Today,
reply is on following the Apostle Paul as a model for Christian
believers. Mature Christian believers respect one another, and will
acknowledge the authority vested in clergy and elders, yet, they
regard themselves as following no one in the flesh. Correctly
understood, the saints follow Jesus Christ only. It is written:
John 14: 6, King James Version (KJV): 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am
the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but
by me. Saul of Tarsus was called by GOD to provide structure to the
early church when its members were still being condemned as a cult
among the Jews, and during a time of persecution. Saul was to serve
as an evangelist among Gentiles as well as an apostle (i.e., a
witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and one anointed to
authenticate manifestations of the Holy Spirit that fell at
Pentecost). It was the Apostle Paul who commissioned Timothy to
anoint and ordain bishops and deacons within the church. Sinners who
turn to GOD through Jesus Christ become “born again” and are to
mature (we say, “grow up again”) as the offspring of GOD,
joint-heirs with Christ, and the new creation. All are
to serve as vessels containing fresh endowments of spirit imparted
from the divine fullness. Included are faith, holiness,
longsuffering, lovingkindness, oneness without sameness, wisdom, and
wrath against sin. Developing believers also are to display the
image of GOD, and the likeness of Jesus Christ. An anonymous fighter
in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Religion and Spirituality
(no profile information shown) posted the question:
Why
did Paul have to demonstrate the Spirit and power but we don't have
to although I Cor 11:1 says "Follow me as I follow Christ"?
Update:
PAUL SAID IN I CORINTHIANS 2:2-4
2
"For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus
Christ, and him crucified.
3
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power"
I
CORINTHIANS 11:1 SAYS
"Be
ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ"
WHY
DON'T WE FOLLOW PAUL?
THE
GOLDEN ARROW: Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one:
and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own
labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s
husbandry, ye are God’s
building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a
wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth
thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For
other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver,
precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s
work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because
it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s
work of what sort it is. If any man’s
work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man’s work shall be
burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so
as by fire. (1st Corinthians 3: 8-15, King James
Version, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: Prophets After Jesus Christ? (06/04/2019); Authentic
Experiences From GOD (05/14/2019); A Single Sacred Revelation
(01/09/2019); Built Upon The Spirit (11/29/2018); Why Paul Observed
Tradition (07/10/2018); The Pattern To Follow? (01/19/2018); The
Water, The Fire (10/10/2017)
Mature
Christian believers follow the Apostle Paul the same way they follow
the Priesthood of Adam, of Moses as Prophet, and of John the Baptist
as the Herald of Christ. Rather than conform to carnal, material,
and social things of the flesh, believers follow Jesus Christ as he
appears through sacred devices such as divine law, doctrine,
principles, promises, and prophecies. Disciples of Christ will
discern inseparable aspects of life essence (breath;
spirit; word) imparted from the makeup of GOD., rather than ancient
doctrines and practices. Many judges, kings, and prophets appeared
who demonstrated and portrayed elements from the full gospel that
eventually would be manifest through divinity appearing in flesh as
Jesus Christ. While believers are recruited to spread the gospel,
and prepare a peculiar people for GOD, the church founded by Jesus is
not to be a collection of clones, copies, and one-dimensional
figures. Within the body, there are multiple tasks to be completed,
different principles that must be clarified, and multiple messages to
be proclaimed. Therefore, there is a “division of labor,” and
various mechanisms for oversight and supervision. Consider again
the following that uses language from the Bible, and a presentation
from the music ministry of Steve Amerson:
1.
Acts 6: 1-6, King James Version (KJV): 1 And in those days, when
the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring
of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were
neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the
multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not
reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest
report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over
this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer,
and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole
multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the
Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and
Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before
the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their
hands on them.
2.
Ephesians 4: 4-7, KJV: 4 There is one body, and one Spirit,
even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one
faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above
all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is
given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
3.
1st Corinthians 1: 9-10, KJV: 9 God is faithful,
by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ
our Lord. 10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there
be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined
together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
4.
Romans 12: 4-8, KJV: 4 For as we have many members in one body,
and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being
many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to
us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the
proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our
ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that
exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with
simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy,
with cheerfulness.
There
is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually
apprehended. (For example, 5.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVAh6OSrtfE.)
Even
so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according
to your faith.
Image
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Washington,
DC
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