|
Depiction of the Apostle Peter by Anton van
Dijk |
Apostolic Succession
|
by Bryan Matthew Dockens
A number of religions practice so-called apostolic succession. Roman
Catholics believe the man they call "Pope" is the successor of the
apostle Peter. Mormons claim twelve to fifteen apostles at all
times. Many Pentecostal congregations identify their preachers as
apostles. Such claims are totally inconsistent with the scriptures.
The Apostles of Christ Were Not Replaced Upon Their Deaths
It is written, "Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his
hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the
brother of John with the sword" (Acts 12:1-2). There is absolutely
no record, not even the slightest implication, that a replacement
apostle was named when James was murdered.
Judas Iscariot was succeeded, but it was not his death which
prompted the vacancy. In the process of replacing him, the eleven
prayed and spoke of the "apostleship from which Judas by
transgression fell" (Acts 1:25). It was not his death, but his sin
which removed Judas from office. Therefore, to suggest a need for
modern apostles is to incriminate all previous apostles.
The Qualifications of Apostleship are No Longer Attainable
When the eleven sought out Judas' successor, they identified the
qualifications, saying, "Therefore, of these men who have
accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out
among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was
taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His
resurrection" (Acts 1:21-22). The criteria for an apostolic
candidate were that the man was a companion of Jesus and the twelve
from the days of John's ministry until the ascension of Christ, and
that he was a witness of the Lord's resurrection. These conditions
were so limiting that, even in those early days, just two men could
be found who met them (Acts 1:23). Those who claim to be modern-day
apostles ignore the severely limiting qualifications of the
original.
Furthermore, apostles were chosen by Christ (Luke 6:13). Even Judas
Iscariot's replacement was decided by the Lord. "They cast their
lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the
eleven apostles" (Acts 1:26). Scripture affirms this was God's
doing, for "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is
from the Lord" (Proverbs 16:33). None who claim modern apostleship
can substantiate the notion that they were chosen by Jesus.
The Apostleship of Paul was Exceptional
He wrote, "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also
received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day
according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by
the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at
once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have
fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the
apostles. Then last of all he was seen by me also, as by one born
out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not
worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of
God. 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" (I Corinthians
15:3-10).
Paul claimed to have been the last person to witness the resurrected
Christ. Not even his detractors disputed this (I Corinthians 9:1).
Certainly, none since him can accurately claim this most essential
qualification.
Moreover, Paul identified his role as an apostle by describing
himself as "one born out of due time." He was the unique apostle,
the only one exempt from the qualification to have accompanied the
other apostles during Jesus' earthly ministry, although he was most
definitely chosen by Christ (Acts 9:15), like the rest.
If dozens, scores, even hundreds of apostles have walked the earth
since Paul, his claim to have been "born out of due time" is
altogether meaningless. In fact, if the claims of the so-called
modern-day apostles are true, then those "born out of due time" were
the original twelve! Modern claimants must turn the scriptures
upside-down or ignore them altogether to assert their contrived
apostolic authority.
Beware of False Apostles!
Just as Satan, the master of deception and father of lies, can
transform himself into an angel of light, so those who serve him can
transform themselves into righteous ministers, even apostles of
Christ (I Corinthians 11:13-15). "Those who say they are apostles
and are not" will be found liars when tested (Revelation 2:2). ~
|
|
The Paradox of Grace
by Forrest D. Moyer
Peter spoke to the gathering in Jerusalem on the question of
circumcision and law keeping and said: "Now therefore why do you put
God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke
which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we
believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in
the same way as they also are" (Acts 15:10-11). The yoke of which
Peter spoke was the Law of Moses. Some of the Judaizers were trying
to bind some segments of that law upon the Gentiles who had become
Christians. Paul and Barnabas had strongly resisted such an effort
at Antioch (Acts 15:1-2). Now in the meeting, Peter likewise resists
such Pharisaical demands. He wants the Jews to realize that their
salvation, like that of the Gentiles, is by the grace of the Lord
Jesus. The meticulous keeping of the law of Moses could not bring
salvation to them.
Paul beautifully demonstrates how salvation comes to us in Ephesians
2. Based on the fact that God is rich in mercy, that he has great
love, that he shows us the surpassing riches of his grace in
kindness, he saves us, raises us up with him and sits us with him in
the heavenlies in Christ (vv. 4-7). Then in vv. 8-9 Paul avers: "For
by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no
one should boast." Since I am not saved by works of human
righteousness but by God's grace, some have concluded that man has
nothing whatsoever to do with his salvation.
Here is where the paradox of grace enters. It is true that nothing
that I do can merit salvation for me. It is by his marvelous grace.
And yet, strangely enough, our Lord demands all that we have and
are. He expects us to deny ourselves and take up his cross daily and
follow him (Lk. 9:23). He expects us to "present our bodies as a
living sacrifice" to him (Rom. 12:1). He expects my body to be the
temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). He urges me to "hold fast
the confession of our hope without wavering" (Heb. 10:23). He tells
me that Jesus is the "author of eternal salvation to all those who
obey him" (Heb. 5:9). Really, he demands my everything - my every
thought, my every action, my every word, my heart, soul and mind.
And yet he says that I am saved by his grace. How can it be that I
am saved from past sins and continue to be saved from current sins
by his grace and yet have him demand all that I am? If his grace
saves me, why should I need to deny myself and take up his cross?
Why should I be concerned about obeying him at all? This is the
paradox of grace!
You see, the reason that I cannot be saved by works (of any kind) is
that I would have to perfectly work or obey the law under which I
live. Paul said that in Galatians 3:10-12: ". . . Cursed is every
one who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law,
to perform them.' Now that no one is justified by the Law before God
is evident; for 'The righteous man shall live by faith.' However,
the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, 'He who practices them
shall live by them."' To be justified by keeping a law, one would
have to keep that law perfectly. Since no one perfectly keeps the
law (any law), he cannot be saved by perfect law keeping. Even if we
could be saved by perfect obedience, then we would have occasion to
boast in our perfection. We would glorify ourselves. God's plan is
for all glory to be given to him through Jesus Christ (Eph. 3:21).
Since I am weak, frail, imperfect and unworthy, I must have one who
is all-powerful and totally perfect in which to put my faith. When
by faith I receive salvation by grace, I give him all the praise. I
cry out, "Worthy art thou!" (Rev. 5)
But not only so, when I put myself under Jesus as my Lord and do
what he says (Lk. 6:46), 1 am giving glory, not to myself, but to
him. When I take up his cross daily and follow him, it gives all the
glory to God and none to myself, for I must deny myself. The way
that I glorify the Father is by honoring the Son (John 5:23). 1 do
that by total submission to him. The only way that I can show my
love to God is by obeying him (1 John 5:3). My purpose for being on
this planet is to glorify God. I could not do this by my own works
of righteousness or by meriting a right-standing with him.
Consequently, God's plan for my glorifying him is by my faith taking
him at his word. That faith is a response to his love and his grace.
When in response to his will, I repent and am baptized for the
remission of sins, all the glory goes to him since it is his plan
and not mine. Those who refuse Bible baptism are refusing God's
grace and are not glorifying him. In the same way, Christians who do
not accept his will for our lives in living for him do not glorify
him. They become like those "whose God is their belly and who glory
in their shame." The only way to give all the glory to God is to do
what he says in his word.
Does this mean "perfect obedience"? No, John tells us that "if we
say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth
is not in us" (1 John 1:8). So, I do not live a perfect life or
render perfect obedience. I falter, I slip, I fall. To glorify God
in such an instance as this means that I turn from my sin in genuine
repentance and confess it to him. His grace then forgives, and I
keep on walking in the light of his glory. I will be constantly
striving to do all that he wants in my life. But I do not rely on my
own power to stand in right relationship to God. He is the one who
enables. His grace makes it all possible. When I realize this, then
I can have a happy and confident walk with God. The "blessed
assurance" comes from his rather than from my own ability or power.
I am so thankful for the grace of God that reaches down into this
sinful world and saves me and all who come to him in faith. Because
of what he has done, I must bow in total submission to his will. I
may not understand all of it perfectly, but I must be constantly
seeking, learning, and following. And some glad day because of his
grace and love, I can be with him in that glorious city where there
is no sin and no sorrow and where I can praise him while eternity's
ages roll on and on. Friend, won't you join with those who have
washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb?
You, too, can glorify God in your body while you live here on this
earth. ~
|