Apostolic Times

Apostolic Times

Often you can hear it being said, “Oh, that God might grant us to experience the apostolic times again.” When people say that, they are thinking almost exclusively about healings, signs, and wonders; but when we read the messages of the apostles, we see that these things are not at all prominent in their preaching. We are going to take a few examples from the apostolic times.

Read Paul’s farewell message to the elders in Ephesus. Acts 20:17-38. “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.”

Paul wants us to compare future workers to himself, he who exhorted each one individually with tears. This is the apostolic care for each individual that has to come to the fore so that the false workers and wolves can be exposed. But who wants to receive this kind of apostolic care? Such people are difficult to find, and where do we stand in this particular matter today?

We are in the times which the apostle describes with the following words: “Having a form of godliness but denying its power.” 2 Tim. 3:1-5. We live in the times in which they do not tolerate sound doctrine, heaping up for themselves teachers because they have itching ears; they will also turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables. Ch. 4:1-5.

As soon as you give an exhortation, Christians will call out, “Bondage!” You can believe that these wolves and those who wanted to entice the disciples after themselves felt they were in bondage in Paul’s presence just as much as those who turned their ears away from the truth and turned aside to fables. This superficial spirit feels it is in bondage to Paul’s exhortation with tears. This is also why we hear them call out when they are exhorted today, “Preach Christ!” Oh, that we may resurrect the apostolic way of preaching Christ.

“Him we preach, exhorting every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” Col. 1:28-29.

“Yes,” you say, “but it is all of grace, isn’t it?” Yes, we must also resurrect the apostolic manner in which grace was preached.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age . . . . Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority.” Tit. 2:11-15. “These things I want you to affirm constantly that those who believe in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.” Ch. 3:8.

Is this how we end up under the law? Not if we have been born again and have had the love of Christ poured out into our hearts. We end up under Jesus’ commandments that He gave to His apostles through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:1-2) and for which Paul cared so much that he says, “I command you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing . . . .” 1 Tim. 6:13-14.

You say that we cannot do anything in our own strength. This is true, and we have often witnessed when a preacher in his own strength has striven and labored to get the Spirit over himself and the assembly. At best he was able to achieve an emotional pitch. However, you will not lack strength if you want to keep Christ’s commandment, for then both the Father and the Son will make their home with you. John 14:23.

To you who are so afraid of bondage and “works-Christianity”: These were a few examples from the apostolic times and the manner in which the apostles preached Christ and grace, and there are many more such examples. 1 Pet. 1:17-19; 2:24. You who are so afraid of bondage, don’t you think it would be good to establish the old apostolic “bondage” again? Here is an example: “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” 1 Cor. 9:26-27.

Let us have the old apostolic times again when false liberty was cursed. Either our body or our spirit is in bondage. Rom. 8:10, 13. Both of them can never be free at the same time. Our body must be presented as a sacrifice that is acceptable to God (Rom. 12:1) until we experience the adoption, the redemption of our body. Rom. 8:23. Then we will receive a glorified body that corresponds to our spirit that was made alive. Only then will there be an end of all kinds of bondage. What a glorious hope that is for those who are walking on the strait way to life.