| ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ( J ) APOSTLES � SENT ONES The word apostle means a sent one or messenger. Sons and daughters of the Lord are sent out into the world to share the gospel. If that is the case, then could we not in this particular instance truthfully justify the idea that God is restoring at the very least His apostles in the Christian church ? No. Even though the word apostle means a sent one, not all Christians are apostles. The Word of God makes quite clear that not every saint is an apostle. For example, scripture writes; 27. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? - 1 Cor. 12:27-29 Notice that Paul describes the church as being a body, i.e., the body of Christ, a whole and singular structure. But, the individual members of that structure are just that. They are individual members who have various and particular purpose and function in the singular structure called, the body of Christ. With this in mind Paul asks a self evident question. Are all apostles or are all prophets ? The obvious answer is no. Only some of the individual church members are apostles and only some are prophets. Thus Paul states quite plain and clear that God set some, not all, in the church to be apostles and prophets. Therefore, even though the word apostle means a sent one and even though all the individual members of the body of Christ are sent out into the world to share Gods� gospel and love, God has only designated that some church members hold the particular spiritual role and office of apostle. God has only designated that some church members hold the particular spiritual role and office of prophet. The book of Ephesians testifies to this truth once again; 11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: - Eph. 4:11-13 Thus, the exclusive and restrictive nature of the apostle and prophet in the Christian church, the body of Christian believers, further helps to show that an alleged restoration by God of His apostles and prophets has not been occurring within the last 100 years or so of the Christian church. In addition to these things the New Testament book of Acts and the gospels help to further show the small, exclusiveness of the apostle. First of all, not all of Christs� disciples were apostles, but rather only twelve were counted among that number; 1. And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. 2. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3. Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4. Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 5. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: - Matt. 10:1-5 ( see also Mark 3:14-19 ) 27. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28. And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. - Matt. 19:27-28 12. And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 14. Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15. Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16. And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. - Luke 6:12-16 70. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71. He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. - John 6:70-71 24. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. - John 20:24 Now, take notice that it is twelve men which Jesus handpicked to be not just His disciples but most importantly His apostles. No more no less. In Johns� gospel chapter 6 we find that Jesus did have at one time in His earthly ministry, many disciples. Yet it was only twelve men amongst all the disciples which Jesus had as followers who were His apostles. This exclusiveness is carried over in the book of Acts; 1. The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2. Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: - Acts 1:1-2 1. And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. - Acts 6:1-4 26. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. - Acts 1:26 Notice in chapter 6 of Acts just as in chapter 6 of Johns� gospel, there were many disciples. Yet verse two writes of the twelve, thereby signifying twelve apostles specifically in amongst many Christian disciples. Moreover, in chapter 1 of Acts the scriptures reveal that the man Matthias was chosen by the Lord to take Judas Iscariots� place of apostleship. Thus, the scripture states that Matthias joined the eleven apostles. The point being is that an apostle, though it means sent one, is nevertheless clearly demonstrated to have been a very exclusive group of men handpicked by the Lord. Even when Christ had many disciples as both John chapter 6 and Acts chapter 6 plainly writes. Only twelve were actually apostles. Another point of interest, notice the words of scripture in Revelation chapter 21; 14. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. - Rev. 21:14 It is interesting that Christs� revelation given to John when speaking of the New Jerusalem, there are specifically 12 stones, and foundation stones at that. Each foundation stone bearing a name of each of the twelve apostles. All of this to say that an apostle is a very exclusive position and that this manner of exclusiveness further provides evidence as to why God is not, nor has ever been restoring His the role of apostle in the Christian church of this present time. God handpicked a very select few to hold the office of apostle for the purpose of receiving His Word and then distributing that Word to mankind. Once Gods� Word was completed in written form then there was simply no more reason to continue filling the role of apostle. The work of the apostle was finished since we now have the inspired Word of God which they had not only spoken and taught but also which was written down to be shared throughout the generations of mankind. Is an apostle a sent one ? Yes. However, the apostle is also a very exclusive role, a role which has already accomplished the task which God required. Now that we have written documentation of Gods� Word provided by the Holy Spirit through His apostles, there is now no more need to have apostles walking the earth. The foundational role of the apostles during the early Christian church had finished their work. A foundational work in Christ which for no justified nor scriptural reason needs restoration. Thus, if you are a Christian in need of an apostolic word or teaching, if you are in need of prophecy, then grab a King James Version Bible. All that God wants us to know and understand in regard to what His apostles and prophets have both taught and prophesied are sufficiently provided in its� entirety of His holy Word. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |