Is it biblical to have ecclesiastical offices in church?

Question:

Is it biblical to have ecclesiastical offices in church? In the Pentecostal and church of God denominations they have Prophets/Prophetess, Apostle, Evangelist and so on and so forth.

Answer:

All the various denominations have their own system of ecclesiastical offices/officers.  The Bible refers to four:  Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, and Pastor-Teachers (Ephesians 4:11).  The Bible also refers to Elders and Deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13).

The Apostles (or “sent ones”) were twelve men who were personally sent out by the Lord Jesus Himself to proclaim the Gospel and found His Church (Ephesians 2:20).  Of the twelve men originally called by the Lord, one of them betrayed Him (Judas Iscariot).  Judas was replaced by popular vote with a man named Matthias (Acts 1:15-26); but the Lord chose a man named Saul of Tarsus (eventually known as Paul) to replace him and complete the twelve (1 Timothy 1:1, 12-16; 2:7;  cp. Revelation 21:14).  After the last Apostle died (John), the office of Apostle formally ended.  There are many who like to call themselves by that title today, but the Bible does not support that notion.

The Prophets (one who speaks a message in behalf of another) were those who were given “extrabiblical revelation” from God (information from God not contained in the Bible) and proclaimed it to whomever He had sent them.  There were many of these individuals in the Old Testament days as well as the days of the Early Church; and like the Apostles, their primary task was to help found the Church (Ephesians 2:20).  When the revelation of God was completed (the Bible), the need for these individuals ceased, and so did their office/gift (1 Corinthians 13:8-12).  There are many today who claim to have this office/gift, but again that notion is not supported in the Scriptures.

The Evangelists (those who focused on proclaiming the “good news” of Jesus Christ, the Gospel – 1 Corinthians 15:3-4) were men who had just that focus in life.  The Lord would enable and send them to various local church fellowships to lead them in evangelistic efforts.  I like to think of this office as a synonym for “Missionary.”  That task/need remains today, so these men remain vital today.

The “Pastors and Teachers” (put together, those terms are often thought of as “Pastor-Teachers,” referring to single individuals).  Their task from the Lord is to shepherd the local fellowships of the Church to which they have been sent; they do this by teaching the Word of God (2 Timothy 4:1-4) as well as providing other types of related “pastoral” care.  As with the Evangelists, this task remains vital today.

The Elders are men who essentially assist the Evangelists and/or Pastor-Teachers in shepherding a local Church fellowship (cp. Acts 20:17-28).  The Deacons essentially assist the Elders in caring for the practical needs of the local Church fellowship – they do not provide leadership, but rather service (the term literally translates as “table-waiter” – cp. Acts 6:1-7).

Please see this link for more helpful information:

http://www.gotquestions.org/apostles-prophets-restored.html

What does it mean when God cleanses us of our sin?

Question 

What does it mean when God cleanses us of our sin?

Answer 

Here’s what the Bible says in the Old Testament:

Leviticus 16:30 (NKJV) ³⁰  …the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. 

For God’s chosen people of Israel, a blood sacrifice had to be offered to “cleanse” them from their sins.

Psalm 51:2 (NKJV) ²  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 

King David had sinned against God; he confessed his sin, praying that God would “cleanse” him from it.

Jeremiah 33:8 (NKJV) ⁸  I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. 

The LORD spoke through the prophet Jeremiah to and about His people of Israel, promising that one day He would “cleanse” them from their sins.

In the Old Testament days, the people of Israel were “made clean” through the blood sacrifices that looked forward to the ultimate Sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:22; 10:1-18).

Here’s what the Bible says in the New Testament:

John 15:3 (NKJV) ³  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 

The Lord Jesus told His disciples (part of His New Testament people) that they were considered “clean” in His eyes, because He had “cleansed” them through His Word.

Ephesians 5:25-27 (NKJV) ²⁵  …Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶  that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷  that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 

Here again, we see a “cleansing” of God’s New Testament people (His Church) because of the Word of God, with a view to holiness.

James 4:8 (NKJV) ⁸  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  

Through the pen of James, the Holy Spirit commands His New Testament people (the Church) to “cleanse” their “hands” (which is then described as their “hearts” – i.e. their souls) from sin.

2 Peter 1:9 (NKJV) ⁹  For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 

Through the pen of Peter, the Holy Spirit reminds the Church that being “cleansed” from sin has long-term characteristics.

1 John 1:7 (NKJV) ⁷  But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 

Here, through the pen of John, the Holy Spirit tells the Church that our “cleansing” from sin is directly due to the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son (referring to His death on a cross).

In summary

The basic point in Scripture of being “cleansed from sin” is that we are made holy (“clean”) and, thus, permitted to be in His holy presence.  Man, in and of ourselves, is incapable of accomplishing this (Romans 3:10-23; Isaiah 64:6) – a “filthy rag” cannot clean itself to be worthy of use or welcome in the presence of the holy God.  Only the ultimately “clean” (holy) One (God) can do this, and He has chosen to do it through faith in the atonement work of His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is only through believing the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 5:1-11; 1 John 4:10; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23-25), God’s Word, that we are “cleansed” by God.  As a Christian, it is only through the continual intake of His Word that He keeps us “clean” before Himself (Ephesians 5:25-28).

Christmas

There are some Christians who adamantly refuse to celebrate Christmas and get angry that other Christians do. Their basic tenants are that the Early Church did not celebrate it, the celebration of Christmas widely observed today has its roots in paganism and Roman Catholicism, and the birth of Christ was probably not on December 25 anyway; therefore, Christians ought not to participate in it all.

Romans 14 states that each one of us in Christ need to be “fully convinced” in our own minds as to how we should walk with our Lord regarding abiblical issues (those things not directly addressed in the Scriptures – such as whether to celebrate Christmas). Where the Bible speaks, unquestioning obedience is the rule; but where the Bible is silent, loving understanding ought to be the rule, with the knowledge that any condemnation of those who do not share the same conviction is forbidden. So if some of our brethren are so convicted that the celebration of Christmas is inappropriate, then they have the freedom in Christ to hold to that conviction (and so they should!); though they must never condemn other believers in Christ who do celebrate it.

Here, I will insert a “side-note”: Do not confuse the celebration of Christmas (with its “pagan” roots) with the celebration of Halloween (and its distinctly pagan roots). Christmas, truly celebrated, is all about Christ; whereas, Halloween, truly celebrated, is all about Satan. The two have nothing whatsoever in common. That said, let’s move on to the original topic……

It is a historical fact that Roman Catholicism (true to its common practice) instituted a syncretistic religious worship by associating the celebration of the birth of Christ with some aspects of the pagan celebration of Saturnalia (Winter Solstice). It is also quite likely that the birth of Christ actually took place in the spring, around Passover time. Hence, there may be an understanding of the repulsion of some Christians to the whole idea.

But I want to take a moment to remind us why we should celebrate Christmas!

Christmas (the “mass” or coming of Christ) is the fulfillment of 4,000 years of promises and prophetic predictions from God that He would send His Messiah, His Son to earth to be the Savior of mankind from our sins. The Old Testament is filled to the brim with those promises and predictions – some provide amazing detail! The celebration of Christmas is about rejoicing over the fact that God (true to His common practice) kept His Word to us!

Christ was born in Bethlehem to a grace-given, virgin woman named Mary; He was dedicated in the Temple and named Jesus (Jeshua – JHWH saves); He lived briefly in Egypt; He was reared in Nazareth; He lived without sin; He proclaimed and proved Himself to be God, the Messiah/Christ; He gave His life by shedding His blood on a terrible cross, suffering the shame of man and the wrath of Almighty God in our behalf; He was buried in a borrowed, rich man’s tomb; He was raised again on the third day; He proved He was alive; He ascended back to the right hand of the Father – all this fulfilling every detail of every promise and prophecy concerning His First Advent! We celebrate Christmas, because it’s the earthly beginning point for the reason why we also celebrate Easter! I am convicted that that’s something to celebrate!

Has Roman Catholicism demeaned Christmas in its syncretism with paganism? Has the world disgraced Christmas by subverting attention to Santa Claus, elves, marketing, etc.? Sure they have – just like they have demeaned everything else that is holy. But that does not mean that our sincere, heart-felt rejoicing over the fact that God kept His Word to us should be silenced! How we celebrate Christmas may be slightly different in each of our families, our churches, or our ethnic traditions; but the fact that we celebrate Christmas must never be condemned or silenced! For to condemn or silence our rejoicing over God’s faithfulness to His Word as it applies to Christmas is the first step toward silencing our rejoicing over anything else God has done.                          

Think about it!

                              The greatest Gift was God’s dear Son,

                                             Born in a cattle stall;

                              This was the Bible’s Promised One,

                                             Who came to die for all. – J. Harvey Dixon

The Cross

Question

How is “the cross” an important part of Paul’s thought? What role does it play and how does Paul “use” the language of the “cross” and “crucifixion?

Answer

Paul did not promote or engage human wisdom when he preached the message of the cross of Christ, which is foolish to man; for that message (the Gospel) is the means God uses to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 (NKJV) ¹⁷  For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. ¹⁸  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 

The message of the cross was all that mattered to Paul – he was unconcerned about impressing people with his skills.

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (NKJV) ¹  And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. ²  For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 

Christ took upon Himself the curse of our sin by “hanging on a tree (the cross)”

Galatians 3:13 (NKJV) ¹³  Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), 

The message of the cross offends people, including the religious.

Galatians 5:11 (NKJV) ¹¹  And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 

The facts surrounding cross of Christ were that in which Paul “boasted” or “gloried” – nothing else in the world mattered.

Galatians 6:14 (NKJV) ¹⁴  But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 

God used the cross of Christ to reconcile all mankind – both Jews and Gentiles – to Himself.

Ephesians 2:16 (NKJV) ¹⁶  and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 

People within the Church who depend upon their religiosity rather than Christ were/are enemies of the cross.

Philippians 3:18 (NKJV) ¹⁸  For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 

All on earth were reconciled by means of the cross; thus, peace with God was achieved.

Colossians 1:20 (NKJV) ²⁰  and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 

The Old Testament Law was “nailed” to the cross – wiped out (because Christ had fulfilled both its requirements of holiness and its cursed punishment against sin).

Colossians 2:14 (NKJV) ¹⁴  having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 

Conclusion

The cross was only a couple pieces of wood used by the Roman Empire to put criminals to death; in and of itself, the cross has no meaning beyond that. However, when placed into the context of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on a cross, the message of the cross became Paul’s focus in life (1 Timothy 2:5-7).  The cross itself should never be adored.  It is Christ Who died upon a cross (thus is the message of the cross – the Gospel) Who should be adored.  We do not trust in the cross for salvation; we trust in Christ Who died on a cross and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-13; John 3:16).

Please look further into this at both:

http://www.gotquestions.org/cross-theology.html

http://www.compellingtruth.org/meaning-of-the-cross.html