From: "Rev. Todd A. Peperkorn (by way of Rev. Eric J. Stefanski, )" To: Subject: HP: Trinity 8 BOC Reading Date: Thursday, November 01, 2001 1:02 PM TRINITY 8 - Jesus' warning to beware of false prophets is as relevant today as it was then. The only authority that the bishops (that is, the pastors) have is to forgive and retain sins by the preaching of the Gospel and the proper administration of the Sacraments. From the Augsburg Confession, Article 28: Article XXVIII: Of Ecclesiastical Power. 1] There has been great controversy concerning the Power of Bishops, in which some have awkwardly confounded the power of the Church 2] and the power of the sword. And from this confusion very great wars and tumults have resulted, while the Pontiffs, emboldened by the power of the Keys, not only have instituted new services and burdened consciences with reservation of cases and ruthless excommunications, but have also undertaken to transfer the kingdoms of this world, 3] and to take the Empire from the Emperor. These wrongs have long since been rebuked in the Church 4] by learned and godly men. Therefore our teachers, for the comforting of men's consciences, were constrained to show the difference between the power of the Church and the power of the sword, and taught that both of them, because of God's commandment, are to be held in reverence and honor, as the chief blessings of God on earth. 5] But this is their opinion, that the power of the Keys, or the power of the bishops, according to the Gospel, is a power or commandment of God, to preach the Gospel, to remit and retain sins, and to administer Sacraments. 6] For with this commandment Christ sends forth His Apostles, John 20, 21 sqq.: As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained. 7] Mark 16, 15: Go preach the Gospel to every creature. 8] This power is exercised only by teaching or preaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments, according to their calling either to many or to individuals. For thereby are granted, not bodily, but eternal things, as eternal righteousness, the Holy Ghost, eternal life. 9] These things cannot come but by the ministry of the Word and the Sacraments, as Paul says, Rom. 1, 16: The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. 10] Therefore, since the power of the Church grants eternal things, and is exercised only by the ministry of the Word, it does not interfere with civil government; no more than the art of singing interferes with civil government. 11] For civil government deals with other things than does the Gospel. The civil rulers defend not minds, but bodies and bodily things against manifest injuries, and restrain men with the sword and bodily punishments in order to preserve civil justice and peace. All Book of Concord quotations are taken from the Triglotta, copyright 1921 by CPH. It is in public domain. Book of Concord Reading for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Rev. Todd A. Peperkorn, Pastor Messiah Lutheran Church 2026 22nd Ave. Kenosha, WI 53140 (262) 551-8182 Church (262) 551-9081 Parsonage ICQ: 41323985 TPeperkorn@worldnet.att.net http://www.yahoogroups.com/community/MessiahNews http://messiah-lcms.gatheringspot.com/ HIGHER THINGS: www.higherthings.org E-MAIL: info@higherthings.org +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + Historic Preaching + The Historic Preaching list is devoted to preaching on the Propers of the Historic Lectionary as found in The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) and Service Book and Hymnal (SBH). Subscribe? Send ANY message to: Unsubscribe? Send ANY message to: Respond? Click 'Reply' or write to For further information about this list, contact the list administrator at: Rev. Fr. Eric J. Stefanski or visit our website: + + + + + +