Results 1 - 4 of 4
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Prerequisite-infallibility? | 1 Cor 12:27 | Reformer Joe | 12651 | ||
The office of apostle was a foundational one...people particularly used by God to initially establish the church. We see that the apostles were indeed "larger than life" in the sense that they possessed special gifts which were not displayed by other believers (e.g. healing)--we never see anyone but Jesus and those he specifically sent out displaying true "signs and wonders" in the NT. This is not saying that God does not miraculously heal today. However, He isn't doing it at the behest of the Benny Hinns of the world! Another thing that needs to be pointed out from church history (something that all believers should study to get themselves some perspective): this sudden "apostolic movement" is clearly a product of the 20th-century Pentecostal/Charismatic movement. Even those who claim to be apostles today do not say that the office of apostle has been occupied since the first century. Rather, they claim that the office is something that God has "re-established" for the last days. In other words, this "essential" office for the functioning of the church has gone unoccupied for centuries! Doesn't seem like our omnipotent, sovereign God would allow that if it was such a necessary office for the body of Christ to function. The apostles were mere men, but they were especially set apart by God for a particular purpose at a particular time. And the power that God manifested in them was so powerful that they often were feared by other believers (check out Acts 5 for a good example of why that was the case). Show me one individual legitimately displaying the kind of signs and wonders on the scale of the apostles of the Bible. On a side note, Martin Luther did not re-introduce grace. The Catholic church has always held that grace is necessary for salvation. What Luther and the Reformers contended was that salvation was by God's grace ALONE (no merit on our part), and that we are justified by faith ALONE (no works at all on our part). Therefore, it was not a "new" thing in any sense of the word. Martin Luther was indeed a man used by God, but he certainly did not consider himself to be an apostle. The contrasts between Luther and the present-day "super-apostles" demonstrate the difference between what the church needs today (Reformation) and what our over-stimulated American society selfishly craves (a "revival" complete with all the smoke and mirrors). The Holy Spirit is alive and well and working in His church! Let's do the studious work of discerning what is truly of Him and what is just fabricated nonsense. --Joe! |
||||||
2 | Prerequisite-infallibility? | 1 Cor 12:27 | charis | 12668 | ||
Dear Joe! Sorry, my friend, but this sounds just like more of the same. The presence of abusers and pretenders does not negate the presence of of God's true servants. Please read "The New Foxe's Book of Martyrs" and tell me that no one has shown forth the same anointing as the early saints. Though we may not be able to claim the same 'amount,' the service to God remains the same. Finally, I do not know what the false apostles are saying, but I, for one, believe that we have had all of God's ministries working in the church since it's creation by the Holy Spirit. That Martin Luther did not consider himself an apostle with a capital 'A' is a point in his favor. That he did indeed have a 'message' that was lost, and boldly proclaimed a Christ that was missing from the 'Christian' church of his age speaks of apostolic ministry. (not 'office') By the way, Joe, I agree with you about the modern 'show-apostles' and the false revival, complete with smoke and mirrors. :-) Indeed, the Holy Spirit is alive and working in His church in every gift and ministry! But the true apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (and other ministries) have no need of an 'office,' a 'calling card,' or a prime-time slot on 'Christian' TV. Peace unto you, in Jesus' name, charis |
||||||
3 | Prerequisite-infallibility? | 1 Cor 12:27 | Reformer Joe | 12671 | ||
You obviously missed my point from church history, as well as the "lostness" of the gospel prior to Luther. God did not use Luther to re-create the church, but rather to reform it. --Joe! |
||||||
4 | Prerequisite-infallibility? | 1 Cor 12:27 | charis | 12674 | ||
Dear Joe! I know that you don't like the word 'restore' because a lot of idiots are using it to declare their agenda. But is not 'to bring back to it's original state' what Martin Luther (through the holy Spirit) helped to bring about? Other words bandied about are 'revival' and 'renewal.' The words themselves are Biblical, but the negative connotation seems to get you boiling :-) Of course Martin Luther did not 're-create' it with something *new.* But he did bring a 'message' from God to a church that had forgotten the message of the Gospel. By the way, are you saying that the 'reformed' church is different (better) from what God originally planned in the early church? As in a New, New Testament Church? Blessings and peace in Christ Jesus, charis |
||||||