(1) why did Jesus give His Apostles the authority to bind and loose and forgive and retain sins, and to speak in His name such that whoever listens to them listens to Him, and whoever rejects them rejects Him? (Luke 10:6; 1 John 4:6) And
(2) why do you consider the writings of the Apostles (i.e. the NT) authoritative? And
(3) why are the Twelve Apostles the foundation stones of the Church (Rev 21:14) and why will they "sit upon twelve thrones" (Matt 19:28; Luke 22:30)?
-A8
UHHHHH,
JESUS GAVE ALL BELIEVERS such authority. He made that clear. Paul made that clear.
I have lived it out and found it true around the world.
Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace [be] to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and [he] to whom the Son will reveal [him].
And he turned him unto [his] disciples, and said privately, Blessed [are] the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen [them]; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard [them]. Luke 10:1-24
I used to consider the Scriptures like any other ancient manuscript (which I love to read by the way.) I studied them diligently with maps, commentaries, lexicons and the whole nine yards.
Then one day along the way in my long walk with the Lord, the truth came to me that the Scriptures are not text-on-paper, they are words of God, alive. From that moment foreword, I read the Scriptures casually like a love letter and the words came alive within me. And not only that, but the indwelling Spirit brings specific passages to mind throughout the day according to my personal need.
The Spirit also leads my investigation into many other things, gives me understanding and encourages me or discourages me from certain paths.
Sometimes He confirms a truth casually spoken by another Christian. One such example was a little blue haired lady who, after the preacher spoke of Peters sinking trying to go to Jesus on the water, that sinking wasnt his job. It rang true within me.
Are the twelve apostles more honored than Mary or Abraham or Moses or David simply because they are honored as foundation gemstones? Hardly! Nor should it matter to any of us:
We Christians are to walk in His Light:
Thus it is my goal to be transparent in Him so that His Light can shine through me without obstruction or tinting. But in the end Ill be happy not to be onyx. LOL!