Luther on Marks of the Church

Have you ever wondered: “How do we recognize the Christian Church?” Late in his life, Luther provided a helpful theology on the marks of the Church in his book On the Councils and the Church (1539). Here is a summary:

1. The Word

The holy Christian people are recognized by their possession of the holy Word of God.

2. Holy Baptism

God’s people or the Christian holy people are recognized by the holy sacrament of baptism, wherever it is taught, believed, and admin-istered correctly according to Christ’s ordinance.

3. Holy Communion

God’s people, or Christian holy people, are recognized by the holy sacrament of the altar, wherever it is rightly administered, believed, and received, according to Christ’s institution.

4. Forgiveness of sins

God’s people or holy Christians are recognized by the office of the keys exercised publicly. That is, as Christ decrees in Matthew 18[:15– 20], if a Christian sins, he should be reproved; and if he does not mend his ways, he should be bound in his sin and cast out. If he does mend his ways, he should be absolved.

5. Offices

The church is recognized externally by the fact that it consecrates or calls ministers, or has offices that it is to administer.

6. Worship

The holy Christian people are externally recognized by prayer, public praise, and thanksgiving to God. Where you see and hear the Lord’s Prayer prayed and taught; or psalms or other spiritual songs sung, in accordance with the word of God and the true faith; also the creed, the Ten Commandments, and the catechism used in public, you may rest assured that a holy Christian people of God are present.

7. Suffering

The holy Christian people are externally recognized by the possession of the sacred cross. They must endure every misfortune and persecution, all kinds of trials and evil from the devil, the world, and the flesh.

Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, 55 vols. ed.s Jaroslav Pelikan and Helmut T. Lehman, (Philadelphia: Muhlenberg and Fortress; St. Louis: Concordia, 1955).