Apostolic Authority: Part 2 (The Big Lie) (2 Corinthians 8:23;1 Corinthians 9:5; 15:5-7;Philippians 2:25;1 Thessalonians 2:6;Acts 14:14; 15:4,6,23;Galatians 1:17; Romans 16:7;John 13:16;Luke 11:49)

It has been said, that if you are going to lie about something, make it totally preposterous; talk about it constantly and consistently; and ironically, more people will believe it to be true.

EXAMPLE:

- tell people that all the economic woes of your country, or even the world, are caused by a single race of people, and you will be able to exterminate over 6 million of them, with majority approval, as Hitler did.

- tell people that races with colored pigmentation are of inferior intelligence, and ability, and you will be able to reduce a noble people into slaves, as happened in the Southern United States.

- tell people long enough, and consistently enough, that miracles; speaking in tongues; healings, all passed away with the early church, and you can reduce whole denominations to a single message of "Jesus Saves", with no power to live the life that they are saved to.

SKINNY BIBLE

The story is told of the Christian who came to church, and had just a skinny little bible. A friend asked him why his bible was so thin. His response was, "I just took out all the pages that aren't for us today; or that were just for the Jewish people; or things that had passed away with the early church, and this is all the bible I have left!"

OVER TIME

The devil has worked the lie over time, that there are no more apostles; that apostolic authority ended with the death of the last of the 12 apostles, when the truth is; not only is the apostolic office alive and functioning, but it is one of the most fundamental elements for church growth, which is undoubtedly why the Big Lie is promoted.

MORE THAN 12

There were more than just the 12 apostles, and Paul:

2 CORINTHIANS 8:23, refers to anonymous, "...apostles of the churches..." [Notice that both "apostles" is plural, and "churches" is plural].

1 CORINTHIANS 15:5-7, speaking of the appearance of Jesus, after His resurrection, says, "...He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then He appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the most remain until now, but some also are fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James; then to all the apostles".

[Notice that James, which is very likely referring to the Lord's physical brother, is included among the apostles, but more importantly, notice that the scriptures say He appeared "...to all the apostles...", which we know is not referring to the 12 apostles, as that happening is already recorded, and if it was referring to re-appearing to the 12 apostles again, the scriptures, being very specific, would have stated, "...then He appeared to James; then again to the 12 apostles".

ANONYMOUS

The unmistakable truth is that there were numerable anonymous apostles, as there were the anonymous 70 disciples that Jesus sent out to announce the good news (Lk.10:1ff).

PHILIPPIANS 2:25, Paul refers to "...Epaphroditus my brother and fellow-worker and my fellow-soldier, but your apostle, and minister of my need ..." [Notice that Epaphroditus was an apostle from and of the Philippian church].

1 THESSALONIANS 2:6, Paul refers to his company as "...Christ's apostles...". At the very least, he is referring to "Paul, and Silas, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians..." (1 Thes.1:1)

ACTS 14:14, refers to "...the apostles Barnabas and Paul...", thus classifying Barnabas as an apostle.

ACTS 15:4,6,23, refers to the apostles and elders, of the church at Jerusalem, which was the "flag ship" church of the Christian movement, and the apostles mentioned have been traditionally promoted as referring to the 12 apostles and the elders. However, at this point in church history, there is every indication that most of the apostles, other than Peter, and perhaps John, were already off on their own missionary journeys, announcing the good news, and these apostles at Jerusalem were those who stood in the office of an apostle, from the church at Jerusalem, and very likely included not only James, the Lord's physical brother, but also Jude, the Lord's physical brother.

GALATIANS 1:17, Paul refers to not going up to Jerusalem, "...to the apostles that were before me...", giving no indication that these were the 12 apostles, or they would have been designated as such. In fact, even when Paul, after receiving his revelation of the good news of Jesus Christ, did go up to Jerusalem, he mentions seeing Peter, "But other apostles I did not see, except James, the brother of the Lord"; recognizing others that stood in the office of apostle, but NOT of the 12. In fact, the only other apostle of the 12 that is mentioned, as still being in Jerusalem, is John, "...who knowing the grace given to me, James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, gave to Barnabas and I, the right hand of fellowship..." (Gal.2:9).

The point, of course, is that the apostles that were at Jerusalem, were not the original 12, but numerous other believers, who stood in the apostolic office.

1 CORINTHIANS 9:5, Paul, defending his authority and right, as an apostle, says, "Do we not have a right to have a wife, as also the rest of the apostles, and brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?" Again, there is no inference of the 12, other than Peter, but specific reference to "...the rest of the apostles...", designating any and all those who stand in the office of an apostle, whomever and whatever church they may be from.

ROMANS 16:7 refers to "...Andronicus and Junias...who are of note among the apostles..." [Note that Paul is writing to the church at Rome, and refers to "...the apostles..." (plural), meaning there were multiple apostles at the church at Rome. Secondly, dealing with another Big Lie, Junias is female, and is also "...of note among the apostles.." at Rome. This should give every woman the right to stand in whatever office the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church, has called her to, without the bigotry of the Big Lie, that women shouldn't be involved in publicly announcing the good news].

JOHN 13:16, Jesus Himself states generally, "...a servant is not greater than his master; nor an apostle greater than the one having sent him". [It was obviously a matter of fact statement that there were and would be other apostles, totally distinct from the 12, or there would be no need for Jesus to make such a qualifying statement regarding servitude and authority].

LUKE 11:49, Jesus says, "...I will send them prophets and apostles..." [Notice, that this is not referring to the 12 that were sent in Luke 9:1ff; and not referring to the 70 that were sent in Luke 10:1ff; but referring to a future time, when Jesus would send out His prophets and apostles, and the unbelieving would still reject them].

It is overwhelmingly evident, that apostolic authority extended beyond the 12 apostles, and that these apostles, represented the Lord Jesus Christ and the churches that they were sent from.

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours