Hi, Saradippity, ... you said ...Given that the passages you cited in your post were all spoken to the Apostles only,I believe it was to them He gave the promises,we so often seem to take for granted were meant for us.
Granted, ... the scripture passages provided in post #371 are from teachings JESUS gave directly to His apostles, ... so, ... you may be correct, ... it may be true that these teachings were only meant for them (the Apostles) and not for the Church as a whole.
However, in another of my posts, further on in the thread (#375), Paul writes to the Christians at Rome the following words ...
Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:So, here we have evidence of the same operation of the Holy Spirit that JESUS promises to His apostles ... that the Holy Spirit will communicate truth, in this case, to Christians in general, as well as the apostles of the former case.
Finally, my posts #378 and #380 quote James' teaching to the Church ...
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.This passage of scripture admonishes its listeners (members of the Church) to seek wisdom from GOD, and that GOD, so besought, will grant His wisdom liberally to the asker.
Now you might ask ... why would God not urge us to seek His wisdom from the church ?
Well, after all, it is GOD's wisdom. He knows it better than anyone else could.
The Church, ... for all its importance in the plan of GOD, ... is fallible, ... for it is composed, at every level, within and without, by fallible men and women. Try as they might, they cannot guarantee to you that they are presenting to you the full uncompromised truth of GOD. They might come very close. But, to be sure of the truth of GOD, we are to ask GOD.
And GOD promises to answer, through His written Word and by the Holy Spirit. In fact, GOD urges us to come boldly before His throne, that we may receive what He has for us.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
So while there is much that Paul has written that conforms to scripture,some simply does not.So,I listen to Church teachings and know that clearly Jesus Christ gave the Apostles and their Successors more promise of God's guidance than He gave to me.And,surely there are plenty enough things pleasing to God,for me to do,pray and think about to keep me occupied!!!
Recently,I have read some interesting articles about Paul and I was quite happy because although I don't know whether they are right or wrong they do make me know that others see some of the things that I see or perceive.Thanks for your comments.