Seven marks of the Church: The Word of God
By Pastor Mierow
Throughout the Reformation Dr Luther appealed to Rome that a general council be held to discuss the issues at hand. In 1536 Pope Paul III ordered a council at Mantua to be held in May of the next year with the express purpose of “the utter extirpation of that poisonous, pestilential Lutheran heresy.” So much for a civil, Christian debate!
Convinced that such a hearing would never convene and that his death was imminent, Luther wrote his “last will and testament” concerning the Reformation and the blessed doctrine of justification for which he fought to profoundly. This document became known as the Smalcald Articles and is included in the 1580 Book of Concord to which all Lutheran pastors and congregations subscribe as a true exposition of Holy Scripture. Living for nearly another decade, the council having been delayed until 1545 and moved to Trent, Luther continued to write, penning a work known as “On the Councils and the Church” (1539). The tripartite document exhorted Christians to call for reform not through councils of the church nor in appeals to the Church Fathers, but only in and through the Word of God. In the Second Part Luther discussed the first ecumenical council in Acts 15 and then the succeeding four. He concluded his remarks on councils saying, “Finally, a council should occupy itself only with matters of faith, and then only when faith is in jeopardy” (AE 41:136).
In the third part Luther left the councils and turned his attention the church addressing “what, who and where the church is” (AE 41:143). The Church, simply stated, is a holy people who believe in Christ, as the Apostles‘ Creed confesses, “one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.” The German word kirche means “church,” as in building; but the Greek word, ecclesia, simply means people or assembly. They are holy because the Spirit of God gives faith in Christ and sanctifies them. Understoof in this sense, the Church shall remain forever. Luther identifies seven marks of the Church, that is, of God’s people, whereby “a poor confused person [can] tell where such a Christian holy people are to be found in this world” (AE 41:148). These shall occupy our attention for the next several newsletters.
“First, the holy Christian people are recognized by their possession of the holy Word of God” (ibid). “This is the principle item and the holiest of holy possessions” (149). Luther speaks of the holy Word of God as the true “relic” and holy item of the people of God. More than the bones of the deceased, the living Word of the Lord is the foundation of the Christian Church. Where the Word is taught in its truth and purity the Church is built on the foundation with gold, silver, and precious stones (1 Cor 3:12). Where such purity of doctrine and teaching is lacking the construction material is wood, hay, and straw, says Luther. This Word, St Paul says, is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes (Rm 1:16); and makes everything holy (cf 1 Tim 4:5). This is precisely because the Holy Spirit of God is at work in and through the Word to create and sustain faith in those who hear, where and when it pleases Him (cf. AC V).
Thus “we are speaking,” says Luther, “of the external word, preached orally by men” (ibid). This is what Christ has given and left to His Church (Mt 28:19; Lk 24:47). By the possession and right confession of this Word the Church is seen and known and Jesus confesses her before His Father in heaven (Mt 5:14; 10:32). “Now, wherever you hear or see this word preached, believed, professed and lived, do not doubt that the true ecclesia sancta catholica, ‘a Christian holy people’ must be there, even though their number is very small” (150). For the Word of God does not return to Him void (IS 55:11) and produces a harvest in at least one fourth of the field (Mt 13). God’s Word cannot be without God’s people. And conversely, God’s people cannot be without the holy Word of Christ. Where the Word is preached the Lord is gathering a people for Himself, even in spite of the false teaching of some of its preachers. Weeds are found among the wheat, however (Mt 13:24-30); that is, not all who gather to hear the Word are believers. Not all who call themselves Christian are so. Yet those who are truly Christian have, at the very least, the Word of God. For “the church is begotten, cared for, nourished, and strengthened by the Word of God” (151).+
By Pastor Mierow
Throughout the Reformation Dr Luther appealed to Rome that a general council be held to discuss the issues at hand. In 1536 Pope Paul III ordered a council at Mantua to be held in May of the next year with the express purpose of “the utter extirpation of that poisonous, pestilential Lutheran heresy.” So much for a civil, Christian debate!
Convinced that such a hearing would never convene and that his death was imminent, Luther wrote his “last will and testament” concerning the Reformation and the blessed doctrine of justification for which he fought to profoundly. This document became known as the Smalcald Articles and is included in the 1580 Book of Concord to which all Lutheran pastors and congregations subscribe as a true exposition of Holy Scripture. Living for nearly another decade, the council having been delayed until 1545 and moved to Trent, Luther continued to write, penning a work known as “On the Councils and the Church” (1539). The tripartite document exhorted Christians to call for reform not through councils of the church nor in appeals to the Church Fathers, but only in and through the Word of God. In the Second Part Luther discussed the first ecumenical council in Acts 15 and then the succeeding four. He concluded his remarks on councils saying, “Finally, a council should occupy itself only with matters of faith, and then only when faith is in jeopardy” (AE 41:136).
In the third part Luther left the councils and turned his attention the church addressing “what, who and where the church is” (AE 41:143). The Church, simply stated, is a holy people who believe in Christ, as the Apostles‘ Creed confesses, “one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.” The German word kirche means “church,” as in building; but the Greek word, ecclesia, simply means people or assembly. They are holy because the Spirit of God gives faith in Christ and sanctifies them. Understoof in this sense, the Church shall remain forever. Luther identifies seven marks of the Church, that is, of God’s people, whereby “a poor confused person [can] tell where such a Christian holy people are to be found in this world” (AE 41:148). These shall occupy our attention for the next several newsletters.
“First, the holy Christian people are recognized by their possession of the holy Word of God” (ibid). “This is the principle item and the holiest of holy possessions” (149). Luther speaks of the holy Word of God as the true “relic” and holy item of the people of God. More than the bones of the deceased, the living Word of the Lord is the foundation of the Christian Church. Where the Word is taught in its truth and purity the Church is built on the foundation with gold, silver, and precious stones (1 Cor 3:12). Where such purity of doctrine and teaching is lacking the construction material is wood, hay, and straw, says Luther. This Word, St Paul says, is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes (Rm 1:16); and makes everything holy (cf 1 Tim 4:5). This is precisely because the Holy Spirit of God is at work in and through the Word to create and sustain faith in those who hear, where and when it pleases Him (cf. AC V).
Thus “we are speaking,” says Luther, “of the external word, preached orally by men” (ibid). This is what Christ has given and left to His Church (Mt 28:19; Lk 24:47). By the possession and right confession of this Word the Church is seen and known and Jesus confesses her before His Father in heaven (Mt 5:14; 10:32). “Now, wherever you hear or see this word preached, believed, professed and lived, do not doubt that the true ecclesia sancta catholica, ‘a Christian holy people’ must be there, even though their number is very small” (150). For the Word of God does not return to Him void (IS 55:11) and produces a harvest in at least one fourth of the field (Mt 13). God’s Word cannot be without God’s people. And conversely, God’s people cannot be without the holy Word of Christ. Where the Word is preached the Lord is gathering a people for Himself, even in spite of the false teaching of some of its preachers. Weeds are found among the wheat, however (Mt 13:24-30); that is, not all who gather to hear the Word are believers. Not all who call themselves Christian are so. Yet those who are truly Christian have, at the very least, the Word of God. For “the church is begotten, cared for, nourished, and strengthened by the Word of God” (151).+
RSS Feed