Apostolic foundations
What was the task of the apostle? Primarily, as foundation-layers, they gave identity to the church. Historically those who received Jesus of Nazareth as the authentic Messiah were formed into a radically new community that had never existed before. But who were they and how were they to relate?
It does not say in Acts 2 that on the day of Pentecost 3,000 were ‘converted’ it says they were ‘added’. What were they added to? Obedient to Peter’s sermon, they were baptised, received the Holy Spirit and added to this new society led by the apostles.
They then devoted themselves to the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42), which shaped their lives and gave them principles on which they should live. Ephesians 2:20 tells us that the church was built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the cornerstone.
A new community in the Messiah
They were not merely a Jewish sect; built on the Law and having the blood of Abraham in their veins. They were a completely new community in the Messiah and filled with the Holy Spirit. The apostles gave them insights, previously hidden but now revealed, regarding the role of the Messiah and made it clear that Jesus of Nazareth was authentic. His death provided forgiveness, His resurrection and ascension vindicated and exonerated Him. He did not merely survive death, He was declared the Son of God with power by His resurrection (Rom. 1:4).
Now He is enthroned as ruler of the universe with unassailable authority, sitting on David’s throne, far above all power and dominion and every name named. All things have been placed under His feet.
The outpouring of the Spirit was the proof and demonstration of that reality. Not only that, Paul and the other apostles were given unprecedented insights into the mystery of Christ (Eph. 3:4). As apostles they understood things never previously revealed regarding the church being made up of Jews and Gentiles, and the intensely spiritual nature of the New Temple, not made of bricks and mortar but of living stones (1 Pet. 2:5) fitted together into a holy temple in the Lord, a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Eph. 2:20), a people no longer under the Law who had amazing access to God, free to call Him, Abba, Father.
Apostolic doctrine gave identity to the people who were joined to them. Thus the foundations of the early church were laid.
But was that a once-for-all event? In a sense, yes, but don’t forget that the Scriptures record Jesus using the word ‘church’ on two occasions. He said, ‘I will build My church’ (Matt. 16:18) – i.e. the universal, historic, complete church. But He also gave instructions about handling local relational difficulties and said that the ultimate conclusion was to ‘tell it to the church’ (Matt. 18:17) referring to the local assembly. So the church can be referred to either in its universal identity or its local one. Each needs a foundation.
The universal church was historically built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets.
Local church foundations
The church at Corinth, some years later and some many miles away from Jerusalem, was subsequently pioneered by Paul who, as a wise master builder, claimed that he laid its foundation (1 Cor. 3:10).
So, Paul went to a certain town, Corinth, and founded a local church. He did not set up a mission station or a hospital or a school. He established a church and built it on an apostolic foundation. He did not say that grace was given to him to be a wise Scripture-writer but that grace was given to him to be a wise master builder. He had received grace and apostleship (Rom 1:5) to fulfil a vital role in the establishing of local churches, so that the gospel could spread and disciples could be made across the nations in obedience to Christ’s command.
A wise master builder
As a wise master builder Paul did not regard his apostleship as a position in the church hierarchy. He did not see himself at the top of a corporate pyramid; he was not a chief executive in a complicated church superstructure.
Paul had a stewardship from God: he was to proclaim the unfathomable riches of Christ and bring people to an assured understanding of what it is to be in Christ and have Christ in them. This was the burden of apostolic doctrine.
A Body of Doctrine
Paul did not wonder what he would preach from town to town; he had a body of doctrine to deliver. He knew when the saints had grasped it, and he knew when they had drifted from it. He could see the creeping death of legalism moving over one congregation and warned another against the subtle dangers of mystic Gnosticism.
Modern churches still need the authoritative word that will set them free from legalism, super-spirituality and other dangers.
Many an Evangelical has thought liberalism to be the great enemy, not recognising other, perhaps more subtle, foes. Legalism, for instance, can look like commendable zeal; but Paul had no hesitation in calling it another gospel, not to be received even from an angel.
Apostolic Doctrine with Apostolic Authority
How many in the average evangelical church are deeply assured that through Christ’s death and resurrection they have been delivered from sin, have died to the law, and are free from all condemnation? Apostolic doctrine handled with apostolic authority and insight is desperately needed.
Often we are blind to our own faults or shortcomings. Sometimes wrong emphases can enter in, hardly noticed by a local church focusing on itself. Spiritual coldness, doctrinal off-centredness, or incorrect practice can unobtrusively become part of a church’s life.
Objective Appraisal
One of God’s great provisions to safeguard his church from going astray is a continuing apostolic ministry. The apostle, essentially a travelling man, is able to bring objectivity to his appraisal of a local church’s condition.
Feeling the Need
If a local church has not only received an attitude of legalism but has actually built some of its church structure around it, who has the authority to bring correction? The elders often feel trapped within the framework and long for an outside voice to proclaim the way forward authoritatively. Indeed, it is very often the elders who most feel the need for the apostolic ministry.
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