Apostolic Succession: What’s the Real purpose of the hierarchy?

• The passing on of the high priestly power of Christ, as HE handed it on to the Apostles.

• Why be a bishop?—A bishop is a direct successor of the Apostles—he has the responsibility that the Apostles had:– Teach (Christ’s truth, not his own ideas)– Govern (Not be ‘the Boss’)– Sanctify (be holy, give the sacraments, follow

Christ’s example of love)

Would you WANT to be a priest?

• It is a call, not my choice “You did not choose me, I chose you.”

Why can’t girls?• Simple! We have a different, equally important job…

– we form those who will be priests– (if we’re mothers, we bring them into the world!!!—Just so you know,

priests LOVE their moms!!!)– We guide those who are priests– We lead the priests by our example of prayer and love (we’re naturally

good at it---just sayin’)

• …if we try to take over theirs, it will cause great damage to OUR OWN DIGNITY as well as their identity.

What IS the power of the Apostles?• “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this

rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

~Matthew 16:19So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.

~2 Thess: 2:15

Matthew 16: 19Keys of the Kingdom

(God allows a mere human to ‘open and shut’ the gates of heaven)

Binding and Loosing—Refers to authority in faith and morals—including the authority to forgive sins

HOW is this power handed on?In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said, “Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this ministry. (Now this man bought a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Akel′dama, that is, Field of Blood.) For it is written in the book of Psalms,

‘Let his habitation become desolate,and let there be no one to live in it’; and‘His office let another take.’

HOW is this power handed on?So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsab′bas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthi′as. And they prayed and said, “Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthi′as; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:21-26

What is the relationship of a priest to his bishop?

• The bishops, as direct successors of the apostles, have the FULLNESS of the ministerial priesthood.

• A priest shares in the power of the priesthood because of his relationship to his bishop.

• This is why the Bishop only can ordain—and why the ordinary minister of Confirmation is a bishop.