The Certainty of Our Calling
Ministers should exalt their calling to gain authority among men and to make known the name, grace, and mercy of God.
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.
Text
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.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Exalting One's Calling
- Paul's Example
- The Reason for Exalting One's Calling
- To make known the name, grace, and mercy of God
- Paul magnifies his office to be received as an ambassador of Jesus Christ
Key Quotes
“This is not vain glory, but needful glorying.” — Martin Luther
“I magnify mine office,” — Martin Luther
Application Points
- Ministers should prioritize exalting their calling to effectively share the Gospel.
- We should recognize the importance of our roles and responsibilities in serving God.
- By magnifying our office, we can make known the name, grace, and mercy of God to others.