First the Question: God divided Israel, in the days of the Apostle Paul, into two groups. True or False?
Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day
And now the answer to the LLM Question of 3-11-2012
Question: There is only ONE case of apostolic succession in The Bible. True or False?
Answer: TRUE! Only ONE, Matthias succeeded Judas. Acts 1:21-26. Now, certainly the Apostle Peter had no God given authority over the Gentile churches. Therefore, it is not Scriptural to say that the Apostle Paul succeeded Peter in authority. But it IS Scriptural to say that, Paul received from the RISEN Christ in Heaven, a commission, a message, a ministry that superseded the message and ministry committed unto Peter by Christ. Paul received his authority from Heaven WITHOUT conferring with those who were Apostles before him. Galatians 1:12-17. Now, out of the 805 responses we received to this question, 68.8% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,
The Apostle Peter and the KEYS of the Kingdom of Heaven, part 3 of 3
The true Church of God at Rome in the first century believed in God’s truth in the Epistle to the Romans, BUT the Roman Catholic Church has drifted FAR AWAY from the Gospel of Grace contained in that Epistle.
Well, what has this to do with Simon Peter? He has been accused of having something to do with the establishment of the present Church of Rome. Their claim is, that the papal authority has been handed down from Peter and that the present pope, Benedict, is on St. Peter’s throne by the process of apostolic succession. The “holy see” is the seat of Peter, the first bishop of Rome.
There is only ONE case of apostolic succession in the Bible; Matthias succeeded Judas. Acts 1:21-26.
Certainly the Apostle Peter had no God given authority over the Gentile churches. Therefore, it is not Scriptural to say that the Apostle Paul succeeded Peter in authority. But it IS Scriptural to say that, Paul received from the RISEN Christ in Heaven, a commission, a message, a ministry that superseded the message and ministry committed unto Peter by Christ. Paul received his authority from Heaven WITHOUT conferring with those who were Apostles before him. Galatians 1:12-17. Both Peter and Paul had their Christ given authority and ministry. Each of them faithfully performed his duty. Peter is not mentioned in the Book of Acts after Acts 15. Paul, however, is mentioned more than one hundred times. As Kingdom truth wanes and Body of Christ truth is gradually revealed, Peter is withdrawn from the prominent place and Paul becomes the outstanding servant of Christ.
In their clash at Antioch, Paul withstood Peter to the face because Peter was to be blamed. Galatians 2:11.
If we had to depend upon the messages of Peter for Body of Christ truth, our knowledge of that truth would be indeed limited. We may rest assured therefore, if the LORD did not reveal Church truth through Peter, He certainly is not building His Church, His Body, upon Peter. And we may also rest assured that when Peter shall occupy one of the twelve thrones, judging Israel in the coming Kingdom age, The Apostle Paul will NOT be there. Paul was the Church Apostle. Peter was God’s Kingdom messenger to Israel. To Peter were committed the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Mystery of the Body of Christ and the Keys of the Kingdom are by no means the same.
This brings us to consider these questions; just how or when did Peter and the eleven use the keys and what relation did the twelve apostles sustain to or in the Body of Christ?
After His resurrection Christ appeared to His apostles and said “Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.” John 20:23. This authority was not given to the Apostle Peter alone but to all of the disciples. They constituted the Church in embryo. Christ is working through His Body today to remit sins and loose on earth. The disciples of Christ plant and water so that God will give the increase. “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:14.
It doesn’t say “without a priest”. A priest presents man to God. That is the work of the LORD Jesus Christ. A preacher presents God to man. EVERY Christian should preach. And the humblest uneducated untrained babe in Christ can forgive sins just like Peter and Paul did. This is the way Peter did it...ready?...Here we go...
TURN TO ACTS 10:43
“To Him (Jesus) all the prophets witness, that through His Name, whosoever believeth on Him shall receive remission of sins.” See how the Apostle Peter forgave sins? He preached Christ as the sin-bearer. It was Peter who wrote concerning this sin-bearer, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” 1 Peter 2:24.
“Whosoever believeth on Him”, said Peter, “shall receive remission of sins.” See how Peter remitted sins? The Apostle Paul did it in the same way. Acts 13:39. A 12 year old Christian boy or girl can do it in the same way. It is the LORD Jesus Christ who is to grant forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:31.
The Apostle Peter declares that Christ is the Stone upon which the Church is built. Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:7. To Simon, Christ said, “Thou art Peter and upon this Petra I will build my Church” Matthew 16:17. The Church, the Body of Christ, is NOT built upon Peter; BUT upon CHRIST! Whosoever will make Simon’s confession will immediately become a member of Christ’s Body...Without holy water or any other religious rite. Keep this in mind always...The Church is not the door to Christ and salvation...CHRIST IS THE DOOR! He who has Christ has salvation, and not religion. He is in the true Church, the One Body, of which Christ in Heaven is the One and only Head.
In Acts 1-7, Peter and the eleven are the representatives of the risen LORD with Divine authority. They are using the keys, the “Kingdom of the Heavens” keys. They are preaching concerning David’s throne, and the Messianic Kingdom, TO ISRAEL. They will have authority in connection with Israel when this Kingdom shall be established at the Coming of Christ. Matthew 19:28. Some years later read what Paul had to say about them, “But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference ADDED NOTHING TO ME.” Galatians 2:6
Then the Apostle Paul withstood the Apostle Peter to the face, because he was to be blamed. Galatians 2:11-14.
But like Jacob, the clever, scheming, intensely human, selfish servant of God who finally became the gentle, unselfish, righteous Israel, in his old age...so the Apostle Peter came to the place of real victory, as the calm gentle, lovable, writer of two epistles. His last word was concerning his beloved brother Paul, whose epistles Peter read, 2 Peter 3:15-16. Surely Peter came to understand, as you and I should, in the reading of Paul’s epistles, that Paul was Christ’s apostle to the Body of Christ and FINAL HUMAN AUTHORITY by whom truth concerning the Body of Christ was given. The Apostle Paul never worked under Peter’s keys. Galatians 1:12, and Galatians 1:17-23; Galatians 2:2.
And anyone who will carefully read the New Testament Scriptures will be assured that the Apostle Peter was NEVER a Roman Pope, that he NEVER forgave sins, that he NEVER prayed to Mary, that he NEVER preached Purgatory, that he was NEVER a Christian priest, that he NEVER had a building called a cathedral, that he NEVER wore ecclesiastical garments, that he NEVER claimed that bread and wine could be actually turned into the body and blood of Christ; that he NEVER prayed for the dead, that be NEVER had silver and gold, that he was NEVER called “Reverend Peter”, or “Father Peter”. Do a good thing, read his own words for yourself in 1 Peter 5:1-7.
***
In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry
Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook
No comments:
Post a Comment