WHY I DON’T BELIEVE IN MODERN DAY APOSTLES
I was challenged on a left leaning Evangelical Charismatic forum not long ago as to why I didn’t believe in modern day Prophets and Apostles. This treatise answers the question why I don’t believe in modern day Apostles.
First Apostles had to meet prequalifications to become a candidate for Apostleship . Speaking of replacing the Apostle Judas Iscariot Acts reports the prequalifications.
Acts 1:20-26 "For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'LET HIS HOMESTEAD BE MADE DESOLATE, AND LET NO ONE DWELL IN IT'; and, 'LET ANOTHER MAN TAKE HIS OFFICE.' 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-- 22beginning 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." 23So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias.
24And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen 25to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." 26And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. (NASB)
Notice verse 22 gives three distinct prerequisites for appointment to Apostleship. 1) they had to have had the Baptism of John. 2) they had to have been a follower of Jesus and went around with him from the Baptism of John until the ascension. 3) they had to be a witness of the resurrection; in other words seen the resurrected Jesus. Now during that time they were choosing Apostles only two qualified but they only choose one.
Think about this for a moment with me for it is a very big point. The only time in the bible that an Apostle is replaced and of all the people around at that time only 2 Qualified. How is it then, that people say there are qualified Apostles today?
Second, So since Acts chapter 6/8 shows how the miraculous indwelling of the Holy Spirit is passed on. In Acts the 6th chapter Steven and Philip along with five others were appointed as Deacon in the church by the Apostles. These men were to be full of the Spirit.
Acts6:2-3 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3"Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.
Prior to this we do not see anyone other than Apostles performing Miracles Wonders or Signs yet Acts 2:38 tells us we receive the Holy Ghost at Baptism. When Jews on the day of Pentecost heard the first Gospel sermon preached by Peter they asked what must we do to be saved? Peter answered Act 2:38Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. So the Bible records about 3000 and later 5000 being saved and received the Holy Spirit yet no one other that the Apostles performs miracles wonders or signs until Steven in Acts 6 has hands laid on him by the Apostles. Acts6:6-8 And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.7The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
Now Steven is killed in the 7th chapter and in 8th chapter Phillip who was one of the 7 deacons appointed and laid hands on and received the miracles indwelling of the HS is in Samaria preaching the word and performing miracles. A dilemma arises because Phillip can not pass on the Miracles Indwelling of the HS. So, Phillip has to send for the Apostles Peter and John. Acts8: 14-17Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. If Phillip was able to convey the HS upon the people of Samaria then the Apostles would not have had to come down and lay on hands. Further proof that Phillip could not pass on the Miracles Indwelling was Simon tried to buy the abilities from the Apostles.
Acts 8:18-19 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." Simon understood that Phillip could not lay on hands and pass on the Holy Spirit. He understood that that authority was for Apostles only so he tried to offer them money to by Apostleship authority.
Simply stated the Bible teaches that once the Apostles died and those whom they laid hands on died the age of Apostles, Prophets and Miracles ceased. That is why in 1 Corinthians 13 it tells us Miracles gifts will cease.
1 Corinthians 13:8-13 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part;10but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Many try to say oh Miracles will stay until that which is perfect comes; comes which is Christ. But the Bible teaches differently. James 1:25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. That which is perfect is the perfect law of liberty and is found in the Bible.
It seems that the Apostles mission was completed and the age of Miracles ended when the Bible and church came into full view.
In conclusion we discussed that the Apostles were a select few men which had prequalifications which can not be met today? That Miracles gifts were conveyed by the Apostles. That once the Apostles died and the ones they laid hands on the age of Apostles, Prophets and Miracles ceased.
I enjoyed this study; may God Bless us through the reading of his word and I hope it is a blessing to you. Please leave a comment at: https://sites.google.com/site/randy9commentary/home
Have a blessed day
Randy9
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