PAUL, AN APOSTLE

Text: Galatians 1:1-12

I. AUTHORITY IS OFTEN DESPISED/MISPLACED IN OUR CULTURE

A. One of the challenges for us in understanding Galatians and the rest of Scripture is the biblical concept of authority versus our cultural concept of authority.

1. What is authoritatively right and wrong is based upon personal preference.

2. Some people make judgments based upon experience and feelings.

3. Right and wrong are dependent upon an individual and his circumstances.

4 . For some people, authority is rooted in how many PhDs a person has.

5. Michael Jordan was a great basketball player and therefore he can endorse just about anything!

6. “God says it. I believe it. That settles it.”?

“Because Hollywood is so big and so powerful, so great and so well-known, it has an exaggerated view of its significance….You see, one of the dangers of my business is that it has the potential to fill you with a distorted view of life and your importance in it. And it's understandable in a way. If you are part of a successful enterprise, people treat you very well.…You're treated importantly, so you must be important. Suddenly your views are not just your own private opinions; they become part of a public record. They quote you on Entertainment Tonight and in People magazine. You can endorse a candidate, fight for a cause, call people names -- it's pretty heady stuff. The world waits breathlessly for your next pronouncement.

“The Disconnect Between Hollywood and America”; Pat Sajak; Host of Wheel of Fortune

B. God requires that we read the Scriptures submissively and obediently. When we read the Bible we shouldn’t be thinking, “Do I agree with the Bible?” Instead, we should ask, “Does my life agree with the Bible?”

II. PAUL’S DEFENSE OF THE GOSPEL BEGINS WITH A DEFENSE OF HIS APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY

NOTE: The Greek word “apostle” in the New Testament designates a person who is sent, and sent with full authority. In a generic sense, anyone who is sent can be called an “apostle” with the sense of a servant or a messenger (2 Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 2:25). What distinguishes the “Twelve” Apostles is that they were chosen, sent and taught directly by Jesus Christ.

A. Paul’s ministry, his teaching and his Gospel came directly from Jesus Christ and God the Father (Galatians 1:1; Luke 6:13; Acts 1:2,21-26; 2 Corinthians 10:8; Gal.1:1; cf. Heb.3:1).

B. No one today can be an Apostle in the sense that Paul was.

1. Jesus directly chose the Apostles (Matthew 10:1-4).

2. Jesus directly commissioned Paul (Acts 26:14-18).

III. REASONS WHY THERE ARE NOT APOSTLES TODAY WITH THE SAME AUTHORITY AS PAUL.

A. Apostles were necessary for laying the foundation of the church. Once the foundation of the church was laid, Apostles were no longer necessary (Ephesians 2:20; cf. 2 Cor.11:13-14; Rev.2:2).

1. “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 3). “[R]emember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 17).

2. In Peter’s last epistle he does not urge his readers to look for the next apostles, but to remember the apostolic message (2 Peter 1:12-15). “you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles” (3:2).

B. The 12 Apostles of the New Testament are the counterpart to the twelve sons of Jacob in the Old Testament.

1. The Apostles were also called “the Twelve” (Matt.10:1-2,5; 11:1; 19:28; 20:17; 26:20; Mark.3:14,16; 4:10; 6:7; 14:17; Luke 6:13; 8:1; 9:1; 18:31; 22:30; John 6:67,70-71; 20:24; Acts 6:2,6; 7:8; etc.).

2. Twelve was symbolic of the “new Israel”. Just as Israel began in the OT with Twelve tribes, so too the Israel in the NT begins with the Twelve Apostles (Mt.19:28; Revelation 21:12-14; cf. 1 Cor.15:5).

a. Anyone who claims to be an Apostle like Paul or Peter is not part of John’s vision.

i. “On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel” (Rev.21:12).

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)

ii. “The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Rev.21:14).

b. If you are submitting to the authority of Apostles other than the twelve, then you are in the wrong city!

C. The “Twelve” were with Jesus for about three years (Acts 1:21,22).

1. Paul was an exception and one “untimely born” (1 Corinthians 15:8,10).

2. Some modern day “Apostles” think that because Paul was the exception that they too can be the exception.

3. Paul did share in common with the Apostles of his day something that modern day Apostles do not have. Paul received the Gospel message about Jesus directly from Jesus. All the Apostles received their message directly from Christ (Galatians 1:11,12).

D. The reason why a biblical understanding of Apostle is important is because many today claim to be Apostles or have Apostolic authority (e.g. Roman Catholicism, Pentecostalism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormonism, etc.). This always has detrimental effects.

1. The danger of claiming Apostolic authority today is that it ends up taking away from the authority of Scripture and/or adds to the Scriptures.

a. Roman Catholics believe in dogmas not found in Scripture (e.g. Immaculate Conception of Mary; Mary’s assumption into heaven).

b. Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism, added an entirely new book!

c. It is common for Pentecostals to elevate their personal spiritual experiences on the level or above the level of the Bible’s authority (cf. Galatians 1:8-9).

2. Churches that claim Apostolic authority may demand “implicit faith” or “dogmatic faith” from its adherents.

3. Churches that claim Apostolic authority may tell its adherents to “leave their brains/logic at the church door. Don’t think rationally or logically.” This is one of the worst forms of mind control – emptying your mind and letting another fallible and sinful person control it.

a. Doctrine is sometimes criticized along with creeds and confessions.

b. People may be told to uncritically accept everything they are told which is unlike the commendation Scripture gives to the Bereans (Acts 17:10-11; cf. Deuteronomy 6:5).

c. Thinking for oneself or apart from dogmatic teaching is often discouraged.

d. Questions may be discouraged.

IV. EVEN TODAY, PAUL’S AUTHORITY IS CHALLENGED

A. Muslims often refer to Christianity as Paulinity.

B. Liberal scholarship assumes that Paul’s teaching was not Jesus Christ’s.

1. Jesus never said anything against homosexuality. It was only Paul (implying that we don’t have to follow Paul).

“despite the liberal use of traditional phraseology modern liberalism not only is a different religion from Christianity but belongs in a totally different class of religions.” (Machen, J. Gresham. Christianity and Liberalism, p.7)

2. Liberal theology is really anthropology.

C. Paul’s Apostolic authority is rejected when churches ordain women elders or allow for women preachers (Paul is accused of being a misogynist).

D. Many evangelical Christians say they believe in the Bible, but they do not behave the Bible.

QUESTIONS FOR SABBATH DISCUSSION & MEDITATION

Pray that God would enable you and give you the desire to be conformed to His Word as read and preached today.

What do we mean when we say that the Bible is “authoritative?” Why is the Bible authoritative?

What are some of the dangers of people claiming Apostolic authority? Do you know of any people who have claimed Apostolic authority?

How do we know whether or not there are Apostles like Paul today?

How is Paul’s Apostolic authority challenged today?

Do you agree with the statement, “the principle of authority is ultimately the whole religious question”? Why or why not?