10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
10250 North Freeway @ West
Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
What
We Believe and Why
Written by Dr.
Lester Hutson
Copyright
- Lester Hutson - 1986
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced
without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
THE PURPOSE OF THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY
The Apostolic ministry, which was distinguished by signs, wonders and gifts of the spirit, was operable in a day when God's word, the Bible, was not fully revealed:
A. During the time this Apostolic ministry was seen to be in operation, you will note that the word of God was being revealed:
1. As the "signs ... wonders ... miracles ... and gifts" are considered (Heb. 2:4), note that Heb. 2:3 is talking about the Revelation of Truth.
2. The Apostles who went forth "with signs following" were declaring God's "Word", Mk. 16:20.
3. These Apostles had a ministry of penning the Word of Truth as the Spirit revealed it to them (John 16:13): Thus Paul, one of them, stated how God told him his purpose was to deliver the Revelations of God. He said in Acts 26:16, "But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee."
4. In the same book where the mighty Apostolic Power is seen (I Cor. 2:4) and the gifts are discussed at length (I Cor. 12-14); Divine Revelation is clearly seen to have been in process. I Cor. 2:10 thus says, "God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit. and verses 12-13 say, "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God: that we might know the things which are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak. . ."
5. Many other passages showing Divine Revelation to be still in process, during the times when the Apostolic Ministry was being exercised, could be cited; but these are sufficient to establish the point.
B. Thus, these early saints did not have the Bible to guide and edify them:
1. It is true that they had Moses and the prophets (John 1:45), but they did not have the books on the life of Christ, the teachings of the church, the Doctrines of Growth, the Second Coming, and dozens of others which are contained in the 27 books of the New Testament.
2. It is in view of that, that we have such descriptions of this era as:
a. "For we know in part, and we prophecy in part." I Cor. 13:9.
b. "For now we see through a glass, darkly..." I Cor. 13:12.
C. Without the Written Word of God before them, these saints were greatly handicapped in carrying on the work of the Lord:
1. They had no completed Bible by which to "try the spirits" (I John 4:1), "Edify" Rom. 14:19, teach, preach from book, chapter, and verse, etc., as we do.
2. Since it is impossible for man to walk properly before God apart from the revealed word of God (compare Jer. 10:23, Prov. 11:14, and Ps. 119:5), it was essential that these early saints be furnished with some sense of divine direction for the duration of the period in which the Word of God was being revealed, until it was completed
II. It was for this purpose: To edify and unify the saints and to confirm the Word delivered to indeed be the Word of God, that the Apostolic ministry was given:
A. It was a means by which these saints could tell the genuine from the counterfeit:
1. There were many lying, false prophets and teachers coming in the name of the Lord. II Peter 2:1; Jude 4; II Cor. 11:13.
2. Without the completed Revelation these saints could not always examine the Scriptures to see if what they were being told was true; but in those who really were of God, and those who were truly delivering the Truths of God (I Cor. 2:16), the saints could see the "signs and wonders, and ... divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost" (Heb. 2:4) and know assuredly that they were of God and were speaking the truth.
B. Thus, it becomes ever clearer that the main purpose of the Apostolic ministry was to confirm the Divine Revelation of God and stamp His approval of words spoken and deeds done; therefore, over and over as the word is revealed, the Scriptures show the miraculous workings of the Spirit, by the message bearers, confirmed it to be the truth:
1. Remember again Heb. 2:3-4 where the Word "at the first began to be spoken by the Lord (and in Him miraculous works confirmed it to be the Truth, Jn. 5:36) and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him. God also (just as He did with Jesus) bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according will."
2. Remember also how Paul said, when he spoke what he claimed to be divine Revelation, that he came "not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power," I Cor. 2:4. The Apostolic Power proved his words to be true.
3. Also note Mark 16:20 again where the Apostles "preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following. Amen."
4. Acts 4:33 declares, "And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord..." Again, signs confirm truth.
5. Paul declared the workings of the Apostle Ministry were proof sufficient that he delivered revealed Truth when he said, "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, bit also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance..." I Thes. 1:5.
C. The result of th2 Apostolic workings (by the apostles and those to whom they administered the gifts) was confidence in each other, edification, and unity among the saints of God:
1. The confidence they had that what they received was of God is seen in I Thes. 2:13. "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God..." The thing that caused them to receive it as such was the fact that it came in power and in the Holy Ghost, I Thes. 1:5.
2. Paul knew the gifts would establish, edify and unify the Christians in the churches, thus he wrote to the Romans, "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Rom. 1:11-12.
3. The threefold result of the Apostolic working is set forth in Eph. 4:11-14:
a . For the perfection of the saints or that they might grow.
b. For the work of the ministry that their service might be both intelligent and acceptable.
c. For the edifying of the body of Christ which is the establishing or building up of the church.
d. The outcome of these three for the saints is that they "be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine. "
4. Where the gifts are named and discussed at length (I Cor. 12-14), their result is that "there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another" (I Cor. 12:25), and "that the church may receive edifying." I Cor. 14:5.
III. Thus, the Apostolic ministry was a special ministry, the purpose of which was to confirm the word and edify the saints and churches during the time God's word was being revealed:
A. We ask those who claim to have the gifts today, "What purpose do they serve?"
B. You see from this study of the Bible that in Bible days, gifts were inseparable from Divine Revelation:
1. They were in direct confirmation of revealed truths,
2. Or they worked transitionally in others to produce the edification and unity which the completed revelation of Truth (The Bible) would produce in them, once it was come.
C. If these supposed gifts today do not serve that purpose, then they either serve no purpose or one that is unscriptural.
D. If a modern advocate is so bold as to claim that they are still serving in confirmation of Revelation, let him hear what God says about modern revelations which would add to the Bible, "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book." Rev. 22:18.
E. The truth is that the Apostolic ministry is not for today. Its purpose, which was to confirm the word and edify the churches, has been served, as we shall further show.
"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"