DO WE HAVE APOSTLES TODAY?

Who is Right?

Theme: On Calling 7

Text: Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:1–15 (ESV)

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

and he gave gifts to men.”

(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

a. Paul the prisoner of Christ is writing to the believers

1. Telling them to walk in a manner worthy of their calling

2. The man of our calling is that of humility,

Ephesians 4:1–2 (ESV)

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

3. Paul talks about the Unity of the Body

Ephesians 4:4–11 (ESV)

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

and he gave gifts to men.”

(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

History is Important Before Interpreting

1. The Apostles: Who are they?

Luke 6:12–16 (ESV)

In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Privileges of the Apostles

1. Jesus Specifically prayed before selecting them

2. He chose them among other disciples

3. He personally and physically mentored them

4. They laid the foundation of the Church

5. Some were inspired to write scriptures

6. The other disciples who were inspired to write the scriptures needed to be close to the Apostles

7. When they all died, they were never replaced

Church Leaders after the early Church

Those who took over from the Apostles are called the early Church fathers, or the Apostolic fathers

a. Apologists

b. When the Catholic Church was in power, the common titles were priests, Bishops, Monks, and Popes, And then we had theologians, professors and Doctors.

Ephesians we see five offices

1. Apostles 2. Prophets 3. Evangelists 4. Pastors 5. Teachers

Modern Definition says that Apostles are those who flow in these five

1 Corinthians 12:27–31 (ESV)

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.