PARENTHOOD
a divine stewardship

In this issue of Parenthood, we pick up two outlines from a very significant training that was recently given in a number of churches in the United States by a group of brothers from Taiwan. We participated in this training in the Santa Cruz Mountains January 31 through February 2, 1997. The training emphasizes that we are entering into a new era in the Lord's Recovery. The way for us to participate in this new era is to adopt a new culture by picking up a new language—the language of the New Testament ministry. The new culture is entered into by closely following the teaching and fellowship of the apostles (Acts 2:42). The first outline presents the essential place of the apostles' speaking and leading in the accomplishing of God's economy. The second outline opens the view of the family life and the spiritual life blended together to reach God's goal among His chosen people.

The teaching of the apostles is not the singular ministry of a particular person nor a special line of teaching. It is the entire speaking of God in the New Testament concerning His New Testament economy. This speaking of God in the New Testament began with Christ in His incarnation, continued in His speaking as the Spirit in the ministry through all of His New Testament apostles, and intensified in the speaking in the book of Revelation as the seven spirits of God. When we closely follow this ministry we will gain a good deposit for the completion of God's purpose in the building up of His universal body, His church.

One of the key practices in the carrying out of the purpose of God in His Body, is the building up of a spiritual family life. This indicates the need to "bring home" our spiritual life, to let the church life become our community life and daily life and blend our church life and our family life together.

The understanding and appreciation of these outlines will be greatly enhanced by studying the accompanying verses cited.

The Vision of Ones Who Serve the Lord (II)

THE APOSTLES' TEACHING

Scripture Reading : Acts 2:42; Hebrews 1:2; John 14:10;
16:12-15; Matthew 28:20; Revelation 2:1,7; 1 Timothy 1:3-4

I. The Blessing Received by The Church Depends On The Church's Continuing Steadfastly In The Teaching And The Fellowship Of The Apostles - Acts 2:42, 46; 6:7.

II. The Teaching Of The Apostles Is The Entire Speaking Of God In The New Testament (Hebrews 1:2a; Matthew 28:20; John 16:12-15; Revelation 2:7) Concerning God's New Testament Economy (1Timothy 1:3-4), And God's New Testament Economy Is To Gain A Universal Incorporation Of The Union And Mingling Of Divinity With Humanity.

A. The basic understanding:

1. The teaching (singular) of the apostles (plural) is unique, not the different teachings of the various apostles, but the unique teaching taught by the apostles.

2. The teaching of the apostles is what the early church and believers had steadfastly held onto - Acts 2:42.

3. The teaching of the apostles is our "constitution".

B. The teaching of the apostles is the entire speaking of God in the New Testament:

1. His speaking in the Son as a man, in the four gospels - John 14:10; Matthew 28:19-20.

2. His speaking in the Son as the Spirit through the apostles, in Acts and the twenty-one epistles from Romans to Jude) - 2 Peter 3:15-16.

3. His speaking in the Son as the seven Spirits through the apostle, in Revelation - Revelation 1:1-2, 2:1, 7.

C. The teaching of the apostles is concerning God's New Testament economy, and God's New Testament economy is to gain a universal incorporation of the union and mingling of divinity with humanity.

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