R.C. Sproul

The function of a disciple, amatheteth, is that of a student. He is a learner. He is enrolled in the rabbinic school of Jesus. There were many disciples that followed after Jesus, many more than the twelve.

The function of a disciple, amatheteth, is that of a student. He is a learner. He is enrolled in the rabbinic school of Jesus. There were many disciples that followed after Jesus, many more than the twelve.

but there were 12 who had a certain significance in the entourage of Jesus, and he called these 12 to himself and now commissioned them for an extremely important task and changed their status from that of student to that of apostle. And let's never forget ever miss the significance of that moment because there is a huge difference between being a disciple and being an apostle.

but there were 12 who had a certain significance in the entourage of Jesus, and he called these 12 to himself and now commissioned them for an extremely important task and changed their status from that of student to that of apostle. And let's never forget ever miss the significance of that moment because there is a huge difference between being a disciple and being an apostle.

An apostle by definition is one who is sent, one who is commissioned by someone in authority who then delegates his authority to those whom he sends so that the ones who are commissioned bear the same authority of the one who sent them by delegation and are to be obeyed as much as the one who commissioned them.

An apostle by definition is one who is sent, one who is commissioned by someone in authority who then delegates his authority to those whom he sends so that the ones who are commissioned bear the same authority of the one who sent them by delegation and are to be obeyed as much as the one who commissioned them.

The first apostle that we have to do with in the New Testament and indeed the supreme apostle of the Christian church is Christ himself. Amen. because our Lord was sent by the Father into the world. And Jesus would say from time to time, I speak nothing on my own authority, but rather I speak on the authority that the Father has given to me.

The first apostle that we have to do with in the New Testament and indeed the supreme apostle of the Christian church is Christ himself. Amen. because our Lord was sent by the Father into the world. And Jesus would say from time to time, I speak nothing on my own authority, but rather I speak on the authority that the Father has given to me.

I only say what the Father wants me to say, and all authority on heaven and earth is has been given to me. Now let me just pause here for a little theological excursion on the question of authority. We deal with problems of authority every day of our lives. Those of you who have children know exactly what I'm talking about.

I only say what the Father wants me to say, and all authority on heaven and earth is has been given to me. Now let me just pause here for a little theological excursion on the question of authority. We deal with problems of authority every day of our lives. Those of you who have children know exactly what I'm talking about.

You tell your little girl or your little boy to do something and they don't want to do it and they want to debate the point and they want to argue. And as soon as you say you must or you should or you ought, they're ready to stand up and say, says who? Or why should I?

You tell your little girl or your little boy to do something and they don't want to do it and they want to debate the point and they want to argue. And as soon as you say you must or you should or you ought, they're ready to stand up and say, says who? Or why should I?

And sometimes you'll be patient enough to give them a lengthy explanation for the reason why you've told them to do what you've told them to do. And sometimes when that doesn't work at last ditch, you say, you do it because I said so. You pull rank. Well, that happens not only in the family. It happens in the office where we have hierarchical structures of authority.

And sometimes you'll be patient enough to give them a lengthy explanation for the reason why you've told them to do what you've told them to do. And sometimes when that doesn't work at last ditch, you say, you do it because I said so. You pull rank. Well, that happens not only in the family. It happens in the office where we have hierarchical structures of authority.

It happens in the military where the first two words a recruit is taught to say are the words, yes, sir. And this has to do with obedience to a directive that is given by someone.

It happens in the military where the first two words a recruit is taught to say are the words, yes, sir. And this has to do with obedience to a directive that is given by someone.

Now, what we have to understand is that no one in any position of authority in this world, whether it's the president of the United States or the local dog catcher in your community, the principal in the high school, the foreman on the job, nobody in this world possesses inherent authority.

Now, what we have to understand is that no one in any position of authority in this world, whether it's the president of the United States or the local dog catcher in your community, the principal in the high school, the foreman on the job, nobody in this world possesses inherent authority.

Any authority that we ever encounter in this world, any authority that we ever assume ourselves in this world is not rooted and grounded in us. All authority in this world is delegated because the only one who possesses inherent, intrinsic, absolute authority is God himself. It's not by accident that the word authority contains within it the word author. And God is the author of all that is.

Any authority that we ever encounter in this world, any authority that we ever assume ourselves in this world is not rooted and grounded in us. All authority in this world is delegated because the only one who possesses inherent, intrinsic, absolute authority is God himself. It's not by accident that the word authority contains within it the word author. And God is the author of all that is.