should be noted that the sacrifice
Of Jesus avajled also in the Old Testa-
ment, Abraham Noah. all the fathers
were justified for Christ's sake. Jesus
is the Lamb Of God which taketh away
the sin Of the world
The vicarious atonement of Christ /
is not preached and understood in our
day as it should be
The essayist passed over to the
fifth and last thesis of his dissertation. /
We are justified through faith In
Christ alone. Our fathers call faith T.
the hand whereby we receive the right .
before God which Jesus BY.
His atonement earned for us.