Do we receive our teachings from any Man?
There are many varied Religions on this earth, at this present moment in time, of which, their Religious Leaders, teach their adherents, God's word. Because they are so varied, ones teachings at times clash with the others, and they are not in harmony, one with the other. So, what we have going on is a mass confusion, of teachings, with very little unity of thought. All of the adherents to these various Religions receive their teachings from men, who lord it over their flocks. Requiring as they do, to be reverenced by their flocks, dressing themselves in fancy garb; round white, or black collars, blacksuits, or grey, that everyone is so familiar with, that sets them all well above their flocks; wearing their long robes, that so distinguish them from their flocks. Requiring to be reverenced themselves by taking on titles that demand, the reverence that they seek. Titles such as, Reverend, Right Reverend, Most Reverend, Father, Holy Father, Most Holy Father, his emminence, so on and so forth. Titles that belong solely to Jehovah God, they take upon themselves, in shameful fashion. Putting themselves on the same level as Jehovah God!
As we read through the Christian Greek Scriptures, do we ever find the early Apostles, if any could, be taking titles such as mentioned here? They certainly could have, but didn't. Taking such titles on themselves.Notice what Jesus had to say:
25 "Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 NOT SO WITH YOU. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave"— {Matthew 20:25-27 NIV} After reading that, would anyone believe, the early Apostles would be wearing any fancy dress, taking these high sounding titles to themselves? When even the greatest of them,was merely viewed as a mere slave of the others? No fancy dress, or Lofty Titles for these early Christian's.
What kind of teachings might we expect from these Twelve Apostles of the Lamb? Would there even be the slightest deviation, in their presentation of the Hebrew writings, or the Christian Greek Scriptures? Note the following:
"But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen"—{Acts 26:22 NIV} So, Paul was here telling us, that he never went beyond, what the Hebrew Writings stated. He was completely in harmony with all of the Hebrew Writers, with never any deviation at all. Every one of the first Century Christian's would likewise agree with Paul on this matter; evidenced by Pauls following words:
"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." 1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV}
Whether they were teaching from the Hebrew Scriptures, or the Christian Greek Scriptures, they all would be, 'perfectly united in mind and thought.' As might well be expected, since they was all taught by the Christ. He it was, was their one leader and teacher, in the first Century. Note the words of Matthew on this point:
"Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have ONLY ONE TEACHER, and all of you ARE EQUAL as brothers and sisters. And don’t address ANYONE here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. 10 And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only ONE TEACHER, the Messiah. 11 The GREATEST AMONG YOU must be a servant." {Matthew 23:8-11 NLT}
No! Beyond a word of a lie, we would never find any of the true Apostles of Christ, lifting themselves up over others in the