True Apostolic

[Sneekee]

I'm the only Apostolic person on this forum.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

I foresee this becoming an argument soon. Within about 3 pages. When someone mentions either 3 steps or any kind of "holiness" standard.

I'm a prophet!

Just about everyone here has his/her own definition of "Apostolic" and each individual definition lines up with each individual's personal beliefs. So, I consider myself Apostolic based on my understanding of the teachings and practices of the first century "Apostolic" church and everyone else considers himself/herself Apostolic based on their understanding of the teachings and practices of the first century "Apostolic" church.

The definition of Apostolic here is a moving target. It is different with each poster.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Sneekee

I'm the only Apostolic person on this forum.

Well, you and I are the only REAL Apostolics on this forum,
and some times I'm not so sure about you.

[Sister Alvear]

and what am I????? ha....

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by missourimary

A person that believes what Jesus taught, and follows the teachings of the Apostles...

Thats it.

[DeepThinker]

Apostolic to me is one who receives the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.

This is one of the most important subjects in the New Testament, the Spirit of God coming into the one who has been justified by faith.

This is what Apostolic means to me.

[Sneekee]

Want to hear my secret?

I don't call anyone "Apostolic." I think it's a misapplication of the English word. Things and ideas are "Apostolic." People aren't. Literary works are called "Apostolic" because the Apostles wrote them. Much of the first century is called "The Apostolic Age" because it was contemporary with their lives. The Septuagint is oft called "The Apostolic Bible" because believers in the Apostolic age used it to argue and spread the gospel to the Greek speaking world. By extension, some principles might be called "Apostolic" as well as titles, and this and that.

Beside the nit-picky semantics, I think it's a presumptuous boast to refer to oneself as "Apostolic" in contrast with others. It's exactly the same act as is done by other denominations:

The Church of Christ
The Church of God
The Church of the Nazarene
Full Gospel
Holiness
Messianic
ad nauseum.

Yeah, yeah. I know the knee-jerk reaction. "The Apostolic Church isn't a denomination! It's the true Church of the Living God...AND JESUS IS HIS NAME!!!!"

puh-leez. Spare me the drama. That's what at least half of the folks on that list thump, and we're all seething at the opportunity to shoot them down on that claim. Let's be real for a moment. If you call yourself "Messianic," then you're essentially making the statement "I follow the doctrine of Messiah, and you don't." The Church of Christ claims to be the Church of Christ, everyone else apostate. The Church of God does something similar in their attitude, and Full Gospel calls itself that, because it wants to claim that it holds to a certain completeness of the Bible that no one else holds.

It's the same thing with "Apostolics," only worse. When someone asks an Apostolic what he believes, what does he say? "I believe what the Apostles taught." Oh, really? Prove it. Tell me what the Apostles taught. Prove to me that your little creeds and "standards of holiness" are characteristic of the Apostle's doctrine. Furthermore, why don't you call yourself "Messianic?" Do you not follow the doctrine of Messiah? Why don't you hold to the name "Church of Christ?" Are you not part of His Body? Are you not a member of the Church of God? Do you not believe in the Full Gospel? Why distinguish yourself with one particular term, and not every single one of the others, if you're not a denomination?

I'm sick of all those useless, ambiguous, arrogant labels. If someone wants to hear my take on the Scripture, I'll tell him what I think.

Our Elohim is One. Not two, not three, not seven, not 500. He was called YHWH [He lives] by Mosheh, to whom His Torah [His path] was given. He made a covenant with Yisrael [He turns El], to be their Elohim, and they His people. Yisrael breached this covenant.

In the last days, He came to His own. The Word, who was Elohim, became flesh and pitched His tent among them. His Name was called Yeshua [He shall deliver], for he would deliver His people from their sins. Today, most English speakers pronounce this word "Jesus." Pronunciation is not key to knowing Him.

He came, He healed, He set the Torah right, and fulfilled it. He was the Son, murdered by the keepers of the vineyard. He was not received by the Yehudim, who were His own, but as many as did receive Him He gave power to be Sons of Elohim. The branches that did not yield fruit were broken off, and the wild branches were grafted in. A new covenant, one of circumcision of the heart, was established:

Death of the flesh. We, our will, our sin, must perish.

Burial in immersion. Jesus must bury us. YHWH buried Mosheh as He looked out upon the promised land. So also, Jesus (who is YHWH one and the same) must bury us, as we look out to the promised resurrection in the Holy Spirit. This is not a lyrical mantra. The phrase "in the Name of Jesus" does not save anyone when spoken. It is a device of clarity, to announce that we are acting on the behalf of Jesus, and not ourselves.

There is a considerable difference between the word "Jesus" and His Name. That's another threadworth of discussion.

Resurrection in the Holy Spirit, to walk in newness of life. We are crucified with Messiah, and we do not live--He lives within us. While this may involve jumping and shouting and speaking in tongues and prophesying and preaching and teaching and being overjoyed, it applies the more so to becoming a new creature. We act and live according to His Will and His Word, walking according to His Name, acting in the authority of His Name, as a prince does when given the King's signet.

The circumcised of flesh, uncircumcised of heart, rejected and killed the Prince of Life. He resurrected, and sought others to be His people. Israel wandered for 40 years after His resurrection, just as they did in the wilderness, and those who did not believe perished. Messiah returned with judgment, destroying their nation, destroying their temple, scattering them. The unbelieving were cast into outer darkness, where there is weaping and gnashing of teeth. Messiah married His wife, the church. Anyone who wishes to enter into this city and drink the water of life may do so freely.

Does this make me "Apostolic?" Let the Word of God be my judge. I would rather live up to the meaning of the word, than announce it before my face at every moment, and fail in one point.

[Godsdrummer]

You go SneeKee that was great can I copy it and use it for my own?

[DeepThinker]

Though I agree with 99% of what you said in your post.

Let me work on this little 1% for a moment.

Today, most English speakers pronounce this word "Jesus." Pronunciation is not key to knowing Him.

True.

However, I have seen people healed and myself included in the name of this word "Jesus".

I remember the preacher saying, "In the name of Allah", nothing happened. He said, "in the name of Buddah" nothing happened, but when he mentioned the word "Jesus", the miracle had begun.

The other thing which is minor, because I am not bringing this out as if you don't know, because I am very sure you do.

Jesus must bury us.

Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

And again, I know you know this, but I am merely commenting.

Instead of He burying us, we were buried with Him.

Nice post by the way.

[Oskar]

I realise that I am not in the right area as it sounds like you are addressing qualifications to christianity adhering to the apostles doctrine etc, but I joined this website looking to understand how the apostles are supposted to be working in the body of Christ and to see the five fold raised up. My naivety is only surpased by my good looks so I need some assistance. I expect there are some people in the background somewhere that understand my plight. Could someone help and point me forward,please.