Are There Apostles Today?

Are There Apostles Today?

These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

Revelation 2:1-3

Are there Apostles today? That is the question we intent to tackle today, and the answer to that question is important for you, so that you are not taken in by false teachers. It is important to me because as your shepherd I need to guard you from the wolfs in sheep’s clothing.

Our opening scripture has Christ speaking to the church in Ephesus of how they put those false teachers and prophets to the test…finding them to not be what they say they are. Not only did men boldly stand up and proclaim themselves to be apostles in the early church, but they are also on the rise today. Because they are on the rise, we as a people united under Christ, we too must test these individuals who call themselves an apostle.

Are there apostles today? The answer to that question is no! Like the church in Ephesus who found those who claimed to be apostles were liars, we too can look at someone today who claims to be an apostle, to be a liar as well.

For me the question is, why does anyone feel the need to have such a title of apostle? The simple answer is that they want to rise above the rest. They are not content with simply preaching and teaching the word of God but need to be known in what would be one of the highest positions in Christianity. Although I have seen a few in primary white churches call themselves apostles, but by and large the most I have seen come out of the African American churches. It seems we are not content with being the humble pastor of a church.

There is no office, position, special appointment, or assignment as apostle in these days…that position was closed at the death of the twelve Apostles plus Paul, don’t worry, I will explain the plus Paul. So, now that I have given you the answer, I will now take time to explain why I can be so sure of that answer.

First, let us tackle what an apostle is. The Greek word used throughout the New Testament for apostle is Apostolos, and it means “one sent forth from by another.” Okay, so technically, anyone who is sent by another can be called an apostle. For example, if I send any of you to go to your neighbors to speak to them about Jesus, then you are an apostle to Rev. McKisic. Although you can be sent by someone makes you an apostle, but the difference between you as an apostle and the twelve Apostles is who sent them. So, one of the criteria of an authentic apostle is that they were sent by Christ Jesus. Some of you so-called apostles may say, hold on Rev. McKisic, Jesus did send us in Matthew 28:16-20.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Only a false apostle would use this scripture to confirm themselves, and in using this scripture shows them to be a false teacher. Notice that this scripture has Jesus talking to the eleven disciples, giving them a command to go out and teach others the things that Jesus taught them, and in turn we, today will do the same, but know that Jesus did not send me, as I am sent by the person who taught me and my teachers are far removed from the disciples who initially went out into the world to preach and teach. So, I would be a liar to call myself an apostle in the same sense as the twelve disciples were called apostles.

Second, an apostle must have walked with and seen the risen Christ. The book of Acts, which contain the acts of the apostles, has Peter speaking to all the disciples as to the need of picking the twelfth apostle after Judas hanged himself.