Church & Ministry - Lesson Ten

CHURCH AND MINISTRY

2003

LESSON TEN

I. Thesis 8 Concerning the Church

Although God gathers for Himself a holy church of elect also where His Word is not taught in its perfect purity and the sacraments are not administered altogether according to the institution of Jesus Christ, if only God’s Word and the sacraments are not denied entirely but both remain in their essential parts, nevertheless, every believer must, at the peril of losing his salvation, flee all false teachers, avoid all heterodox congregations or sects, and acknowledge and adhere to orthodox congregations and their orthodox pastors wherever such may be found. (Church and Ministry, page 101)

3.C. Every Christian for the sake of his salvation is in duty bound to acknowledge and adhere to orthodox congregations and orthodox pastors, wherever he can find such. (Church and Ministry, page 136)

a. Scripture Proof

1. Mt 10:32,33

2. Lk 9:26

3. Ro 10:9,10

4. 2Ti 1:8

5. 1Jn 2:18,19

6. Ac 2:42

b. Confessions and Creeds

1. Formula of Concord; Epitome, Summary, par 3 (Tappert, p. 465; Kolb and Wengert, p 486)

2. F.C., S.D., Rule and Norm, p. 5 (Tappert, p. 504; Kolb and Wengert, p. 527)

3. Augsburg Confession, Art XXI Conclusion, par. 1,2. (Tappert, pp. 47,48; Kolb and Wengert, pp. 58,59)

c. Witnesses in Private Writings

1. Luther (see Lesson Two)

a. “‘Is it true that you by no means should say: “I am a Lutheran or a papist”, for none died for you nor is your Master than Christ alone, and you should regard yourself as a Christian. But if you believe that Luther’s doctrine is evangelical and the pope’s unevangelical, you must not cast Luther aside; otherwise you will cast aside his doctrine, which you regard as that of Christ. So you must say: “Luther may be a scoundrel or a saint, for that I do not care; yet the doctrine is not his but that of Christ Himself.’” (“Opinion on Receiving the Sacrament in Both Kinds,” 1522, St. Louis edition, 20:90-92)” (quoted, Church and Ministry, p. 140)

2. Melanchton, Philip

a. February 16, 1497 – April 19, 1560

Educated in classics; became known as a humanist

Praised by Erasmus

At University of Wittenberg, won by M. Luther for cause of theology, studied and taught theology etc.; very popular

In 1521, issued Loci Communes (1535 and later editions increasing reflected synergism.

Guided by Luther, prepared the A.C. and the Ap. (Luth. Cyclopedia, p. 527)

b. “‘We should know that there must be a public ministry of the Gospel and public assemblies, as we are taught in Eph. 4:10-12. And this assembly we must join; of this visible assembly we must be citizens and members, as the psalmist commands us:….These and similar passages do not speak of a Platonic idea but of the visible church, in which the voice of the Gospel resounds and where there is witnessed the ministry of the Gospel; by this God has revealed Himself and is efficacious. And we should not praise those vagabonds who roam about and join no congregation because they cannot find an ideal [church] in which there is not something lacking in morals and discipline. We should rather seek the church in which the articles of faith are taught purely and no idolatry is defended….’ (Loci theologici, [Leipzig, 1552], pp. 420-22).” (quoted Church and Ministry, p. 142)

3. Gerhard, John (See Lesson One)

a. “‘There are also other errors of visionary persons concerning the church. Some, despising the ministry of the Word and the sacraments, boast of their [new] inspirations and revelations and extol themselves, as being the true church of Christ. Others, when thinking of a church, look for the greatest assembly or for what the mighty and learned are inclined to regard as the church. Still others ascribe salvation also to the heathen who are outside the church and without the saving knowledge of Christ. Others again falsely imagine that the church is the aggregate of all sects, if only they bear the name of Christ. Some do not join any congregation and do not concern themselves about any church, especially if they indulge in their own special opinions and nevertheless hope to be saved. Some, finally, on account of the wicked persons who in this life mingle with the congregations, separate themselves from the church. On account of this and other perversions, the doctrine of the church must be diligently explained for the passages of Scripture (Loci theologici, “De ecclesia,; par. 2)” (quoted Church and Ministry, p. 43).