Christ sent you a special apostle. Does that sound strange to you? It shouldn’t.
The apostles were not simply the best students in the class or teacher’s pets. They were men sent to preach a message to specific people. It is important to know what message they were given and to whom were they sent.
If Christ sent you a special apostle, wouldn’t you want to hear his message to you more than the message of other apostles for others?
Christ, the Apostle
Even nominal Christians repeat the truth that God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, but did you know Christ was an apostle sent to Israel (Heb 3:1)?
Paul says, “Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision” (Romans 15:8). John wrote, “He came unto his own” (John 1:11).
Jesus said about his ministry, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24).
It is clear that when God sent the Son of God, he was not sent to you, but to first century Israel.
The Twelve Apostles
Most Sunday school graduates know that Jesus chose twelve men to be his apostles, but did you know why he chose twelve? One apostle was needed for each tribe of Israel (Matt 19:28).
The twelve apostles were not sent to minister to Gentiles, but were given apostleship to the circumcised in Israel.
“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” – Matthew 10:5-6
In their kingdom commission, they were to begin at Jerusalem and Israel (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8).
At Pentecost, Spirit filled Peter addressed only the “men of Israel” (Acts 2:22), and later the believers scattered by persecution went to “none but unto the Jews only” (Acts 11:19).
Even later when a new apostle was ordained, Peter, James, and John limited their ministry to the circumcision (Gal 2:9).
The Apostle Paul
Paul had an apostleship unlike the ministry Christ was to perform to Israel or the twelve were to minister to twelve tribes. Christ sent Paul as the special apostle of the Gentiles.
“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:” – Romans 11:13
When Paul tried to go to Jerusalem to minister to his Jewish kinsmen, the Lord told him to get out and depart (Acts 22:18).
“And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.” – Acts 22:21
The only reason there is the testimony of Christ coming from Gentiles is because the Lord sent a special apostle directly to us Gentiles (Eph 3:1-2).
Why Won’t You Listen
Christ sent a special apostle to you. If this is so, then why won’t anyone listen to him? Instead he is often discounted and hedged by the ministries of apostles sent to others.
When it comes to faith and works controversy, Paul is corrected by an epistle written to the twelve tribes (James). Regarding when the church began, the apostle to the Gentiles is ignored for the prophetic fulfillment ministered to Israel at a Jewish feast day (Acts 2).
Entire denominations name themselves after John the Baptist who died years before Paul was saved or sent.
John the Baptist would not attend any church today that bears his name. Why? Baptist churches are filled with Gentiles, and John was not sent to Gentiles. He was sent to Israel as a law observing law teaching Jew (John 1:31). Don’t you know…
“… how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation…” – Acts 10:28
Listen to Your Apostle
If Christ sent you a special apostle, wouldn’t you give his message and ministry priority over other apostles?
Unless you are a first century Jewish believer looking for Israel’s kingdom, Paul is your apostle.
Wherever true Christianity is found today, it is a result of Christ sending Paul as a special apostle with the gospel of grace. Are you listening?
“For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.” – 2 Corinthians 11:5
“…our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.” – 2 Tim 1:10-11
“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery…” – Ephesians 3:8-9
Article Index Published: October 1, 2016
Last Modified: April 30, 2019