Finding Jesus in the Bible…So We Can Follow Him in Life
Bible Reading Plans
- Plan One: New Testament Only
- Plan Two: New Testament + Psalms
- Plan Three: New Testament + History
- Plan Four: The Entire Bible – Year 1 of 3, Year 2 of 3, Year 3 of 3
Don’t know which plan? Go to A Christ-Centered Bible Reading Plan: Quick Start.
Extras
Verse of the Day, Audio Capsule, and Video Minute
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(Today’s Book Installment)
The One True Church
Chapter 37 – Mark 1 of 10: Apostles
Most Christians don’t struggle with the apostles being a one-generation phenomenon. Why then do they struggle with the church being a one-generation phenomenon?
In the following passage, Jesus described the way oversight would work in His church. It would be through the apostles as a group.
Luke 22:24 And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest.
Luke 22:25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’
Luke 22:26 But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.
Luke 22:27 For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
Luke 22:28 You are those who have stood by Me in My trials;
Luke 22:29 and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you
Luke 22:30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.“
In other words, there would not be a hierarchy among the apostles in the governing of Jesus’ church (“My kingdom”). And this is why we see the apostles acting consistently with this understanding throughout the book of Acts and the epistles.
Jesus’ reference to “the twelve tribes of Israel” above was also reference to the church. You can see this view adopted in the way James began his letter.
James 1:1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.
Recall that the church was the preliminary and temporary kingdom of the Son…until His Second Coming, which was the point at which He inherited His Father’s kingdom (which was all the nations – not just Israel).
Thus the apostles would be “judging” the “twelve tribes” (spiritual Israel), until the coming of the kingdom of God. This follows the pattern of the judges governing Israel (recorded in the book of Judges) until the time Samuel set up the kingdom (recorded in the book of 1st Samuel).
The apostles would be succeeded by the Lord at His Second Coming. The apostles were tasked with leading a movement. Jesus came back not to run the church, but to run the world. The apostles would not be succeeded by more apostles, nor by bishops – but rather by the Lord Himself.
1 Peter 5:1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,
1 Peter 5:2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
1 Peter 5:3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Thus the succession plan for the church…was the kingdom of God. Church required human leaders, but the kingdom of God does not.
In all the centuries since, few people have claimed to be apostles. And rightly so. What sort of person claims to be an apostle today? Do prudent people accept such claims as true? Why should they when the signs of a biblical apostle are absent?
History as well as present experience make clear that Jesus only appointed one set of apostles. He personally commissioned them to represent Him in the spreading of His message. They were a 1st-century phenomenon. No church today is overseen by Jesus-commissioned apostles.
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