In connection with this controversy concerning Absolution it is only natural that there should be divergences as to the doctrine of the gospel. The opponents of the Norwegian Synod maintained that the gospel, like Absolution, grants remission of sins only to believers, and not to unbelievers. They taught that the gospel is contingent upon our faith. We find an excellent presentation of the position held by our Synod in this controversy in an essay written by the Rev. V. Koren in the early sixties. Referring to the discussion at the Pastoral Conference at Jefferson Prairie, Rev. Koren says: ``When they began the discussion of the doctrine that absolution or the gospel is a powerful impartation of the forgiveness of sin, objections were raised on the part of the pastors of the Augustana Synod, who contended that the gospel imparts forgiveness only to the believers. The pastors of our Synod, on the contrary, taught that the gospel is and remains the same whether men accept it or not; it is, therefore, a powerful impartation of the forgiveness of sin unto all who hear it, whether they are believers or unbelievers. Here the issue was drawn, and this is the issue as we find it today.
``The question before us is whether the gospel is now one thing, now another; whether it says one thing when it sounds to a believer, and something else when it sounds to an unbeliever, or if it is ever the same, an eternal, definite, unchangeable word, which brings the same message from God whithersoever it may be sent, to every nation, kindred and tongue, and brings the same gift to all, to those who let their hearts be opened unto the gift of God's love as well as to those who harden their hearts and despise the gift.
``From God's word we know that God out of love has delivered up His Son for all men. The Son, sent by the Father, has out of love given Himself as a sacrifice for all men, and has thereby purchased for all forgiveness of sin with a great price. All this is done out of love, in accordance with the eternal councils of God. Man's conduct or merits have nothing to do with it; man's righteousness or unrighteousness, his deeds or omissions, his belief or unbelief, do not come into consideration, have neither cooperated with or hindered it; it is based altogether upon God's own eternal, free, independent and unmerited love to fallen mankind, It is based wholly on God's love, not to His friends, but to His enemies (Rom. 5, 10). Hence it is called grace alone and a free gift.
``As God will have all men to be saved, and no one can be saved except through Christ, God's gift to men, it follows that it is God's will that the gift contained in the gospel is to he brought to all men (1 Tim. 2, 4; Mar. 16, 15; Tit. 2, 1 1; 1 Tim. 1, 10).
``Wherever the gospel is proclaimed, therefore, the triune God sends His gift, i. e. Christ, and with Him forgiveness of sin, life, and salvation to all who hear it. We repeat it, that wherever the gospel is proclaimed -- howsoever those act who hear it, whether they let themselves be convinced and accept it, or reject and despise it -- God's will always is and remains the same (Jas. 1, 173 , and the Word, in which God's will is revealed, always remains the same (1 Peter 1, 25) , and therefore the gift conveyed by this Word always remains the same (Rom. 3, 3; 9, 6; 2 Tim. 2, 13).
``Christ is the same, yesterday, and today, and forever; the gospel of Christ is therefore also the same, yesterday, and today, and forever. It was the same when proclaimed to Adam as when proclaimed to those who live at the sound of the last trump. There is only one gospel (Gal. 1, 6-8), and it is the same when it sounds to the dullest child as to the most profound thinker, the same to the most defiant denier of God's truth, the most bitter scoffer, as to the most pious bearer of the cross -- the same eternal, powerful, heavenly message, which makes the heavenly hosts rejoice; in which the Holy Ghost reveals the unsearchable depths of God's love, and proclaims to everyone who hears the message: `God loves thee, poor lost soul! God's love hath paid thy whole debt of sin! Fear not, arise, shake the dust and the chains from thee, go out from thy prison, thou art free! Rejoice exceedingly, it is God's will that thou shalt he saved! Be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee!''' Works III, 47-51.
The full, unconditional gospel, so beautifully described in these passages, has always been preached in the Norwegian Synod.