Acts 1:26 Bible Teaching

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Before we continue I want to commend those of you who continue to come to CAMPUS – let me tell you why.

First, there are a lot more organized, fun, and engaging places to attend on Sundays.

There are also places that get you more involved during the week with programs, classes, and activities.

Additionally, hearing the Word of God verse by verse, no matter how gently it is delivered, is convicting and because it is convicting its often hard to swallow.

We want to be enthused and imbued with positive ideas not necessarily things that cause us to reflect – and so I congratulate those of you who have continued to attend.

The Gospel message is one of hope – and this – along with His love and grace does shine through – but it’s not always easy in between.

Alright we left off last week with verses 24-25 which say:

ACTS 1.end
August 9th 2015
Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

So why don’t we take a minute and cover the ramifications of verse 26 for a second:

26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Casting lots was common among the Jews when faced with important and difficult situations.

It was very natural that the apostles would resort to this practice.

As we said last week casting lots was their way to appeal to God and assume His direct interference in cases which they could not decide for themselves.

Proverbs 16:33 says:
“The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.”

I love that verse – we take the rocks or sticks into our hands and we toss them into our lap but we trust and know that God is in control of the results.

We never have God tell the nation of Israel to NOT cast lots so we assume it had his approbation.

What about today? Is casting lots of God? What about a modern version of it – dice or the magic eight ball or the Quiji Board?

Before we address this there was another form of appealing to God in the Old Testament. We summarize the practice in some Christian circles by saying “we are laying out a fleece.”

In Judges chapter six we read this account:

Judges 6:33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.
(These were great enemies of Israel)
34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.
35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
36 And Gideon said unto God, “If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,
37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.”
38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
39 And Gideon said unto God, “Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.”

Have you ever laid out a fleece for God? I have. I’m not so sure they are a reliable form of knowing His will anymore.

Years ago we knew of a man who prayed that God would speak to him that day on what action to take with his family.

He got in the car and saw a license plate that was from Arizona – and took it as a possible sign to move to the state.

Later in the day he saw another Arizona plate and believed it was God confirming to him the message.

They moved.

Very random. Greatly subject to “MAN-ipulation.” Especially of the mind.

I understand the need for God to work and relate to the Nation of Israel, a very transitory and agrarian community in these ways.

Since His Son and Pentecost I am not so convinced.

We have the capacity to place a lot of trust in esoteric events and circumstances as a means to convince ourselves that God is speaking to us but it seems to me – and I am NOT discounting the special connections some people have with God – but it seems to me that GENERALLY speaking the best way to know His will is through a combination of the leading of His Holy Spirit, an understanding of His Word, and the overall guiding principles of the two Christian commandments – faith and love.

In other words, if we face a problem or issue – “Should I change jobs?” (just to pull one out of a hat) – we might consider the leading of the Holy Spirit, we might consult the Word as we read, and we always let the commands to place our faith in Him and to let love be the over-abiding rule in our decisions and through this we might have a pretty clear understanding of the direction to go.

Sometimes it’s all a matter of waiting on the Lord – which is certainly a biblical tenet and one based on faith.

Anyway, here the apostles they had a decision to make and for them and their history casting lots was the means to make a decision.

The manner in which this was done here in this instance is uncertain. And again, historically, they often worked the way drawing straws or names out of a hat would work in our day.

Anciently it is said that if they were making a decision on who should, say, do various temple duties, the names of the candidates were written on pieces of stone or wood and placed in an urn.

Then the positions needing to be filled – animal washing, fat burning, wiping down the blood, burning the incense – were written on other pieces of wood and placed in another urn.

Pull a name out of the name urn – Jessie
Pull a position out of the other – blood wipe down . . . and the decision was made. But the important part of this is all the House agreed that God Himself was in control of the outcome – whether by natural law or supernatural action – it was not agreed upon. Just the fact that whatever happened He endorsed.

In the case here the lot fell (pointed to, sided with) Matthias and Luke adds, “that he was numbered with the other eleven apostles.”

In other words by this process Mathias became an apostle and being numbered with the eleven he was therefore made the twelfth.

Nothing further is related of Matthias in the New Testament. Where he labored, and when and where he died remains unknown. There isn’t even any tradition that has been passed down about him.

So let’s examine this point in church history and the calling and office of Apostle – especially since in this state there are actually men who walk about and live among us who actually claim to be apostles of the exact same order as these men.

Excuse the repetition but years ago I was invited by a good friend to have lunch in the LDS Church Headquarters cafeteria.

We got our food then sat at a table and began to eat and talk, and suddenly the noisy cafeteria, starting from behind me, began to subtly get quiet.

My friend kept talking, and then noticing the growing silence looked up, and there, walking across the floor was a man named Dallin Oaks – a man the LDS believe is as much of an “apostle” of the Lord Jesus Christ as was Peter, James, and/or John.

My friend got all exited and said in a very low whisper:

“Do you see him? Do you see him?”

“Who?” I replied.

And he motioned with his eyes over my shoulder. “Elder Oaks!”

I turned and looked and watched as he contemplatively passed through a sea of silent, awe-struck admirers.

“Hey,” I said to my friend, “I’m gonna go talk to him.”

My friend who works in the Church Office building grabbed my wrist.

“No!” he said, “don’t. We’re not allowed. Only if he speaks to us first.”

“You’re kidding, right?” I replied.

“Shawn?” he said sort of exasperated, “he is an apostle! An apostle of Jesus Christ!”

“Which is exactly why I want to talk to him,” I said. But the look on my friends face pleaded against my determination. And so I sat down . . . left only to dream of what I could have said.

(beat)

We have a man who attends CAMPUS sometimes and he was called to serve his LDS mission here in Salt Lake City.

He told me the story of tracting in an affluent area of north Salt Lake one morning and coming upon the LDS Apostle Eyring who was taking out the trash (which I thought was a good thing).

In any case this man and his companion became very excited and approach Apostle Eyring and with the Naivete only LDS missionaries can have asked Apostle Eyring point blank if he has seen Jesus Christ.

My friend, the poor guy, was stunned at the response because it was a response of anger! Apparently this apostle did not appreciate the Elders boldness and let them know that they were not worthy to speak let alone hear a response to such things.

That such matters are sacred and those elders were essentially unclean and therefore not able to receive it.

(beat)

While I served my full-time mission for the LDS church, one of my favorite lines to prove the truth of Mormonism was the (ahem) FACT that Mormonism was the only church on earth that claimed twelve apostles – and that this made Mormonism just like the original church Jesus started!

I mean, this was the thinking. And without knowing the Bible, the thinking makes some sense.

(beat)

In “The Seventeen Points of the True Church,” a pamphlet that promotes Mormonism as the Only True Church on earth, it reads:

“The True Church must have a foundation of Prophets and Apostles.”

Turning to the Bible we read in the Ephesians 2:19 that “the redeemed are of God’s household, and are built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone.”

I think its important to consider the context of the passage. Speaking to the believers who were once sinful Gentiles, Paul writes:

Ephesians 2:11-20

“Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh–who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands– that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, there-fore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

Is the Gospel of Jesus Christ built upon a foundation of apostles and prophets?

Certainly!

Read the Old Testament and we discover the writings of the Prophets.

Read the New and we find the writings of the Apostles, special witnesses.

This foundation, with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone has been laid!

And as we frequently say if someone was to build a house, you would start with a foundation, and once it was laid and cured, you would begin to build your house upon it, right?

How often would you go back and re-pour the foundation?

NEVER . . . if it was poured right the first time.

So how many times does the foundation of a household have to be laid? Just once.

But the building upon this foundation is forever growing. You might redecorate or remodel. You might paint or add aluminum siding to the building, but the foundation remains in place – unless it is faulty and cracked.

Did Jesus lay a faulty foundation?

No, He built upon the foundation He Himself laid with apostles and prophets.

Did you note that apostles is mentioned first and not prophets – even though the prophets of the foundation came first.

It’s because these apostles validated the life, death and resurrection of Christ whereas the prophets only spoke of his coming. That’s a solid foundation but there’s more to prove that the foundation was laid and is not continually being laid.

We get this from the Greek.
The word used here in Ephesians – which is the participle – “epoikodo methentes” in proper syntax is translated “having been built.”

Not “continuing” to be laid. Not “being restored.” “Having been built!” It’s an aorist passive participle, referring to a past action and in this specific case, it is an action that has been fully completed!

It’s been done! And the foundation was laid with qualified men.

What qualified these men to be apostles?

In first Corinthians 9:1 Paul writes:

“Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?”

Unlike Brother Eyring this seems to be the first bibnlical qualifier of being an apostle – being a first hand eye-witness of the physical reality of Jesus.

When the apostles sought to replace Judas with someone to continue on as a personal witness – which was prophesied should occur and is in part why they did it – they looked for an individual which (it says in Acts chapter 1):

“had companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.”

So Jesus established His Church upon apostles who, as Luke said, “have seen Him,” as “He went in and out”and as Peter said, were “witnesses of His resurrection.”

So the first BIBLICAL rule for being an apostle is an . . .

1. Apostles must be first-hand witness of Jesus.

A second rule is that

2. Each of the apostles of the Lord received their call to that office by Christ.

Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles

In the calling of Paul, the same was true:

Galatians 1:1
“Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)”

This is one of the issues I have with the calling of Matthias – it was at the lead of Peter and by lot. Could be wrong on this but I remain unconvinced that Luke’s report here in Acts was actually reporting an error.

A third point that qualified these men was they must be infallibly inspired.

In 1st Thessalonians 2:13 we read:

“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

In my estimation this was an imperative. As apostles they secured against all error in their public teaching, whether by word or writing.

This is why Jesus gave them in-person training when he established His church. No passed down office from man to man who are qualified in the ways of the world! They were trained by the King. One the Holy Spirit filled them the one-two combo was irrefutable.

It is for this reason I have issue with the way some scholars have described the apostles views on Jesus’ return.

See, when we read the apostles words it is apparent that they believed his return was imminent. All true scholars agree with this point – the apostles believed that He was returning at any moment.

Unfortunately, some of these same scholars say that the apostles were mislead or wrong! No way.

They were right and they were right in their assessment of the situation at hand.

Another biblically established qualification for an apostle was, (4.) The power of working miracles

Listen to what the word says about the apostles after Jesus ascended into heaven.

Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.

In Acts 5:12 we read:

“And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people

Luke said of Paul in Acts 19:11

Acts 19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Speaking of Peter it says in Acts 5:15

“Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

As a result of all of these factors, and within the context of scripture, the true apostles of the early church could not any more have had successors than there needed to be a successor of Jesus Himself!

They are the only authoritative teachers of the Christian doctrines as they were the ONLY ones to meet these biblical criteria. The office of a “first-hand witness apostle” ceased with its first holders.

I think it is important to realize that the word apostle and the Office of Apostle have two very different applications.

“Apostle,” the word, just means a person sent, or a messenger.

This word is even used twice as a descriptive designation of Jesus Christ, who was “Sent of the Father.”

Hebrews 3:1 says this:

“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.”

It is, however, generally used as designating the body of disciples to whom Jesus entrusted the organization of his church and the dissemination of his gospel, “the twelve,” as they are called, who held the OFFICE of Apostle

Twice in the New Testament (2nd Corinthians 8:23 and Philippians 2:25) the word “messenger” is used but it is the same Greek word as “apostle.”

Now remember – and this is important – as first-hand witnesses, of the Lord Jesus and His resurrection, none of the apostles ever hesitated in proclaiming their special witness.

“We have seen Him. He lives. I testify of this!” And they all – except John the beloved – were martyred for their very verbal and vocal testimony of what they witnessed with their own eyes!

This is yet another essential of filling the Office of an Apostle! What did Paul say in 1st Corinthians 4:9:

“For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.”

It is clear from this passage that the Office of Apostle was a one time situation (that they were “last”) and that they were “appointed unto death” (meaning they would die for the cause) and that they would be made a spectacle before the world, and angels, and men through this sacrifice to launch the church Jesus established out into the world FOREVER!

Now, supporters of a continuation of the Office of Apostles use the fact that Judas Iscariot was replaced by Mathais.

This, they teach, is evidence that the Church must always have a perpetual quorum of twelve apostles.

If this were true we have to explain why, in the Book of Revelation (21:14) it states that the wall around God’s heavenly city is supported by “twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the lamb.”

Which twelve?

I mean the foundation of heaven is built upon twelve pillars named after the twelve apostles of the Lamb!

Another argument against a continuation of the Office of Apostles is that in 1st Timothy, where Paul describes the qualifications of those who are to fulfill positions in the church of that age he gives us qualifications for a bishop, a deacon, and an elder but there is nothing about the Office of Apostle.

Now, I mentioned that there is a wider sense of the word, apostle, and it means “one sent.”

There were many ones “sent” in the Word who were known as “apostles” like Barnabus, Andronicus, Junia, etc.”

Due to all the qualifications we’ve talked about in the office of Apostle we cannot believe that these were one in the same but were rather referred to as ones sent (apostlelos) but not ones holding the Office.

We touched on this last week but there are a number of ways we can see the calling of Mathias.

First, it was impetuous, and God had his own twelfth apostle in mind – Paul.

Second, it was right to do, and Matthias served as the 12th Apostle to the House of Israel with Paul serving as an apostle to the Gentile world.

Third, it was okay to do, and Mathias was used but God never considered Him the twelfth apostle but knew that pillar would have Paul’s name on it alone.

Don’t really know the answer.

What we do know is what Paul contributed to the early church. We remain unaware of Matthias’s part.

One final point. I think it interesting that the New Testament does speak, however, of false apostles.

In 2nd Corinthians 11:13-15 we read of a description of them:

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

In light of these passages I think it wise to at least ask ourselves:

“Where on earth is there a Church that has deceitful men who appear to have been “transformed into apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ?”

I’m just saying.

Now because of the import of the next chapter – and it is a VERY important chapter in the annuls of early Christianity, I want to end today up by reading through Acts chapter 2 in preparation for next week and the weeks to come.

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

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