The primary function of the apostle is to teach the one true doctrine of Christ in its entirety, thus setting the foundation of truth within the heart of each believer. This is why apostles are called stewards of the mystery of Christ.
Apostles are stewards of the mystery of Christ
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. (1Cor.4:1)
Apostles set the foundation of truth in the heart through instruction of doctrine
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation [of truth within your heart], and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1Cor.3:10,11) Without Apostolic Governance this stewardship is lost to the church and Christians do not know how to walk and to please God. Evidence of this is seen in how holiness is falsely placed in the flesh and how believers have a hard time putting Christianity in action.
Apostles teach the church how to walk and to please God
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us [apostles] how ye ought to walk and to please God [the doctrine and tools of the second covenant], so ye would abound more and more [increase of grace and growth]. (1Thes.4:1)
So then, when apostles steward the mysteries of Christ they are setting the foundation of truth within the heart so believers know how to walk and please God.
There are those who think that if they discover the definition of an apostle they can discover the reality of spiritual government and walk in the apostolic by simply applying the precept of scripture and place themselves in the roll of fulfilling the scripture. But one must have the calling to experience the reality; the Spirit works with the calling, not apart from it. The precept of scripture does not create reality, the Spirit does.
The historical facts about apostles have an intellectual and emotional appeal, but cannot create the reality. Much like when watching the movie “The Ten Commandments”; it gives you a sense of participation with Moses and draws you into a state of involvement when in actuality, nothing is happening at all. Another good example of this is seen in Civil War reenactments. Knowledge about the Civil War is true, and one can act out certain parts of history, but that engagement does not translate into reality; it merely draws upon the imagination.
Well, church became such an event with believers trying to reenact the Bible and trying to reenact spiritual government. We understand that reading a book about grapes does not produce a vineyard, nor a bottle of wine. Yet people often memorize the fruit of the Spirit thinking they will experience that reality, only to realize that such is not the case. So too, memorizing the verses in Ephesians chapter 4 that speak about apostles and spiritual government does not bring the functionality of the calling to the church.
Satan knows that the soul has to function with knowledge, so he promotes knowledge that
people can comprehend intellectually and emotionally and promises the operation and
actuation of knowledge apart from Jesus’ covenant and apart from Jesus’ government,
truth, and Spirit. The engagement is a simulation of faith, but not the reality of faith.