Apostolic Age: The Church Between Christ’s Resurrection and Return
Document Summary: Apostolic Age
Purpose: This document establishes what time the church is living in and how God governs his people during that time. It locates the church within the age inaugurated by Jesus’s resurrection and exaltation and clarifies how Scripture functions as governing authority under Christ’s present reign.
Central Claim: The resurrection and exaltation of Jesus inaugurated a distinct apostolic age in which God rules his church through Christ, by the Spirit, through the apostolic witness preserved in Scripture, until Christ returns.
Why This Matters: When the church does not clearly understand the time it is living in, Scripture’s authority becomes abstract rather than operative. Churches may affirm the Bible’s truth while lacking a shared, functional way of reading, prioritizing, and obeying it together. In that vacuum, authority is quietly replaced by personality, technique, cultural pressure, or inherited assumptions. Clarity about the apostolic age restores Scripture’s governing role and anchors the church in obedience to Christ rather than adaptation to circumstance.
What This Document Does:
Identifies the apostolic age as the time between Christ’s resurrection and return.
Explains how Christ presently governs his church during this age.
Clarifies the role of the Spirit in relation to apostolic Scripture.
Establishes Scripture as living apostolic authority rather than merely historical record.
Provides the temporal and authority framework required for apostolic alignment.
What This Document Is Not: This document does not propose a new theological system, prophetic timeline, or church model. It does not argue for the continuation of the apostolic office, nor does it attempt to recreate the first century. It does not elevate methods, strategies, or cultural forms to governing status. Its purpose is to clarify the time and authority under which the church already lives.
Primary Outcome: Readers gain shared clarity about the apostolic age so they can approach Scripture, ministry, leadership, and mission with humility and submission under the present reign of Christ.
Document Introduction: Why the Apostolic Age Matters
The Central Question: What time is the church living in, and how does God govern his people during that time? Every generation inherits Scripture, traditions, and ministry practices, but without clarity about the age inaugurated by Christ’s resurrection, churches struggle to determine what is normative, what is provisional, and what carries governing authority. When this question is left unanswered, Scripture is affirmed in principle but weakened in practice.
The Biblical Answer: The New Testament presents the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus as the decisive turning point in redemptive history. The risen Christ reigns now, has poured out the Spirit, and governs his church through the apostolic witness preserved in Scripture. This age is neither experimental nor incomplete in its authority. It is the period in which Christ actively rules his people, calls for obedience, forms churches, and advances the gospel while the church awaits his return.
How This Document Fits in the Series: This document provides the temporal and authority framework for the entire Apostolic Pattern series. Before churches can ask whether their lives and ministries are aligned with the apostolic pattern, they must first understand the age in which that pattern was given and remains operative. Apostolic Age establishes the conditions under which apostolic alignment is possible and necessary.
Purpose and Approach: This document clarifies the nature of the apostolic age by attending closely to Scripture’s own claims about Christ’s reign, the Spirit’s work, and the apostles’ authority. It does not resolve every question of practice but establishes the shared categories required for faithful judgment. By doing so, it prepares churches and leaders to submit their assumptions, instincts, and structures to the authority Christ has already established for his church.
Living in the Age Inaugurated by the Risen and Reigning Jesus
Jesus’s resurrection and exaltation marked a decisive turning point in God’s saving work. From that moment forward, the church has lived under Christ’s present reign while awaiting his return. This age defines the normal context for Christian faith, obedience, and life together.
Jesus rose bodily from the dead and was exalted as Lord, inaugurating the present age of his reign. The apostles testified that God raised Jesus from the dead as a public act that confirmed his identity and defeated death (Acts 2:24; Acts 3:15; 1 Cor. 15:3–8). They proclaimed that God exalted Jesus to his right hand, fulfilling the promise that the Messiah would rule (Ps. 110:1; Acts 2:33–36). Paul described this exaltation as God seating Christ above every rule and authority and subjecting all things under him (Eph. 1:20–22). The New Testament presents resurrection and exaltation as the beginning of Christ’s reigning authority rather than the conclusion of his work (Rom. 1:4; Phil. 2:9–11). The church therefore lives under the authority of the risen Lord who reigns now and will be revealed openly at his return (Acts 17:31; 1 Thess. 4:16).
The church lives between Christ’s resurrection and his return, shaped by fulfillment and expectation. After his resurrection, Jesus ascended and promised to return, which frames the church’s life between what God has accomplished and what he will complete (Acts 1:9–11). Believers are described as having new life through Christ’s resurrection while awaiting final salvation (1 Pet. 1:3–5). Paul referred to the present as the time upon which the ends of the ages have come, indicating that God’s saving work has reached its decisive stage (1 Cor. 10:11). The New Testament consistently joins present obedience with the certainty of Christ’s return and judgment (Matt. 24:42–44; 2 Thess. 1:7–10). The church therefore lives with urgency and hope while remaining accountable to Christ in the present (Titus 2:11–14; Heb. 9:27–28).
This age is marked by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as the gift of the reigning Christ to his people. Peter explained Pentecost as the fulfillment of God’s promise to pour out his Spirit, identifying the Spirit’s presence as a defining feature of this age (Joel 2:28–32; Acts 2:16–18). He stated that the exalted Jesus received the promised Spirit from the Father and poured him out, tying the Spirit’s gift directly to Christ’s reign (Acts 2:33). Jesus promised that the Spirit would empower his witnesses, connecting the Spirit’s work to obedience and mission under Christ’s authority (Acts 1:8). Paul taught that believers are sealed with the Spirit as a pledge of their inheritance, anchoring present life in God’s promised future (Eph. 1:13–14; 2 Cor. 1:21–22). The Spirit therefore applies and empowers obedience to Christ rather than introducing a separate or competing authority (John 16:13–15; Rom. 8:12–14).
This age is the time of gathering a people for God from all nations under the reign of Christ. Jesus declared that all authority had been given to him and commanded his disciples to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18–20). The apostles proclaimed repentance and forgiveness of sins in Jesus’s name to the nations, beginning from Jerusalem (Luke 24:46–49; Acts 1:8). Paul and Barnabas described their ministry to the Gentiles as obedience to God’s purpose that salvation would reach the ends of the earth (Isa. 49:6; Acts 13:46–48). The New Testament presents the inclusion of Jew and Gentile in one people as part of God’s revealed plan in Christ (Eph. 2:11–22; Eph. 3:4–6). The church therefore participates in God’s saving purpose among the nations as a normal feature of this age (Rev. 5:9–10; Rev. 7:9–10).
This age continues until Christ returns, and church life is ordered under his authority throughout it. Luke described early believers as devoted to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer, presenting a stable pattern of life under apostolic instruction (Acts 2:42). The apostles addressed churches as communities accountable to Christ and called them to hold fast to what they had received (1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 2:15). Paul taught that all Scripture is God-breathed and equips God’s people for every good work, grounding obedience in God’s Word (2 Tim. 3:16–17). Churches were exhorted to remain faithful until the end, assuming continuity of Christ’s authority throughout this age (Rev. 2:25; Rev. 3:11). Cultural expression may vary, but Christ’s authority, message, and mission remain fixed (1 Cor. 9:19–23; 1 Cor. 14:26, 40).
Jesus’s resurrection and exaltation established the time in which the church now lives. The Spirit’s outpouring and the gathering of the nations belong to the same reality. Until Christ returns, the church lives under his present authority and is called to faithful obedience.
In This Age, God Governs His Church through Christ, by the Spirit, through Apostolic Scripture
God’s authority over the church is revealed in Scripture with clarity and order. God rules through the risen Christ, works by the Spirit, and governs the church through apostolic teaching preserved in Scripture. The church lives by receiving this authority rather than producing it.
God governs his church through the risen and reigning Christ as head over the church. The Father placed all things under the Son and gave him as head over the church, establishing Christ as the governing authority of church life (Eph. 1:22–23). Paul identified Christ as the head of the body, locating direction and life in him rather than in human initiative (Col. 1:18). Jesus declared that all authority had been given to him and commissioned disciple-making under that authority (Matt. 28:18–20). The New Testament presents Christ as the one who builds and oversees the church, emphasizing divine ownership and rule (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28). God’s governance therefore remains personal and Christ-centered rather than abstract or delegated to human control (Rom. 14:9; 1 Cor. 6:19–20).
The Holy Spirit empowers and applies Christ’s rule in ordered relation to Christ and his authorized word. Jesus promised that the Spirit would teach the apostles and remind them of his words, linking the Spirit’s work to Christ’s instruction (John 14:26). Jesus stated that the Spirit would glorify him by declaring what belongs to him, establishing an explicit order of authority (John 16:13–15). Luke described the Spirit as empowering witness to Christ rather than replacing testimony about Christ (Acts 1:8; Acts 4:31–33). Paul taught that walking by the Spirit puts sin to death and produces obedience consistent with God’s will (Rom. 8:13–14; Gal. 5:16–23). The Spirit’s work therefore strengthens confession, holiness, and endurance in alignment with apostolic teaching (1 Cor. 12:3; 2 Thess. 2:13–15).
The risen Jesus appointed apostles as his authorized witnesses and teachers for the foundation and instruction of the church. After his resurrection, Jesus commissioned apostles to bear witness to his life, death, and resurrection, defining their role as authorized testimony (Luke 24:46–48; Acts 1:21–22). Luke emphasized their appointment to testify to the resurrection, tying apostolic authority to Christ’s saving work (Acts 2:32; Acts 4:33). Paul described the church as built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, indicating a foundational role rather than a continuing office reproduced in later generations (Eph. 2:20). Jesus promised the Spirit to the apostles so their witness would be empowered according to his authorization (John 15:26–27; Acts 1:8). The church therefore receives apostolic teaching as a gift from the risen Lord for truth, stability, and faithful instruction (Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 3:15).
The apostolic witness was preserved in Scripture so the church would be governed by stable and enduring authority. Paul instructed churches to hold to the instruction they received by spoken word and by letter, showing recognized forms of apostolic transmission (2 Thess. 2:15). Peter wrote to remind believers of the words spoken by the prophets and the command of the Lord through the apostles, placing apostolic teaching within Scripture-shaped remembrance (2 Pet. 3:1–2). Luke presented devotion to the apostles’ teaching as a defining feature of church life, implying identifiable content and authority (Acts 2:42). Paul taught that Scripture is God-breathed and sufficient to equip for every good work, grounding governance in the written Word (2 Tim. 3:15–17). The church therefore treats apostolic Scripture as living authority for doctrine and obedience rather than an optional source (1 Thess. 2:13; Jude 3).
Because God governs through apostolic Scripture, the church receives its mission and message rather than inventing them. Paul insisted that the gospel he proclaimed came through revelation of Jesus Christ rather than human origin (Gal. 1:11–12). He summarized the gospel as the message of first importance centered on Christ’s death and resurrection, identifying a fixed proclamation to be guarded (1 Cor. 15:1–4). Churches were charged to guard the good deposit entrusted to them, treating doctrine as a trust under God’s authority (2 Tim. 1:13–14). The New Testament warned against different gospels and false confessions of Jesus, establishing boundaries for faithfulness (Gal. 1:6–9; 1 John 4:1–3). Faithfulness therefore consists in receiving, holding fast, and obeying what God has given through the apostles while relying on the Spirit for endurance (Acts 20:32; Col. 3:16; 2 Thess. 2:13–15).
God’s governance in the present age is clear and ordered. Christ rules as head of the church, the Spirit empowers obedience, and apostolic Scripture functions as the governing norm. The church lives faithfully by receiving this authority and submitting to it together.
When Scripture Is Affirmed but Not Functionally Ordered, Other Authorities Take Its Place
Scripture itself warns that confessing God’s word without submitting to its governing role leads to instability. The apostles addressed churches that affirmed the truth yet drifted in obedience and judgment. God’s word does not merely inform the church but is meant to rule it.
Scripture can be confessed as true while losing its governing role in the life of the church. Paul warned that people may turn from sound teaching while still desiring religious instruction, showing that affirmation and obedience can diverge (2 Tim. 4:3–4). James taught that hearing the word without doing it results in self-deception rather than faithfulness (Jas. 1:22–25). Jesus rebuked those who honored God with their lips while their hearts remained far from obedience to God’s word (Isa. 29:13; Matt. 15:7–9). The prophets repeatedly confronted Israel for possessing God’s law while refusing to walk according to it (Jer. 7:8–10; Ezek. 33:30–32). Scripture therefore assumes that truth must govern practice or it will be functionally displaced.
When Scripture does not govern clearly, churches become vulnerable to replacement authorities. The apostles warned that false teachers and deceptive voices would arise from within the church, drawing disciples away after themselves (Acts 20:29–30). Paul described believers as unstable when they are not anchored in mature teaching, leaving them exposed to every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14). Jesus cautioned that human tradition can nullify the word of God when it is allowed to function as a controlling authority (Mark 7:8–13). Colossians warned against being taken captive by teachings that appear wise but are not rooted in Christ (Col. 2:6–8). Scripture presents authority displacement as a real and ongoing danger for God’s people.
The apostles treated loss of scriptural governance as a spiritual and pastoral crisis. Paul wept over those who lived as enemies of the cross, even while remaining within the visible community (Phil. 3:18–19). He confronted churches that tolerated disorder and false teaching rather than submitting to the truth they had received (1 Cor. 5:1–7; Gal. 1:6–9). The letters to the churches in Revelation addressed communities that maintained outward faith while compromising obedience and discernment (Rev. 2:2–5; Rev. 3:1–3). The apostles did not treat such drift as a minor issue but as a threat to faithfulness and endurance. Scripture presents loss of governance as endangering both truth and life.
Functional loss of scriptural authority leads to instability in doctrine, life, and mission. Paul warned Timothy that deviation from sound teaching leads to disputes, division, and corruption of character (1 Tim. 6:3–5). Hebrews described believers who failed to mature as unskilled in the word of righteousness and vulnerable to falling away (Heb. 5:11–14; Heb. 3:12–14). Jesus taught that those who hear his words and do not act on them build on an unstable foundation (Matt. 7:26–27). The New Testament consistently connects endurance and fruitfulness to obedience to God’s word (John 15:7–10; Col. 1:9–11). Stability in mission flows from submission to truth, not from activity alone.
Scripture presents obedience to God’s word as the only stable source of authority for the church. Jesus declared that his disciples are those who remain in his word, which marks true freedom and faithfulness (John 8:31–32). Paul entrusted the church to God and to the word of his grace as the means by which believers are built up and preserved (Acts 20:32). The psalms describe God’s word as a lamp and guide for faithful living (Ps. 119:105). The apostles consistently called churches back to what they had received rather than forward to new authorization (2 Thess. 2:15; Jude 3). Scripture alone is presented as sufficient to govern belief, obedience, and endurance.
Loss of scriptural governance never leaves a vacuum unfilled. When God’s word does not rule, other authorities inevitably shape judgment and practice. Faithfulness requires Scripture to function not only as truth affirmed but as authority obeyed.
What We Are Saying—and Not Saying—about This Age
Clarity about the apostolic age requires both affirmation and denial. Scripture itself establishes boundaries to protect the church from confusion, false authority, and misplaced expectations. These distinctions guard the church from importing assumptions not warranted by God’s word.
The New Testament presents the apostolic age as the period of Christ’s present reign until his return. Peter proclaimed that Jesus is exalted at God’s right hand and reigns as Lord and Messiah (Acts 2:32–36). Paul taught that Christ must reign until all enemies are placed under his feet, with death destroyed at his return (1 Cor. 15:25–26). Hebrews described the present as the time when believers see Jesus crowned with glory and honor, even as they await full restoration (Heb. 2:8–9). The New Testament consistently treats Christ’s reign as active and ongoing rather than postponed (Eph. 1:20–23; Col. 2:9–10). This age is therefore defined by Christ’s authority, not by its absence.
The apostles are presented as a distinct, foundational group appointed by the risen Jesus. The apostles were chosen by Jesus and commissioned as witnesses of his resurrection (Luke 6:12–16; Acts 1:21–22). Their role is described as foundational for the church, not as an office repeated in each generation (Eph. 2:20). Paul distinguished his own apostleship as one granted by the risen Christ, not by human appointment (Gal. 1:1). The New Testament does not instruct churches to seek new apostles with equivalent authority. Apostolic authority is therefore tied to Christ’s commissioning and witness to his saving work.
The authority of the apostles continues through their teaching preserved in Scripture, not through the continuation of their office. Paul instructed churches to hold fast to the teaching they received from the apostles, whether by word or by letter (2 Thess. 2:15). Peter placed apostolic commands alongside the words of the prophets as authoritative instruction for the church (2 Pet. 3:1–2). Jude described the faith as once delivered to the saints, emphasizing preservation rather than expansion (Jude 3). Scripture presents continuity of authority through transmission of teaching, not reproduction of office. The church therefore submits to apostolic authority by obeying Scripture.
The Spirit empowers obedience to Christ rather than authorizing teaching detached from apostolic Scripture. Jesus taught that the Spirit would glorify him by declaring what belongs to him (John 16:13–15). Paul warned that spiritual claims must be tested by confession of Jesus according to the truth already received (1 Cor. 12:3; 1 John 4:1–3). The Spirit’s work is consistently associated with holiness, endurance, and faithfulness rather than novelty (Gal. 5:16–24; 2 Thess. 2:13–15). Scripture never presents the Spirit as leading the church beyond the apostolic gospel. The Spirit’s power serves Christ’s authority rather than replacing it.
The church is called to submit to the authority already established rather than to construct new governing frameworks. Jesus rebuked attempts to elevate human authority above God’s command (Matt. 15:3–6). Paul rejected any gospel that altered what had been delivered, even when it appeared persuasive or powerful (Gal. 1:6–9). The apostles charged churches to guard what was entrusted to them rather than to redefine it (2 Tim. 1:13–14). Scripture presents faithfulness as obedience to what God has given, not creativity in establishing authority. The church’s task is submission, not reinvention.
Clarity about the apostolic age protects the church from confusion and false authority. Scripture defines both what is affirmed and what is denied so that Christ’s rule remains clear. These boundaries preserve humility, obedience, and endurance under the reign of Jesus.
This Framework Prepares the Way for Apostolic Alignment
Understanding the time the church lives in establishes the conditions for faithful judgment. Scripture connects clarity about Christ’s reign and apostolic authority to obedience in the present. Alignment depends on recognizing the authority structure God has already established.
Without clarity about the age the church lives in, Scripture is easily misread or selectively applied. The apostles warned that ignorance of God’s purposes leads to unstable interpretation and distorted practice (2 Pet. 3:16). Paul taught that Scripture must be handled rightly so that God’s people are not led astray (2 Tim. 2:15). Jesus rebuked those who knew the Scriptures yet failed to understand what God was doing in their time (Matt. 22:29). The New Testament presents misunderstanding of God’s timing as a cause of error and confusion (Rom. 11:25; Luke 19:41–44). Right reading depends on recognizing the period inaugurated by Christ’s resurrection.
Without clarity about how authority functions, leaders substitute strategy, technique, or tradition for obedience. Paul warned against relying on human wisdom rather than God’s power and word (1 Cor. 2:1–5). Jesus confronted leaders who elevated human tradition above God’s command (Mark 7:8–13). The apostles charged overseers to guard doctrine and life together rather than manage outcomes (Acts 20:28–31). Scripture presents leadership as accountable to Christ’s word, not to effectiveness alone (1 Tim. 4:16; Titus 1:9). Authority confusion therefore leads to misdirected leadership.
Apostolic alignment is obedience in the present, not imitation of the past. Paul urged churches to imitate him insofar as he followed Christ, not to reproduce circumstances but to share in faithful obedience (1 Cor. 11:1). The New Testament consistently applies apostolic teaching to new contexts without treating culture or circumstance as determinative (Acts 15:19–21; 1 Cor. 7:17). Scripture presents continuity of authority alongside diversity of application (Rom. 12:4–8; 1 Cor. 12:4–6). Alignment therefore concerns submission to Christ’s rule rather than historical reconstruction. Faithfulness is measured by obedience to the apostolic word.
The apostles treated alignment with their teaching as essential to unity, holiness, and endurance. Paul appealed to churches to agree in the same mind and judgment according to what they had been taught (1 Cor. 1:10; Phil. 2:1–2). He warned that deviation from sound teaching leads to division and instability (1 Tim. 6:3–5). Hebrews connected perseverance in faith to holding fast to the confession received (Heb. 3:12–14). The New Testament presents alignment with apostolic teaching as necessary for long-term faithfulness. Unity flows from shared submission, not shared preference.
This framework establishes the necessary foundation for evaluating ministry, leadership, and practice. Paul described the apostolic message as the standard by which teaching and practice must be measured (Gal. 1:8–9). Churches were instructed to test what they heard and hold fast to what was good (1 Thess. 5:21). Scripture presents discernment as a communal responsibility under God’s word (Heb. 13:7; 1 John 4:1). Clear authority provides the basis for evaluation without coercion or confusion. Alignment begins with recognizing what governs.
Clarity about the apostolic age prepares the church for faithful alignment. Authority is located in Christ’s reign and mediated through apostolic Scripture. Submission to that authority makes obedience possible across cultures and generations.
Implications for Churches and Church Networks
Scripture connects clarity about authority to responsibility in leadership and community life. The apostles addressed churches not only to inform them but to shape judgment and obedience. These implications arise directly from the authority structure already established.
Churches must recover a shared, functional reading of Scripture rather than relying on agreement alone. The early churches devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching as a shared practice, not merely a confessed belief (Acts 2:42). Paul instructed churches to let the word of Christ dwell richly among them, shaping teaching, correction, and worship (Col. 3:16). Scripture assumes communal submission rather than private interpretation as the norm for church life (Heb. 3:12–13). Agreement without obedience leaves authority undefined (Jas. 1:22–25). Scripture calls churches to live under the word together.
Leaders are accountable to submit to apostolic Scripture before exercising gifts, roles, or influence. Paul charged overseers to guard doctrine and life carefully because leadership affects the whole church (Acts 20:28–31). Timothy was instructed to watch both his teaching and conduct, tying authority to submission (1 Tim. 4:16). Scripture warns against teachers who speak confidently without grounding in truth (Jas. 3:1; 2 Pet. 2:1). Leadership authority flows from faithfulness to God’s word, not from ability alone. Scripture places responsibility before influence.
Practices and priorities must be evaluated by apostolic norms rather than cultural success. Paul rejected measuring ministry by outward appearance or immediate results (2 Cor. 4:1–2). Churches were warned against judging by human standards rather than God’s approval (1 Cor. 4:1–5). Scripture presents faithfulness as obedience to what was entrusted, not expansion by any means (Luke 16:10–12). Cultural effectiveness does not replace apostolic authority. Evaluation must remain tethered to Scripture.
Churches must refuse to protect teaching or practice that cannot be justified from apostolic Scripture. The apostles instructed churches to reject false teaching even when it appeared persuasive or sincere (Gal. 1:6–9). Paul warned that tolerating error undermines the health of the whole body (1 Cor. 5:6–7). Scripture presents discernment and correction as acts of love and faithfulness (Titus 1:9; Rev. 2:2). Protection of error compromises obedience. Faithfulness requires clarity and courage.
Endurance and unity depend on sustained submission to Christ’s governing word. The New Testament connects perseverance to holding fast to the truth received (Heb. 10:23; 2 Thess. 2:15). Paul described maturity as stability rooted in truth rather than susceptibility to deception (Eph. 4:13–14). Jesus taught that abiding in his word produces lasting fruit (John 15:7–10). Unity grows where authority is shared and submission is practiced. Endurance flows from obedience under Christ’s reign.
Churches and networks live faithfully by recognizing who governs them. Christ rules as Lord, the Spirit empowers obedience, and apostolic Scripture defines authority. Responsibility follows clarity, and faithfulness requires submission rather than reinvention.
Conclusion: Living Faithfully Under Christ’s Present Reign
The resurrection and exaltation of Jesus established the time in which the church now lives. Christ reigns as Lord, the Spirit is given to empower obedience, and the apostolic witness preserved in Scripture governs belief, life, and mission. This age is not undefined or transitional in its authority. It is the period in which God calls his people to hear, obey, and endure under the rule of the risen Son while awaiting his return.
Clarity about this age restores Scripture’s governing function in the life of the church. When authority is rightly ordered, the church no longer treats obedience as optional or direction as self-generated. Instead, leaders and congregations receive their message, mission, and manner of life from what God has already given. Faithfulness is measured not by innovation or effectiveness alone, but by submission to Christ’s word as it has been delivered through the apostles.
Living under Christ’s present reign requires humility, vigilance, and perseverance. The church is called to remain devoted to the apostolic teaching, to depend on the Spirit for obedience, and to endure in hope until Christ appears. By recognizing the time God has established and the authority he has provided, the church is freed to walk steadily, guard the truth, and carry out its calling with confidence and faithfulness.
Questions for Reflection and Action
Understanding the Time We Live In: How does recognizing the period between Christ’s resurrection and return clarify what Scripture is meant to govern in the life of the church today?
Authority and Obedience: Where have assumptions, habits, or inherited practices functioned as governing authorities instead of apostolic Scripture, and what would submission look like in concrete terms?
Alignment and Endurance: What steps are necessary for leaders and churches to order their decisions, teaching, and shared life more deliberately under the authority Christ has already established?