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Rightly Dividing
the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15)
Established November 2008 Published
Weekly on Friday AM
This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our
Savior, who desires all men (and women) to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Timothy 2:3-4)
Ephesians (4:11-16)
(Lesson 16)
Welcome to HBS.
Paul’s way
conversation changed beginning in 4:1 from speaking to the entire Ephesian
Church to addressing the individual Believer.
Why? Each person is responsible
to “walk (live their life) in a manner worthy of your calling with
which you have been called (4:1); to exhibit the spiritual qualities of humility and gentleness, with patience,
showing tolerance for one another, in love (4:2; Galatians 6:2) and they
are put forth effort to preserve the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (4:3).
Even though each
Believer had been given the gift of
God’s Grace and had received the gift of the Holy Spirit, discord and disunity existed and
persisted in this church. Clearly, these
folks had not turned the power of
the Holy Spirit on in their lives. This is why we took the time to study, in
brief, the characteristics of spiritual infancy vs spiritual adulthood or those
folks who are now engaged in the practice of present sanctification to a mature
man (and woman) in Jesus Christ.
It’s impossible to
follow God unless you are being led by the
Spirit and the only way to be led by the
Spirit is to follow God’s command to be filled by the Spirit
(Ephesians 5:18). Interestingly, our
Apostle Paul contrasted the state of being filled with the Holy Spirit with
an individual who is drunk on wine. An intoxicated
individual is controlled by alcohol. But
the person who is "filled with the
Spirit" is controlled by the
Spirit, who helps us live holy lives, to
the glory of God the Father (Ephesians 5:18).
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
these are sons
(and daughters) of God (Romans
8:14). The Bible teaches us the Holy
Spirit’s power Guides, Helps, and
Teaches us: But
the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach
you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you
(John 14:26).
Although every true
Believer has received the gift of the indwelt Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 6:19), it’s also true people neglect to
utilize His power in their walk, which means they are not turning His Spirit’s power on.
********
Please
turn to Ephesians 4:11.
We’re
going to backtrack a bit to study verses 4:8b “AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN”
and
4:11 “And He gave some as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers,” from
another viewpoint.
Paul
explains God’s purpose in giving these GIFTS
to the Church in 4:12-16:
For the equipping
of the saints for the work of service, to the building up
of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the
measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be (immature) children, tossed here and there by waves
and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by
craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth (how) in (agape) love, we are to grow up (mature spiritually) in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held
together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working
of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building
up of itself in love. (Romans
12:4-5)
In
reference to these gifts, Paul uses
the Koine Greek word Doma and not Charisma (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). The men who held these offices we’re
supernaturally gifted to preach/teach “the
whole council of God” to a diverse audience, i.e. Jews and Gentiles.
The
phrase “the whole council of God” is
located in Acts 20:26-27. Paul’s
departing message to the Ephesian elders underscores the opposition he faced
from this church: “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of
all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
Pay careful attention to yourselves and
to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for
the church of God, which He obtained with his own blood…”
Despite
the antagonism Paul continued to share the
gospel in its entirety. He gave them
the whole Truth about God’s
salvation when he explained the mystery
of God:
…and to
bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages
has been hidden in God who created all things so that the manifold wisdom of
God might now be made known (how) through
the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places (Ephesians
3:9-10).
In
the context of chapter 3, Paul’s talking about God’s plan of salvation that now
includes Gentiles being saved by faith (alone) apart from works of the Law.
God
gave the first century church the gifts of apostles
and prophets to communicate God’s
Word. The whole council of God was not in print which means these gifted
men were the final authority in all matters related to the faith. God withdrew
these two church offices once the N.T. was completed. But the gifts
of godly men known as evangelists,
pastors, and teachers prevail to this day.
Although they are not supernaturally gifted, as in Paul’s day, one must
realize only a gifted man would take on the mantle and mission of God’s Church to
lead the lost to the Cross of Christ (4:13).
Please
be aware, any man who is devoted to God and His Word is targeted by Satan
routinely. Satan strives to destroy or
undo any good thing and God’s one
Church is a very good thing. The Lord
Jesus Christ experienced His attacks, so the Church need not thing they’re
immune: “I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered´ (Mark
14:27 – NKJV). Satan patiently waits until our guard is down
or when we’re weak to strike (Matthew
4:1-11; 1 Peter 5:8).
Now
I would like to show you what this book says about these five church
offices. Even though God has withdrawn
the apostles and prophets from the church and the associated
spiritual gifts as well, replacing them with, “faith, hope, and love, it will benefit you to know something about
them (1 Corinthians 13:8-13).
Apostles – in Koine Greek the word
is Apostolos (ap-os’-tol-os), Noun
Masculine, Strong’s Greek #652; meaning:
a messenger; one set forth with
orders. The Lord Jesus Christ was an
Apostle: Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus,
the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; He was faithful to Him who appointed Him,
as Moses also was in all his house (Hebrews 3:1-2).
Jesus
Christ as God’s Apostle was sent to His own to preach the gospel of the kingdom
is at hand: “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand”
(Mark 1:15; John 1:11; Hebrews 2:12).
An
apostle is called and sent by God: Jesus said:
If God were your Father, you would love Me, for
I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My
own initiative, but He sent Me” (John 8:42).
Then
we have the original twelve which are listed for us in the synoptic gospels and
in Acts 1:13:
Simon Peter, James
son of Zebedee, John brother of James, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot
(Matthew
10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16; John 1:13).
When
they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were
staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas,
Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and
Judas (no, not that Judas) the son of James (Acts 1:13).
In Acts 1:23-26 we find Matthias
taking Judas Iscariot’s place: So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas
(who was also called Justus), and Matthias. And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who
know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen
to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to
go to his own place." And they drew
lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
If we pay attention to what this
passage says, we learn from verse 25 the term “apostle” adopts a practical meaning. The
term “apostle” refers to the original twelve, but two other chosen men of God in the
N.T. fall into the category of an apostle. That would be Paul and James,
Jesus’ half brother:
Paul, an apostle
(not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and
God the Father, who raised Him from the dead) - Galatians 1:1.
But I did not see
any other of the apostles except James, the Lord's brother (Galatians 1:19;
Acts 15).
What
were the biblical qualifications for apostleship? I’m glad you asked. First, an apostle is one whom God called and has
sent on an errand or with a message that needed to be heard. An apostle
is accountable to God, his Sender and he carries the authority of his
Sender. Apostleship is the name of the
office an apostle holds.
Not
just anyone could be considered for an apostleship. Simon Peter explains the necessary qualifications in Acts 1:21-22: “Therefore
it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the
time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— beginning with the baptism
of John until the day that He was taken up from us (His second ascension) —one of these must become a witness with us of His (what) resurrection.”
Paul
explains who Jesus Christ visited after His resurrection and in their proper
order: and that He appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the twelve (even though Judas was no longer with
them they are still referred to and recognized as the twelve). Then
He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom
are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James (His
half-brother), then to all the
apostles (Thomas was absent during Jesus’ first visit. He later appeared to them all). Last of all, as to one
untimely born, He appeared also to me (Paul). For I am the least of the
apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of
God (1 Corinthians 15:5-9).
People
claim the twelve “jumped the gun.” Instead
of choosing Mathias, they should
have waited for Paul to take Judas’ place.
In the Prophetic Program there were only twelve apostles, one for each of
the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus sent them
to preach the gospel of the kingdom to Jew only
(Acts 11:19), with a few Gentile exceptions accounted for in the gospels. John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, and the
twelve proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom and not the gospel of grace (Acts
20:4; Romans 11:13). The
twelve looked forward to the promised kingdom and their role in it (Matthew 19:23-28).
After
Judas revealed himself a traitor, the first order of business was to fill his
position. Why? They believed the kingdom
was at hand (Acts 1:6-7, 16-26). This is what they had been taught and preached to their brethren for the past three years (Matthew 3:2, 4:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 17:21) The kingdom could not be realized unless all
twelve apostles were in place.
The number twelve in scripture
denotes “completeness.” There are twelve
tribes of Israel, twelve apostles of Christ, twenty-four elders (12 x 2), the
tree of life has twelve types of fruit (Revelation 22:2), the city of Jerusalem
had twelve gates, and the New Jerusalem will have twelve gates guarded by
twelve angels:
…And the wall of
the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve
names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Revelation 21:12-14).
Why Paul?
This is one of the most important
questions a Believer can ask in the Dispensation of Grace. It is not an exaggeration to say without the
correct answer to this question little can be understood of the one faith to which you have been called (Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 7:21-22).
Thus, God’s creation and purpose for His one Church rests on the correct answer to the question, “Why Paul.”
The Bible does not support the
claim choosing Matthias was a mistake. Paul declared, “And last of all he (the risen Lord) was seen of me also, as one born out of due
time” (1 Corinthians 15:8 –
KJV). The term “Ektromati” (before the due time) means “the untimely fruit of a woman,” a child
born out of due time or by natural causes.
Paul means to say he’s a child of Israel whose time to be born had not
yet come. After the stoning of Stephen, a
rebellious act that underscored Israel’s unbelief, they not only rejected Stephen’s
Spirit filled testimony they also rejected the Holy Spirit (Acts 7). The O.T. explains how the nation of Israel repeatedly
rejected God, Moses, and killed His prophets.
When He sent His Son, as the promised Redeemer, they killed Him
too. When the religious leaders of
Israel rejected Stephen’s testimony, and in anger stoned him to death; they
grieved the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5, 10).
But God has delayed His righteous judgment of the nation of Israel. God will punish the unbelievers who crucified
His Son, but that’s out in the future now.
He put His Prophetic Program on hold and called forth the chief enemy of
His Church (the way), Saul of Tarsus, to become the apostle to the Gentiles (Philippians 3:5).
The key to understanding the
difference between the ministry of the twelve and Paul is National
Israel's expectation is an earthly kingdom.
The twelve preached the gospel of
the kingdom, and those things the Jews needed to do in order to be saved: believe in Jesus’ name, be baptized, and repent. But here’s the thing, all Israel needed to
believe before the kingdom and their King could become a reality.
In contrast, the
church's hope and blessings are all heavenly.
Paul preached: “Christ crucified;” “believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (plus
nothing else) and you’ll be saved (Romans 2:16; 1 Corinthians 1:22-24, 15:1-4).
Prophets
- is the Koine Greek word Prophetes (prof-ay’-lace), Noun
Masculine, Strong’s Greek #4396, meaning:
an interpreter moved by the Spirit
of God to reveal His oracles or other hidden things of God; God’s spokesman who solemnly declares to men
what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and
in particular such as related to the cause of Christ and His kingdom.
And God has appointed in the church, first apostles,
second prophets, third miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
administrations, various kinds of
tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28, 14:1).
Biblically speaking, the use of Spirit gifts was given at
particular times for particular purposes and they were withdrawn by God when His
purpose was accomplished. The gifts of the
first century church were to be given until the perfect, or mature, man was reached. The fact
that unity in the faith is
nonexistent today takes nothing away from God’s purpose for His Church. Note how Ephesians 4:14 likens being under
the ministry of the miraculous gifts, to
spiritual childhood; and, in the context of prophesying, how the miraculous gifts were to be taken away:
Love never fails;
but if there are gifts of
prophecy, they will (cease) be done
away; if there are
tongues, they will cease; if there is
knowledge, it will be done away. For we
know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will
be done away (1 Corinthians 13:8-10).
The
Spirit gifts in the first century church were to be done away when that which is the perfect comes. The Koine
Greek word translated perfect means: that
which is full or complete. That
which is complete would replace the
partial knowledge which the early Christians had as a result of the gift
of prophecy. Prophecy was the gift of speaking forth God’s
entire truth, word for word. Now that we
have the N.T.; God’s Word is complete,
so the gift of prophecy is no longer
necessary.
I
say “partial knowledge” because the first century Believer would only have
known a fraction of the New Testament compared to what we know (or should
know). He or she would have been familiar
with some words of prophecy re:
various practical issues. They would
have known something’s about the life of Jesus, the Cross, and may have heard
one or two of Paul's letters read aloud in the churches. But once the written record of the words of prophecy was completed and circulated, there was no
need for the gift of prophecy. That which was complete, “the perfect” or
the New Testament specifically speaking, replaced the two offices of apostles and prophets (2 Timothy
3:16-17).
(To
be continued)
©
Copyright 2011
GJ
Heitzman’s Ministry
All
Rights Reserved
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