What is an Apostle anyway? Part 1 a look at present day Apostles and Prophets

I feel led by the Spirit to begin a series that explains the calling and function of an apostle. There are many apostles today within the evangelical body of Christ. They are mostly in the Pentecostal movement or various iterations of that movement. It would be good to have a working definition. It is much easier to define prophets as we have a better grasp of the prophetic function. So let's see if we can do the same for apostles.

First, let's look at the Greek word, and its meaning in the first century. The word is Apostolos, ἀπόστολος; it means a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent. It is important to see that the apostle is an ambassador of the gospel. Paul called it the ministry of reconciliation (2Cor 5:18.) So then, an apostle is the ambassador of reconciliation and the message of reconciliation. The miraculous power was granted to establish the truthfulness of the gospel of grace (Acts 14:3.) It should not be difficult to understand that any miracles today would be the result of the same thing if in fact they are signs and wonders from God and not lying signs and wonders.

Secondly, the apostles were foundational to the gospel. Eph 2:19-20 NRSV  "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God,  (20)  built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone." They were the ones who taught and explained the gospel of God's grace. One only needs to look at the sermon that Peter delivered to the Gentile's at Cornelius' house to understand the content of the gospel message. Here it is in its entirety: Act 10:34-43 NRSV  "Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality,  (35)  but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.  (36)  You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.  (37)  That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced:  (38)  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.  (39)  We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree;  (40)  but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear,  (41)  not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.  (42)  He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.  (43)  All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." This message completely squares with what Paul wrote in 1Cor 15:1-4. When the Gentiles at Cornelius' house heard what Peter said and believed it, they immediately received the Holy Spirit. This, and nothing else is the foundational message of the gospel and foundational apostles will proclaim this message.

It is however important to understand, that the apostle Paul, and the other apostles were transitional apostles. They were all awaiting the fulfillment of the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. They were awaiting the New Jerusalem. Paul explained in Galatians that the true Jerusalem was the Jerusalem from above which was the mother of all, both Jews and Gentiles. The Jerusalem that existed in the natural world was in bondage. Thus, much of the existence of the churches in the transitional period was dealing with the struggles of the natural world in view of the gospel of grace and the hope of the New Jerusalem. 

It appeared to the observer at the time that God had two different programs coexisting at one time. He had the unbelieving Jews who were Torah Observant and dependent on the temple and temple sacrifices for forgiveness. On the other hand, God likewise had the believing Jews and Gentiles that were forgiven based on the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. The former being a picture of the latter. They were awaiting a time when God would put his stamp of approval on the believing Jews and Gentiles. This would happen with the prophesied destruction of the temple. The author of the epistle to the Hebrews explained it this way: Heb 9:8 NLT  "By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use." The destruction of the temple would show once and for all who the children of God really were. In other words, the destruction of the temple would bring about the awaited manifestation of the sons and daughters of God. I will use the NLT once again to illustrate this concept. It reads, Rom 8:19 NLT  "For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are." That revelation was fulfilled at the destruction of the temple.

Now before you conclude that I am anti-Semitic, let me make it perfectly clear that it was foretold both by the prophet Isaiah and the Lord himself that much/most of Israel was blinded. Paul explained the purpose. The purpose was to bring the Gentiles into the benefit of the gospel of grace. Let me be clear, the gospel of grace is the gospel of the kingdom. 

So how does this relate to foundational apostles? The answer is simple. The New Jerusalem was available from the destruction of the temple forward. However, if it is not realized or believed, it will not be manifested. And, it was not realized or believed and therefore was not manifested. Here is where the importance of foundational apostles and prophets comes to the forefront. They are needed to explain the reality of what is possible with the gospel of grace.  The kingdom of God is based solely on God's grace and his gracious gift of imputed righteousness. In the passage above from Act's 10, Peter spoke of the fact that through Jesus the message of peace was preached. Paul explains in Romans 5:1 that being declared righteous brings peace with God. As I have explained many times in this blog, it is peace with God the Father that produces love for God the Father, and it is love for God the Father that transforms people into loving beings. 

Therefore, foundational apostles should be explaining to all, that through Christ, we are ALL the seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise to Abraham. What was the promise? "I will bless those who bless thee, and I will curse those who curse thee, and in thy Seed, (Abraham's Seed,) all the families of the world will be blessed. It is by the gospel of grace that all the benefits of Abraham are passed onto the children of men, and true foundational apostles will know and teach this. This makes the fruit of the Spirit very important. If one is not constantly promoting, love, joy and peace, they are not acting as a foundational apostle.

The gospel shows a way in which all the blessings of Deu 28 and none of the curses are the inheritance of the saints. Foundational apostles should be explaining this. As this series goes forward, I will explain how prosperity and well being are wrapped up in the gospel of grace. More to come.....