Subscription Lists

Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, separated to the gospel of God

I have heard many arguments against Paul being a true apostle of God, although not so many of late. I'm thinking that Paul was not thinking about his old name Saul which has a connotation of being called for. I believe that Paul was a true blue Apostle with a capital letter A. Although, Paul had to defend himself and the title because, it seems that many in his day refuted his claim to the title else why would he write, 1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen our Lord Jesus Christ? Are you not my work in the Lord?

Jesus sought him out. Paul tells us this when he gives his testimony in Acts 9. Saul was on the road to Damascus breathing fire and brimstone with murder in his heart for Christians. Jesus found him on this road. (The Light). Jesus spoke to Him. "And the Lord said to him, Arise and go into the city, and you shall be told what you must do." Jesus sent Ananias saying to him, Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, Go! For this one is a chosen vessel to Me, to bear My name before nations and kings and the sons of Israel. Therefore he was to be sent on a mission, to be an emissary, a messenger.

Apostle literally means "sent one, a messenger, an envoy, ambassador of the Gospel, and a commissioner of Christ". Most people give the twelve disciples the title Apostle and hold back from giving that title to anyone today. Yet, Jesus was given the title in Hebrews3:1 For this reason, holy brothers, called to be partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, He was most certainly sent by the Father. He had a very special message that only He could deliver. He was the harbinger of the Gospel and the appointed Ambassador from the Father to us.

So, do you think it is for this reason that no one today is called an apostle? That it is too lofty a position to be held by us mere mortals?

Then Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:9 that he wasn't sufficient to be called an apostle because he persecuted God's assembly. 1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

It is really interesting that Paul says in Galatians that he is an apostle not from men nor through a man but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead. That is a LOT of power there.

This is the clue that describes the difference between the Apostles, and today’s apostles. 2 Corinthians 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. The emphasis is mine in order to point out the difference.

Then we need to consult Ephesians 4:11-16 Ministry gifts – these office gifts are specifically for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ until we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God . These offices are listed by Paul, but he carefully asserts the offices are given by Jesus Himself. Those offices are:

· apostles

· prophets

· evangelist

· pastor

· teacher

Apostle is just one office of five. The twelve disciples (Matthias taking Judas’ place) were promoted to apostleship after Jesus ascended and the Holy Spirit quickened the 120 Christians secluded in the room. Looking at the list, we can see the offices are distinct, but given our own definitions, could overlap in duties.

Therefore, each officer filling an office is God-called, not man-called. Paul insists that he had fulfilled the signs of an apostle when he established the church at Corinth. Signs and wonders and mighty deeds are part of the office of Apostle. They were the indicators of the true Apostle. In a time when there were many pretenders, God set his Sent Ones apart from them by giving them these signs and wonders to assure any and all just Who these Apostles represented. It was their Seal of Approval so to speak.

Paul summed up his definition of Apostle in 2 Corinthians 5:20 Then on behalf of Christ, we are ambassadors, as God is exhorting through us, we beseech on behalf of Christ, Be reconciled to God.

I'm thinking it most likely is not semantics, but a definition of an apostle that transcends what we think or propose to think. Something in the neighborhood of "This is a done deal by God and who can undo any work that I AM does?" What do you think?

This is one of those things that make you go, "hmmm".

"God's Words For US" from Cecelia Lester

Renew a Right Spirit