CHRIST’S POWER IS THE AUTHORITY BEHIND THE APOSTOLIC WRITINGS
At the moment some preachers because of their ulterior motives for polygamy contend that the principles of marriage in 1COR. 7:1 which stipulate one is to one ratio, or monogamy should be totally discarded because Apostle Paul, the writer of such epistle is not a legislator or lawgiver. In my candid opinion I bet to differ. This is just because all scripture is for a good purpose. Again the scriptures from the apostolic writings which make the Holy Bible complete did not speak in vain.(JAMES 4:5) Don’t forget that Christ Himself even prayed to back the apostles’ work.
(1)“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:…………………………. (6) I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. (7) Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. (8) For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. (9) I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine………………………………………….. (20)Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; (21)That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” JN. 17:1,6-9,20,21
Did you notice from the above text that Christ prayed for only the disciples and those who might become the followers of Christ through the APOSTOLIC WORK? Read verse number twenty (20) again and grab this real truth.
At this juncture I would like to refresh your mind or remind you about how Paul was called into the Christian ministry. I am sure you even know it already. But even if you are ignorant of Paul’s call just read the following passage for your illumination as to the way Paul encountered with Christ Jesus.
(1)”And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, (2)And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. (3)And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: (4)And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (5) And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (6) And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” ACTS 9:1-6
So if Saul who then became Paul hated the disciples’ work, but Christ Himself called Saul direct through confronting him, why should we hate Paul’s teachings and say that he was not a lawgiver or a legislator? It is because of this that we should not underrate Paul’s sayings which instruct us to avoid multiple marriages. This is because St. Paul followed exactly what His master and redeemer taught: As is reported in GAL.1:11-24, it was Jesus Christ Himself Who in His Holy Spirit trained Apostle Paul in Arabia after his call into this pure Christianity: So none of us should condemn Paul’s sayings or writings. Check these facts here:
(11)”But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. (12) For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (13) For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyohnd measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: (14) And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. (15) But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, (16)To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: (17) Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. (18)Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. (19) But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. (20) Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. (21) Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; (22) And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: (23) But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. (24) And they glorified God in me.” GAL. 1:11-24
Have you now understood that no ordinary human being taught St. Paul what to teach? The above context is so explicit that no one can challenge God’s authority via the apostolic writings which show us the way to righteousness. This is because it is plain here that Christ himself taught our beloved Paul who was not one of Christ’s early disciples but later after his conversion became an apostle to deliver God’s messages to the whole world especially, the gentiles.
(10)”And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. (11) And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, (12) And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. (13) Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: (14) And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. (15) But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:” ACTS 9:10-15
Nevertheless, I am not arguing for argument sake, but I still just want you to know that all those who condemn any teachings from the apostles including Paul’s do so for their own peril. The reason is just simple. Listen to what Apostle Peter says concerning those who condemn the apostolic teachings:
(14) “ Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (15) And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (16) As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” 2PET. 3:14-16
Even apart from this stuff above we should not forget that Christ explained why He should send His Holy Spirit to come and dwell with us. According to Christ Jesus, one of the purposes of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit was to ‘LEAD US INTO ALL TRUTH’, since time available to Him then would not permit Him to disclose to the world some important hidden truths that would be necessary for our salvation.
(7) “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (8) And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (9) Of sin, because they believe not on me; (10) Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; (11) Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (12) I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (14) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” JOHN 16:7-14
Hallelujah! What a wonderful revelation from God? Praise be unto the name of God Most High for such a wonderful teachings from St. John’s account of the gospel. Now read verses 12 through 14 very well, you will see that it is for our own good that the Holy Spirit was sent to come and teach us those things that were lacking. Honestly speaking, the phrase ‘Lead us into all truth’ simply indicates some things were still lacking as far as our salvation was concerned. In fact if everything in the Old Testament was complete why should that statement of Christ be alluded to? It could also be deduced from that same verses referred to that Jesus made it plain that what the apostles were to teach via the empowerment from the Holy Spirit was His teachings and not theirs. Hence the ability and knowledge given to St. Paul to dispense the truth about Marriage issues to us as Modern Christians.
Check verses 13 and 14 again to see this fact. So if you think you are a believer of Christ and not any other deity, why should you despise His true teachings about marriage which stipulate MONOGAMY? That is another food for thought.
This shows why Paul affirmed Christ stance on adultery that stems from UNLAWFUL DIVORCE and REMARRIAGE. He even proved beyond reasonable doubt that what he was dispensing to them was not his own teachings but from the Lord’s AUTHORITY.
(10) “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: (11) But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.” 1COR. 7:10,11
Don’t you notice here that Paul’s statement above affirmed Christ’s teachings about monogamy which is the main reason why everybody must strictly stick to a single partner in marriage? Even before Paul alluded to that fact, he made a prior statement that both men and women should have only ONE PATNER in marriage or not marry at all: Showing that everything he was teaching truly affirms Christ’s teachings in MATT 19:8-11 which the disciples found it difficult to understand, as has been already discussed in this study. Again it is very clear that what he said was a direct authority from the Lord.