Friday, January 4, 2013

Apostles in the New Testament church

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Paul was not the last of the apostles as some think.  Paul was the first of the New Testament apostles.

Why?  Because unlike Peter and the other apostles who walked with Jesus, Paul did not know Jesus before the crucifixion.  Jesus revealed Himself to Paul after the crucifixion and resurrection.(Acts 9)  Paul was one of the gifts to the New Testament church as cited in the following scripture.

Ephesians 4 ... When he (Jesus) 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:

After Jesus ascended, after the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus gave to the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

The ministries of the New Testament church are:  apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher.

So what do NT apostles do?

Apostles were put in the church "first".  (I Cor. 12:28)

One of the primary works of NT apostles is church doctrine.  Apostles work to keep order in the NT church.  Antichrist is always trying to bring false doctrine into the NT church through humans.  There are so many doctrines today set up in various church groups which are not of God nor do we find these doctrines in the Bible.

Apostles will expose false doctrine and try to set correct doctrine into the church and will try to remove false doctrine.

So many church groups will say there are no apostles today.  Perhaps this is one reason antichrist would like to remove apostles.  Apostles will not put up with antichrist doctrines.

Paul once said:  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.  Acts 20

(Consider the writing:  Divorce/remarriage: What the Bible teaches ... published 1-3-13 ... Note that these things have been excluded from church groups today.  But these scriptures are valid today.  Antichrist at work in churches today causes a falling away from such NT scriptures so people can feel approved in doing what they want to do.  But in the day of judgment this falling away from scripture will be part of the judgment against many who willingly violate scripture this way. This writing is an example of the work of a NT apostle.)