The scriptural doctrine of Christ’s holy sacrament, which our Church holds and sets forth, and the solemn, searching preparatory service which she connects with it, make it truly calculated to strengthen the child of God, and unite him closer to Christ.

Our Church insists that the whole life of the believer, in the fellowship of the Saviour and His people, is to be a “growth in Grace and in knowledge.”  In this, also the believer is wonderfully assisted by our teachings concerning the efficacy of the Word of God as a means of Grace, a vehicle and instrument of the Holy Spirit.  He is further comforted and quickened by that precious doctrine of justification—­alone by faith in Jesus Christ.  He is encouraged to press forward to the mark, to purify himself more and more, to become more and more active, earnest and consecrated by what the Church teaches of sanctification.

Nor does the Church overlook or forget the sad fact that many—­often through the fault of those who ought to be their spiritual guides in the home and Church—­lapse from their baptismal covenant, or forget their confirmation vows, and thus fall back into an unconverted state.  She insists on the absolute necessity of conversion or turning back, for all such.  She does not, however, expend all her energies in proclaiming its necessity, but also sets forth and makes plain the nature of conversion, and the means and methods of bringing it about.

While the Church would, first of all, use every endeavor to preclude the necessity of conversion, by bringing the children to Jesus that He may receive and bless them through His own sacrament; and while she would use all diligence and watchfulness to keep them true to Christ in their baptismal covenant, yet, when they do fall away, she solemnly assures them that except they repent and be converted, they will eternally perish.

And if this lamentable backsliding should take place more or less with a large portion of a congregation, our Church prays and labors for a revival.  While she repudiates and abhors all that is unscriptural, and therefore dangerous, in the modern revival system, she yet appreciates and gives thanks for every “time of refreshing from the Lord.”

Yes, the Lutheran Church does believe in salvation, in the absolute necessity of its personal application, and in eternal perdition to every one who will not come to God in the only way of salvation—­through Jesus Christ.

And thus the Lutheran system is a complete system.  It takes in everything revealed in the Word.  It teaches to observe all things that Christ has commanded.  It declares the whole counsel of God.