It's important to keep in mind that Jesus is The Vine and we are his branches. I am not to be connected to a branch that is connected to another branch that is connected to Jesus, but I am the branch connected to him directly via Holy Spirit. He did not set up a hierarchical system of getting to him through popes and bishops, not even through apostles and prophets. These are functional positions that serve the body of Christ, but they are not the head or the avenue to the Head. Aren't you glad that Jesus went to heaven so that he could send the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and even fill us. Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV [11] So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, [12] to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. [14] Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. [15] Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. [16] From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Posted by michaelambrosia at 2024-12-16 17:19:29 UTC