A True Apostle

Paul has claimed to have had visions of heaven and of Jesus Christ that are so fantastic that God had to send a thorn in his flesh to keep him thinking too much of himself. This book is not a handbook of Paul’s Technique but of his heart.

4 Characteristics of a True Apostle of Jesus Christ to the Church.

1. He Is Humble

2 Corinthians 12:11 NASB95

11 I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.

Paul was getting the respect that he was due for a man in his position and relationship to the church in Corinth. He knew that his office deserved honor among God’s people. He also didn’t undervalue his abilities compared to the satanic “super apostles” that had troubled Corinth. Despite this knowledge, Paul did not demand their respect, he humbly considered himself as a nobody. Honor is a funny thing, someone can trick people to give them honor even when they don’t deserve it while someone who should be honored overlooked.

Like Haman and Mordecai in the book of Ruth.

Paul considered himself as nothing. He had the same attitude as Jesus.

Philippians 2:5–7 NASB95

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

2. He Is Qualified

2 Corinthians 12:12 NASB95

12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.

Qualifications of a true Apostle:

Were performed - Passive verb. It was God’s power working through him.

A. Called by Jesus Personally

John 15:16 NASB95

16 “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

B. Personal Witnesses of Jesus’ Resurrection

Acts 1:21–23 NASB95

21 “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— 22 beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” 23 So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias.

1 Corinthians 9:1 NASB95

1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

C. Receive the Gospel Personally from Jesus

Galatians 1:11–12 NASB95

11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

D. Perform Miraculous Signs to Authenticate Message

Acts 5:12 NASB95

12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico.

Paul was persistant in displaying the authenticity of his message. He did a lot of miracles.

Paul:

Blinded the sorcerer Elymas (Acts 13:11-12). 

Healed a crippled man at Lystra (Acts 14:8-18). 

Healed a woman possessed by an evil spirit (Acts 16:18). 

Raised Eutychus from the dead (Acts 20:8-12). 

Healed many on the island of Malta (Acts 28:8-9). 

Healed those who were diseased and possessed by evil spirits (Acts 19:11-12). 

There are no apostles of Jesus Christ today.

3. He Is Sacrificial

A. By Not Burdening the Church

2 Corinthians 12:13 NASB95

13 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

They treated Paul as inferior to their false teachers, but Paul did not treat them as inferior to the other churches he planted. He held them in high regard because the grace of Christ had been poured out to them and they belonged to God.

Paul did not give the church a bill for his services!

2 Corinthians 12:14 NASB95

14 Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

B. By Caring for Their Souls

2 Corinthians 12:15 NASB95

15 I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

He loved them and did and poured himself out to them for their spiritual enrichment.

What a question! “If I continue to show love for you, will you love me less because of it?”

2 Corinthians 12:16 NASB95

16 But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit.

Desperately the false teachers were saying that Paul was tricking them. He didn’t take anything from them, but that was because he was going to clean them out the next time he came by. What evil intent these false teachers had for Paul! No wonder Paul compares them to Satan, the slanderer.

C. By Sending Quality Helpers

2 Corinthians 12:17 NASB95

17 Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?

2 Corinthians 12:18 NASB95

18 I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?

4. He Is Spiritually Encouraging

2 Corinthians 12:19 NASB95

19 All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved.

beloved - he loved them deeply.

2 Corinthians 12:20 NASB95

20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;

I may find you to be not what I wish - They are obeying the truth of God’s Word.

Be found by you to be not what you wish - He would not be Sweet and joyful, but would have to be stern and corrective.

2 Corinthians 12:21 NASB95

21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.

The effects on Paul, Humiliation since he identified himself with the church and bragged about them, and mourning over their sin.

have sinned - perfect tense. The started sinning in the past and continue in it.

He was calling them to repentance before he arrived. Sin was destroying this church and causing stress, anxiety, fear within the church and even Paul.

Song of Solomon 2:15 NASB95

15 “Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, While our vineyards are in blossom.”

He could have a wonderful time of fellowship with the church when he arrived but not if all these sinful behaviors were ruining the vinyard. Are there any of these sins that you need to repent of? Confess and forsake them today so that you too may enjoy sweet communion with the Lord and with each other.

Application: Show the maturity of Paul even when wronged by the people that you love who should love you.