By Matthew C. Harrison

The LCMS seeks church fellowship with church buildings world wide who clearly confess and maintain to the “marks” of the church. Having “religion” or being a pious particular person is just not a adequate mark upon which the church and its unity rely. Religion is unseen. The looks of it may be faked, or it may well comprise errors. 

The true “marks” of the church are evident to all and supply adequate grounds to determine the presence of true fellowship. As Luther notes, even when they’re current however obscured by false instructing or perception, they nonetheless collect Christians. Article VII of the Augsburg Confession defines the marks of the church because the “pure” preaching of the Gospel and the “proper” administration of the Sacraments. Luther, in “On the Councils and the Church” (1539), expands the variety of marks, and this doc is referenced as authoritative by our Method of Harmony. I’ve abridged Luther’s feedback beneath. Although we all know and thank God that sufficient of His Phrase is current additionally outdoors orthodox Lutheranism to convey many to Christ, for the aim of being in fellowship with different church our bodies, Holy Scripture requires that we maintain to those marks as the only customary for recognizing such fellowship (i.e., shared proclamation of the Gospel and participation within the Sacraments).

Luther’s Works on the marks of the church

Christ guarantees, “I’m with you all the time, to the shut of the age” [Matt. 28:20]. However how will or how can a poor confused particular person inform the place such Christian holy individuals are to be discovered on this world?

First, the holy Christian individuals are acknowledged by their possession of the holy phrase of God. To make sure, not all have it in equal measure, as St. Paul says [1 Cor. 3:12–14]. Some possess the phrase in its full purity, others don’t. Those that have the pure phrase are referred to as those that “construct on the inspiration with gold, silver, and treasured stones”; those that would not have it in its purity are those who “construct on the inspiration with wooden, hay, and straw,” and but can be saved via fireplace. … That is the principal merchandise, and the holiest of holy possessions, by motive of which the Christian individuals are referred to as holy; for God’s phrase is holy and sanctifies the whole lot it touches; it’s certainly the very holiness of God, Romans 1[:16], “It’s the energy of God for salvation to each one who has religion,” and 1 Timothy 4[:5], “All the pieces is consecrated by the phrase of God and prayer.” …

Second, God’s individuals or the Christian holy individuals are acknowledged by the holy sacrament of baptism, wherever it’s taught, believed, and administered accurately in keeping with Christ’s ordinance. That too is a public signal and a treasured, holy possession by which God’s individuals are sanctified. …

Third, God’s individuals, or Christian holy individuals, are acknowledged by the holy sacrament of the altar, wherever it’s rightly administered, believed, and acquired, in keeping with Christ’s establishment. This too is a public signal and a treasured, holy possession left behind by Christ by which his individuals are sanctified in order that additionally they train themselves in religion and brazenly confess that they’re Christian, simply as they do with the phrase and with baptism. …

Fourth, God’s individuals or holy Christians are acknowledged by the workplace of the keys exercised publicly. That’s, as Christ decrees in Matthew 18[:15–20], if a Christian sins, he needs to be reproved; and if he doesn’t mend his methods, he needs to be certain in his sin and solid out. If he does mend his methods, he needs to be absolved. That’s the workplace of the keys. …

Fifth, the church is acknowledged externally by the truth that it consecrates or calls ministers, or has workplaces that it’s to manage. There should be bishops, pastors, or preachers, who publicly and privately give, administer, and use the aforementioned 4 issues or holy possessions in behalf of and within the title of the church, or slightly by motive of their establishment by Christ, as St. Paul states in Ephesians 4[:8], “He acquired presents amongst males …” — his presents have been that some needs to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some lecturers and governors, and many others. The individuals as a complete can not do these items, however should entrust or have them entrusted to 1 particular person. … The others needs to be content material with this association and comply with it. Wherever you see this finished, be assured that God’s individuals, the holy Christian individuals, are current. …

Sixth, the holy Christian individuals are externally acknowledged by prayer, public reward, and thanksgiving to God. The place you see and listen to the Lord’s Prayer prayed and taught; or psalms or different non secular songs sung, in accordance with the phrase of God and the true religion; additionally the creed, the Ten Commandments, and the catechism utilized in public, you might relaxation assured {that a} holy Christian individuals of God are current. …

Seventh, the holy Christian individuals are externally acknowledged by the holy possession of the sacred cross. They have to endure each misfortune and persecution, all types of trials and evil from the satan, the world, and the flesh (because the Lord’s Prayer signifies) by inward unhappiness, timidity, concern, outward poverty, contempt, sickness, and weak point, with the intention to turn into like their head, Christ. And the one motive they have to endure is that they steadfastly adhere to Christ and God’s phrase, enduring this for the sake of Christ, Matthew 5 [:11], “Blessed are you when males persecute you on my account.” They should be pious, quiet, obedient, and ready to serve the federal government and all people with life and items, doing nobody any hurt. … Wherever you see or hear this, you might know that the holy Christian church is there, as Christ says in Matthew 5 [:11–12], “Blessed are you when males revile you and utter all types of evil in opposition to you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, in your reward is nice in heaven.” This too is a holy possession whereby the Holy Spirit not solely sanctifies his individuals, but in addition blesses them.

From Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 41: Church and Ministry III, ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald, and Helmut T. Lehmann (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1999), 148–165. Reprinted with permission of Fortress Press.

Posted Dec. 5, 2022

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