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SEEKING THINGS ABOVE
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. “(Col. 3:1)
Volume I Number 9
December 2020
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BIBLICAL AUTHORITY (4)
The Authority of the Apostles
Mike Johnson
Many acknowledge the authority of God and Christ but do not accept or understand the authority of the Apostles.
Some people today say we only need the words of Jesus to guide us. Some who take this position place a great deal of emphasis on the red-letter edition of the Bible—a version in which all of the words of Christ are in red. They might say, “If it isn’t in red, I don’t accept it.” Christ has authority (Mt. 28:18, 17:1-8), but we must understand the authority, which also resides with the apostles. Jesus always taught the truth, but He did not teach all of the truth during His ministry. We need the words of Jesus, but we also need the teaching of the apostles and other inspired teachers.
During Jesus’ ministry, He told the apostles that after He left, God would send the Holy Spirit who would teach them all things and bring to their remembrance all things He had taught them (Jn.14:26, 28). In John 15:26, He said, “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” Jesus said (Jn. 16:13) that when He left, He would send the Comforter (or Holy Spirit) and informed them, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He also gave the Great Commission, in which He told the apostles to go and preach the gospel to all nations (Mt. 28:18-20, Mk. 16:15-16). He also told them to wait at Jerusalem, and they would be endued with “power from on high” (Lk. 24:49). Christ revealed that He would send the promise of His father upon them (Luke 24:49-52). The fulfillment of this promise took place on the day of Pentecost, a short time later (Acts 2), when the apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and preached the first gospel sermon.
Jesus also told the apostles that they would receive the “keys” to the kingdom of heaven. After speaking of building the church, Jesus said to Peter (Mt. 16:19), “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Later, in Matthew 18:18, he said the same thing to all of the apostles. A key is symbolic of authority. The apostles would have the authority to “bind” and “loose.” They did not have legislative power, but they had the authority to carry out heaven’s decisions, guided by the Holy Spirit. They announced heaven’s will to everyone.
Paul, in 2 Corinthians 5:20, referred to himself and the other apostles as “ambassadors for Christ.” The word ambassador means “one entrusted with a message from one sovereign to another.” This office is one that entails great respect. An ambassador carries on the business of the sovereign in the way he would if present. The apostles functioned as representatives for Christ to all people. It was the same as God pleading with the Corinthians through them, and the purpose of their work was so that people might have reconciliation with God (v. 20b). Thus, the apostles spoke for Christ.
In Ephesians 6:20, while in Roman imprisonment, Paul referred to himself as an “ambassador in chains.” He was an ambassador, but it is interesting to note that he, as an ambassador, had been imprisoned. For the Romans to treat Paul in this manner was to insult the great king whom he served.
The apostles were representatives of God and Christ. There were, consequently, severe repercussions to rejecting their message. In John 13:20, Jesus told the apostles, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
In Matthew 19, the apostles had just witnessed the rich young ruler refusing to sell everything he had. This situation prompted Peter to say, “. . . See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” Jesus told them, “. . . Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Jesus has ascended to heaven to His throne, and He will be seated on it at the Day of Judgment (Acts 2:31-35; Heb. 1:13; Mt. 25:31; 1 Cor. 15:24-28). The period of regeneration started after the ascension on Pentecost (Acts 2) when the apostles preached the gospel, and it will continue until the end of time. The twelve thrones and twelve tribes are not literal. The twelve tribes sustain no literal relationship to the apostles. Jesus uses the figure to refer to the true Israel, the church (Rom. 9:6, Gal. 3:29). The apostles are our judges as, guided by the Holy Spirit, they revealed the mind of Christ to everyone. They told us what “truth” was on matters of faith and practice. They judged in person in their lifetime; now, we have their written communication (the Bible), so they still judge us in this sense, as God’s Word is our standard.
After the church’s establishment, we learn it was the apostle’s doctrine (Acts 2:42), not Moses’s teaching, in which the early church continued. Paul said, in Philippians 4:9, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
In conclusion, God and Christ serve as our authorities. However, we must recognize the role of the apostles as our authority as well.
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How Joseph Resisted Temptation
Dan Richardson
Temptation is something we all have in common. Scripture admonishes young people to “flee youthful lusts…” (2 Timothy 2:22), but young and old alike need to consider the temptations they face. How we respond to it is extremely important to our welfare and happiness in life, but also eternally (1 Timothy 4:7-8). The story of Joseph relates how a young man resisted temptations and maintained his faithfulness to God.
Joseph had been sold by his brothers into slavery. He was taken to a foreign land and became a servant of Potiphar, an Egyptian. Regardless of his “bad deal” in life, Joseph did not blame God but continued to trust and serve Him.
When Potiphar’s wife “cast her eyes upon Joseph” and sought to seduce him to engage in sexual immorality, he steadfastly refused. There is a strength observed in Joseph that many neither understand nor desire to possess. Many would mock at Joseph’s moral strength and consider his behavior bizarre. Peter, an apostle of Christ, spoke of how many view righteousness: “…they think it strange that ye run not with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you” (1 Peter 4:4). In the story of Joseph (Genesis 39:7-18), we find four factors which contributed to his strength in time of temptation.
He Remembered Others Trusted Him
“Behold, my master knoweth not what is with me in the house, and he hath put all that he hath into my hand” (Genesis 39:8). There is something powerful in the presence of temptation when we remember others have placed confidence in us. Perhaps it’s the memory of loving, concerned parents who have taught you the importance of behaving responsibly (Ephesians 6:4). Or, recalling how much your husband or wife loves you and the vows of faithfulness you pledged to each other (Ephesians 5:22-33). Maybe it’s a close friend, an esteemed teacher, or a respected employer who genuinely cares for you. Potiphar had entrusted much to the responsibility of Joseph. How could Joseph now betray that confidence? We would do well in times of temptation to consider how many others will be affected by our actions.
He Wanted to Please God
“How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39: 9) Something is counted as wickedness and sin because it is a transgression of God’s word (1 John 3:4). God has spoken clearly regarding the sin of sexual immorality and the virtue of moral purity (Genesis 26:10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4). A knowledge of the Bible is of paramount value when enticed to sin: “Thy word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). Even Jesus, when tempted by the devil, demonstrated the value of having knowledge of scripture to resist evil (Matthew 4:1-11). A consideration of these things should impress us with our great need to study the Bible.
However, there is a difference between knowledge and faith. Faith means “trust” — a trust which is based on what we learn in God’s word (Romans 10:17). There are many people who may “know” a particular action is wrong, but they may not have “faith” to dedicate themselves in service to God. Joseph’s faith was the reason he resisted temptation: “For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith (1 Jn. 5:4).
He Was Careful of His Environment
“And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her” (Genesis 39:10). The fact that Joseph was cautious to not put himself in the situation of being alone with her is significant. Her repeated efforts to seduce Joseph to sin were met by Joseph’s good judgment to avoid placing himself in a compromising situation where sin could easily occur.
A key element in one’s self-control and purity is seen here. Doing right is not only a matter of the strength of my will to refuse evil but having the good judgment to avoid the situation altogether when possible. If Joseph had allowed himself the opportunity, he might very well have taken it. Many like to place themselves in situations, as if to say, “I want to see how close I can come to evil without crossing the line.” An alcoholic once boasted to me about how he could attend the local tavern and visit all his buddies without taking a drink himself. I replied that he was setting himself up to be tempted, and he should avoid such an evil environment. Many likewise are doomed for failure because of the wicked environment they choose for themselves. The Bible warns: “But put ye own the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lust thereof” (Romans 13:14). Again, “Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
He Ran Scared from Sin
Joseph, “fled, and got him out,” leaving his outer garment in her wicked grasp (Genesis 39:12). The nature of this temptation, because of the power of the sexual appetite, left Joseph with only one recourse – HE RAN! To have hesitated could have proved disastrous. The godly will find themselves in situations that will be frightening because of the temptations there and the knowledge of one’s own weaknesses: “When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee and put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite” (Proverbs 23:1-2).
As with Joseph, so must we heed God’s warning to “flee fornication” (1 Corinthians 6:18), as well as fleeing a host of other things – “love of money” (2 Timothy 6:9-11), “youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22), etc.
From Search for Truth
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The Value of Positive “Peer Pressure”
Greg Gwin
I wasn’t ready to do it yet. I really didn’t want to get started at it. But, my neighbor had already mowed his grass two times, and my yard was looking pretty shabby. I figured if he mowed a third time before I mowed the first time, it would really make me look bad. So, even though I wasn’t really in the mood, I got the mower out of the garage and went to work.
How often have you been motivated in a similar fashion? Maybe it was at work or school. Perhaps it was a project or chore that you really dreaded. But someone else did something that made you realize that you needed to get to work.
We often talk about “peer pressure.” Most often, we mention it with a negative connotation. In this regard, we are talking about how others can influence us to do evil. We are “pressured” to talk, act and dress like worldly people do. There is great danger in this, and we have rightfully warned about these negative influences. “Evil companions corrupt good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33).
But, there is a positive side to “peer pressure” that we may be tempted to overlook. When we are around good people who are doing good things, we are motivated to follow their example. We are urged to get busy in the work of the Lord. We are encouraged to live right. We are moved to imitate them and be like them. This is good and helpful.
We are to “exhort one another daily” ( Hebrews 3:13) and to “consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24). Christian, are you setting a good example for others? Are you motivating them in positive ways? Are you helping your brothers and sisters to be more like God wants them to be? Think!
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Jesus: Intolerant, Confrontational, and Exclusionary
Dan Gatlin
The typical denominational view of both Father and Son is that “God is love,” and only love. What is so easily forgotten is His severity (Romans 11:22) and wrath (II Thessalonians 1:3-10). Jesus is depicted as quiet, soft-spoken, harmless, almost a wimp (nothing could be further from the truth). The consequence of this one-sided view of Jesus is that while many believe in Him, they no longer fear Him. Yet, Jesus taught that we are to fear Him, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). This tolerant, inclusive, non-condemning Jesus will accept just about any scheme that man will devise or any form of worship so long as it is offered in sincerity. But Jesus said, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:22-23). Clearly, the ideas that many have about deity are contradicted by the scriptures.
Sadly, this political correctness has crept into the thinking of many Christians, including some who occupy pulpits and are entrusted with the leadership of congregations. For many, the motivation is clear, a “cleaned up” Jesus who preaches a “cleaned up” gospel is less offensive and will attract more people. But man’s desire for God to be different than what He actually is does not make it so.
Truths that All Bible Believers Recognize
God is love
This is clearly stated in I John 4: 8, 16. His love for man caused Him to send His Son to die on the cross as a sin sacrifice (John 3:16), while man was an enemy (Romans 5:6-10). Truly, this degree of love is incomprehensible. But the forgotten side is that “the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” (Deuteronomy 4:24). These are not conflicting ideas, the two sides make a whole.
God wants all men to be saved
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (I Timothy 2:3-4). While God offers salvation to all mankind (Titus 2:11), the majority will reject His offer, and God will destroy them (Matthew 10:28; II Thessalonians 1:9).
God is no respecter of persons.
The promise made to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3) extends to all the nations of the earth. That promise is fulfilled in Christ (Galatians 3:16). Though Christ and His disciples preached primarily to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6), God’s plan after Jesus ascended was that the gospel be preached to all men (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 10 & 11; Ephesians 2:11-16). While salvation is extended to all without partiality, only those in the Lord’s church have accepted the offer (Acts 20:28). All others are lost.
The Side Of Jesus That Is Often Ignored
Jesus Was Intolerant Of Sin And Those Who Promoted It.
Much of His time on earth was spent exposing and condemning the sins of the Jewish leadership. He warned His disciples, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6). Initially, the disciples didn’t understand His words. But after Jesus explained, “they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:12). His language in Matthew 23 is among the strongest in all the Bible. He referred to the Scribes and Pharisees as “hypocrites,” “serpents,” “brood of vipers.” He described them as “full of extortion and self-indulgence,” “full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” He said that they, “devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers.” He was intolerant of those who rejected Him after seeing His miracles, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you” (Matthew 11:21-22). Jesus was intolerant of those who set aside God’s law to follow human tradition (Matt. 15:3-9). He did not tolerate “false christs” and “false prophets” (Matthew 24:24). He told the Sadducees that they were “mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).
Jesus’ disciples followed His example of intolerance. The early church did not tolerate the sin of Ananias and Sapphira, they were struck dead (Acts 5:1-11). When the Judaizing teachers came to Antioch, “Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them” (Acts 15:2). When these same false teachers tried to compel circumcision, Paul “did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you” (Galatians 2:5). Paul wrote, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). The New Testament occasionally exposed false teachers by name and the error they tried to teach (II Timothy 2:16-18).
The language of the early preachers was similar to that of Jesus in Matthew 23. Stephen called the Jews he was addressing “stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears” and “betrayers and murderers” (Acts 7:51-52). The apostle Paul said of Elymas, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10). He referred to the false teachers who would come into the church at Ephesus as “savage wolves” (Acts 20:29). James called some of his readers “adulterers and adulteresses,” “sinners,” and “double-minded” (James 4:1-10). Truth should never be given equal weight with error, and the faithful Christian will never tolerate that which opposed to truth.
Jesus Was Confrontational Toward Those Who Knew The Truth But Rejected It.
Jesus intentionally provoked the religious leaders of His day. Often the controversy was related to the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6; Luke 13:10-17). In Luke 14:1-6, we read, “Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’ But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. Then He answered them, saying, ‘Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?’ And they could not answer Him regarding these things.”
Jesus also confronted people with the fact that He was deity. After healing a man on the Sabbath we read, “For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.’ Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.” (John 5:16-18). On another occasion we read, “Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’ Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by” (John 8:58-29).
Preachers in the early church were just as confrontational. After being arrested and released, the apostles went right back into the temple, preaching the truth (Acts 5:29) contrary to what they had been commanded. To describe Stephen’s sermon (Acts 7) as non-confrontational is to not have a clear grip on reality. When Peter separated himself from Gentile Christians Paul wrote, “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision” (Galatians 2:11-12).
Jesus Excluded Many By His Teaching.
It is not that Jesus wants to exclude anyone from salvation. As already stated, His offer of forgiveness is extended to all men. But He will exclude those who reject His teachings. Yes, even those who claim to be His disciples. “Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can understand it?’ When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, ‘Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And He said, ‘Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.’ From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” (John 6:60-66). Jesus recognized that His words were offensive. His follow up comments offended them further. He knew that many of His disciples would no longer follow Him, so why did He say what He did? To exclude those would not accept His difficult teachings.
Jesus Advocated A Culture Of Obedience.
Listen to His words: “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (John 14:21). “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28).
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Are You Rich?
They huddled inside the storm door . . . two children in ragged, outgrown coats. “Any old papers, lady?” I was busy, I wanted to say no. . . . until I looked down at their feet . . . their little sandals sopped with sleet.
“Come in and I’ll make you a cup of hot cocoa,” I said. There was conversation, their soggy sandals left marks upon the hearthstone. Cocoa and toast with jam to fortify against the chill outside . . . I went back to the kitchen and started again on my household budget. The silence in the front room struck through me. I looked in, the girl held the empty cup in her hands, looking at it. The boy asked in a flat voice, “Lady, are you rich?” “Am I rich? No, certainly not”! I looked at my shabby slipcovers. The girl put her cup back in the saucer carefully. ‘Your cups match your saucers,” she said. Her voice was old, with a hunger that was not of the stomach.
They left then, holding their bundles of papers against the wind . . . They hadn’t said thank you. They didn’t need to. They had said more than that. Plain blue cups and saucers, but they matched. I tested the potatoes and stirred the gravy, potatoes and brown gravy . . . a roof over our heads . . . my man with a steady job . . . these things matched too. I moved the chairs back from the fire and tidied the living room . . . The muddy prints of small sandals were still wet on my hearth. I let them be. I want them in case I ever forget how rich I am. (Author Unknown)
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A Day the Lord Has Made (3:25)
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Editor: Mike Johnson
www.seekingthingsabove.org