Sun, Dec 31st - 9:57PM

TRUST THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE

THERE ARE NO APOSTLES TODAY- From an article by David Reagan

Paul was also given a very special, though separate, calling. He often reminded those to whom he ministered that he was “called to be an apostle” (Romans 1:1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
See All...) and that this calling was “not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father” (Galatians 1:1Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
See All...). In Romans 11:13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
See All..., he said, “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office.”

This was not a basic calling to preach but a calling to represent God on earth in a special way. The apostles could remit or retain sins (John 20:22-23 [22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: [23] Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
See All...). What they bound or loosed on earth would be bound or loosed in heaven (Matthew 18:18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
See All...). They spoke the word of God and confirmed those words with signs following (Mark 16:17-20 [17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; [18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. [19] So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. [20] And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Sat, Dec 30th - 9:03AM

TRUST THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE

THERE ARE NO APOSTLES TODAY-  From an article by David Reagan

Not Apostles and Apostles: 

In 1Corinthians 12:29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
See All... Paul asked, “Are all apostles?” If we can call missionaries apostles because apostle means sent one and missionaries are sent ones, then practically every servant of God is an apostle. But to use the word in this weakened form minimizes what God did with the apostles of the New Testament. It causes a confusion of understanding.  And, despite what some are claiming, the Bible does not use the word in such a common way.  

It will not even work to make a distinction big Apostle and little apostle. If someone is an apostle, they must have the New Testament authority and power of an apostle. The office of apostle carried great weight and those who use this title are in effect, if not in actuality, claiming this authority. We need to be careful about using such a title even when we mean well in doing so. 

A Unique Calling: 

The apostles were unique in several regards. In order to understand the singular position they held in the early church, we need to consider their special calling, their special qualifications, and their special confirmation from God.  

Special Calling. Luke 6:12-13 [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;
See All... tells us that Jesus prayed all night and then called unto him his disciples and “of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles.” These men were already disciples. There were other disciples who were never called to be apostles. But these twelve were given a special office as representatives of the Master. Their position was exalted to the point that they will to sit on the thrones of the twelve tribes of Israel in the time of the kingdom (Matthew 19:28And 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.
See All...).