A United Apostolic Voice

Terry Siverd
04/11/21 - Sun AM

A UNITED APOSTOLIC VOICE

Sermon By Terry Siverd / April 11, 2021 / Cortland  Church of Christ

Last Sunday, In making various introductory remarks and sharing some stories from our recent sabbatical, I failed to express our gratitude to  you for allowing us this time away.  We had a great time. We stayed with Isaiah and Sydney Jeanne and their four adorable girls (Mia, Cienna & Charlotte and Natalie).  Later this Fall, Lord willing, the Wongs will be welcoming a fifth child (unless they have twins again).  Job-wise Isaiah is doing very well - - he recently started his own solar panel sales and installation business and it seems to be thriving.  Yuma is the perfect place for such a business - - we only had two or three days or rain while we were there - - mostly wall to wall sunshine.  We were able to do some excursions:  to Mexico … San Diego … Palm Springs … Joshua Tree National Park.  Our trip to Albuquerque allowed to do some layers in Tucson … Flagstaff & Sedona.  It was a wonderful time away, but as I noted last Sunday, it's so good to be back home and we are so grateful for your kindness in granting us this very special vacation.

I want to follow up on our sermon from last Sunday.  In the near future I want to visit the passage that I assigned you last week:  Mt.27:51-53.   This is a text that has ramifications concerning the resurrection of Christ that we've often overlooked.  This is a passage that only occurs in Matthew's gospel and it tells of a happening that took place during Jesus' crucifixion & resurrection.  Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.  I hope you will eagerly anticipate this study coming soon in the near future.

Today, I want to build a little on my sermon from last Sunday.  I promise it will not be a lengthy message (we have to keep it short for the sake of posting the video online).  The primary text that we examined last Sunday was from 1Pet.4:7 - - The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.  If you want a recap our sermon from last week, I would recommend you read today's FamilyMatters essay.

Peter was an inspired apostle who was writing to first-century saints.  His words of exhortation were not new or novel, but rather they were a reiteration of what Jesus had taught His apostles (cf. Mt.24; Mk.13 & Lk.17 & 21).  Before Jesus was crucified He gave to His apostles what has come to be called the Olivet Discourse.  The Olivet discourse is Jesus' teaching about what was to happen in Israel's last days (Mt.24:1-4ff).  Matthew's account notes (Mt.24:3) - - the disciples came to (Jesus) privately, saying, 'Tell us, WHEN will these things be, and WHAT will be the sign of Your coming, and THE END of the age.'  Mark's account is very similar but slightly compacted (Mk.13:3-4) - -  As (Jesus) was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately, 'Tell us, WHEN will these things be, and WHAT will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?'

Notice that Peter was present for both the question and Jesus' response.  And just in case they forgot the specifics of what Jesus delineated, Jesus promised that The Holy Spirit would be sent to aid the apostles:    to teach them all things and to bring to their remembrance the words that He spoke...to guide them in all truth...and to disclose to them things to come (Jn.14:26 & 17:13).  So when Peter wrote to the first-century saints (who were living in the days just prior to Jerusalem's fall in AD 70), he was simply telling them what Jesus had told the apostles.  Peter told them, the end of all things is at hand (1Pet.4:7).  These provocative words written by Peter are neither isolated nor unique to him. This morning I want to briefly show you other texts that together constitute A United Apostolic Voice.  And I remind you again that these words are but ECHOES OF THEIR MASTER TEACHER, JESUS.

While I was away on sabbatical, I spoke the eulogy for my long-time preacher friend and mentor, Marvin Jacobs, who used to emphasize repeatedly that we must read the New Testament through first-century eyeglasses.  Here are some eschatological exhortations (words about last things) from other New Testament writers.   In the interest of time, I am only highlighting select passages.

JOHN wrote five NT books (a gospel, 3 epistles and the book of Revelation.  Like Peter, he was present for Jesus' Olivet Discourse.  Turn now to 1Jn.2:18-19 - -  Children, it is the last hour; and just as your heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour.  (These antichrists are mentioned in Acts 15:1 & 24 and Gal.2:12).

Rev.1:1 & 3 - - The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants the things which must shortly take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John...Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is at hand.

Here again I would urge us all:  read these texts with first-century glasses.

The author of the NT book of JAMES was not one of the original 12 apostles, but he  is called an apostle in Gal.1:19.  Turn with me Js.5:7-9 - - Be patient, therefore, brethren until the coming of the Lord.  Behold the farmer waits for the precious produce of the ground, being patient about it., until it gets the early and late rains.  You too be patient; strengthen your hearts for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the judge is standing right at the door.

Acts 9 tells of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus.  He comes to be known at the apostle PAUL.  He wrote more books of the NT than anyone else.  Turn with me to Rom.13:11-12 - - And this we do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed.  The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand...  Also from Paul - - 1Cor.7:29-31 - - But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now those of you who have wives should be as though they had none; and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; and those who  make use of the world as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away.

From an ANONYMOUS NT author - - Heb.10:36-37 - - You have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.  'For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.'

These texts are but samples from the New Testament documents.

For many years I have been a gospel preacher who has walked to the beat of a different drummer.  I have a cousin my age who is also a gospel preacher and he holds 13 gospel meetings a year.  On the other hand, I hold none because most of my brethren don't want to hear what I have to say.  Nevertheless, I tell you with all sincerity, this “unorthodox drumbeat” has been for me a genuine delight.  It has restored my belief in the veracity of the Scriptures and has greatly stabilized my faith.  It has been with agonizing pain that I have read from a number of scholars who have candidly observed, “Jesus and His apostles thought that He would return in the first century, but they were mistaken.”  While I admire the candor of these scholars, I beg to differ with them strongly.  The ones who are mistaken are those who fail to read the New Testament with first-century glasses.  To read the Holy Scriptures in the 21^st century from this vantage point is not only eye-opening, but world changing.

The end of the age/world that is spoke of in the NT was focused on the end of the Old Covenant world.  With only a hint of what I profess, I have an dearly beloved aged aunt who insists on asking me:  “What then do you think is going to happen to THIS WORLD?”  My response is simply this - - I can only speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.

I close with this cherished prayer from the apostle Paul (Eph.3:30-21) - - Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, world without end.  Amen.