Church & Ministry - Lesson 11

CHURCH AND MINISTRY

2003

LESSON ELEVEN

I. Thesis 9 Concerning the Church

A. To obtain salvation, only fellowship in the invisible church, to which alone all the glorious promises regarding the church were originally given, is absolutely necessary. (Church and Ministry, page 149)

B. Scripture Proof

1. Ac 4:12

2. Ro 3:28

3. Ro 10:13,14,17

C. Confessions and Creeds

1. Apology: Art VII,VIII (Tappert, pp 168-178; Kolb and Wengert, pp. 174-183)

2. Large Catechism; Second Part: The Creed, par. 37, 40-45, 56, 66 (Tappert, pp 415-419; Kolb and Wengert, pp 435-440).

3. Smalcald Articles:

a. “‘…Therefore, we ought and must constantly maintain that God does not desire to deal with men otherwise than through His spoken Word and the sacraments. But everything that is extolled [as coming] from the Spirit without the Word and sacraments is [of] the devil.’(Part III, Art. VIII, par. 3, 10; Triglot, pp 494,496).” (quoted, Church and Ministry, p. 151) (Tappert, pp 312, 313; Kolb and Wengert, pp 322, 323 [note particularly fn 156, p. 323])

D. Witnesses in Private Writings

1. Luther, Martin (see Lesson Two)

a. “‘So also a heretic is cut off from the Christian church by his false teaching and unbelief, and he is dead; for those who are outside the Christian church are dead.’ (Exposition of John 6-8,” St. Louis edition, 8:97ff.)” (quoted, Church and Ministry, p. 153)

2. Gerhard, John (see Lesson One)

a. “‘Although at times corruptions overtake the whole visible church and its public ministry in all particular churches at all places, so that nowhere there remains an unadulterated and pure ministry, nevertheless the entire church never errs in such a way that there will not be persons who, following the simple guidance of the Word, are so sanctified by the control and efficacious operation of the Holy Spirit that they retain the foundation of salvation, remain unspotted from the pernicious errors, and through God’s power by faith are preserved to salvation.’ (Loci theologici, “De ecclesia”, par. 104).” (quoted Church and Ministry, p. 154, 155)