Sunday, June 14, 1874, During The 15^th Regular Convention

Holden Church, Goodhue County, Minnesota

"For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5:4.5.

FAITH AS THE VICTORY WHICH OVERCOMES THE WORLD

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." Ge. 3:15. With these words to the serpent God has announced that there are always going to be two kingdoms on earth, the kingdom of the devil and the kingdom of Christ, or God, and that these two kingdoms are going to be as diametrically opposed to each other as fire and water are, and that there is never going to be reconciliation but an everlasting enmity between these two kingdoms and their princes. But he also promises that the kingdom of Christ shall be victorious be-cause the Seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the serpent.

This prophecy of God was fulfilled and is being fulfilled daily. Nothing about the two kingdoms has changed since that time. There has never been peace or unity between them, but neither has the kingdom of the devil ever emerged from the battle victorious. The pitched-battle took place in Gethsemane, on Golgotha. Jesus Christ, the Prince of Life, died on the accursed tree. Only the condemned thief on the cross confessed him. The prince of darkness seemed then to have gotten the upper hand, the kingdom of God to be destroyed, but Jesus Christ descended into hell and proclaimed the victory he had won over the devil.

For 1800 years this victory which he revealed by his resurrection has been proclaimed to the world through the Gospel, and through this same Gospel the spiritual walk of the Savior who died for us but rose again has been an uninterrupted, unchecked course of victory in all these centuries down through the generations. Thus the psalmist sings, "Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has he set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it; and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof." (19:4-6.)

The prince of one of these kingdoms is also called "the prince of this world." This world, insofar as it lies in the wicked one, therefore also belongs to the kingdom of the devil. That's why there is and there is always going to be an everlasting enmity between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. Christ says, "My kingdom is not of this world," (Jo. 18:36) "the prince of this world comes, and has noth-ing in me," (Jo. 14:30) and to the citizens of his own kingdom he says, "If you were of the world, the world would love his own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." (Jo. 15:19.) It is true that in our progressive century people are suggest-ing a new, higher enlightenment, that a reconciliation between the world and the kingdom of God is not impossible, that a greater oneness must be produced, be it art, knowledge, culture, civilization, humanism or moral philosophy, wherein both powers can be united, and that by proclaiming the Gospel more pala-tably to the world's taste a person would make it more appealing and acceptable to the world and win greater numbers of people for it. And people do not tire of proclaiming this new gospel-of-the-world from pulpits and speakers' platforms, in schools and lodges, in books and newspapers.

But, my friends, this is neither a new nor a higher enlightenment but an old lie and delusion of the devil. Because "the god of this world has blinded the minds of them who do not believe." (2 Co. 4:4.) The wise and haughty spirits of the world who did not want to be fools for God, its rich and powerful who did not want to be submissive to the Law of God, its covetous and successful people who did not want to for-sake its pleasure and glory but who all, however, wanted to be saved, they have always known and found pleasure in this gospel, but souls were not won for the kingdom of God by it. No reconciliation is brought about between it and the kingdoms of the world in that way. Because it is written in the Word of God, "He (the Spirit of God) will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." (Jo. 16:8.) And again, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides for ever." 1 Jo. 2:15-17.

That's why the apostle Paul also admonishes Christians, "Be not unequally yoked together with unbe-lievers: for what fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness? and what communion does light have with darkness? And what concord does Christ have with Belial? or what part does he that be-lieves have with an infidel? And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? for you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Co. 6:14-18.

When Christ says, "My kingdom is not of this world" and "the prince of this world has nothing in me," he is also declaring himself and his kingdom to be in an irreconcilable opposition to the kingdom of the world and its prince. Reconciliation, agreement, compromise between them is impossible. In that case one of two things must happen. Either the world must return to God and thus cease to be the world, or through such an accord the kingdom of God must give up its essence as the kingdom of God and become the kingdom of the world, as far as the appeasement extends. It therefore stands firm as incontestable divine truth that a child of God, a citizen of the kingdom of Christ must be at odds with the world all his life. Children of God also have something of the world in themselves against which they must for that reason strive, as well as against the unbelievers in the world.

We also, my dear friends, are called to this battle! We were incorporated into the kingdom of God through Baptism and as Christians we confess ourselves as its citizens. If we are not going to be exposed as hypocrites we also have to wage this battle with the world unceasingly. And when I say, "with the world," then these words of the apostle also apply here. "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ep. 6:12.)

However, we are not to be afraid, because our Lord says, "The prince of this world is judged," (Jo. 16:11) and, "I have overcome the world." (Jo. 16:33.)

In the meantime, since our enemy appears in different forms and shapes at different times, although he is always the same spirit of darkness and lies, therefore it is of great importance that we rightly learn how he is attacking the kingdom of God in our days and how we are going to be able to overcome him. Now, since a large portion of us who have assembled here have come together as pastors and delegates of the church of God among us in order to counsel with each other about what can serve to the building up, ad-vancement and victory of the kingdom of God among us, I have thought that it could be a suitable prepa--ration for our participation in our meeting's serious discussions if at this time we considered more closely:

FAITH AS THE VICTORY WHICH OVERCOMES THE WORLD,

and then, 1) The World As The Enemy We Have To Strive Against, and 2) Faith As The Victory Which Overcomes The World.

I.

It can hardly have escaped the attention of any thinking Christian that as a power hostile to the kingdom of God the world acts in an appallingly presumptuous manner, breaking down and overthrowing all divine and human order. Who is not acquainted with socialism, this enemy of society which gathers hundreds of thousands, especially from the working classes and dregs of the people under its banner, and also already has a mighty army of internationals scattered around the world to spread and to fight for the carrying out of their ungodly principles. Well do these names even now have a bad sound in the ears of many children of the world. But what power their ideas have won, of that, however, the history of many legislative assemblies in our days will give the clearest proof. To remove all inequality from the world and to make everyone, and all human relationships on earth equal, in order in this manner to free us from all need and misery, and to make everyone happy, this is socialism's great task.

But it is not going to be achieved by bringing about a complete equality in political, and in part, in social respects, as many freedom-enthusiasts have worked for in well-intentioned  zeal but without taking the proper regard for people's diverse spiritual abilities and development, and to the ordinances put in place and sanctioned by God himself, and without considering that they were preparing the soil for the socialism which is the undoing of society.

No, their battle cry is: Away with religion and Christianity, away with authority and authoritativeness, away with family and property! These poor, blinded people who are all but bereft of all reason, have as a rule seen near at hand, yes, themselves felt much of the poverty and misery of life on earth. They have of-ten seen their best situated fellowmen, who did, however, have it in their power to render help, not lift a finger in order to ease the heavy burden for them, but on the contrary, greedily and unmercifully have taken advantage of their poverty in order to oppress them even more and to enrich themselves.

Without the humbling acknowledgment of sin as people's ruin, without the strengthening confidence in an almighty, gracious God's ruling of the world and the individual person's destiny, and in his righteous judgment, and finally, without the blessed comfort of the hope of eternal life, these poor people themselves try to take the governance of the world into their own hands and to secure for themselves the only happi-ness they believe in, the earthly, and that, through the means which seem to them the most proper and quickest for leading to their goal. They declare open war on all moral philosophy and religion, which based upon the unchanging nature of God, condemn their goal as well as the means, but above all, upon Christianity which preaches renunciation and patience, and comforts the suffering with the grace of God and an eternal life.

Then after having disengaged themselves and cast from themselves all divine ties and authority, they turn to human ordinances and seek to put them (i.e. Christianity, etc.) aside. The authority of parents and superiors, just as woman's subjection under the man, is to them an intolerable tyranny, property an authorized thievery; instead of marriage free love is to be the rule; and however much even the Fifth Commandment is respected, when it comes to bringing the new world-order into place, they have very recently had a grand demonstration in the Paris commune's activity, and many hints in the so-called strikes which have been taking place in several of the countries around the world.

This enemy has not yet appeared among us in its most threatening form, mostly because of the compara-tively good circumstances and political power of the working classes, but from their ranks we have seen different persons push forward both in our legislative assemblies and in our newspapers, so that it is up to us Christians to be at our posts against the emerging enemy. "They who sow the wind, shall reap the whirlwind," Scripture says (Ho. 8:7.) People may also verify that here. For so long now, the world's learned, rich and refined, have preached and shown indifference and contempt for Christianity. They have lived in luxury and ease with their belly as their god. By taking the Word of God away from the schools and education, or by falsifying it, they have undermined all Christian faith and true fear of God among the people in the lower classes. Now totally immersed in indifferentism and materialism, these people are turning their weapons against their teachers and are demanding their prosperity in order to be able to partake of their lust. And the Lord in his righteousness lets this scourge of discipline rage over people and nation.

I mentioned indifferentism! This spiritual indifference is also one of the alluring forms in which the spirit of the world clothes itself and attacks the kingdom of God. In its coarse form it steps up to us with its: "Everyone is saved in his own faith." The religion-less schools are most frequently its nursemaids, especially where they come forward with the claim of being adequate for the people's education. In the lodges of the Freemasons and other secret societies one finds as a rule, a stronghold for, encouragement and dissemination of it. People say there:

Christian, Jew, heathen, Turk,

Each just worships God in his own way!

But just as often this enemy advances to meet us clothed in the cloak of Christian love. It is sen-sitive, and above all, wants no controversy even if the crown can be won by it. When people agree in the essential things, they say, then it doesn't matter so exactly what they teach and believe. However, a per-son cannot be sure in his cause then either. The Word of God is not so clear, and both sides can be en-titled to their opinions, just so that a person lives like a Christian. It therefore tries to unite yes and no in a religious union. It does not understand nor does it want to understand that its alluring talk is the ser-pent's old: "Yea, did God really say that?" (Ge. 3:1) or Pilate's doubting outcry: "Yes, what is truth?" (Jo. 18:38.) It does not comprehend that as Luther says, that love is cursed in the abyss of hell, which is obtained with damage and detriment to the doctrine of faith (Lectures on Galatians). It does not under-stand that with its love and unionism it dishonors God and sneers at his Word, that only the true Word of God feeds faith properly and that only the correct, true faith brings about a sound Christian life and the proper good works.

When this indifference to unity of doctrine, this indifference to the Word of God as the chief heritage which was committed to us by the fathers, first enters into congregations, then it will soon reveal itself in other ways. People become indifferent to the salvation of souls, to the Christian education of children, to the establishment and support of Christian schools, to the furtherance of the kingdom of God generally. For the sake of precious peace, and out of love, as it is called, people deny the truth and bring about an appeasement with lies and error, call sour sweet, evil good and keep silent toward the sins of brethren instead of chastising and admonishing them. Truly, a dangerous enemy in our time against which every one of us must see to it that he is properly armed!

I also mentioned materialism. It denies or despises the Spirit and the spiritual. It sets up matter, the bodily, the earthly as the only reality, or at any rate as the highest kind of reality. I will not entertain its insane, audacious theory about the gradual development of all creatures, man as well , from matter, or about man's soul being only a bodily substance. On the other hand, how people are bypassing almost all education and are trying to push this materialistic bias forward through a one-sided instruction of the youth which is set up to develop such abilities thoroughly and to give such knowledge as can be useful for this life, how it is revealing itself in an impetuous coveting and chasing after acquiring this world's goods and finding happiness through their enjoyment, and how more and more it is producing a generation whose characteristic feature is covetousness, vanity, and addiction to sensual pleasures, is something to which no Christian can be blind. Granted that in broad daylight, in theory, many people do want to reject the materialistic principles, in practice there are unfortunately all too many of them who without a doubt display in their life the fact that their belly is their god, that they do regard the gratification of the body's needs and of truly sensual desires as the most important, yes, the only thing which is worth providing for, and that they regard thoughts of an afterlife as an idle musing and a striving after the eternal estate as foolishness.

I dare say that this enemy is perhaps the one which has gained most access into our congregations. But one thing must be obvious to us all, that just as it gains power over hearts, so will all spiritual interest and life be extinguished, and no talk about sacrifice, work and struggle for the kingdom of God will remain. When we then must complain so often about indifference, covetousness and lack of proper willingness to sacrifice where the affairs of the kingdom of God such as church and Christian schools are concerned, then we should not be uncertain about what kind of enemy we have to fight nor should we step out of the way for him because he has come to great power, but with the greater earnestness oppose him in the full armor of a Christian.

Finally in the fourth place I want to emphasize particularly the spirit of self-righteousness and pride as one of the forms the world assumes in its enmity to the kingdom of God. This spirit which brought about the Fall of man in the first place, instead of bowing completely to the Word of God and to his will reveal-ed in the Word, wants to find fault with this word and by human strength do what grace alone is capable of. This same spirit is today keeping thousands from entering the kingdom of God and is luring other thousands to fall away from it. It is nourished and encouraged in the natural child-heart, yes, is imbibed by ever so many Christian children's souls through a humanistic education and religion-less schools where a moral philosophy is imprinted and pursued which looks away completely from the natural de-pravity and spiritual impotence as well as from the necessity of grace for salvation and of every good work, and instead builds on the sufficiency and power of man's natural ability. The secret societies are also the widely spread nurseries of this spirit.

From the life-and-death battle against this spirit of self-righteousness and pride which had as it were embodied itself in that great kingdom of the world, the papal church, the Lutheran Church emerged through the Reformation, whose flower therefore is the doctrine of the sinner's justification by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ alone. The existence of the Lutheran Church is dependent on this life and death struggle being continued. Also our synod's battles over it have essentially been a fight against this spirit and for the preservation of this precious jewel of the Lutheran Church. It was surely this old pharisaic, or, if people prefer, false pietism, that we have had to fight since our beginning. And after all, are not our synod's latest battles pertaining to justification and absolution fought against the same enemy? That God is not merely willing to, but has actually accepted Christ's atoning work and imputed it to the entire world for righteousness, and now on his part makes it known and gives it to poor sinners in the Gospel and absolution without regard for whether a person believes it or not, but really in order that he shall believe it and be saved, and therefore also leaves the entire glory for the salvation of sinners with the Lord, you see, people cannot comprehend this incomprehensible saving grace and therefore reject it, while instead a doctrine is insisted upon which must presuppose a cooperation and merit on the part of man.

But brethren, although we must thank God for it that he has preserved the pure doctrine in this point among us, no one must therefore think that we have driven this enemy so far from us that there is no longer any danger! On the contrary, he is lying and napping at the door of everyone's heart. Oh, how does he not tempt us daily on the one hand and to excuse, yes, to justify our sins both before God, our-selves and our fellowmen, not to believe God in his Word and to comfort ourselves fully with his grace but to conceive mistrust and despair toward his truthful as well as gracious promises, and on the other hand, to a proud, unloving manner over toward our fellowmen, to unwillingness to forgive one's brother and to reconcile oneself with his antagonist! Alas, yes, how much sin is there not in this direction among us and how important is it not therefore that we work very earnestly on sweeping out this old leaven!

You see, dear friends, in this way we have then considered some of the leading powers of this world with which a child of God has to fight in our days! And if I shall mention the poisoned source from which these destructive streams of the world flow, then it is unbelief, the unbelief which does not want to hold the words of Scripture, the chief truths with the lesser, to be unfailing, immovable divine truth and does not remain with it and build on it as the solid rock.

Truly, brethren, they are mighty enemies we have to fight against, so much more dangerous for us since they have an ally in the old Adam who beats in all our hearts. And yet you must overcome these enemies if you are not going to miss the kingdom of God and be lost eternally.

Therefore the answer to this question is extremely important for us:

II

What is the victory which overcomes the world? The answer to this question is given in our text: "Our faith," it says there, "is the victory which has overcome the world." Thus it is therefore through faith, brethren, that we shall conquer all these mighty enemies. Yes, the apostle says our faith is itself the victory which has overcome them all. Therefore it is not by the light of our reason or by the strength of our will or by any other natural human power whatever that we are going to win the victory, but through faith. But when the apostle says further, "our faith," then he is clearly teaching by that that therefore not "everyone is saved by his faith," but only through the Christian faith - "our faith." And so that we should not nurture doubt about which faith he means, he adds himself: "Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God." Luther says:

The right, victorious faith is that which believes that Jesus is the Son of God. It is an invincible power created by the Holy Ghost in the hearts of Christians. Because it is a certain understanding which does not waver hither and yon or gape after his own thoughts, but grasps God in this Christ as his Son sent from heaven through whom he reveals his will and his heart and helps from sin and death to grace and new, eternal life. It is such a confidence and trust which does not rely upon its own merit or worth-iness, but upon Christ, God's Son, and, relying upon his power and might, fights against the devil and the world. Therefore this faith is also not a cold, lazy, lame and vacant thought, such as the papists and others dream about faith, but a living, active faith, so that where it is, there must victory, fruit and vanquishing follow along. If this does not follow along, then neither is faith there.

So that now it is clear that with the words, "Who believes that Jesus is the Son of God," the apostle John does not agree with them who say: This article is the essential one on which all Christians must agree but about which the rest of the people can then believe as they wish. Because faith does not know Jesus as the Son of God at all apart from the Word through which he has revealed himself. On the contrary, as he reveals himself there according to his essence, his works and his will, thus does faith believe and continue to believe.

For that reason John also says at the conclusion of his Gospel, "But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name." (20:31.) And Jesus settles the matter when he says, "If you continue in my word, then are you my disci-ples indeed," (Jo. 8:31) from which therefore follows that if we do not want to continue in his Word, then we are not his disciples either and therefore cannot have the faith in him which makes us to be his disci- ples. The faith which is the victory over the world must therefore want to hold to Christ and his Word in all points, and insofar as it departs from this, insofar it is not the true Christian faith and has no promise of victory over the world and does not want any such victory either, but itself remains overcome by the world. Therefore in these words the apostle gives indifferentism as little as false faith or obvious unbelief promises of victory, but only the correct faith, that which agrees with the Word of God.

But now someone will perhaps say: "Then it does not depend therefore on whether a person is believing properly, but only on the fact that he is orthodox and exhibits a confession which agrees with the Word of God." That such an opinion is however false is clearly evident from the words the apostle has said be-fore, "Whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world." The faith, the apostle therefore wants to say, which is to be in a fight with the world and overcome this enemy, must not be an historic, a dead faith, an empty fancy or mere confession of the lips, but a living faith which is not born of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God, or: he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God and who through this faith is going to gain victory over the world, must not be an unconverted person in his heart's natural state, but must be born again to a new life by God through his Holy Spirit.

Accordingly, brethren, we should therefore be zealous, considered both as individual Christians and as a synod, in order to hold firmly to the Lord's Word and to the correct confession, and not let ourselves be dissuaded from it by anything, because the promise of victory over the world and therefore of salvation is tied to such a believing correctly. Therefore for the same eternal salvation's sake, let us not forget that they who exhibit such an orthodox confession must be regenerated, if they, as they who become victors, are going to retain the victory.

And when we unfortunately see so little of the victory over the world among us, but plenty of them who are marching in step with the world or obviously are letting themselves be led by its prince, then we can conclude from it how common dead faith is and how much we need the warning against it.

O, therefore, then, let everyone be admonished in time, before it's too late and he is cast out to his eter-nal ruin with his: "Lord, Lord!" there, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth!

And because this new, spiritual birth is created by God himself through the Means of Grace ordained by him, thus everyone use them diligently and properly, so that he lets himself be disciplined by them to true repentance for sin and fear of God's wrath and judgment. Thus in his sinful wailing's feeling will God certainly awaken in him through his saving Gospel the living faith which grasps Christ and will create a new spirit within him as certainly as he does not willfully resist this Spirit of grace!

When as such a new creation in Christ you believe in him as the Son of God, then you will strive in earnest, and not hypocritically, against the world in all the forms in which it steps forward against you, and then not only is the victory promised you by God, and therefore certain, but then you, yourself, prove your faith as the victory which has overcome the world, and as long as you continue in faith you go un-ceasingly onward from victory to victory until one day you receive the imperishable crown of glory.

But, you say, how can this faith in Jesus as the Son of God be such a mighty power and overcome such powerful enemies? We heard above that Christ says, "I have overcome the world." Now it is of course faith alone which can grasp and actually also does grasp Christ with all his merit and gifts and therefore also with him, victory. Faith makes it one's own and comforts oneself personally, knowing that Christ has overcome the world, and however much the prince of this world still storms and rages against it, thus it is, however, peaceful and happy because it knows that the prince of this world is already judged and his power broken. Yes, however much the believer must still confess his own weakness to his humiliation and shame, and that through it he has brought on one wound after the other from the prince of this world, and through his cunning let himself be misled to take part in his essence and to be seduced into many kinds of folly and sins, thus does faith however comfort him anew daily through the forgiveness of sins, righteousness and victory which Christ has acquired, and says happily and boldly: "God be praised, this world's prince is, however, judged. He has no part in Christ, therefore he has no part in me either. I am free, however weak and overcome I even now many times can appear and feel myself to be!"

Now surely the more the believer daily holds Christ before himself by the Gospel, his work, struggle and victory, everything before him, the more light, pleasure and power thrills him there. He looks into the depth of the richness of the love and mercy in God the Father's heart whom the Son reveals, and he ob-tains all the greater and greater delight in being with him and following his commands. He obtains cour-age as well as the desire to forsake all and to resist everyone who wants to separate him from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Through faith Christ dwells in his heart. The power of Christ reveals itself in his weakness and he is able, as Paul says, to do all things through Christ who strengthens him.

But faith not only rejoices over the present good things, the forgiveness of sins, righteousness and peace, it looks to the things which are coming, as expecting them. In it it looks "unto Jesus the author and fin-isher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (He. 12:2.) Thus it does not become weary and lose heart over the sufferings of the present time, but preserves its soul through its patience and rejoices in the hope of the coming glory with which the sufferings of this present time are nothing to compare.

That's how faith acts, so that more and more for the believer the world and its glory lose their charm and allure, their captivating power. So far from it being the highest, the only thing his soul desires, thus does faith teach him on the contrary to consider all things to be filth and loss in order to win Christ. It gives him rich compensation for all the want and pain, for all the troublesomeness and sacrifices in the present and in the coming good things which he enjoys in the fellowship of Christ.

But just as faith gives him distaste for and abhorrence of the world's pleasure and glory which wants to obscure for him and separate him from the kingdom of God and its glory, and just as it gives him delight and courage to forsake its wealth, its friendship, its glory and its luxury, thus faith which is active in love also gives him power to humble himself before people as well as before God and to deal with them in love, forbearance and peaceableness. The faith which daily refreshes itself at the spring of grace and quenches its thirst at the fountain of sin's forgiveness makes the heart willing humbly to consider itself as the least, in love to forgive its debtors just as its debt is forgiven it, to show mercy as mercy has befallen it, to see in every need y brother the needy Jesus and to demonstrate to him the love and gratitude he owes him and which the soul unceasingly longs after demonstrating to him.

Finally, faith holds before the heart the shield with which it can quench the fiery darts of the wicked one. As faith, which has everything in its Savior, and lives by his grace and merit alone, beats back all the thoughts of pride and self-righteousness, thus does it comfort against all temptations to hopelessness and unbelief through the unfailing testimony of the love of God in Christ to which it clings. Yes, even the raging storms of temptation must abate before the Word of faith from the mouth of God, "Be of good cheer, your sins be forgiven you!" (Mt. 9:2.) Because through these words God himself of course opens his heaven for the sinner against whom hell already has opened its mouth, and faith believes and comforts itself through these words because they are God's words and God cannot lie even if sins are blood-red as the color of scarlet and numerous as the sand of the sea.

Yes, also in death's struggle when this last enemy shall be overcome, faith has Christ at its side and in its heart. Therefore we sing in the hymn:

Naught but unbelief can ever

Condemn me or deny me,

For of all men Christ my Savior,

Is Himself pleading for me

And all who in faith continue

And unto the end abide;

In this faith I too continue

Holding up this same strong shield.

Let Thy Spirit, O, dear Savior,

Both confirm and strengthen me,

So that in death's most bitter hour,

Faith's hand grasped so firm by Thee,

My soul may with its final sigh

Ascend to God's throne on high!

And there be near my gracious God,

And wear life's crown 'pon my head.

Thus faith demonstrates itself as the victory which overcomes the world and as such shall it also be re-vealed on the Last Day. Then we shall be arrayed in white robes and receive the crown of life which is promised them who are faithful unto the end. Because Jesus says, "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life." (Re. 2:10.) And, Revelation 7:13-17: "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he who sits on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

Now then, examine yourselves whether you are in the faith! May God help us also to be arrayed in the armor of faith and to fight its battles not in carnal zeal and with carnal weapons, but with spiritual weapons, which are the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God!

And may the God of victory give victory and success to our battle, so that we, as they who become victors, might retain the victory! Amen, in Jesus' name!

Kirketidende, July 10, 17 & 24, 1874.