Paul's Apostleship
Lessons From 1 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Theme: Lessons From 1 Corinthians
Hope: To learn from the vast swath of doctrinal information found in this Q&A letter written to the church in Corinth.
Two weeks ago we studies from 1 Corinthians 8 wherein Paul is helping the brethren understand the dangers of “Stumbling Blocks.”
9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
As we noticed, “the stronger can harm the weaker” but not understanding the situation and discouraging the weaker.
That means we find our study now in 1 Corinthians 9.
In this chapter Paul defends his apostleship, his right as a preacher to earn a living at such, and how to effectively help others see your commitment to Christ by being a part of their lives.
Today, we are going to focus on the first three verses of this chapter where Paul defends his apostleship.
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 This is my defense to those who would examine me.
Before we break this down let’s first ask the question…
What Made A Person An Apostle?
What Made A Person An Apostle?
Defining The Word.
Defining The Word.
The Greek word for apostle is found 79 times in the New Testament and never in the LXX.
In it’s most generic sense it simply means “one sent or messenger.”
John 13:16 (NKJV)
16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
Philippians 2:25 (ESV)
25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need
“One sent or messenger” is the intended usage when talking about Jesus and Barnabas as well.
Acts 14:14 (ESV)
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out
Hebrews 3:1 (ESV)
1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession
Though the generic term is found in the New Testament it’s specific definition is the most common usage being found 76 times out of the 79 times it is found in the New Testament.
This usage is confined to those that fit certain qualifications.
What Made One Christ’s Apostle?
What Made One Christ’s Apostle?
Christ’s apostles were sent out to be eye witnesses of the resurrection.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
Christ’s apostles were not “self-appointed” but appoint by the Lord.
Matthew 16:18–19 (ESV)
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…
Christ’s apostles were not left to preach and teach from their own “understanding” but given what to say.
John 16:13 (ESV)
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Luke 12:11–12 (ESV)
11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.
Matthew 10:19–20 (ESV)
19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Christ’s apostles were to have their message confirmed by miracles.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
Christ’s apostles could pass on miraculous gifts to individual Christians.
Acts 8:14–18 (ESV)
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money
Christ’s apostles were ambassadors for Christ.
An ambassador speaks on behalf of the ruler of the country he represents.
He is the voice of the ruler, representing the ruler’s desires and acting with the ruler’s authority on his behalf.
18 “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
Summary
Summary
As we can see there were a number of qualifications necessary for a person to be Christ’s apostle.
Not just anybody could be or call themselves biblically “an apostle of Christ Jesus.”
Now there is no shortage of passages wherein Paul declares his apostleship as being called by God.
Romans 1:1 (ESV)
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God
Galatians 1:1 (ESV)
1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead
1 Timothy 1:1 (ESV)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope
1 Corinthians 1:1 (ESV)
1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus…
We will look closer at this later.
However, the real question before us tonight is…
Is Paul Qualified?
Is Paul Qualified?
Answer: Yes
Answer: Yes
Christ’s apostles were sent out to be eye witnesses of the resurrection, was Paul?
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
1 Corinthians 15:6–8 (ESV)
6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
1 Corinthians 9:1 (ESV)
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?
Christ’s apostles were not “self-appointed” but appoint by the Lord, was Paul?
Paul was appointed to the Gentiles just as Peter was appointed to the Jews.
7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
Christ’s apostles were not left to preach and teach from their own “understanding” but given what to say, was Paul?
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:10–13 (ESV)
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
Christ’s apostles were to have their message confirmed by miracles, was Paul?
18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;
11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
Christ’s apostles could pass on miraculous gifts to individual Christians, could Paul?
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,
Romans 1:11 (ESV)
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you
Christ’s apostles were ambassadors for Christ, was Paul?
Remember, an ambassador was a spokesperson for the ruler and had the ruler’s authority to do so.
Paul certainly spoke with authority.
37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.
Paul was certainly considered “an ambassador” with the other apostles.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Yes, Paul was qualified not only as seen in what he taught but work bears this out as well.
We learn that “false apostles” had been around from the beginning and the way one could tell of someone was really an apostle was “by their deeds.”
2 Corinthians 11:13–15 (ESV)
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
Matthew 7:15–17 (ESV)
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
Matthew 7:18–20 (ESV)
18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
If you can recognize the false prophets by their fruit it stands to reason that you can recognize Paul as an apostle by his fruit.
Those whom Paul taught the gospel were the “fruit” of his defense.
1 Corinthians 9:2–3 (ESV)
2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 This is my defense to those who would examine me.
2 Corinthians 12:11–12 (ESV)
11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
Peter even pointed out in his second letter that Paul was an “inspired” writer.
2 Peter 3:15–16 (ESV)
15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
Now if Paul is an inspired writer and in nine of his letters he opens with “Paul an apostle” in one form or another it seems clear evidence he is an apostle.
Summary
Summary
In each and everyone of those six qualifications we find with zero doubt that Paul is an apostle of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Conclusion
I would venture to say that if one spent “most of their time” within the inspired writings of the apostle Paul one would come out of a far better Christian.
Paul’s journey and writings make up over half of the New Testament.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
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 his Son cleanses us from all sin.