Our salvation is based on His Grace. Nothing more, nothing less. I can do nothing to obtain my salvation. I can maintain my salvation by following the principles set forth in the Word of God. I can maintain my salvation by keeping myself unspotted from the world and by following the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
That being said... God placed certain ministries in the church that are designed to give us teaching to help us maintain our salvation. Those 5 ministries are listed in
Eph 4 and were instituted by God for the reasons given in that same chapter. Those ministries, including that of "pastor", are for our benefit. We are perfected, not by the pastor or the evangelist, but by the Truth they teach. Remember it is the Truth that sets us free. The Body of Christ is edified, again, not by the teacher or prophet, but by the Word they bring. Any preacher, Pastor, Evangelist or District Superintendent that is worth a plug nickle will tell you they are mere servants to the Church. They are but Messengers. It is not THEY THEMSELVES who do anything...it is the Word of God they teach that benefits us. If a pastor says we can't be saved without them , then he no pastor at all. He is a Wolf in Sheeps Clothing. A lord over God's heritage. A real, God-ordained pastor won't tell you that. He will only tell you that you can not be saved without Jesus. He will point you to the Word.
We need the 5 fold ministry as never before. We need the pastor to help to strengthen our relationship with the Lord. I can't say we'd be lost without a pastor... but I can say this...our walk with the Lord would be a lot rougher... a lot more treacherous, if not for the ministry of the Pastor, as well as the other ministry gifts.
What the present day church needs to hear is the call of the Prophet. Not these self-appointed Kim Clements, but real God called prophets whose message agrees with what the Spirit is saying in these last days.
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