Dear Christian friends:

During these two days of our Conference we have done many things together as Christian brothers and sisters. We had some visiting, some play, some fun, but chiefly we attended to God's Word. And that is right. No matter what Christians do, they ought to do that following God's Word. The general theme of our Conference is: God's Word - Our Light. If we follow Jesus' Word, we shall not walk in darkness and in ignorance but in light and truth.

Our text this morning says that also. Jesus says, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)

So to impress all that we have done here these two days let me speak to you about:


Jesus says, "Continue in My Word." What does that mean? It means to read our Bibles regularly at home. It means to attend Bible Classes at Church. It means to attend to the sermons here at church. It means going to the Lord's Supper as often as we have an opportunity. It means daily remembering our Baptism. These are the ways we continue in Jesus' Word.

But doing all these things is not enough. Many people read their Bible often and go to church regularly, but they don't "continue in Jesus' Word." They don't read and hear correctly. They misunderstand what they read and hear. Why?

One reason is because they don't understand and know the difference between the Law and the Gospel. They read the Ten Commandments: Thou shalt not kill; Thous shalt not steal; Thou shalt not commit adultery. Then they read if a man does this He shall live forever and be okay with God.

They think they can do this and boast about their many good works. They think God gave the Law to give life and salvation to men. That is wrong. God did not give the law to give life. God gave the law to show man His sin. The law does not give life and salvation; it gives death and damnation. But the Gospel gives life and salvation and the Gospel alone. The Gospel says that God pities us although we are lost and condemned sinners the Gospel says God sent His Son Jesus into this world to keep the Law for us with a perfect heart.

And that this Son of God also paid for our law-breaking and sins on the cross. The Gospel says, "believe in this Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." (Acts 16:31) The Law gives eternal death, but the Gospel gives eternal life. This many, many church members misunderstand although they read their Bibles and hear God's Word often. If you misunderstand you are not continuing in Jesus' Word. But if you believe these strange and wonderful things about Jesus Son of God and Son of Mary, crucified for us. Then you are continuing in Jesus' Word, reading, hearing and believing not doubting.

The Law says and our own reason says, "If I sin I must pay and make good. I must suffer and work and do. But the Gospel says: "No. Christ has done all for you only believe." Now if we continue in Jesus' Word believing His precious and wonderful promises we shall have many blessings.

First, Jesus says we will be, "His disciples indeed (truly)." Many people have God's name and Jesus' name and the Lutheran name, but they do not have God's heart and spirit.

Jesus complained about the Jewish Church members: Outwardly they had God's Word and name, but not God's heart and spirit. Jesus said, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me." (Matthew 15:8)

So often we deaf have the name Christian and the name Lutheran, but that is only a name, we have not the Christian heart and the Lutheran spirit. Why? Because we don't continue in Jesus' Word. We hear, hear, read, read, read, but we don't really believe and trust our wonderful Savior. We worry and complain and kick and are afraid to take up the hard work that Jesus asks us to do. We love little, give little and do little.

Let us continue in Jesus' Word in true faith then we are really His disciples in name and in heart. This means daily confessing our sins and failures and then looking to Jesus for forgiveness. It means asking Him to make a new heart and a right spirit in us daily.

And if we continue in Jesus' Word as true disciples we will know the truth. Men spend much time and money searching to know the truth. They want to know the answers to the hard questions like these:

Who made me? Why do I live? Why must man die? If man dies, will he live again? Does God like me? Will God forgive me? If you continue in Jesus' Word as true disciples then you will know the true answers to these hard and important questions.

And because we know the truth this makes us free. Free from what? Free from the threats and condemnation of the Law. Free from a bad conscience. Free from fear of death. Free from Satan's power and force. Free to serve God with good, honest, humble and a happy heart, as dear children love their dear Father.

Let us give attention to these Words of Jesus: "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Let us, each one, go back to our home congregation and urge all of our members at home to: Continue In Jesus' Word! If we do we will have life and salvation. If we don't, we will have death and damnation.

Amen.