Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ… ~ Ephesians 1:4

Have you ever wondered what these spiritual blessings, of which Paul speaks in the text above, actually are?

If you have, and you’re still not sure, I believe I have the answer for you.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is constructed in much the same way as his letter to the Colossians, which is more of a condensed version of his message to the Ephesians.

In Ephesians, Paul speaks of the “spiritual blessings” in heavenly places in Christ (1:4). He also speaks of our being seated with Christ in heavenly places (2:6-7). In Colossians, he says something similar.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. ~ Colossians 1:1-4

What exactly is Paul talking about with all this language of “blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places” and “seated with Christ in heavenly places” and “dead with Christ” and “your life hidden with Christ in God”?

The answer is found in Paul’s teaching of the old man from which are redeemed, and the new man we are called to be. In Colossians 3:5, Paul begins to unwrap what he means by saying, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth…” (v.5)

Paul then gives a list of the sins of the flesh which we are to put to death in our lives, and refers to this as “putting off the old man.” He then says that we are to put on the new man created in the image of Jesus Christ (3:10) by walking in love, forgiviness, kindness, peace, etc.

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. ~ Colossians 3:12-15

Paul goes into much more detail about putting off the old man and putting on the new in his letter to the Ephesians where he employes the same language of peace as the calling of the believer.

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ~ Ephesians 4:1-3

This is the heavenly life to which we are called.

Sin is why Christ died, and the expression of sin is the old man of which we are instructed to “put off.” In Paul’s theology, the old man mentioned in Romans 6, as well as in Ephesians and Colossians is not some “mystical thing.” It is a direct reference to the person that sin causes us to become, and Christ died to save us from our sins, which make us murderers, liars, thiefs, blashpemers, adulterers, etc. Paul describes our old man being crucified with Christ as “destroying the body of sin.” ~ Romans 6:6

When we choose to surrender to Christ, we choose to live after the life of Christ, and thus we crucify the old man of sin: who we were in our sins.

Christ died and rose again, to set us free from our sins and to give us power over sin, that the life from above could be freely expressed in us.

The virtures of the new man in Christ, ruled by the peace of God, is what Paul is speaking of when speaks of the spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus and those things which are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

The Holy Spirit comes to us with the glorious life of the enthroned Christ, empowering us to live in this dark and sinful world as true ambassadors for Christ, with a life and peace that is only heaven can give.

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. ~ John 10:31:-38

In the reference above, the Jews wanted to stone Jesus again ( an extension of John 8:59), for claiming to be the Son of God (i.e., God). In his response to them Jesus challenges them by citing Psalm 82:6

I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. ~ Psalm 82:6

Some sects of charismatic Christianity have used this as justification to teach that Christians are little gods. Listed below are some quotes from a popular Word of Faith minister. These quotes demonstrate just how far off the rails some have slid in the misappropriation of this scriptural text.

I say this with all respect so that it don’t upset you too bad, but I say it anyway. When I read in the Bible where he [Jesus] says, ‘I Am,’ I just smile and say, ‘Yes, I Am, too!’

On the cross, Jesus won the right for believers to be born again back into the god-class. Adam was created, not subordinate to God, but as a god; he lost it, and in Christ we are taken back to the god-class.

You don’t have a god in you, you are one.

These are just some of the crazy claims made by this popular WOF minister by his misappropriation of this portion of scripture. It’s unfortunate because many sincere believers follow him and other ministers who teach similar things. Consequently they are missing out on what Jesus is actually telling the Jews who wanted to stone him when he appealed to Psalm 82.

So what exactly is Jesus telling the Jews to whom he was speaking when he says, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? Ellicott’s Commentary for English readers points out the following:

I said, Ye are gods?—In the Hebrew of the Psalm, as in the Greek here, the pronoun is emphatic. “I myself said, Ye are gods?” The words are probably to be understood in the Psalm as spoken by God, who sits in judgment on the judges whom He had appointed, and gives the name of “gods” (Elohim) as representing Himself.

When Jesus cites this text, he was telling those Jews that he is Son of the God they claimed to represent, and the works which the Father had done through him was an indictment against them. They had misrepresented the God of Israel, and thus they were being judged.

Recently, I wrote a couple of teachings on the topic of the Son of man. Jesus, who is the Son of God often referred to himself as the Son of man. Among the Old Testament prophecies which speak of the Messiah was Daniel’s reference to the Son of man, to who God would give the Kingdom and appoint as the righteous ruler and judge. With this in mind consider Jesus’s words to the hostile Jews in John 5.

For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. ~ John 5:20-27 

When Jesus cited Psalm 82 in John 10, he was standing in the place of God, as God’s Son, pronouncing judgment on the leaders of the people who controlled the synagogue, misrepresented God, and oppressed the people.

Psalm 82, when read as a whole is not a text telling the people that they are deities. It is an indictment against the unjust rulers who misrepresented God. Thus they were condemned by God’s judgment. No Jewish leader who would have heard Jesus speaking in John 10, would have thought that Jesus was telling them that they were deities because of Psalm 82. They would have heard Jesus claiming that the works which the Father had done through him, the Son of God, was judgment against them as rulers over the people.

I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. ~ John 6:51-59

In the reference above, Jesus uses very strong language, a language that would make the causal, uncommitted follower very uncomfortable. He speaks of eating his flesh and drinking his blood. Jesus did not mean this literally, but figuratively. And even in a figurative manner, it was more than many of the Jews could handle.

Eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of man is a call to commitment. Often Jesus would say and do things on purpose to test the hearts of the people, to prove their motives, and to weed out those who were not committed to him.

The faith Jesus calls us into is an “all in commitment” to follow him. Eating his flesh and drinking his blood represents complete faithfulness to him. Many of the Jews in John 6 were interested in following Jesus as long as he was doing miracles and keeping them fed, but once the call to commitment was issued, many turned away.

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. ~ John 6:60-69 

Jesus’s words regarding eating his flesh and drinking his blood had a true deep spiritual meaning, yet they were said in such a way that they would drive away those who were not completely committed to Jesus. Because of this hard saying, many of those who had followed him “casually” or not with their whole heart, were offended and turned away, but the 12 disciples (except for Judas) remained faithful. I am certain (based on the whole narrative of the gospels) that Peter did not yet understand the depth of meaning within the words of Jesus regarding eating his flesh and drinking his blood. It didn’t matter, because Peter was his disciple, and he knew that Jesus had the words of eternal life. In due time the meaning would be understood.

The sad reality is too many Christians have not yet learned the lesson contained in these verses. Eternal life is in Jesus, and when I say eternal life, I am not referring to punching your ticket to Heaven. I am talking about a walk of faith that is so dependent on Jesus,  it is as if you are actually eating his flesh and drinking his blood for your spiritual well being.

We eat physical food to nurture our physical bodies because our physical life depends on it. In like manner, Jesus is the true bread which came down from heaven, and spiritual life is dependent on him. Without Jesus, i.e., without fellowship with the Son of God we cannot maintain good spiritual health and continue good spiritual growth.

Jesus is the bread of life and the table is set before us. Thus the call comes to us all to come and partake of him who gave his flesh and whose blood was shed for us.

May God give us all understanding.

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. ~ Acts 7:51-59

Stephen in Acts 7, and John on the isle of Patmos (Revelation 1:13; 14:14) are the only references I know of in the NT where Jesus is referred to as the Son of man by someone other than himself. Here Stephen, before an angry Sanhedrin, sees Jesus (the Son of man) standing on the right hand of God. The Sanhedrin was the supreme council and tribunal of the Jews, led by the High Priest.

Stephen’s proclamation was the ultimate condemnation to these wicked leaders. They all knew what Stephen meant by declaring that he was seeing the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. The One they hated and had put to death by wicked hands and deceit, was God’s appointed ruler, judge, and King. They knew the prophecy given by Daniel.

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. ~ Daniel 7:13-14

Stephen seeing the Son of man meant that Jesus, the Messiah was now enthroned with all rule and authority under him. Stephen’s testimony aligns with what John saw in the book of the Revelation.

And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. ~ Revelation 1:13

And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. ~ Revelation 14:14

I don’t think many of us truly appreciate what we are reading, when we read the words of Jesus, declaring himself to be the Son of man. Every time Jesus referred to himself as the Son of man, he was claiming to be the Messiah and the righteous ruler whom Daniel saw in the presence of the Ancient of Days. 

And I (John the Baptist) knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. ~ John 1:31-34

John the Baptist bore witness that Jesus is the Son of God, for God had revealed this to John when he said to him, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

Later, in the first chapter of John, Nathanael’s encounter with Jesus convinced him that Jesus is the Son of God.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. ~ John 1:47-49

In response to Nathanael’s belief that Jesus is the Son of God, we read the following:

Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. ~ John 1:50-51

Notice that in response to Nathanael’s declaration, Jesus refers to himself as the Son of man.

It’s important to point out that Jesus uses the definite article “the” aka, the Son of man, which is not a reference to Jesus’s humanity as we might think. It’s actually a reference to his deity as God in the flesh. Notice that Jesus refers to himself as the Son of man upon which Nathanael would see angels ascending and descending. 

The title, the Son of man, is no ordinary reference to Jesus’s humanity, but a title associated with his deity. Consider the following texts in which the Son of man does what God does.

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. ~ Matthew 9:6 

But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. ~ Matthew 10:23

For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. ~ Matthew 12:8

The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity… ~ Matthew 13:41

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. ~ Matthew 16:27

Many other texts could be referenced, but hopefully these will suffice to get the point across. Now consider Jesus’s conversation with Nicodemus in John 3 and observe how Jesus describes himself as both the Son of man and the Son of God.

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ~ John 3:9-16 

Jesus speaks of himself as the Son of man, and the only begotten Son of God in the same context. He also describes himself as the Son of man who came down from heaven, yet is in heaven. How could this be?  Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers may shed some light.

If heaven is thought of as a place infinitely distant beyond clouds and sky, or as a time in the far future when this world’s life shall end, then it is indeed hard to understand what is here meant by “the Son of Man which is in heaven;” and a copyist may well have found in omission the easiest solution of the difficulty. But if heaven is something wholly different from this coldness of distance in space or time; if it is a state, a life, in which we are, which is in us–now in part, hereafter in its fulness–then may we understand and with glad hearts hold to the vital truth that the Son of Man, who came down from heaven, was ever in heaven; and that every son of man who is born of water and of the Spirit is “made a member of Christ, a child of God, and an inheritor (in the present, ??????????) of the kingdom of heaven.”

The phrase, the Son of man which is in heaven seems to point to oneness that Jesus has with the Father. The Father and the Son are one, with this text in mind consider Jesus’ exchange with Philip later in John 14:

If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. ~ John 14:7-12 

Though he came to earth and lived as a man, he was never severed from God. He and the Father are one, and have an eternal bond that can not be separated, Jesus is forever God in the flesh and God with us. No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.~ John 1:18

No matter how much we think we understand the incarnation of Jesus Christ, there is still a part of it which remains a mystery.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. ~ 1 Timothy 3:16

Until the next post on this topic, read Daniel 7:13-14, and we’ll pick up there.

THE GOSPEL OF GRACE

THE ERROR OF HYPER GRACE DOCTRINE

The book of Hebrews is a book loaded with themes that are intertwined with the great theme of the epistle, which happens to be Jesus’s exaltation at the right hand of God. One of those intertwined themes is the rest of God. The author of Hebrews likens the rest to which we are called to that of the Sabbath rest to which God entered after he had completed the work of creation.

In chapter one we read that after Jesus has made purification for our sins, he sat down on the right hand of God and entered a place of rest.

…when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high… 1:3

…Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?… 1:13

The writer of Hebrews picks up the theme of this rest in chapter three and expounds on it through chapter 4. In 3:1, he says, Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus…

What is this heavenly calling?

Well, if we follow the flow of thought, the Heavenly calling begins with faith in Christ, and leads to resting in Christ. Though the last use of the word rest is found in 4:11, the theme of rest continues throughout the epistle. For example, entering boldly into the holiest by the blood of Jesus in 10:19, is an extension of the thought process of the rest we are to labor to enter into in  4:11.

Jesus entered into his rest at the Father’s right hand after he trusted God and obeyed him fully. We are called to the same path of obedience and faith, which will lead us into the rest to which we are called. In the gospel of John, Jesus had declared that the work of God is that we believe on him who God has sent. ~ John 6:29

All spiritual warfare that comes against the servant of Christ challenges him to relinquish his faith in Jesus in some way. Conversely, the work of the Spirit in the life of a believer leads him into a life of fully trusting Jesus in all things.

One cannot fully trust someone whom he does not know, but the more we know someone, the more we can rely on them and trust them. The Spirit of the Lord leads us into fellowship with the living Christ at the Father’s right hand, and as we fellowship with Jesus through the Spirit,  inward trust grows, and when that trust fully matures we enter a place of rest in the Lord.

This is why it is such a shame that so many believers get caught up following self appointed prophets and apostles, looking for the latest revelation or word while missing the heavenly call to fellowship with Jesus and enter into his rest. Paul alludes to this rest to which we are called when he says the following in Philippians 3.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 3:8-14

The high calling mentioned by Paul in Philippians and the heavenly calling mentioned by the writer of Hebrews lead to the same truth, knowing Jesus and trusting him fully in all things, and thus resting in him.

May God grant us a hearing heart so that we labor to enter into the this rest.

False ministers are actually easy to identify when you set your heart to follow Jesus alone because Jesus is the only mediator between God and man. The term mediator (aka, there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus ~ 1 Timothy 2:5 ) is often thought of in relation to the unsaved who come to God. While it does apply in those cases, the mediation of Jesus Christ is much more than bringing sinners to God. The mediation of Jesus encompasses his entire ministry in our lives from start to finish.

According to the Book of Hebrews, Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest of our profession of faith. Both of these titles speak of the mediation of Jesus in our walk with God. We all likely have some understanding of what it means that Jesus is our High Priest, but too many of us give very little consideration to Jesus being the Apostle of our faith! 

Consider for a moment that Jesus is the apostle of your faith. That is a powerful truth that we all need to allow to sink in. According to the Interlinear Bible, this Greek word, apostle, is apostolos (ἀπόστολος, ου, ὁ) and means a messenger, one sent on a mission, an apostle.

If Jesus is the messenger of God in your life, if he is the apostle of your faith, why would you need another modern day apostle?

Those who claim to be modern day apostles all have one thing in common, they testify of themselves and claim to be a mediator of some kind. Their claims stretch from having words from God that you need to hear, to having the spiritual authority you need to be under, to having spiritual revelation that you need from God. They downplay the importance of scriptural context while elevating out of context “revelaiton” they claim is from God.

I work in the trades as a flooring contractor, and one of the expressions used among those in the trades (flooring, electrical, plumbing, etc.) when they see a job done by someone who isn’t qualified or who doesn’t know what they are doing is “hack”. A seasoned electrician who sees a poorly wired job might call it a “hack job”.

Many who claim to be apostles and prophets, are spiritual hacks. Those who do hack jobs in the trades can trick some of the clients they work for, but a professional can quickly spot problems that will eventually cause the job to fail. This is how it works when you immerse yourself in the scriptures and you seek to know Jesus according to the scriptures. You become skilled in the Word of God and are able identify that something isn’t right.

False apostles and prophets appoint themselves as mediators between you and God. The real truth is they are mediators between you and their ego, and more times than not they want to be a mediator between you and your money. They wouldn’t do what they do if they had to actually work for a living, and were tired from real labor at the end of each work day. Preying on spiritually hungry people can be a lucrative business model.

Please understand that those who claim to be apostles and prophets (mediators) are not truly spiritual people. They deceive with being bold in their claims, or with charisma that appeals to those those who are unskilled in the holy scriptures. Please also understand that this is why the bigger the crowd, the better for them. It’s hard to deceive 5 or 10 people with their Bibles open who are judging what you say by what is written, but larger crowds can be worked up and led away from being critical thinkers.

In Hebrews 5, the author of Hebrews (speaking of the mediation of Jesus as our High Priest after the order of Melchizedek) says the following:

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. ~ v. 11-14

Notice that the writer of Hebrews doesn’t say “of whom we have many things to say and hard to be uttered because it’s difficult to explain.” Instead, it was the dull hearing of those who needed to be taught again that made it hard to utter.

Modern day apostles and prophets make dull hearers of those they prey on. This is why those who truly search the scriptures, do not follow these apostles and prophets. Modern day apostles and prophets appeal to the appetite for the sensational from their followers, trapping them as spiritual babes, unskilful in the Word of righteousness. Those who are truly spiritual (of full age) have had their senses exercised to discern between the true and the false.

Being of full age, only comes through the mediation of Jesus, and following him. The sad reality is while many think they are growing spiritually by following this apostle, or that prophet, they are actually stunted in their spiritual growth.

The “ministry” of modern day apostles looks nothing like that of the apostles in the New Testament, whose purpose was to testify of Christ, and bring the hearers to Jesus. You will not find a single text anywhere in the New Testament where any of the apostles paraded themselves as mediators that the people needed to follow in order to hear from God or serve God. Paul, emphatically told the Corinthians, follow me as I follow Christ. Paul also pronounced a curse on himself if he preached any other gospel.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. ~ Galatians 1:8

Notice that Paul includes himself with the word “we”. Paul did not preach himself, but Christ Jesus the Lord (2 Corinthians 4:5), because Jesus is the only mediator between God and man.

The writer of Hebrews expounds on the mediation of Jesus Christ, and I’d dare say that if a person would just stop listening to the modern day, self proclaimed apostles and prophets for 2-3 months, and spend that same time reading and studying the book of Hebrews (or any New Testament book), it would become very evident that the apostles and prophets they are following preach an entirely different message than the one given to us in the holy scriptures. 

Jesus is the only mediator you need, and he is THE Apostle and High Priest of our profession of faith. The sad truth is, many of the modern day apostles and prophets are either unsaved, or those who never grew out of being a spiritual babe themselves.  

You really do not need them. Follow Jesus!

Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? ~ Hebrews 1:4-5

The more excellent name which Jesus has inherited from the Father is, in this context, the name of Son. The Greek word is ὄνομα, ατος, τό (onoma) and refers to a name, authority, and cause. The interlinear Bible Helps Word – Studies says (figuratively) the manifestation or revelation of someone’s character, i.e. as distinguishing them from all others.

Now, allow that sink in. Jesus has a character (as God’s Son) that distinguishes him from all others. Throughout Hebrews, the writer tells us repeatedly how Jesus is greater than all his predecessors (Moses, Joshua, and Aaron, etc). In chapter 1, he begins by making the distinction between Jesus and the prophets. God spoke through the prophets in time past, and always in a limited fashion, but in his Son (in his person), God speaks the full revelation of himself.

God has spoken by the Son!

Not only is the Son greater than the prophets, he is greater than all the angelic hosts. After telling us that God has spoken to us by his Son in contrast by the prophets in time past, the writer of Hebrews draws us into a glorious declaration of praise for the Son to whom even the angels can’t compare.

Consider the first five verses of Hebrews 1 with all this mind. 

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?  ~ Hebrews 1:1-3 

Jesus reveals God in a way that no one else ever could, because Jesus the Son in whose character God’s person and glory is fully revealed, in whom his exact likeness is known. The prophets and angels could speak for God as messengers, but no prophet or angel has ever spoke as the manifestation of God himself, only the Son has!