I am not trying to prove anyone wrong in Christian discussions. I am curious as to how different Christians form their doctrine.
So right now, I am curious how you conclude the little flock only consist of the 12.
I am not overly dogmatic on it. But the context does refer to the disciples in verse 22.
Could it be more than the 12 disciples? Well, it could have also included the 70 additional disciples (Luke 10:1).
Yes, I am aware that a similar message was preached at the sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6, which was before the people, but that does not mean that Jesus did not preach this message again in a slightly different way or spin with His disciples behind closed doors or in a secluded place. Little flock suggests that His words were spoken only to the disciples (either the 12 and or the 70 included). In either case, they were disciples that were chosen by God to be solely dedicated to Jesus Christ.
It seems to me why you immediately conclude that is:
- You want to believe that every literal instruction commanded by Jesus in his first coming, was also directed to us
I would say that the majority of Jesus’ teachings should be literally obeyed.
However, there are obviously exceptions to the rule like this one below that do not apply.
Matthew 5:24
”Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.“
We obviously are no longer under the 613 Laws of Moses anymore that includes the Laws on animal sacrifices (i.e., gifts). That has been done away with on the cross because the temple veil has been torn. Hebrews 7:12 says the Law has changed.
The apostle Paul even clarifies this by saying that he is not without the Law of God seeing he is under the Law to Christ.
”To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ, ) that I might gain them that are without law.” (1 Corinthians 9:21).
So Paul is not under the 613 Laws of Moses, but Paul is under the Laws of Jesus Christ.
- But you don't want Luke 12:33 to be a command directed to you as well.
But I believe that all who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. I do believe that we do have to pick up our cross, deny ourselves, and follow Jesus. We have to count the cost. I do believe we have to forsake any desire to be rich and follow after righteousness and fight the good fight of faith according to 1 Timothy 6. Narrow is the way that leads unto life indeed. We are told to take heed how we stand unless we fall.
Anyways, the reality is that Zacchaeus, Ananias, and other post cross NT saints are not given these same kinds of instructions involving material goods as the little flock was given involving material goods. We also see that the disciples later were given some material goods later on as a part of their mission. But the main point here is that logic dictates that we follow the later instructions on this particular topic (Seeing it is very specific). We are not apostles. To be an apostle is to have been commissioned by Christ, and to have seen the risen Lord. Very few in the Continuationist camp believe there are apostles today, but that is where such wrong thinking leads to.
But Mid Acts in my view is no better. In fact, I believe it is worse (See Jude 1:4). Nowhere does Paul and or the other apostles say we are not to follow Jesus and or His teachings, and that things are radically different now whereby we should not even obey anything Jesus had to say anymore in the gospels. Nothing is ever said about that and yet that is what Mid Acts dispensationalists do. They cut out entirely the teachings of Jesus which violates 1 Timothy 6:3-4. In fact, in time, as the early church grew, those who did not see the risen Christ and who did not know the apostles (but were of the next generation after their passing) would have only the gospels to know about Jesus. So some of them by the Scriptures alone, they would only know about Jesus by God’s Word. Jesus said we are to follow Christ, and so the way to do that is to look to the gospels. But you slice and dice and chop the Bible into pieces ignoring our Lord Jesus’ words as applying to your life. He is called our LORD for a reason. We are not our own lords and masters. We are bought and paid for with a price. We are not our own.
Jesus gave the disciples the great commission:
”Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Obviously, there are exceptions to the rule as I mentioned above. But to slice, dice, and chop out all of Jesus’ words entirely to not obey them is to ignore the great commission by our Lord. It is outright rebellion against the Lord our God.
