Leaders Earn Ministry

One effect that Augustines doctrine had was the confusion of earned ministries vs earned salvation. Augustine erroneously used passages for bestowed ministry through grace, as salvation passages. Thus, churches in the holiness movement coming from Catholicism now teach earned ministry.

Paul said his ministry was a grace bestowed upon him that he did not earn.

Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

Since Paul was separated from the womb his ministry was from grace just as salvation is. We were chosen in Christ before our births for salvation..

The Wesleyan church however has neglected this example by saying ministry positions are earned.

SERVANT LEADERSHIP: Wesleyans respect leadership that is placed over them, while realizing that the authority and effectiveness of spiritual leadership is not primarily bestowed, but earned, and is characterized by a loving and willing heart of obedience that serves God and mankind gladly. Wesleyans desire to be leaders in serving.

Despite having requirements in the New Testament for leadership appointments, those positions are no more earned than salvation is.

It is amazing that God can have requirements while at the same time it is a work and a grace.

1. Ministry is a grace yet it has requirements.

2. Salvation is a grace, why can't it have requirements?

Another passage often used for salvation, but is speaking of ministry, is in Paul's explanation to Timothy.

2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling ( their ministries), not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Notice God's calling of Paul and Timothy for ministry was a grace not based upon works. Preaching took them in a totally different direction in life than the works of their previous ministries or secular lives.

This could be Paul's usage in Ephesians 2:9,

"not of works lest anyone should boast" relating to appointments of grace, not salvation itself.

Of course, if the appointment was grace then the message from the appointment was grace as well.

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship (Gifted Apostles and prophets), created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

In other words, men were to be endued with offices apart from their previous works, sent to do works pre-appointed by God.

this is further constructed in

Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

The officers selected by the Holy Spirit received grace to be apostles and prophets and teachers; while others were partakers of their grace.

Phil 1:7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

The body of the early church were not gifted themselves, but were partakers of the gifts given to the selected men such as the apostles and prophets.

Thus Paul could say, it is not of yourselves.