AUTHORITY

Study on Authority

Greek word EXOUSIA:“It is lawful; leave or permission, or liberty of doing as one pleases, it passed to that of the ability or

strength which one is endued, the right to exercise power. Will &

command must be obeyed.”

Thayer’s Greek-Lexicon

• Power of Choice, liberty of doing as one pleases; leave or permission.

• The ability or strength with which one is endued, he either possesses or exercises.

• The power of authority and of right.• The power of rule or government.

Authority in the Religious Realm

• “Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” Matthew 21:23

Two Sources of Authority

• Heaven—Divine• Human—Men • Not only must one have

authority—they must get it from the proper source!

Authority of Christ

• John 16:13—All truth• 1 Corinthians 1:10—Speak same

thing• 1 Corinthians 4:6—Not go beyond

what is written• Galatians 1:8-9—No other

message• 2 John 9-11—Abide in His doctrine

Authority of Christ

• Jude 3—delivered once.• James 1:25—perfect law of

liberty.• 1 Corinthians 2:4-5—faith in

God not men• 1 Corinthians 2:9-13—revealed

mind of God.

Claims—Son of God

• Hebrews 3:1—Apostle sent from God• John 6:38• John 7:16-17• John 8:23• John 12:48-50• Sent from Father!

Greater than…

• John the Baptist—Luke 3:15-16• Moses—Matthew 17:5• Jonah—Matthew 12:41• Solomon—Matthew 12:42• Temple—Matthew 12:6• Lord of the Sabbath—Matthew 12:8

Other Claims

• Determiner of destiny—Luke 12:8-9; Matthew 7:24-27

• Light of the World—John 8:12• Good Shepherd—John 10:14• Bread of Life—John 6:51• Way, Truth, & Life—John 14:6

Own Authority

• “I say unto you”—Matthew 5:22• Spoke words of God—John 3:34• Came directly from God—Matthew

21:23-46• His works—John 5:36• Forgive sins—Matthew 9:6• Fulfilled prophecies—Matthew

5:17-18• Sinless perfection—Hebrews 4:15

Message Expressed in Bible

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17• 2 Peter 1:20-21• John 14:26• 2 Peter 1:16• 1 Corinthians 2:9-13

Bible is Inerrant

• Infallible and free from any error.

• Not a single contradiction.• Complete harmony.• Science—no mistake of

science in the Bible.• History—no inaccuracies.

Examples of History

• Hittities• Joshua 1:4; 11:3; 12:8• 1906 evidence found.• Sargon II—King of Assyria• Isaiah 20:1• Home found in 1906

Bible All Sufficient

• 2 Timothy 3:17—all good works.• 2 Peter 1:3—All Things pertain

to life & godliness• Ephesians 3:3-5—read &

understand• Revelation 22:18-19—nothing

added or subtracted

Questions of Life

• How did we get here? Genesis 1,2

• Why are we here? Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

• Where are we going? Hebrews 9:27

Important Spiritual Question

• What must I do to be saved?• Hear—Romans 10:17• Faith—Hebrews 11:6• Repent—Acts 17:30• Confess—Romans 10:9-10• Baptism—Mark 16:16

Important Spiritual Question?

• How do I live a good Christian life?

• Titus 2:11-12• Romans 12:1-2• Matthew 6:33• Colossians 3:1-2• 2 Peter 1:5-10

What do we Need?

• No latter revelations.• No creeds.• No revisions• Councils?• Synods?• Conference of men?• 1 Peter 1:24-25

Bible—Standard of Judgment

• “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” John 12:48

• Revelations 20:11-15• No creed will be used to judge men!

CONCLUSION

HOW DO YOU VIEW THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST?

ARE YOU SUBMITTING TO HIS AUTHORITY IN YOUR LIFE?

AUTHORITY

Authority of Christ? How Expressed?

•GENERAL•“Go”—Mark 16:15

•SPECIFIC•“The gospel”—MARK 16:16

Three Ways

• Direct Statement— Luke 22:19-20

• Approved Example— Acts 20:7

• Necessary Inference— 1 Corinthians 11:23-30

What is Commanded?

• Acts 15:7-11• Gifts to Gentiles—Necessary

Inference

• Preaching to Gentiles—Approved Example

• Known by God—Direct Statement

Law of Moses

• No implication—Silent• No Example—Silent• No Direct Statement—Silent• Circumcision• “Gave no such commandment”

Acts 15:24

Silence of God—Liberty or Prohibitive?

• Where does the Bible forbid such actions:

• Baptize infants?• Celebrate Easter & Xmas?• Why not use instrumental

music?

What is the Motivation?

• Liberty to act in a broader range.

• Where will it end?• How could anything be

forbidden?• Who will draw the line?

Only Two Ways to Go

•Silence is liberty to act—Permitted to act

•Silence prohibits— Law of exclusion

New Testament

• 1 Peter 4:11—Speak as oracles of God

• 1 Corinthians 4:6—Don’t go beyond what is written.

• 2 John 9-11—lose fellowship with Father & Son

Different Approaches to Silence

• “While Luther was disposed to leave untouched what the Bible did not prohibit, Zwingli was more inclined to reject what the Bible did not enjoin.” –George P. Fisher, The Reformation, p.145

Different Approaches to Silence

• “Luther said we may do what the Bible does not forbid. Zwingli said what the Bible does not command we may not do, and on that account he gave up all images and crosses in the churches…organs in the church were also given up…”Roland H. Bainton, The Church of our Fathers, pp.143,144

Class Specific Exclude

Woods Gopher woodGenesis 6:14

All other woods

Tribes LeviHebrews 7:14

All other tribes

Action--water Immerse—Acts 2:38

All other actions

Music Sing—Ephesians 5:19

All other music

God is Specific

Aids & AdditionsCommand Aids AdditionsSing Books,

leaderInstruments

Baptize Baptistery Sprinkling

Break Bread Trays, plates Saturday

Preach gospel

Radio, TV Miss. Society

Needy Care, medicine

Bene. Society

Edification Teachers Institution

Authority as Savior

• Perfect & Only— Acts 4:12; Romans 5:8-10

• Submission to Him— Matthew 28:18-20

• Pillar and ground of the truth— 1 Timothy 3:15

• Head over all things— Ephesians 1:22-23

• Delivered back to God— 1 Corinthians 15:24

False Standards of Authority

• Doctrines & practices of Old Testament Law

• Colossians 2:14-16• Ephesians 2:14-16• Galatians 3:23-25• Hebrews 7:12; 8:13

Examples of Old Law

• Tithing• Sabbath keeping• Feast Days• Infant membership• Instrumental Music

What the Preachers Says

• “Called by the Lord.”• “Pastoring system.”• Matthew 15:14• 1 Corinthians 2:4-5• 2 Timothy 4:1-2

Creeds of Men

• Manual• Discipline• Prayer Book• Doctrines & procedures• Matthew 15:8-9• Colossians 3:17

“It does good, therefore it must be right.”

• End justify the means.• Human standards of judgment• Isaiah 5:20• Romans 3:8• 1 Corinthians 6:12• Is it lawful?

Really…What about…

• David and his cart—2 Samuel 6:1-11

• Uzziah in the temple—2 Chronicles 26:16-20

• Nadab & Abihu—Leviticus 10:1-2• Mechanical instruments• Hamburger & coke on Lord’s

table.

Some think today…

• Chili suppers• Ice Cream Social• Pancake Breakfast• Car washes & bake sales• Sponsoring bowling & softball teams• Use the money to support preachers.• What do you think?

“Great men of the past favor our plan or

practice.”• Religious leaders of the past• Charles H. Spurgeon• Albert Barnes• Adam Clark• William Barclay• Galatians 1:10

Desires of a local congregation

• Work by majority vote• Democratic• Exodus 32:1-6—Wanted gods before

them• 1 Samuel 8:5-19—Israel wanted a

king• 1 Samuel 15:13-24—King Saul kept

the best• What if “desires” are wrong?

“Other Religions are doing it.”

• Numbers being added• Physical prosperity• Big buildings• Social gospel• Entertainment• Feeling of community

“I had rather do wrong than do nothing.”

• Bible things—Bible ways• Call Bible things—by Bible names• Lesser of two evils?• Assumption—there are only two

choices!!• Why not follow the “pattern” in

God’s book?• 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

Authority of Christ in Local Church

• Authority over Work & Mission• Preach the gospel— 1 Timothy

3:15• Worship of God, edify saints—

1 Corinthians 14:26• Benevolence of needy saints—

Acts 11:27-30

Authority over Worship

• Lord’s Supper—Acts 20:7• Giving—1 Corinthians 16:2• Prayer—Acts 2:42• Teach God’s Word—Acts 2:42; 2

Timothy 4:2• Sing—Ephesians 5:19

Authority over Organization

• Elders, bishops, pastors, overseers, shepherds—Acts 14:23; 1 Peter 5:1-4

• Deacons—1 Timothy 3:8-11• Evangelist, Preacher—Ephesians 4:11• Saints—Philippians 1:1• Women no leadership role—1 Timothy

2:12• Autonomous—Acts 14:23• No earthly headquarters

CONCLUSION

HOW DO YOU VIEW THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST?

IS IT IMPORTANT IN REGARD TO THE WORK, MISSION, AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH?

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF ACTING W/O AUTHORITY?