Last Sunday, I was encouraged to pursue further the statement I made on Who Were the Apostles, because there was evidence of apostles other than the twelve that Jesus listed in Mark 3:16-19 NIV and Luke 6:13-16 NIV, and Judas Iscariot’s replacement, Matthias, chosen in Acts 1: 15-26 NIV.
I have found many references that different commentaries and studies use to call others “apostles”. Not all references use the name ‘apostles’ so there is disagreement on whether they were apostles of Jesus or disciples. Others feel that there were different types of apostles: the twelve being Jesus’s apostles, and other apostles chosen by God who did not walk with Jesus on earth.
In the Encyclopedia of the Bible, we find this statement:
The word “Apostle” means ‘a person who is sent, a messenger or representative.’ In the New Testament it is mainly used to refer to Jesus’ twelve disciples, to Paul and to other Christians who were involved in missionary outreach… Paul claimed that he was an apostle, because he believed that his experience on the Damascus road was not just a vision but a meeting with the living Jesus. He had been chosen by Jesus as his special messenger, particularly to bring his message to the non-Jewish world (the Gentiles). 1
One reference is for Paul who challenges those in Corinth who did not believe him to be an apostle.
1 Corinthians 9: 1-2 NIV
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?
2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
Then there is the Hebrew verse that calls Jesus an apostle.
Hebrew 3:1 NIV
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.
Other passages to look at are: Luke 10:1-24; Matthew 28:16-20; 2 Corinthians 8:23; Romans 16:7; Galatians 1:19; Acts 14:14; 1 Corinthians 4:6-9; 1 Thessalonians 1:1&2,6; Philippians 2:25
One of the disputed references is Ephesians 4:11-16 where those who think it means there are more apostles, even in today’s time, use verse 13 to support their belief.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
I like this passage, as it ties my first two sermons together with today’s really well. We are looking at “This is the way of Christ and His Apostles” and today’s title is “Practice Builds Confidence”. God gave me this title three weeks ago and I had no idea that He was going to make me practice to build my confidence this week. I have much to learn, and I appreciate all who help me grow in knowledge and wisdom through correction to be a better Pastor and Christian.
We must be willing to learn and grow to be followers of Jesus Christ. God reveals more to us as we search Him out for guidance. Each of us has a part to do for God on this earth and we need to find that part.
1 Corinthians 12:27-30 NIV
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
We are each unique and gifted by God for the part we are in His family. First, we discover that part and then we work at being the best we can be doing it.
Romans 12:1-8 NIV
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Humble Service in the Body of Christ
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;
8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Once we have found God’s plan for us, then we continue to grow as we go forward with our part. Our walk is grounded in our faith in God, the teachings of Jesus, and guidance from the Holy Spirit.
A familiar passage for Bible Schools is:
2 Timothy 3:14-17 NIV
10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,
11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,
15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
We have a promise from God to be with us always and to show us the way to live. God has given us His Word – the Bible, and the Holy Spirit to indwell us and give us confidence. This confidence comes from practicing what we learn and are taught, and relying on the Holy Spirit for understanding.
As I learned this week again, we never stop learning, being corrected, and growing if we want to walk with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Like the apostles and disciples before us, we need to go into this world facing the evil and bringing the light. If we don’t – who will?
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