The Prophet Is Necessary ...

LISTING #8.  RELEVANT TO YOU - UNNOTICED?
      continuation from 7

It is true that without the prophets their is no Church "so long as it is realized that the name prophet means he who like the apostles experienced glorification; thus whether they are called prophets or fathers of the Church is secondary[3]."
      Has there been a time when we have seen the last remaining prophet of the Church since the time of Christ until now? No. Will there come a time when there is no New Testament Prophet on earth? Will the Lord find Faith on the earth when He returns?

"Since it would be safe to assume that the prophet was in Paul's mind a necessary part of the structure of the Body Of Christ (Eph. 2:19-22; 3:5-6; 4:11- 13; I Cor. 12.28), being an essential part of its foundation, along with the apostles, it would also seem to follow that without them there is no Church[2]."
      There is a time in the training for the Faith, perhaps around baptism, or under the hand of a Church teacher, when a Christian moves from the tutelage of the 'law' to the 'Spirit'. It is also possible to fake this reality among any that have not the gift of discernment.

"That 'children under the law' should prophesy or theologize would indeed be a ridiculous idea to Paul as it was to the Fathers in their confrontation with laymen or heretics who pretended to be theologians[4]."
      Now with regard to this distinction (under law) within Christianity, the individual inwardly experiences the dispensation of the law and its relations to the cross of Christ. Once one is guided to participation in purification with the expected evidence, a new level in the Faith is experienced.

If "it is they with unceasing prayer, who see by means of a mirror dimly and 'know yet in part and prophesy in part' (I Cor. 13:12); then, the rest of those who believe in Christ are children under the law[2]."
      Theology, which is the true word on God, can be a verb and is prophecy itself. When we practice, receive, and know unceasing prayer; we know in part. This is an important opening of the eyes of the heart, as in a dim room.

"The other members of the Body of Christ, who are so because they have the gift of the Holy Spirit's prayer unceasingly in their hearts, know and prophesy or theologize in part[3]."
      Jesus said of himself and so himself exists as Truth. The Spirit of Truth rests in Him and is another comforter sent by Him. No Truth exists outside of Christ (Person of Triune Essence). Jesus' Spirit reveals Him. Are you glorified in Jesus' Body? Then your quest for the truth is over and you know it, for it is a wonderful feeling when you know you've found what you have been looking for. You have all Truth.

"All the Truth, which is Christ, is revealed by His Spirit, or the Spirit of Truth, to those glorified in His Body[2]."
      Is it possible for you to be part of the Church without having been glorified in His Body? Yes, you may be a trainee in the Faith.

"It seems quite clear that nowhere in the New Testament do we find the idea that all the Truth is revealed to the Church, or that the Church is being led into an understanding of all the Truth[1]."
      Oh, that all in the Church were glorified! 'For those whom he justified, he also sanctified, and those whom he sanctified, he also glorified'. Participating in the Truth is not the same as having 'all Truth'; when the Spirit comes He will guide you into all Truth.
   
"For Paul, God reveals to each of the glorified 'as many' of the 'things' 'as God prepared for those who love Him'; in other words, 'all the Truth' (John 16:13) which those who love God will participate in[2]."
      That which the Spirit reveals in glorification has not entered the most sanctified imagination before the experience. Why has God bothered to prepare the glorified? -for those who love Him.
   
"That St. Paul would be completely shocked at the idea that the Church is either led into all the Truth or to a better understanding of all the Truth is clear from the following: And as it is written, the things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard and did not arise within the heart of man - as many as God prepared for those who love Him - God therefore revealed to us by the Spirit" (I Cor. 2:9-10)[3]."
      And so we see the appearance of a new prophet, one whose prophesying has been suspended and then he is returned to us.

It is this experience (prophesying abolished in glorification) which makes apostles and prophets.
      When one experiences the Ultimate, he simply waits and cooperates with all that will bring about the Ultimate encounter again - faithfulness, perseverance, keeping in step with the Spirit. (Note: i know of these things neither by speculation or experience, but by the testimony of the mighty few).






.... CONTINUED FROM THE PREVIOUS LISTING ...
[1]. Search for any partial string between any set of quotation marks to follow my sources.
[2]. ALL MY SOURCES ARE ON LINE.
[3]. All My Sources Are On Line.
[4]. All My Sources Are On Line.
[1-5]. John S. Romanides, Romanity.org