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  THE CERTAINTY OF OUR CALLING
  by Martin Luther
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Summary: Ministers should exalt their calling to gain authority among
men and to make known the name, grace, and mercy of God.

Topics: "Ministerial Calling", "Gospel Authority"
Scripture References: Romans 11:13, 1 Corinthians 1:31, 2 Corinthians 5:20, 2 Corinthians 10:8, Colossians 1:28

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DESCRIPTION
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Martin Luther emphasizes the importance for ministers to recognize and
exalt their calling as messengers of God, comparing it to an ambassador
who is honored for his position, not his personal attributes. By
magnifying their office, ministers can gain authority and credibility in
sharing the Gospel. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, exemplifies this
by taking pride in his ministry as an apostle of the Gentiles, not for
self-glory but to glorify God and draw people to the message of grace
and mercy.

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CONTENT
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Every minister should make much of his calling and impress upon others
the fact that he has been delegated by God to preach the Gospel. As the
ambassador of a government is honored for his office and not for his
private person, so the minister of Christ should exalt his office in
order to gain authority among men. This is not vain glory, but needful
glorying.

Paul takes pride in his ministry, not to his own praise but to the
praise of God. Writing to the Romans, he declares, "Inasmuch as I am the
apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office," i.e., I want to be
received not as Paul of Tarsus, but as Paul the apostle and ambassador
of Jesus Christ, in order that people might be more eager to hear.

Paul exalts his ministry out of the desire to make known the name, the
grace, and the mercy of God.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/martin-luther/the-certainty-of-our-calling/
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