introduction : 1. matthew 28:18-20: christ proclaimed his authority: we must submit to receive...

Matthew 28:18-20

THE AUTHORITY

OF CHRIST(Part 6)

THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

Introduction:

1. Matthew 28:18-20: Christ proclaimed His authority: we must submit to receive salvation


“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make

disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of

the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to

observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am

with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.”Matthew 28:18-20


Introduction:

2. To understand and apply the authority of Christ:I. Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture

II. Authority of Christ as Savior III. Authority of Christ in Local Church IV. Gradual Departures from the

Authority of Christ

V. Gradual Return to the Authority of Christ VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today

VI. Avoiding Apostasy TodayA. Warning: When People Obey the Truth, Satan Counterattacks.

Acts 20:29-32: Constantly teach and warn:Dangers invade from without and arise from within.


Avoiding Apostasy Today

“For I know this, that after my departure

savage wolves will come in among you, not

sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves

men will rise up, speaking perverse

things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.”

Acts 20:29,30

Avoiding Apostasy Today

“Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to

warn everyone night and day with tears. So now,

brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all

those who are sanctified.”Acts 20:31,32

VI. Avoiding Apostasy TodayA. Warning: When People Obey the Truth, Satan Counterattacks

Many such warnings:2 Thessalonians 2:3—Apostasies come until the final day!

2 Thessalonians 2:3

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.”


VI. Avoiding Apostasy TodayA. Warning: When People Obey the Truth, Satan Counterattacks

Many such warnings:2 Timothy 4:1-5—Preach the Truth until the final day!

2 Timothy 4:2

“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”


VI. Avoiding Apostasy TodayB. Tactic of Satan: Tempt with Centralization.

Israel desired a king: human leader centralized power1 Samuel 8:5—”Make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”From that day until now, centralization often found in pattern of apostasy: perverts the true organization of the church.



Christ made each local church independent, autonomous—no centralized organization

Acts 14:23—”elders in every church”Philippians 4:15,16—”ye sent once and again”



Christ made each local church independent, autonomous—no centralized organization

2 Corinthians 11:8—”I robbed other churches”Acts 11:27-30—”sent to the elders” where the need existedLocal church all-sufficient to do its work


Authorized

EVANGELISM

EDIFICATION

BENEVOLENCE

WorkLocalChurc

h

Phil. 4:16 “ye sent once & again”

2 Cor. 11:8 “I robbed other churches”

Acts 11:27-30 “sent it to the elders”LocalChurc

h

Divine vs. Human Organization

Authorized Unauthorized

EVANGELISM

Edification

BENEVOLENCE

Work

LocalChurc

h

Human Institution:Brotherhoo

dEldership

MissionarySocietyCollege

Orphanage

LocalChurch

Divine vs. Human Organization

In History Today

Israel Desired a King (1 Sam. 8:5)

Catholic Church Pope

Christian Church Missionary Society

Evangelism Herald of Truth Gospel Hour

Benevolence Institutional Orphanage

Edification Area-wide work Colleges Entertainment

Centralized Gov’t

Pattern of Apostasy in Church Government

VI. Avoiding Apostasy TodayC. Tactic of Satan: Pervert the Work of the church.

Work revealed by Christ1 Timothy 3:15—Evangelism: “the church…the pillar and ground of the truth”1 Corinthians 14:26—Worship, Edification ”Let all things be done unto edifying” 2 Corinthians 9:1—Benevolence to saints. ”ministering to the saints”


VI. Avoiding Apostasy TodayC. Tactic of Satan: Pervert the Work of the Church

To Change the work is apostasy.Acts 15:24—Divine silence forbids, prohibits: absence of divine authority

Acts 15:24“Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law" --to whom we gave no such commandment.”


VI. Avoiding Apostasy TodayC. Tactic of Satan: Pervert the Work of the Church

To Change the work is apostasy.1 Timothy 5:16—Distinguish individual action and local church action

1 Timothy 5:16“If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.”


VI. Avoiding Apostasy TodayC. Tactic of Satan: Pervert the Work of the Church.

“Let not the church be charged.”Donate funds to human institutions: missionary society; college, camps, orphanage, hospitals, etc.Acts 14:23; 20:28— Local church all-sufficient to do its work



“Let not the church be charged.”Recreation and social activities1 Corinthians 11:34— “if any man hunger let him eat at home.”Changing the “work” of the “purpose” of the church!



“Let not the church be charged.”Secular educationEphesians 6:4— Fathers—duty to children; “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”(Ephesians 4:28)1 Timothy 3:15—”the church—the pillar and ground of the truth.”



“Let not the church be charged.”Political, educational, economic, social reforms1 Timothy 6:1,2— Instructs masters and servants—can learn to live the Christian life in ALL cultures.



“Let not the church be charged.”Feed and clothe the worldGalatians 6:10— “let every man prove his own work…bear his own burden…do good unto all men” (vs. 4,5 and 10)Individual duty—not the local church!


Benevolence from Church Treasury Limited to Saints

ACTS 2:44-45

“all that believed”

ACTS 4:32-37

“them that believed”

ACTS 6:1-7 “the disciples”

ACTS 11:27-30

“the brethren”

1 COR. 16:1-2

“the saints”

2 COR. 8:4 “the saints”

2 COR. 9:1 “the saints”

ROM. 15:26 “the poor saints”

1 TIM. 5:16 “widows indeed”

2 John 9 If Go Beyond God’s Limit, Separated from God

VI. Avoiding Apostasy TodayD. Tactic of Satan: Pervert the Worship of the Church.

Worship revealed by ChristActs 20:7—Lord’s Supper 1st Day of Week1 Corinthians 16:2—Collection 1st Day of WeekActs 2:42—PrayerActs 2:42—Teaching God’s WordEphesians 5:19—Singing


Music in Worship Limited to Singing

MATT. 26:30 “sung”ACTS 16:25 “sang”ROM. 15:9 “sing”1 COR. 14:15 “sing”EPH. 5:19 “singing”COL. 3:16 “singing”HEB. 2:12 “sing”HEB. 13:15 “fruit of our lips”JA. 5:13 “sing”

2 John 9 If Go Beyond God’s Limit, Separated from God

VI. Avoiding Apostasy TodayD. Tactic of Satan: Pervert the Worship of the Church.

To change the worship is apostasy!John 4:24—”Spirit and truth”1 Timothy 4:1—”Some Will Depart From the Faith”


D. Tactic of Satan: Pervert Worship of the Church.

“Some…depart from the faith”Instrumental musicChurch celebrate “holy” days (Easter, etc.)Solo, choir, praise teamDrama, theatre, choreography, danceLord’s Supper any dayLord’s Supper with social mealWomen leadOffer traditional & contemporary worship


VI. Avoiding Apostasy TodayE. The Spiritual Nature of the Church Prevents Apostasy.

The spiritual focus of Christ in the work of the church

Luke 19:10—”For the Son of Man is come to seek and save the lost.”Work of the church—the same spiritual focus must be maintained.



The spiritual focus of Christ in the worship of the church

John 4:24—”God is a Spirit: and they that worship must worship in spirit and truth.”Pattern of worship—the same spiritual focus must be maintained.



The spiritual focus of Christ in the organization of the church

1 Peter 2:25—Christ: ”the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.”Hebrews 13:17—”Obey those who have the rule over you…”Organization: the same spiritual focus


E. The Spiritual Nature of the Church Prevents Apostasy

Keep a simple, sincere, single, spiritual focus on Christ

2 Corinthians 11:3—Satan tries to corrupt and pervert our faith

2 Corinthians 11:3“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”


E. The Spiritual Nature of the Church Prevents Apostasy


Philippians 3:20—Focus on spending eternity with Christ in heaven!

Philippians 3:20“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”


F. The Authority of Christ Rejected by Many Professing His Name


1 Samuel 15:13,14—This is not a new problem!

1 Samuel 15:13,14“Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD.“ But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today


Matthew 7:21-23—Christ said many “calling Him Lord” will be lost.



Christ Said Many Calling Him “Lord” will be Lost

“Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the

kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in

heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not

prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and

done many wonders in Your name?‘ And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart

from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

Matthew 7:21-23


1 Timothy 4:1—Departing from the faith professing to serve Christ1 Timothy 4:1

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”




2 Timothy 4:2-4—Profess the truth—but reject it!



Profess the Truth—But Reject It

“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.

Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For

the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be

turned aside to fables.”2 Timothy 4:2-4


Slogans of apostasy: Join the church of your choice We need love not doctrine Preach Christ, not baptism or the church Legalism to preach baptism & the church Unity in diversity “Pharisee,” “anti” if expose error Multi-cultural tolerance, pluralism New Hermeneutics not Book, chapter,

verse

THE AUTHORITY OF CHRISTInvitation:

1. Matthew 28:18-20: Remedy to all sin and apostasy: submit to the authority of Christ to receive salvation

He protects us from all Satan’s attacksHe exposes Satan’s tactic of centralizationHe guides us in the work of the churchHe guides us in true worshipHis spiritual focus protects us from apostasyHe exposes errors of men professing his name but rejecting his authority


“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make

disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of

the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to

observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am

with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.”Matthew 28:18-20

introduction : 1. matthew 28:18-20: christ proclaimed his authority: we must submit to receive...

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authority of christvi

apostasy todaya

apostasy todayintroduction

apostasy today4vi

satan counterattacksmany

final day

gods people