Do Modern Day Apostles and Prophets Exist Today? By Bruce W. Robida November 29, 2015

 

Do Modern Day Apostles and Prophets Exist Today?

Before I answer that question, please answer my questions.

1. What is the Five-Fold Ministry?

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13

2. What is the foundation of the Church?

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. Ephesians 2:19-20

3. Has the foundation of the Church already been built?

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11

4. How can someone build on the foundation of the Church?

It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Romans 15:20

5. Why did Christ give us the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers?

…to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:12-13

6. Since we have not all reached unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ, don’t we still need apostles and prophets?

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. Hebrews 1:1

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 
Matthew 28:19-20

7. Isn’t it possible that God has given new revelations to modern day apostles and prophets?

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:16

Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 1:9

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 2 John 1:10

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
Romans 16:17

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 2 Thessalonians 2:15

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 2 Thessalonians 3:6

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

Based on the Scriptures, you should now know the answer to my question, “Do modern day apostles and prophets exist today”?  The simple answer is, no.

The foundation of the Church began with Old Testament prophets and ended with Christ and the apostles He appointed. Before He was raised up to heaven, Jesus instructed the apostles to teach everyone to obey everything that He had taught them. The apostles then, taught everyone to obey everything Jesus taught them by only following their teachings because they were taught directly by Him and only they were trustworthy with His message. The apostles taught everyone to stay away from anyone who taught anything that was contrary to their own teachings.

The Five-Fold Ministry is still valid in that we still have the prophets of the Old and New Testaments and we still have the teachings of the apostles who were directly appointed by Jesus. This is the foundation of the Church, which has already been laid, Christ being the Chief Cornerstone. Without this foundation, we would have nothing secure upon which we can build. The Church functions because of the other offices of the Five-Fold Ministry. The evangelists, the pastors and the teachers all have important ministries to perform in building the Church. All of these ministries rely deeply upon the foundation upon which they build.

The evangelists are those who carry out the first part of the great commission.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…
Matthew 28:19

The pastors nurture those that the evangelists have brought in. leading them in true worship, training and leading teachers as the apostle Paul trained Timothy.

“…baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.  Matthew 28:19

Teachers teach everything the apostles taught them through reading and studying the Scriptures. True teachers only teach what was taught by Jesus and His disciples. They do not teach new revelations. All of their material is only found in the Bible.

“…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:20

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16

Since the foundation of the Church has already been laid and all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, is there still need for apostles and prophets?

There is one more help regarding God’s instructions for us.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:1-4

Because of the Holy Spirit, we can be sure that God’s Word is complete and sufficient to teach us all of His ways. We can rely upon those who are trustworthy to teach and preach God’s Word without adding to or taking anything away from it. The apostles and prophets of the Five-Fold ministry are those found in the Bible, giving us a firm foundation upon which we can safely build. Any other foundation is faulty.

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