Today,
reply is on revelation as a sacred process that goes beyond merely
presenting accounts from the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. In
the same way the “proof” and seal that Jesus of Nazareth is
Messiah is not that he performed miracles or his resurrection from
the dead, the seal of apostleship is not the performing of miracles,
it is manifesting the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was openly challenged
on the authenticity of his doctrine, and questioned whether the
source of his power to work miracles and the origin of his Spirit
were from devils, the Lord solemnly cautioned the scorners to
correctly discern the Spirit (we also say, the Comforter, the Holy
Ghost, the Spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit of Truth): There will
never be forgiveness for those who falsely accuse and blaspheme the
Holy Spirit. Developing Christians are to continually affirm sacred
truth on the basis of their endowment of faith, and to avoid
conjecture, distrust, speculation, suspicion, and “stinking
thinking” that only produce spiritual confusion. Argument and
debate regarding secular history, popular figures, or notable
churchmen and clergy also are vain (i.e., lack sacred content from
the makeup of GOD; do not produce sacred fruit; do not edify the
community of faith). For divinity to become apprehended by created
beings and living creatures, there must be joining and sharing of
unseen and visible aspects of inseparable divine substance and active
presence. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” Religion and
Spirituality public forum using the ID “guitarman” (Level 1 with
22 points, a member since January 16, 2007) posted the following:
The
Gospel was written decades after the death of Jesus. Is Paul (aka
Saul) the only link in between the death of Jesus and the Gospel?
Jesus
appeared to him once in a vision. Paul (Saul) wasn't an eyewitness to
the life of Jesus. He didn't witness the crucifixion or the
resurrection. He didn't mention anything about the birth of Jesus,
the life of Jesus, the miracles of Jesus, the trial of Jesus, or
really much of anything about Jesus. Is he a reliable link/ source?
Update:
I forgot to mention that Saul wasn't an apostle either. Jesus just
appeared to him in a vision after the death of Jesus.
THE
GOLDEN ARROW: Am I am not an apostle? am I not free? have I not
seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? If I be
not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal
of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. (1st Corinthians
9: 1-2, King James Version, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: Why Paul Observed Tradition (07/10/2018); We
Establish Covenant Relationship (05/01/2018); One
Complete Divine Revelation (07/09/2017); A True Apostle?
(09/20/2015); No Cause For Alarm? (06/21/2015); Saul of Tarsus
(03/26/2014); The Nature of Scripture (03/27/2014); And This Was Good
News (12/01/2012); A Need to Fear? (12/02/2012)
“guitarman”
Jesus must be apprehended using more than a “gospel” that
provides a biography of his life and a record of his ministry. Many
mature Christian believers now approach the Bible as a complete
library of holy writings that provide a single sacred revelation
whereby divine fullness (i.e., all divinity; the Godhead; the Father,
the Son, the Holy Spirit) is made knowable, known, accessible and
approachable to created beings and living creatures. The Scriptures
record divinity appearing to mankind using thousands of events,
within thousands of lives, over the course of thousands of years.
Jesus is linked to the Creation of heaven and earth; to the
priesthood of Adam and his heirs who appear as Patriarchs; to the
establishment of covenant, inheritance, and promissory relationship
between divinity and mankind on the earth; to the execution of
judgment against sin; to the fulfillment of all eternal purpose; and
more.
A
different way of thinking is required that puts aside carnal reason,
secular knowledge, and critical thinking, for these are things
determined through faith and sacred knowledge. In the same
way forgiveness, resurrection from death, and the final elimination
of sin are carried out as sacred operations expressing accord within
the Godhead, yet, employ created beings and living creatures as
vessels of life essence (blood; breath; spirit; word), the
full revelation of the character, nature, and substance of GOD is
being provided through visible and continuing operations.
Inseparable aspects of divinity are imparted to sinners who become
born-again that include faith, holiness, longsuffering,
lovingkindness, oneness without sameness,
righteousness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.
As
with those, today, who are anointed to serve as apostles, consecrated
spokespersons, teachers, and those providing testimony within the
ongoing divine judgment (we say, prophets; witnesses), it is more
correct to attribute the sacred accomplishments we see associated
with Paul, Barnabas, James, Silas and
others to the imparted, indwelling Spirit and Jesus Christ as Risen
Lord. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible
that includes part of Paul’s
answer to those who challenged his office and authenticity:
1.
Deuteronomy 29: 29, King James Version (KJV): 29 The secret things
belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are
revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we
may do all the words of this law.
2.
Romans 6: 3-9, KJV: 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were
baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ
was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we
also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted
together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the
likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our
old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be
destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is
dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe
that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised
from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
3.
Ephesians 4: 11-16, KJV: 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for
the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity
of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect
man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and
carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But
speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which
is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly
joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth,
according to the effectual working in the measure of every part,
maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
There
is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually
apprehended. (For example, 4. 2nd Corinthians 13:
3-9, KJV: 3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which
to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. 4 For though he was
crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we
also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God
toward you. 5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove
your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ
is in you, except ye be reprobates? 6 But I trust that ye shall know
that we are not reprobates. 7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil;
not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which
is honest, though we be as reprobates. 8 For we can do nothing
against the truth, but for the truth. 9 For we are glad, when we are
weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your
perfection.) Even so, I trust this
fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
Washington,
DC
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