To bring men to salvation is, then, the purpose of all apostolic teaching. Though Apostolic succession of office is a historical impossibility, ministers should be faithful successors of the apostles so far as their Christ-centered teaching is concerned. This thought Luther expresses in a sermon on John 15:26-16:4. the Gospel of the Sunday after Ascension, in his exposition of the words Ye shall also bear Witness. Apostolic Teaching Glorifies Christ. This is Normative. By saying Ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning (John 15:27), Christ pictures the apostles as distinct from all other preachers, and places such a stamp of approval on their message that all the world is to be bound to their Word, believe it without any contradiction, and be sure that everything they teach and preach is the pure doctrine and the message of the Holy Spirit, which they have heard and received from Him, as 1 John 1:1f testifies That which. . . we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon. . .of the Word of Life. . . declare we unto you. No preachers on earth except the apostles alone have a testimony like this; for all others are herewith commanded to follow in the footsteps of the apostles, to remain loyal to their doctrine, and to teach nothing additional or different. And yet the true token whereby this message of the Holy Spirit is to be known and tested is also indicated here when He says: The Holy Spirit will testify of Me (John 15:26). This indicates that the Spirit will preach of nothing except this Christ.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 03:18:28 +0000
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