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Do We need God's Vicar?

 

Do We need God’s Vicar? 

To understand, whether we need God’s Vicar, we first need to know, who or what God’s Vicar is? 

Modern Christianity seem to have different interpretations as to who or what is Christ’s Vicar on earth. 

Webster’s Definition of Vicar -

1.     an ecclesiastical (relating to a church) agent (one who is authorized to act for, or in place of, another)

2.     one serving as a substitute (replace) or agent (Two Types)

Webster’s Definition of Regent –

1.     a person (entity) who governs a kingdom in the minority, absence, or disability of the sovereign

2.     a person who rules or reigns

Note: Therefore, there exists two definition for Vicar and Regent.  One where the Vicar or Regent is simply an individual, it does not distinguish between a human or divine representative of the Church (Agent), and the other, where the Vicar or Regent of Christ has the same attributes of Christ (Substitute), in other words, the Vicar or Regent of Christ cannot be a mortal man, He must be God.  

Biblical Definition of Christ’s Vicar or Regent –

A.    Who is Jesus Christ, that He would even require a Vicar or Regent? 

     Isaiah 9:6-7 (First Witness)

     6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be

         upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The

         mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 

     7. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the

         throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with

         judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the

           Lord of hosts will perform this.

Note:  Therefore, according to this Old Testament witness, a promised One would come (prophesy), He would be the foundation of Israel’s government (Christ’s first coming), He would fulfill the Law.  This promised One is both the Son of, and the actual God.  Upon His precepts would be established Justice (Enforcer) and Judgment (Ruler).  Only Christ can be both King and Priest, therefore protestants do not mix Church and State, since only Christ has this sacred function.

      Revelation 19:11&16 – (Second Witness)

      11. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon

            him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and

            make war.

      16. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings,

               And Lord Of Lords.

      Mathew 24:27 – (Third Witness)

      27. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west;

            so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Note: These New Testament texts describe Christ return (Christ’s second coming).  Here Christ is sitting on a white horse.  On Palm Sunday, Christ entered Jerusalem thru the Golden Gate, the only eastern opening into Jerusalem.  Christ entered Jerusalem from the East to the West, just as prophesied above.  Christ entered thru the Gate on a Colt of a Donkey.  A King on a donkey, represented a king coming in peace (the Prince of Peace).  This second witness places Christ on a White Horse.  White in prophesy stands for righteousness.  History teaches us that a King on a horse, is a king at war.  Therefore, Christ on a white horse fulfills the promise that, “in righteousness he doth judge (King) and make war (Conqueror).  So Christ is our King!

B.    Who is Jesus Christ’s Vicar or Regent?

John 14:15-18 & 26 -

15. If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another (Parakletos) 

     Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth

      Him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with

      you, and shall be in you.

18. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in

      my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your

      remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you 

Note: Since we have established that Christ is not just a king, but the King of Kings, not just a lord, but the Lord of Lords, is there anything that He as King must have? 

A King’s throne must always be occupied, otherwise Discordia, division, and insurrection would occur.  When Adam and Eve left their thrones unoccupied, by going to the forbidden tree, their royalty was stolen from them.  Christ will never make such a mistake.  When Christ, the Word, left heaven the first time, He left His Deity, also known as thrown in the care of His father.  When Christ left the earth, he had to leave His earthly throne (power) in the care of “another”.  The Greek word used to describe another in John 14:16 is Parakletos.  Parakletos means, advocate, intercessor, lawyer.  Since Christ is our Advocate, Intercessor and Lawyer, it is reasonable to believe that whoever is placed in this role, must be equal to, or the same as Christ.  Since we know that Christ is God, then it is reasonable to believe that only God can be His own “Another”.  When we compare Parakletos to Webster’s Definitions of Vicar and Regent it becomes clear, the proper use of Vicar or Regent is “Substitute”, and cannot be mere agent (man), for an agent is not “another”, equal to or the same as God.

Do we, as God’s Church, need a regent for Christ?  If so, what is the function of said Vicar, and how does it apply to the Church? 

We know that Christ, when absent from His thrown, has a regent, not for His sake, but for His kingdom’s sake.  The Agent/Vicar protects Christ throne, power and Kingdome (people).  When Christ fulfilled his promise to mankind, by over throwing the false prince of this world, he took upon Himself a robe of matter, in the form of flesh (Genesis 3:15).  This matter was necessary for Him to become Emmanuel, God with us (Isaiah 7:14).  If Our Christ, the Word, would have come down in His heavenly attire, all humanity would have been instantly destroyed by his perfect presence.  When Christ returned to heaven, he decided not to remove his robe of matter, and therefore He refrained from His state of Omnipresence, for us, what love and devotion to His children.  Since He has chosen to no longer exist in His Omnipresent form, desiring to remain as Emmanuel, then He requires a conduit between humanity and Himself, much like He is the conduit between God the Father and mankind.  Christ’s conduit is the Holy Spirit, no other entity or being can take this place (no man cometh unto the Father but by me John 14:16).  For a man to claim himself to be God’s Conduit, or Vicar, is for man to commit treason or blasphemy against God. 

So we now understand that Christ uses the Holy Spirit to remain in constant contact with His children.  This is needed because of the separation that sin caused, but does His children, His church require the Holy Spirit as individuals, or as a church? 

I Corinthians 12:1-15 –

1. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

Note: Here, the Apostle Paul specifically addresses the members of Christ church, brethren.  He states that there exists a need for the church to understand what spiritual gifts truly are.  Is it possible that there existed a state were either no spiritual gifts, few spiritual gifts, unrecognized spiritual gifts, or that false or seducing spirits had entered the church? 

²Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

Note: As we can see, Paul is addressing those Gentiles who became Christians by accepting Christ as their Savior.  He reminds them that they were all equal in their ignorance.  He explains how they were deceived, by attempting to develop relationships with idols that were incapable of forming that which they sought.  Being led by deception, into deception.

³ Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

Note: Here Brother Paul is teaching the church, that no Christian, who has been baptized by the Spirit, will consider Christ to be under curse.  Christ became a curse for our sins, but since He never sinned, He was never under curse, He merely took upon Himself our curse, as a substitute for us.  If a Christian declares that their Christ is accursed, then he believes that Christ was not the Pasqual, perfect lamb, who takes away the sins of the world.

John 1:29 - The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Revelation 5:12 - Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Brother Paul then states that only those who have the Holy Spirit understand that Christ is Lord, John 14:26. 

⁴ Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. –

Note:  Paul informs the church, that the spiritual gifts are more than one, and therefore vary in type and function, but that all spiritual gifts are derived from the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, the church requires the Holy Spirit to give each member, the specific appropriate gift or gifts for them.  The Holy Spirit is the Giver of gifts.

⁵ And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. –

Note:  Paul states that there are variable processes or activities of running God’s organization/church, but all is subject to one Lord.  In other words, the world church can have varying traditions, but all traditions must be subject to God’s word. 

⁶ And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

Note:  Here Paul states that there are different methods that the world church can function as, but that it is Christ, the head of His church, who will be the director of all.

⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal (together with).

Note:  Paul is very clear, the specific gifts from the Holy Spirit, are given to the specific individual, and if cultured, will benefit both the individual, and the members, by leading them to the Savior, the specific purpose, just as God’s Law does.  This follows the character and nature of our God.  God is specific in all that he does, every action has a specific purpose, and every action is for the benefit of mankind, to lead them to Christ.  Therefore, if Jehovah grants us gifts that will benefit our brothers, then we are obligated to share those gifts with each other, otherwise we steal from each other, and from God.  Hence coming together on the Sabbath.  This mutual benefit, derived from God’s gifts, brings the members together.   Therefore, the Holy Spirit brings the church together (togetherness), just like the Sabbath and the Royal Law. 

⁸ For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

¹⁰ To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

¹¹ But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally (apart from others or unique to) as he will.

Note:  The Holy Spirit makes each member unique, special, and for a particular purpose.  The Spirit creates in us our individuality, and our unique purpose (makes us a peculiar people), for God loves Diversity.  Even though there exist multiple individuals, each one possesses different specific gifts of the Spirit, they are all, derived from the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit gives to everyone, the specific gifts that person would be able to cultivate, in service to God and man.  Therefore, the Spirit is the giver of gifts (enmity) to God’s children.  If the Holy Spirit gave spiritual gifts at random, there would be those who received gifts that would become a burden for them, and it would be something that they could not handle.  The Spirit would actually be tempting his children, but this is not the nature of God. 

¹² For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

Note:  Paul preaches to the members that there is only one body (church), but that the body is comprised of many individual unique members (12 personalities types), and even though there are infinite variations in the members, they all come together and share one constant, that makes them equal as one body.  It is the Holy Spirit that makes the changes in each members’ character to mimic Christ’s, and the members, even though variable in nature, come together in character, Christ’s character.  This is why Christ recognizes His sheep, but does not recognize the goats.  Therefore, the Holy Spirit not only makes us unique, creates us to be similar and equals. 

¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit…………

Note:  Here Paul is very clear, there is no difference in the members.  We are all equals, and hence there can be unity amongst Christ’s children.  The Holy Spirit makes us all equals in Jesus Christ.

          John 3:5 - Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be

born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Baptism of water is the willingness to become a follower of Christ and to accept His sacrifice as an atonement for our sins, Justification.  Baptism of the Spirit is the act of Holy Spirit to place enmity against sin in each member.  This enmity leads the member on the path of Sanctification.  Sanctification or the process of the Holy Spirit changing our character to mimic Christ’s.

²⁸ And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Note:  The Holy Spirit creates organization in the church, without creating a cast system in it.  There can only be one head of God’s church, Christ Jesus.  This process of organization does not create a hierarchy in the church.  God never intended that one man should rule over another.  God came to earth to free His children, why would he create a means to enslave them.

Review: 

Does Christ need a Vicar?  Does Christ’s church need His Vicar?  What is the Function of Christ’s Vicar?

By now, we should understand that Christ is God, and nothing is impossible for Him.  Therefore, Christ does not need a Vicar for His sake, but he requires one for ours.  The Vicar of Christ, the Holy Spirit, functions to protect Christ’s kingdom.  He ensures the stability of the church and protects it from anarchy. 

The Church members require God’s Vicar.  The Holy Spirit performs many functions for the church.  First, He is the Giver of Gifts.  He determines which specific gifts are appropriate for the specific member.  Second, the Spirit is the conduit between Christ and His children, keeps us united with our Savior.  Third, He is the creator of our individual nature, and our similarity of character, enmity against sin.  Fourth, He creates unity in Christ’s church, by making it members equals.  Lastly, Christ’s Vicar is the sealer of Christ’s children. 

Therefore, not only does God’s church require the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to exist as God’s children without Him.  Our direct salvation is linked to our relationship with Christ, that is cultivated by His Vicar. Mark 3:29 - But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.  Without the Holy Ghost, there can be no salvation.