Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Paul: A New Testament apostle

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Paul was the first of the New Testament apostles given by Jesus after the resurrection.

When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.  9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)  11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Eph. 4

Paul was not even born again until after Jesus was resurrected.

Paul is not the last of the apostles.  Paul is the first of the New Testament apostles.

What do apostles do in the New Testament church?

Primarily apostles make "rulings" concerning scripture.

For examples:  Many churches today approve remarriage after divorce and explain away scripture on this subject because it would not be popular to speak that which is taught in the scripture.

Apostles will cling to scripture unto death and will fight in the churches to bring scripture back as the rule.

Jesus said:  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.  Mt. 5:32

3 forms of adultery spoken of in above scripture:

- Man who divorces a "faithful" wife will be the cause of her adultery if she remarries.
- The "faithful" wife will commit adultery if she remarries after divorce.
- The man who marries divorced woman commits adultery.

Paul (apostle) confirmed this teaching of Jesus over and over as he taught the New Testament church.

And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. I Cor. 7

The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. 40But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God. I Cor. 7

Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.  Romans 7

There are many other sins in the church that New Testament apostles would stand against.  There are perversions of doctrine in the church that apostles stand against.  This is a primary function of New Testament apostles ... to uphold godly, scriptural doctrine in the church.

Devils would like to take over the churches.  And in fact Paul said the time would come when antichrist (opposite to Christ) would reign in the church and the churches would fall away from scripture and set up another doctrine.  II Thess. 2

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first (The falling away is not people leaving the church but the falling away are churches falling away from scripture to set up a more approved doctrine to approve men), and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.  7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:(even in Paul's day this was happening but it would get worse before the end) only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (Don't be surprised to see ministers of Satan doing miracles in the churches.)10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. II Thess. 2

But apostles will fight for truth of scripture and doctrine.