The title “apostle” applies to ordained leaders in the New Testament. “To send” commonly refers to individuals specifically called commissioned and given authority by the Lord Jesus Christ to be His representative in proclaiming the gospel and establishing the church. The title apostle used by the Son of God Himself in Hebrews chapter three verse one, the disciples also named in Matthew chapter ten verse two, depicts the importance of what it represents. The term “apostle” is to identify those qualified to bear spirit-minded witness to Christ. These are the men Jesus personally called and commissioned to be leaders for the sake of the church.
The term “apostle” uses in the New Testament in a non-technical general sense to identify commissioned representatives of a church, such as a messenger appointed and sent as a missionary or for some other special responsibility. Apostles remain essential to fulfilling God’s purposes in the church. If the church ceases to have Spirit-filled apostolic leaders who point the way in spreading the gospel to the world, its spiritual growth and numerical growth will fall short. On the other hand, as long as the church recognizes Christ’s gifts and callings by releasing such leaders as church planters at home for the nations, the church will fulfill its mission and remain faithful to the Lord’s Great Commission.