. . . and the Apostles

We live in an age when many people find fault with the church and with other Christians. There is a case to be made for that. Christians are not perfect, neither is the church, made up of disciples who must learn and grow and mature in faith and obedience. Plus, there are many who wear the name “Christian” who in fact are not. They inherited the name or chose to follow at some past point but have now rejected the path, although they still wear the name. So, there can be valid criticisms of “Christians.” But just because that’s true, that does not mean “the way of Christ” and the resource of his church should be abandoned. We just need to be purposeful in our own Christian walk and choose a church (a group of supportive Christians who gather regularly) carefully. That said, those who are cynical sometimes say, “I like Jesus and I want to follow him, but I don’t trust the teaching of Paul, who was critical of things I think should be OK.” With such thinking comes the question: can we follow Jesus without following the teaching of the apostles?” My answer to that is no. The apostles provide some tough teaching, at times, but often tough only because we have been overly sensitized to our culture. What we must realize is that all we know about Jesus comes to us from the apostles. You can’t separate Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (the accounts of Jesus life) from the books that follow written by the apostles which provide instruction. Matthew and John were apostles, Mark and Luke were apprentices to apostles, so the accounts of Jesus’ life come to us from them, as do the writings that follow in the New Testament pages. The apostles are not some rag tag group who formed after Jesus’ resurrection and decided to start a new thing. They are a select group specifically chosen by Jesus to be with him during his three-year ministry, to learn from him, to witness his miracles, and finally to witness his death, burial, and resurrection. Then he authorized them to go spread the good news of salvation in his name. “Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles” (Luke 6:12-13). “And he called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:1-2). “And Jesus came and said to the apostles, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:18-20). We cannot separate Jesus from his apostles. They have been authorized by him to tell his story, the good news (gospel) of how Jesus’ sacrifice provides forgiveness for those who choose him and follow him, and to instruct people on how they should live as faithful followers. Jesus said his words are what will judge us on the last day (John 12:48). He said everyone who hears his words and builds on them will build on a rock, but those who hear his words and do not build on them will build on sand (Matt. 7:24-27). We are told the Word of God is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing the soul and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb. 4:12). God spoke to the apostles as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). All of this tells us that to trust and follow Jesus, we can only do so as we pay attention to the words of the apostles. They were his official spokesmen on earth after his resurrection. They were impowered by God’s Holy Spirit to preach and to write. They communicate to us the words of Jesus, the Word of God. Jesus is the Word incarnate (John 1:1, 14), and we need the Word written to guide us in his way. They provide that. Is it tough teaching that doesn’t set well in our modern culture sometimes? Indeed! But that has always been the case for God’s spokesmen (see the prophets). We all have sin tendencies, attractions that tempt us, but if we choose Jesus as Lord, we must follow. And the words provided by the apostles provide the way. Jesus and his apostles are one.

Cross Point: I warn everyone who hears the words of this book: if anyone adds to them…if anyone takes away from them…God will take away his share in the tree of life…the grace of the Lord Jesus be with all” (Revelation 22:18-21)