The Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles

The Lord left his apostles with instructions and with great gifts. The instructions are listed in several distinct places, but the the gifts are more scattered, both in the four gospels and in the book of Acts later, being given as the apostles needed them.

First, about the apostles... just to clarify, here I'm referring to "the disciples" as including anyone who has followed along to hear the Lord, and "the apostles" to mean the twelve men that the Lord recruited specifically, as listed in Matthew 10, Mark 3, and Luke 6.

Who were the apostles? From the lists in Matthew and Mark, which are the same, we have: Simon (Peter), James and John the sons of Zebedee, Andrew (Peter’s brother), Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew (the publican), Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, (as is Matthew, so they are brothers, too), Thaddeus, (also known as Libbeus), Simon the Canaanite (also called Simon the Zealot), and Judas Iscariot. Bartholomew is almost undoubtedly another name for Nathaniel, see John 1. The list in Luke includes another Judas, "Judas the brother of James" and doesn’t have Thaddeus.

The stories of how they were individually chosen differ, especially in the gospel of John, but that these twelve were appointed by the Lord is clear. A point of interest is that - other than Simon the Canaanite and Judas Iscariot they are all from towns around the sea of Galilee - and perhaps those two are as well. These twelve have their names inscribed on the twelve foundations of the walls of the holy city New Jerusalem, in Revelation 21:14 in which there are also the twelve gates. These men were chosen to represent all the different states of the natural human being that can be receptive of the Lord. They are from Galilee because Galilee represents that natural state of the human mind. The number twelve in the Word represents all possible states of mankind.

What is indicated here is that all people, everywhere, can be saved or regenerated if they repent and turn to the Lord in their lives. No one is "outside" of His reach. We are born natural, everyone is, but we are so formed that our minds can be raised to what is higher, called spiritual for our conceptions of Divine truth, or Celestial for our perceptions of Divine good. But we all start in a natural state and can only move upward by listening to the Lord’s teachings in His Word, and following Him as those Apostles did.

Not all of our natural states are states of good; they can be selfish, domineering, and cruel. But the Lord said that He came "not to save the just but to call sinners to repentance". Perhaps this is why Simon the Canaanite and Judas were two that He called. Simon is little known, but in some places in the Word, "Canaan signifies an external worship without a true internal worship". (See Arcana Coelestia 1060). Can the Lord work with that - with external worship that's internally barren? Yes, as a starting point. And, even Judas, who betrayed the Lord so terribly, we are told, repented of his betrayal of the Lord. (Matthew 27:3-5)

The Lord's Instructions to the Apostles

The two most comprehensive sets of instructions are in Luke 10:1-17 where seventy Disciples are sent out two by two, apparently to a specified list of cities that Jesus intends to visit, and then in Matthew 20:1-19 where the chosen twelve Apostles are sent out to all Israel. Later, as recorded in different epistles, the Apostles go out further, through a wide region.

The basic instructions were to preach that the kingdom of heaven is near, that all should be led to repent of their sins, and that all who wish should be baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The Apostles should not take any money or extra clothing along, and they were to depend entirely on the Lord’s providence with no doubt that they shall be welcomed, fed, and sheltered. If they were welcomed, they should stay and preach the good news about the risen Lord and His teachings, and if they were not, they should shake from their feet the dust of that place and go on to a place where they were welcome. See Matthew 10, 28, Mark 13, 16, Luke 9, 10:24.

There are several assurances for the twelve. The Lord has told them to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit is sent to strengthen them, and in John 20 where the ten are gathered it is said that He breathed on them and said, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit". Also, in his long talk with them in John 14, 15, 16) He assures them that his crucifixion and death are necessary to his mission and they should even rejoice that it is coming. He shows them from scripture that it has all been prophesied from long ago, (see Mark 4:34) and that what seems to them a tragedy, is truly His glorification and the end of the work He came to do. They, His twelve, are in the same steam of providence and will be protected. "Don’t be anxious," He tells them, "I will put into your mouths what you are to say, I will bring into your memories the incidents to tell to the people".

Here is a listing of the chapters and verses in John where such things are said: John 14:1-3, 10, 16-18, 26-28, 15:11, 16, 26-27, 16:7, 13-15, 22, 26-27, 33. Or simply read the three chapters and pick out your favorites.

A marvelous gift is mentioned in Matthew 10:13, "But blessed are your eyes for they see and blessed are your ears, for they hear…".

In the book of Acts, the Lord vividly shows the apostles that when they speak in their Galileen dialect every listener will hear their words as his own language in his ears; not gibberish, but Arabic to the Arabs, Greek to the Greeks, and Latin to the Romans.

When Peter starts to preach to a gathering of sympathetic Jews he speaks clearly and unafraid, saying that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God and that people should worship Him openly and repent of how they might have felt earlier. Peter’s talk in Acts 3 and 4 is a bold and powerful one. No more hiding behind locked doors.

The early history of the Christian church shows just how well all this worked out. You know what? The Apostles preached to the peoples in the Near East 2000 years ago, and their preaching is just as relevant today as it was then: "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Being at hand has nothing to do with the date or the state of political history in the world, it has to do with the inside of your mind. The Lord is just as close to you now as He was then, and He never turns away, though we might turn away from him. Remember that He said "behold I stand at the door and knock and if anyone hears and opens the door He will come right in." This hasn’t changed nor will it ever change, but He leaves us in freedom to ignore His knocking, if that is what we want. We have to make the choice, but He is always ready if we choose to open the door.

250. And open the door. That this signifies reception in the heart or life is evident from the signification of opening the door, as being to let in, for by the door is signified letting in (as may be seen above, n. 208). Here, however, by opening the door is signified reception in the heart or life, for it follows, "and I will come in to him." It is said, if any man open the door, as if man opened it, when, nevertheless, it is the Lord Himself who opens, according to what was said and shown above (n. 248). But it is thus said, because it appears so to man, from the free-will given him by the Lord; and, moreover, in the sense of the letter of the Word, many things are spoken according to appearances; but these are put off in heaven, where the internal or spiritual sense of the Word is. The sense of the letter of the Word is in many places according to appearances, in order that it may serve for a basis to the spiritual sense; otherwise there would be no basis or foundation to that sense. That many things are said in the Word according to appearances is evident from this one fact, that in the Word it is said that evil is from God; that wrath, anger and revenge are in God, and other similar things; although God does evil to no one; nor is there any anger or revenge in Him, for He is good itself, and love itself; but because it so appears to man when he does evil and is punished, therefore, in the sense of the letter, it is so said; but still it is otherwise understood in the spiritual sense of the Word. The case is the same with this expression, "If any man open the door."

[2] It shall now be further explained what is meant by opening the door, when it is said to be done by man, as in the present instance. The case is this; the Lord is always present with the good and truth which a man has, and endeavours to open his spiritual mind, which is the door that the Lord desires to open, and impart to him celestial love and faith; for He says, "I stand at the door and knock"; but this endeavour, or this perpetual will of the Lord, is not perceived by man, for he thinks that he does good of himself, and that the endeavour or will is his own. It is sufficient in this case, that he should acknowledge from the doctrine of the church that all good is from God, and nothing from himself. The reason why this is not perceived by man is that there may be reception on the part of man, and by reception appropriation, for otherwise man cannot be reformed.

[3] It is clear, therefore, how greatly those are mistaken who hold the doctrine of faith alone; for they say and believe that faith saves and not the good of life, or that man is justified by faith alone, thus shutting out his application to receive. They know, indeed, that man must examine himself, must see and acknowledge the evils, not only of his works but also of his thoughts and intentions, and that afterwards he must abstain from, and shun them, and live a new life, which must be a life of good, and that unless he does there can be no remission, but damnation. The doctors and rulers of the church teach this when they preach from the Word; and they teach this, as from faith, to everyone when he approaches the Holy Supper; but as soon as they return, and look to the doctrine of justification by faith alone, they no longer believe those things, but say that all are led from evil to good by God after they have received faith; and some, as they connect false principles with truths, say that after a man is justified by faith, he is also led by God to examine himself, and confess his sins before God, to abstain from them, and so on.

But this is the case with no one who believes in justification by faith alone, but with those who live the life of charity; by this life a man is conjoined with heaven, but not by the life of the doctrine of justification by faith alone.

He who is conjoined with heaven by the life of charity is led by the Lord to see his evils, both the evils of his thought and those of his will: a man sees evil from good, because evil is the opposite of good; but he who believes in salvation by faith alone says in his heart, "I have faith, because I believe the things that are said; nothing condemns me, I am justified"; and he who thus believes cannot be led by the Lord to examine himself and to repent of his evils. To this extent they teach truths before the people, who thence believe that to live well and believe aright are meant by being justified by faith, nor do they look deeper into the arcana of their doctrine. The latter are saved, but the former condemned. That these are in a state of condemnation they themselves may see if they will, for they believe from doctrine that the goods of life, which are works, contribute nothing to salvation, but faith alone, although works consist in abstaining from evils and living a new life, without which there is condemnation.

[4] That the preachings that are not from the arcana of their doctrine teach these things, and also the prayers received in the church, is evident from what is read before all the people who approach the altar to partake of the Sacrament of the Supper, which shall be here quoted in the language in which it is written: "The way and means to be received as worthy partakers of the Holy Table is, first, to examine your lives and conversations by the rule of God's commandments; and whereinsoever ye shall perceive yourselves to have offended, either by will, word or deed, there to bewail your own sinfulness, and to confess yourselves to Almighty God, with full purpose of amendment of life. And if ye shall perceive your offences to be such as are not only against God, but also against your neighbours, then ye shall reconcile yourselves unto them; being ready to make restitution and satisfaction, according to the uttermost of your power, for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other; and being likewise ready to forgive others that have offended you, as ye would have forgiveness of your offences at God's hand; for otherwise the receiving of the Holy Communion doth nothing else but increase your damnation. Therefore if any of you be a blasphemer of God, a hinderer or slanderer of His Word, an adulterer, or be in malice or envy, or in any other grievous crime, repent you of your sins, or else come not to that Holy Table; lest after the taking of that Holy Sacrament the devil enter into you, as he entered into Judas, and fill you fall of all iniquities, and bring you to destruction both of body and soul. . . . Judge therefore yourselves, brethren, that ye be not judged of the Lord; repent you truly for your sins past; have a lively and stedfast faith in Christ our Saviour; amend your lives, and be in perfect charity with all men. . . . Ye that do truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to live a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking henceforth in His holy ways; draw near with faith, and take this Holy Sacrament to your comfort, and make your humble confession to Almighty God."

[5] From these words it may now be seen that the doctors and rulers of the church know, and yet do not know, that this way is the way to heaven, and not the way of faith without this; they know when they pray and preach before the people according to what is here adduced, but they do not know when they teach from their doctrine. The former way they call practical religion, but the latter the Christian religion; the former they believe to be for the simple, but the latter for the wise. However, I can assert that those who live according to the doctrine of faith alone and justification thereby have no spiritual faith at all, and that after their life in this world they come into damnation; but those who live according to the doctrine adduced from the above exhortations have spiritual faith, and after their life in this world come into heaven. This also perfectly agrees with the faith received throughout the Christian world, which is called the Athanasian faith, in the public confession of which are these words concerning the Lord; "At whose coming all men shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. This is the Catholic faith."

[6] That these things are in perfect agreement with the Word is evident from the following passages:

"The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works" (Matthew 16:27).

"They that have done good, shall go forth unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:28, 29).

"Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; their works do follow them" (Apoc. 14:13).

"I will give unto every one of you according to his works" (Apoc. 2:23).

"I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. The sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works" (Apoc. 20:12, 13).

"Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according to his works" (Apoc. 22:12).

In what is written to the seven churches, it is also said to each of them, "I know thy works." Thus:

"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand; I know thy works" (Apoc. 2:1, 2).

"Unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write, These things saith the first and the last, I know thy works (Apoc. 2:8, 9).

"Unto the angel of the church in Pergamos write, These things saith he that hath the sharp sword with two edges: I know thy works" (verses 12, 13).

"Unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write, These things saith the Son of God; I know thy works and charity" (verses 18, 19).

"Unto the angel of the church in Sardis write, These things saith he that hath the seven spirits of God; I know thy works" (chap. 3:1).

"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, These things saith he that is holy, he that is true; I know thy works" (verses 7, 8).

"Unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness; I know thy works" (verses 14, 15).

In Jeremiah:

"And I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their hands" (25:14).

Again:

O Jehovah, "thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men; to give everyone according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings" (32:19).

In Hosea:

"I will visit upon his ways, and reward him for his works (4:9).

In Zechariah:

"Jehovah deals with us according to our ways, and according to our doings" (Zechariah 1:6).

Also in the following passages.

In John:

"If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them" (13:17).

In Luke:

"Why call ye me, Lord, and do not the things that I say?" (6:46).

In Matthew:

"But whosoever doeth and shall teach, shall be called great in the kingdom of the heaven" (5:19).

Again:

"Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in the heavens. Whosoever heareth my words and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man. But whosoever heareth my words and doeth them not, I will liken unto a foolish man" (7:19-27).

Again:

"He that received seed into the good ground, is he that heareth the Word and understandeth it, which beareth fruit and bringeth forth" (13:23).

In Mark:

These are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the Word and receive it, and bring forth fruit" (4:20).

In Luke:

"The seed that fell into the good ground are they which, in an honest and good heart, hear the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit" (8:15).

When the Lord had said these things, He cried, saying, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Matthew 13:9; Mark 4:9; Luke 8:8). In Matthew:

"Thou shalt love the Lord [thy] God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang the law and the prophets" (22:37-40).

By the law and the prophets is meant the Word in its whole content.

[7] That to love the Lord God is to do His words or precepts He Himself teaches in John,

"He that loveth me, keepeth my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not, keepeth not my sayings" (14:21, 23, 24).

So also in Matthew, the Lord declared that He will say to the goats on the left hand, that they should go into everlasting fire, and to the sheep on the right hand, that they should go into life eternal (25:31-46). That by the goats are meant those who do not do the goods of charity, and by the sheep those who do, is evident from the words there; both said that they knew not that to do good to their neighbour was to do it to the Lord; but they are instructed, if not before, yet at the day of judgment, that to do good is to love the Lord. By the five foolish virgins who took no oil in their lamps are also meant those who are in faith and not in the good of charity; and by the five wise virgins who took oil in their lamps are meant those who are also in the good of charity; for lamps signify faith, and oil signifies the good of charity. Concerning the latter, it is said that "they went into the marriage," but of the former, who said, “Lord, Lord, open to us," that they received this answer, Verily, I say unto you, I know you not" (Matthew 25:1-12). That in the last time of the church there would be no faith in the Lord, because no charity, is signified where it is written

That Peter denied the Lord thrice, before the cock crew (Matthew 26:34, 69-74).

The same is signified by the Lord's saying to Peter, when Peter saw John follow the Lord,

"What is that to thee" Peter? "follow thou me" John; for Peter had said concerning John,

"What is this man?" (John 21:21, 22).

Peter, in a representative sense, signifies faith, and John the good of charity; therefore he leaned on the breast of the Lord (John 21:20).

[8] That this good constitutes the church is signified by the words of the Lord from the cross to John:

"Jesus saw his mother and the disciple standing by whom he loved; he said unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then said he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home" (John 19:26, 27).

By mother and woman is here meant the church, and by John the good of charity, and thus by those words is signified that the church will exist where the good of charity is. (But these things may be seen more fully explained in the passages quoted in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 122. And, moreover, that there is no faith where there is no charity, may be seen in the small work, The Last Judgment 33-39. And that man after death is such as his life was in the world, and not such as his faith was, may be seen in the work, Heaven and Hell 470-484. Also what charity is, and what faith is, in its essence, may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 84-122.)

[9] From what has been adduced consider whether to have faith is anything else than to live it; and whether to live according to it is not only to know and think, but also to will and do. For faith is not in a man while it is only in his knowledge and thought, but when it is also in his will and in his actions. Faith in man is faith of the life, but faith not yet in man is faith of the memory and of thought therefrom. By faith of the life is meant believing in God; but to believe those things that are from God, and not to believe in God, is mere historical faith, which is not saving. Who that is a true priest and good pastor does not desire that men should live well? and who does not know that the faith of knowledges, obtained from hearsay, is not faith of the life, but historical faith?

[10] Faith of the life is the faith of charity, for charity is life.

But although the case is thus clear, yet I foresee that those who have confirmed themselves in the doctrine of faith alone and justification thereby, will not give it up, because of their connecting falsities with truths; for they teach truths when they teach from the Word, but they teach falsities when they teach from doctrine; and hence they confound those things by saying that the fruits of faith are the goods of life and that these follow from faith, and yet that the goods of life contribute nothing to salvation, but faith alone. Thus do they unite and disunite things; and when they unite them they teach truths, but only before the people, who do not know that they invert matters, and say these things from necessity, in order to make their doctrine agree with the Word; but when they disunite them they teach falsities, for they say that faith saves, and not the goods of charity, which are works, in this case not knowing that charity and faith act as one, and that charity consists in acting well and faith in believing well, and that to believe well without acting well is impossible, thus that there can be no faith without charity; then charity is the esse of faith, and its soul, hence that faith alone is faith without a soul, and thus a dead faith; and because such faith is not faith, therefore justification by it is a mere non-entity.