AUTHORITY AUTHORITY In this age, God speaks to us through His Son, Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-2). Christ spoke the words and commandments given to Him from the Father (John 12:49-50). We are to hear Jesus -- not Moses or Elijah (Mark 9:2-8). Christ is the mediator of the New Testament (Heb. 9:15-17). Christ is that great prophet who was to come (Deut. 18:15,19; Acts 3:22-23). The name of Jesus is the only name by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). We cannot reject His Word and be guiltless (John 12:48). God, therefore, makes known His will to us today through His Son.
Jesus makes known God's will through His apostles and prophets. Christ gave the same words and commandments that he received from the Father to His twelve apostles (John 17:6-8, 17-20). He promised His apostles the Holy Spirit (John 14:25-26; 15:26-27; 16:13-15). Please notice that the promise was to the apostles only. They were the ones to whom Jesus was speaking; they were the ones who had been with Him from the beginning. The Holy Spirit would be in them and would enable them to teach all the truth concerning the will of God.
The apostles were to wait in Jerusalem to receive the promise (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8). This was in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies (Isaiah 2:2-3; Micah 4:2). The apostles received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2:1-4. Thus, they began to proclaim by inspiration the will or law of God in accord with the words of Jesus, "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matt. 18:18). The meaning is not that the binding and losing would come from their own devising--God alone is the lawgiver (James 4:12)--but with the Holy Spirit guiding them they would proclaim the things which God wanted bound and loosed; e.g., Acts 2:38; Rom. 8:2.
Up to the point as recorded in Acts 2, only the twelve had obtained the ability to speak by the inspiration of God. Verse 14 of Acts 2 shows that Peter, standing up with the eleven, declared that the gift which they had received was in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Verse 43 says, "And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles."Consequently, the apostles up to this point were the only ones who had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. God worked with them by giving them miraculous powers (Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4). The purpose and design of those powers was to "confirm the word," that is, to truly demonstrate they were speaking the Word of God.
As we read a little farther in the book of Acts we see how New Testament prophets were made. The first account of someone besides an apostle working a miracle is that of Stephen (Acts 6:8).Stephen, as well as Philip, was of the seven on whom the apostles had laid their hands (Acts 6:6). As we read still farther, we see that Philip is the next person who was able to work miracles (Acts 8:6). Although Philip was a New Testament prophet and could work miracles, he was unable to give the Holy Spirit to others. Only the apostles were empowered with that ability.
In Acts 8:14-19 we notice that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands. This is the only way New Testament prophets were made and the prophets themselves were unable to give the Spirit to others. Philip could not give the Holy Spirit to the people of Samaria. Some apostles, Peter and John, had to be sent from Jerusalem before that could be done. When an apostle laid his hands on someone, he received miraculous powers. (See Acts 19:6). Cornelius and his household received the "like gift" as the apostles for the specific purpose of showing God's acceptance of the Gentiles into the New Covenant (Acts 11:14-18).The apostles and prophets made known God's will through their inspired writings. There was a time when all of the Word of God was given orally--by word of mouth of the inspired apostles and prophets. Christians were at first guided solely by the inspired teachers who were present with them (1 Cor. 2:3-13; Acts 20:18-27). There was a period when Christians were guided both by having inspired men in their presence and by epistles written by inspired men. "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." (2 Thess. 2:15).
When the apostles and prophets passed from the earth, their inspired writings became the only means by which we receive God's will. When the apostles and prophets approached their deaths, they did not leave us other men who would take their places. They did not direct us to other men who would have miraculous powers and revelations. Instead, they left their inspired writings and pointed us to them (2 Tim. 3:15-17). Thus, today we obtain a knowledge of God's will, not through living spiritual men or prophets, but through the written inspired Word (1 Cor. 14:37; Eph. 3:2-5). God's will was delivered at first in oral form only, then both orally and written, and now in written form only.
It is important for us to understand how the apostles witness to us today. It is not through other men; it is impossible for a man in our time to be a witness in the sense the apostles were. Instead, it is through their writings--the Holy Scriptures. The apostle John in his introduction to his first epistle declared that he was bearing witness to those things which they had heard, which they had seen with their eyes, which they had touched with their hands, concerning the Word of life. He bore witness to those things by writing them for us. "And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." (See John 1:1-4). The apostles' testimony given in their writings was to "...All that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours" (1 Cor. 1:2) and "...To the faithful in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 1:1). Thus, the apostles witness to us today through their writings and this is the only way their unerring guidance is transmitted to the present age. It is the only way God's Word is delivered to us today.
There are no persons with miraculous powers today. The miraculous powers such as working miracles, speaking in tongues and prophesying were given only through the laying on of the apostles' hands (Acts 8:14-19). The apostles passed from this life many years ago and, thus, there is no way for men to have those powers today. No one in this age has received the powers to demonstrate God's acceptance of the Gentiles. God accomplished that when he poured out the Holy Spirit upon the household of Cornelius (Acts 11:15-18).
The apostle Paul very plainly revealed that miraculous powers were to be done away. He said, "...Whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." (1 Cor. 13:8-10). Notice that Paul did not say, "when he which is perfect is come" but "when that which is perfect is come." The "perfect" to which he referred can only be the perfect law of liberty. (See James 1:25; 2:12).
Men do not have miraculous powers and revelations today because there is no need or purpose for them. They do not answer any purpose in the divine arrangement. There is no incomplete-ness or vacuum that needs to be filled by their appearance. Is there anything today's so-called tongue speakers" or "miracle workers" can provide which is not already furnished by the Scriptures?
There are no miraculous powers and revelations today because God's Word has already been delivered. There is nothing other men can supply which the apostles and prophets have not already delivered. Jude said, "...Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (Jude 3). There is nothing modern day "prophets" or "tongue speakers" can provide which is not already provided in Christ. God's will reached its perfection in Christ. The whole plan of God was "...According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Eph. 3:11). The complete revelation of God's will comes through Christ and is recorded in the Scriptures. Paul warned: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Gal. 1:8).The Bible alone is the standard of authority in all matters of faith and practice.
We at the Spruce Pine church of Christ are interested in helping you know more of God's Word. We have several programs designed to accomplish this and we list them below. Just fill in the form, mark the programs that interest you, and mail it to: Spruce Pine Church of Christ, P.O. Box 401, Spruce Pine, NC 28777. We will be happy to assist you in any way we can.
Bible Correspondence Course
A Series of Bible Classes in My Home
Transportation to Attend Your Services
Response to a Particular Spiritual Need or Problem
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