OK..
here's the basic question for discussion.....are there modern day apostles of Christ?
I say NO.
Notice how I phrase the question.
I do not object to "apostles of the church". I object to folks claiming to be "apostles of Christ".
What's the difference? The word "apostle" means "sent one". There are missionaries sent out by church organizations and congregations on a continual basis. I do not deny that they COULD use the term "apostle" in a "little a" context.
However, it is a vain and bold claim to assert that you are one of the Apostles of Christ.
Yet, it happens all the time. Charismatics have created a self-affirmation membership club in relation to this. You can pay about $500 and be affirmed as a bona-fide Apostle in their organization. You even get a discount if your wife joins you as a female Apostle. There are many other such self-affirmation groups within professing Christianity today.
Todd Bentley was one such person named as an apostle, even though he left his wife and has been accused of homosexual advances upon various credible ministry partners. Shockingly, even though the guy utterly lacks credibility, charismatics continued to believe that he is an apostle, up until recently. In fact, somehow I think he will pull off some type of "repentance" that his gullible supporters will believe.
Why do I object to this?
I know the human heart and the vanity and pride that it is capable of. Baby Christians are especially susceptible to thinking that God is going to use them for some awesome purpose, such as being an Apostle or prophet. I expect that sort of behavior from baby Christians, and in fact I had such delusions myself, but I moved past it, just like a baby moves past the bottle sucking and diaper wearing stage.
Scripture has requirements for an Apostle that these individuals DO NOT MEET.
One, they needed to be a witness to the resurrected Christ.
Two, they needed to be chosen by Christ as an Apostle.
Three, they needed to be able to produce signs and wonders to affirm their Apostleship.
The Scriptures used in regards to this are listed in this article:
https://thecripplegate.com/are-there-still-apostles-today/
Here are some:
Acts 1:22 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when whe was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”
Acts 10:39-41 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
1 Cor 9:1 9 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?
1 Cor 15:7-8 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
Mark 3:14 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach
Luke 6:13 13 And when day came, khe called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:
Acts 1:2 2 until the day when che was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
Acts 1:24 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen
Acts 10:41 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
Gal 1:1 1 Paul, an apostle—bnot from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
Matt 10: 10 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
Acts 1:5-8 5 for hJohn baptized with water, hbut you will be baptized iwith2 the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 2:43 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
Acts 4:33 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
Acts 5:12 12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.
Acts 8:14 14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
2 Cor 12:12 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
Heb 2:3-4 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Anyways, what's your thought? Are there modern day Apostles of Christ now? If so, would you care to name them?
Is their teaching biblical? Have they seen the risen Christ? Were they personally appointed by Christ? Did they produce signs and miracles to affirm their apostleship?
I don't think so. And, I believe those claiming to be an Apostles are dwelling in prideful and vain delusions that reflect a non-spiritual mind.
here's the basic question for discussion.....are there modern day apostles of Christ?
I say NO.
Notice how I phrase the question.
I do not object to "apostles of the church". I object to folks claiming to be "apostles of Christ".
What's the difference? The word "apostle" means "sent one". There are missionaries sent out by church organizations and congregations on a continual basis. I do not deny that they COULD use the term "apostle" in a "little a" context.
However, it is a vain and bold claim to assert that you are one of the Apostles of Christ.
Yet, it happens all the time. Charismatics have created a self-affirmation membership club in relation to this. You can pay about $500 and be affirmed as a bona-fide Apostle in their organization. You even get a discount if your wife joins you as a female Apostle. There are many other such self-affirmation groups within professing Christianity today.
Todd Bentley was one such person named as an apostle, even though he left his wife and has been accused of homosexual advances upon various credible ministry partners. Shockingly, even though the guy utterly lacks credibility, charismatics continued to believe that he is an apostle, up until recently. In fact, somehow I think he will pull off some type of "repentance" that his gullible supporters will believe.
Why do I object to this?
I know the human heart and the vanity and pride that it is capable of. Baby Christians are especially susceptible to thinking that God is going to use them for some awesome purpose, such as being an Apostle or prophet. I expect that sort of behavior from baby Christians, and in fact I had such delusions myself, but I moved past it, just like a baby moves past the bottle sucking and diaper wearing stage.
Scripture has requirements for an Apostle that these individuals DO NOT MEET.
One, they needed to be a witness to the resurrected Christ.
Two, they needed to be chosen by Christ as an Apostle.
Three, they needed to be able to produce signs and wonders to affirm their Apostleship.
The Scriptures used in regards to this are listed in this article:
https://thecripplegate.com/are-there-still-apostles-today/
Here are some:
Acts 1:22 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when whe was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”
Acts 10:39-41 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
1 Cor 9:1 9 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?
1 Cor 15:7-8 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
Mark 3:14 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach
Luke 6:13 13 And when day came, khe called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:
Acts 1:2 2 until the day when che was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
Acts 1:24 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen
Acts 10:41 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
Gal 1:1 1 Paul, an apostle—bnot from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
Matt 10: 10 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
Acts 1:5-8 5 for hJohn baptized with water, hbut you will be baptized iwith2 the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 2:43 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
Acts 4:33 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
Acts 5:12 12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.
Acts 8:14 14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
2 Cor 12:12 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
Heb 2:3-4 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Anyways, what's your thought? Are there modern day Apostles of Christ now? If so, would you care to name them?
Is their teaching biblical? Have they seen the risen Christ? Were they personally appointed by Christ? Did they produce signs and miracles to affirm their apostleship?
I don't think so. And, I believe those claiming to be an Apostles are dwelling in prideful and vain delusions that reflect a non-spiritual mind.
-
1
-
1
- Show all
