The Bible has the answers

Why Do We Need ToDiscuss Authority?

• Most people do not fear God and keep His commandments.

• Many teachers are willing to accommodate the people’s desires.

• Much error is taught on this subject.

• Continued error allows people to accept it as truth.

• Souls will be lost because of error.

Error

• People who teach and practice error are out of fellowship with God.

• 1 John 2: 3-4• “And by this we know that we have come

to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know him’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;”

Error

• They will be rejected by Jesus• Matthew 7:21-23• “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will

enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord’, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’.”

Error

• Souls will be lost by believing error.

• To save souls from hell is one of the Christians highest duties.

• Thus we MUST speak when error is taught.

Truth

• Belongs to God

• God gave it to us

• Thus we must preach the truth

• And we must practice it.

• Truth is derived from God’s authority

God’s Authority

• God is Sovereign ALL subject to Him

• God has revealed His will.

• Via the Patriarchs (Fathers)

• Via the Law (Moses)

• Via the Prophets

• Finally through the Son.

• The Son has been given authority over all.

Jesus’ Authority

• ALL authority Matthew 28:18

• His words will judge us John 12:48

• Jesus spoke with authority Matthew 7:29

• Jesus delegated this authority to His apostles who were also guided by the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit Authority

• Limited to the instruction from God and Jesus. (John 16:13)

• Guided the apostles and early church into maturity. (Ephesians 4:11-12)

• Revealed the word of God to all mankind via the Bible.

• The Bible is our ultimate and final authority on all matters dealing with spirituality, salvation, truth, and religion.

Bible Authority

• Learn it Carefully (Deuteronomy 5:1)

• Do not add, do not subtract. (Deut. 4:2)

• Let the Bible have the final say in a matter.

• Read ALL that the Bible has to say on a matter.

• ALL must agree with each other passage.

• There are no contradictions.

False Doctrine

• 1. Some passages related to the topic must be ignored, distorted, twisted and added to in order to uphold a false doctrine.2. A new (different from the Bible, not found in the scripture) vocabulary of words, terms, and definitions must be learned.

False Doctrine

• 3. Assumptions are frequent and treated as scripture.4. Human reasoning and conclusions replace the Word of God.5. Man becomes the final authority and not God.

False Doctrine

• 6. Man-made laws and solutions replace the Word of God.7. A false doctrine just does not fit with the other passages on the same subject. If one scripture bumps against other scriptures, like gears in a gear box that do not mesh with one another thus grinding, distorting, and breaking one another, something is wrong. All that God says on any topic will mesh and fit perfectly together.

Truthful Doctrine

• a. It must come from a true source.

• b. It must rest upon a true source.

• c. It must support a true source.

• d. It must not have any flaws.

• e. It must not have any contradictions.

• f. It must not be bound by time.

Truthful Doctrine

• g. It must be accepted.

• h. It must be respected.

• i. It must not contradict any scripture.

• j. It must not contradict any laws of God.

• k. It must not lead anyone into error.

Conclusion

• Error

• Truth

• Authority (God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Bible)

• False Doctrine

• Truthful Doctrine

• Next week---all the scriptures pertaining to divorce and remarriage.