We have the writings of the apostles and prophets. What do we lack from them? Anyone today claiming to be an apostle or prophet is at a minimum deluding others, if not themselves.
10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12
for the equipping of the saints for
the work of ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:10-16
The work of Apostles and Prophets, as well as Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers is for:
- the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry
- for the edifying of the body of Christ,
for the purpose of:
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--
That is what the scriptures teach.
Anyone who says that
any of these positions within the body of Christ,
especially Apostles and Prophets, are no longer needed or are no longer applicable, are teaching directly against what the scripture say.
The body of Christ can not be equipped to do the work of the Ministry without all of these positions functioning in maturity.
Paul's writings are for us today, and should not be distorted, which is a violation of this Forum's ToS.
Thanks JLB