. . . for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1:23

That We Obtain this faith

The Confession of the Office of the Ministry

The Augsburg Confession is one of the most beloved systematic statements of the Lutheran confession of faith. It’s central article is article 4:

It is also taught among us that we cannot obtain forgiveness of sin and righteousness before God by our own merits, works, or satisfactions, but that we receive forgiveness of sin and become righteous before God by grace, for Christ's sake, through faith, when we believe that Christ suffered for us and that for his sake our sin is forgiven and righteousness and eternal life are given to us. 3 For God will regard and reckon this faith as righteousness, as Paul says in Romans 3:21-26 and 4:5

Immediately following this great confession of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Augsburg confession moves to answer the question of how God delivers this good news to people. Article Five of the Augsburg Confession speaks of the Office of the Ministry.

In order that we may obtain this faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the sacraments was instituted. 2 For through the Word and the sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given, and the Holy Spirit produces faith, where and when it pleases God, in those who hear the Gospel. 3 That is to say, it is not on account of our own merits but on account of Christ that God justifies those who believe that they are received into favor for Christ's sake. Gal. 3:14, "That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

In a general sense the term "public ministry" refers to the authority of the church to proclaim the Word and to administer the sacraments. Often we think of the term in the more restricted sense, of those who fill the office of the pastorate, where proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraements is carried out on behalf of and in the name of the church.

The Pastoral Ministry is God’s Command and God’s Gift

This Pastoral Ministry is a gift that God has given to His church for the purpose of building up the faith of the church and the unchurched.

• NAB Ephesians 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Jesus Himself defined the authority and responsibility of the office as that of teaching and administering the sacraments.

• NAB Matthew 28:18 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."

However, we are not to take this to mean that the Office of the Ministry is itself a means of grace, apart from which a person cannot come to faith without a pastor. The only absolute necessity for saving faith is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. But the Pastorate is a necessary component of the church in that it is God’s desire for the church to have pastors so that the Gospel is certain to be preached and the sacraments are administered according to the order He has prescribed.

Duties Associated with the Ministry

What are the duties that God gives to a pastor and to a congregation in regards to the pastoral office?

Luther sums them up in his table of duties:
 

Bishops, Pastors, and Preachers

"A bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher, no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way. He must not be a recent convert," etc. (1 Tim. 3:2-6)."

Duties Christians Owe Their Teachers and Pastors

"Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages" (Luke 10:7). "The Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:14). "Let him who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived; God is not mocked" (Gal. 6:6, 7). "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching; for the scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain,' and 'The laborer deserves his wages'" (1 Tim. 5:17, 18). "We beseech you, brethren, to respect those who labor among you and who are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves" (1 Thess. 5:12, 13). "Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you" (Heb. 13:17)

 
God gives many express direction to those who fill the pastoral office through His Holy Scripture. Here are some of them:

• NAB 2 Timothy 4:1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

• NAB 1 Timothy 4:13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.

• NAB 1 Timothy 4:16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

• NAB 1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits. . . .6 In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.

   If I say to the wicked, "You shall surely die," and you give them no warning, or speak to warn the wicked from their wicked way, in order to save their life,
  those wicked persons shall die for their iniquity; but their blood I will
  require at your hand. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and they do
  not turn from their wickedness, or from their wicked way,
  they shall die for their iniquity;
  but you will have saved your life.
  NRS Ezekiel 3:18

copyright Rev. David D. Reedy, 1998

Rev. David D. Reedy 2002

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church   

Dayton Tennessee   

423.775.4253

Prince of Peace is a LCMS congregation located in Rhea County Tennessee, serving the entire county of some 32,000 people.