169 – Validity of Ministerial Functions

VALIDITY OF MINISTERIAL FUNCTIONS

  § 169. Inasmuch as all those to whom the ministerial office or certain functions thereof have been delegated or conferred are, in the performance of their official duties, servants of Christ 1 and functionaries of the invisible church,2 and, since the means of grace administered by them have their efficacy in themselves,3 the functions of the ministers of the church are valid, and the means of grace administered by them are efficacious, irrespective of the faith or unbelief of the functionaries by whom the duties of the ministry are performed.4

1. Inasmuch as all those to whom the ministerial office or certain functions thereof have been delegated or conferred are, in the performance of their official duties, servants of Christ 1 and functionaries of the invisible church,…

  I Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

  Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the Gospel of God.

2. …and functionaries of the invisible church

  II Corinthians 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

  I Corinthians 3:21–23 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

  I Corinthians 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. …and, since the means of grace administered by them have their efficacy in themselves,

Cf. §§ 133, 134, 135, 136, 137.

4. …the functions of the ministers of the church are valid, and the means of grace administered by them are efficacious, irrespective of the faith or unbelief of the functionaries by whom the duties of the ministry are performed.

  II Corinthians 2:10 To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ.

  Matthew 23:2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.

  I Corinthians 5:3–5 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.