Apostolic Mission (Page 3)

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

They were warned of the dangers that would come Acts 20:29-31,

“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”

If followed, then they are doing the Apostolic Ministry. But according to church history, the church was not able to maintain the Apostolic standard. They are compared to a young woman whom in the passing of years was eaten up by the world of pride and lust, by false teachers, traditions of man and of the world. The young woman through the passing became a grandmother with so many wrinkles because of human weaknesses, but the Church is still there, but the gifted men have passed away. The name is still there, but the works are dead. Revelation 3:1 says,

“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.”

The record of the church history noted what happened after the early apostles: “We would like to read of the latter work by such helpers of St. Paul like Timothy, Apollos and Titus, but all these and St. Paul’s other friends dropped out of the record at his death. For fifty years after St. Paul’s life a curtain hangs over the church, through which we strive vainly to look; and when at last it rises, about 120 A.D. with the writings of the earliest church fathers, we find a church in many aspects very different from that in the days of St. Peter and St. Paul”. (The Story of the Christian Church, The Age of Shadows p.33, by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut)

Until today in the end time the church and the believers seem to have good names. Above all they identify themselves as Christians, but the Word of God has to say, in Revelation 3:1,

“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.”

Quoting the story of the Christian church… we find a Church in many aspects very different from the days of St. Peter and St. Paul.

We believe that even during the early days of the Apostles, they did not want the faith of the followers to be different from them and from what they have written. “And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.“ - I Corinthians 4:6

We believe that the Christian faith must be as it was before in their teachings and doctrines. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” - Acts 2:42

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned.” - 2 Timothy 3:14

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