To Whom Shall We Go?

Jesus asked his disciples, “Will you also go away?” Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go for you, for you have the words of eternal life.” Jn 6:67,68 It is true that Jesus no longer walks upon the earth healing the sick, making the lame to walk, or seeking and saving the lost. It is true that the last apostle died on the Isle of Patmos approximately 1900 years ago. However, in ways the bible teaches us, Jesus and his disciples are with us to this very day.

Ambassadors of Christ

Every preacher or teacher who follows exactly after the teaching of Jesus is his ambassador. An ambassador is a person who acts as a representative or promoter of a specified activity. In other words, they are a messenger. They speak only what they are specifically told to speak, and no more. They carry the message of another, and not their own agenda. The apostles were ambassadors for Christ. Paul said, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” 2 Cor 5:20  And again he said, “I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Eph 6:20

There is ample proof that all of the apostles of Christ were even as Paul. Peter and John said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19,20 By speaking only what God revealed to them through the Holy Spirit, they were ambassadors of Christ. Though Jesus had long been resurrected from the dead, his messengers were still speaking in his stead. In other words, by following the apostles we are following Christ. All Christian converts continued in the doctrine of the apostles because their doctrine was exactly the same as the doctrine of Christ. Acts 2:42 f; 2 Jn 9

Follow The Apostles

Paul told the Corinthians, “Be followers (imitators) of me even as I also am of Christ.” 1 Cor 11:1 Paul commanded the Thessalonians to “Stand firm and hold the traditions which you have been taught by word or our epistle.” 2 Thess 2:15 And then he concluded by saying this, “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us..” 2 Thess 3:7 Paul was adamant and stringent in his teaching, and made it clear that whatever he taught he received from Jesus Christ. To the Galatians he said, “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Gal 1:11,12 Paul wanted us to learn from the apostles that all Christians are not to go beyond that which was written. 1 Cor 4:6

Follow Faithful Elders and Preachers

To a young Timothy Paul in essence passed the baton from the apostles to faithful Christian men when he said, “The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Tim 2:2 Take note that Paul did not pass on the responsibility to unfaithful men. Anyone who taught the traditions of men were condemned by both Jesus and His apostles. Mt 15:7-9 f; Tit 1:14 If anyone teaches any other gospel than that which the apostles taught they will be accursed. Gal 1:6-9 If anyone abides by any other doctrine other than the doctrine of Christ they have not God. 2 Jn 9 We shall all be judged by the gospel of the apostles by Jesus Christ come the day of judgment. Rom 2:16

Today, all faithful Christian men speak where the bible speaks and remain silent where the bible is silent. 1 Pet 4:11 f; Rev 22:18,19 Prophets of God spoke only in the name of the Lord and revealed only what the Holy Spirit instructed them to speak, and not their personal opinions. Jam 5:10 f; 2 Pet 1:20,21 Jeremiah revealed this about true prophets, “He that has my Word, let him speak my word faithfully.” Jer 23:28 Paul commissioned elders in every Church and charged them to “Hold firm the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.” Titus 1:9 Paul commissioned all preachers to “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.” 2 Tim 4:2 “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” 2 Tim 1:13-14

Paul made it abundantly clear where he received his revelation: “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1 Cor 2:13 “For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.  And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,” 2 Cor 4:10-13 As Paul said to the Corinthians, ” Walk we not in the same Spirit? Walk we not in the same steps?” 2 Cor 12:18 Truly Christ lives within us if we speak that which was written via the Holy Spirit. As God commissioned Christ to come into the world and speak only what he commanded him to speak;  Jn 12:49,50 As Christ commissioned his apostles to speak what he commanded them to speak; Jn 17:8,18 Even so the apostles commissioned us today to preach the same gospel and the same doctrine which emanated directly from God the Father who inspired every single word of the bible. 2 Tim 2:2; 4:2-5 ff; Jn 7:16,17; 2 Tim 3:16,17

Follow only those who are following the new testament gospel and doctrine exactly as it was written, and delivered by the apostles through the Holy Spirit. To make sure who is speaking the Word of Truth all Christians are commissioned to search the scriptures, study the scriptures, and to prove the scriptures to make sure what they are being taught is from Christ and his apostles. IF they are, FOLLOW them even as you would follow CHRIST, for such were given charge of your soul. Acts 20:28-31 f; Heb 13:7,17