ALL BELIEVERS
I Corinthians 12:13-20
I Peter 2:5
Ephesians 2:19-23 & Ephesians 4:4-6
THE MARKS OF THE CHURCH
Matthew 28:20
Acts 2:42
John 8:31-32
THE CHURCH -- THOSE WHO PREACH
Matthew 28:16-20 (Mark 16:15-16 & Luke 24:44-49)
John 20:19-23
Luke 10:16
NOT ALL ARE PASTORS
Ephesians 4:11
Acts 20:28
I Corinthians 12:28-29
II Corinthians 5:18
I Peter 5:1-4
AUTHORITY OF THE OFFICE OF THE HOLY MINISTRY
Matthew 18:18
Matthew 16:19
Matthew 28:19-20
John 20:22-23
I Corinthians 3:5
THE CHURCH; ALL BELIEVERS
I Corinthians 12:13-20
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and
we were all made to drink of one Spirit. {14} For the body is not one member, but many. {15} If the foot
says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part
of the body. {16} And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for
this reason any the less a part of the body. {17} If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing
be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? {18} But now God has placed the
members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. {19} If they were all one member, where
would the body be? {20} But now there are many members, but one body.
Through the Gospel God takes we who are many and draws us together as one body. Each of us are gifted
in various ways, yet God uses us all for His purpose.
I Peter 2:5
You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
All believers, together, comprise a spiritual house. That is all believers are joined together as one in
Christ.
Ephesians 2:19-22
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of
God's household, {20} having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus
Himself being the corner stone, {21} in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into
a holy temple in the Lord, {22} in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the
Spirit.
Those who believe in Jesus are now citizens of the household of God. We are joined together by God into
a place of habitation for His Spirit.
Ephesians 4:4-6
There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; {5} one Lord,
one faith, one baptism, {6} one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
God is not divided. There is only one body of which we all belong. God Himself has established this body
through His Son Jesus Christ and through Him He is in all believers.
THE MARKS OF THE CHURCH
Matthew 28:20
teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age."
The teachings of Christ are central to the recognition of the Church upon earth.
Acts 2:42
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of
bread and to prayer.
The Apostles saw of primary importance the continual focus upon God's word, prayer, and the use of the
sacraments.
Note: God's Word shows us that the means of Grace are one true mark of the church. Where
the means of Grace are present, God is at work forgiving the sins of His people. The
means of Grace include; The Word of God itself, Baptism, Lord's Supper, and Holy
Absolution.
John 8:31-32
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly
disciples of Mine; {32} and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
The church is marked by the Word of God and its life giving activity in our lives.
THE CHURCH; THOSE IN THE OFFICE OF THE HOLY MINISTRY
Matthew 28:16-20 (Mark 16:15-16 & Luke 24:44-49)
But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. {17} When they
saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. {18} And Jesus came up and spoke to them,
saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. {19} "Go therefore and make disciples
of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, {20} teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
(Mark 16:15-16 NNAS) And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
{16} "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be
condemned.
(Luke 24:44-49) Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with
you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must
be fulfilled." {45} Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, {46} and He said to them,
"Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, {47} and that
repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from
Jerusalem. {48} "You are witnesses of these things. {49} "And behold, I am sending forth the promise
of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."
Christ instituted one office within His church to deliver the forgiveness of sins. It is the Office of the Holy
Ministry. Those who are called by God to be pastors are given the responsibility to preach the Gospel and
administer Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and the authority to forgive and retain sins. All this is
included in the words, "Make disciples."
John 20:19-23
So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the
disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said^ to them, "Peace be with
you." {20} And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then
rejoiced when they saw the Lord. {21} So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has
sent Me, I also send you." {22} And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said^ to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit. {23} "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you
retain the sins of any, they have been retained."
With the call into the Office of the Ministry Christ also entrusts His servants with the authority to deliver
to His people the forgiveness which He won for them upon the cross.
Luke 10:16
"The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me
rejects the One who sent Me."
When a pastor speaks the words of God's Law and Gospel, it is not his words which he speaks but the
Word of God. When God's word is spoken forth it is He who is speaking through His chosen servant.
NOT ALL ARE PASTORS
Ephesians 4:11
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and
teachers,
God gave some to the purpose of administering His means of Grace. He has not entrusted this
responsibility to all but to those He has called.
Acts 20:28
"Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers,
to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
God the Holy Spirit chooses those who are to be in the Office of the Holy Ministry. It is the choice of God
and of men.
I Corinthians 12:28-29
And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then
gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. {29} All are not apostles, are they? All
are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?
The offices which God established in His church are filled only by those whom He chooses.
II Corinthians 5:18
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry
of reconciliation,
Paul proclaims that the ministry of reconciliation was entrusted to himself as well as other who occupy
the Office.
I Peter 5:1-4
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and
a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, {2} shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising
oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain,
but with eagerness; {3} nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples
to the flock. {4} And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory
Those who are pastors in the church are called to follow the Chief Shepherd as they shepherd the church
of God.
AUTHORITY OF THE OFFICE OF THE HOLY MINISTRY
Matthew 18:18
"Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose
on earth shall have been loosed in heaven
When reconciliation is sought and none is found, an offence is to be brought to the church. The church
being all believer, those who are in the Office of the Ministry and those who are not. Once the offence
is brought to the church the ones entrusted with the authority to forgive and retain the sins do so.
Matthew 16:19
"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound
in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."
The "keys of the kingdom" which Jesus spoke of are none other than the keys by which sins are retained
and forgiven. Jesus spoke to Peter as one who held the office of the Holy Ministry. What Jesus entrusted
to Peter He has entrusted to all pastors.
Matthew 28:19-20
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit, {20} teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age."
This text is spoken to the eleven who are gathered on the mountain. There are no others present. These
are the Apostles. These are they who hold the Office of the Ministry. To these men--to this office is given
the authority to make disciples through the means God has established.
John 20:22-23
And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said^ to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. {23} "If
you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have
been retained."
In this passage Jesus directly gives the Apostles the authority to forgive and retain sins. In this passage
the Office of the Ministry is immediately bestowed upon the Apostles.
I Corinthians 3:5
What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave
opportunity to each one.
Through the ministry of the Apostles and all who possess the office after them, God works to give life and
salvation to those whom He chooses.