How To Establish Religious Authority #19

A. This lesson is a continuation of our study about how you tell the difference between Divine authority and human tradition, between God’s Word and Man-made religious beliefs, Between Biblical authority and Denominational doctrines.
1. One of the most misunderstood Bible concepts in the world today is the
question of Biblical authority. How do you establish the authority for what you will believe and practice in your Christianity? Do you accept the Bible alone as the sole authority in all matters of faith and practice? Do you accept, as authority, only those parts of the Bible that make you feel good and comfortable in your relationship with God authority? Do you accept only those parts of the Bible authorized by the denomination to which you belong? What is your standard of authority for the religion you practice?
a. In Jno. 4:24. The truth of which He spoke is the Word of God that teaches us the mind of God. Jno. 17:17. Jesus told His 12 apostles that He would send them the Holy Spirit and that Spirit would guide them into all truth, Jno. 16:13.
(A) Why would the apostles need that special, Holy Spirit guidance? To accomplish the work of an apostle. The work of an apostles is defined by Jesus in Matt. 28:18-20. Paul states the special work of an apostle in Rom. 1:5-6. The work of an apostle was “to call people to the obedience that comes from faith.” The apostles were, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, able to teach all of the truth, all of the instruction, that tells man how to find God, how to obey God, how to please God and what to do to have fellowship with God and be saved from sin. They were inspired so they could teach us how to worship God in Spirit and in truth. It’s important that we be able to do
that. Why is that important? Because that’s how Jesus said God wants to be
worshiped. Jno. 4;23-24. God is NOT seeking people who refuse to worship
Him the way He asks to be worshiped. God is NOT seeking people who want
to worship Him their own way.
(1) The work of the apostles was “to call people. Rev. 5:9. From where does this faith, to which we are to be obedient, come? Where did it come from? How do we get this faith; how do we find this faith? Rom. 10:17, answers both of those questions. Obedience that comes by faith means you Hear the Word of God, you Believe the Word of God, and you Obey the Word of God by doing what the Word of God tells you to do.

(a) Where do we learn what pleases God? From the Bible, it is God’s Word. It is God’s written Word that reveals the mind of God to us. Jno. 6:63. God’s authority has been vested in His Word, the Bible. Look at a list of scriptures that show the Word of God as that authority.
(b) Jno. 14:6. Can you find God by the teaching of anyone other than Jesus? Jno. 14:25?26. Who taught the apostles every thing they taught? Jno. 4:34?35, Jesus spent His life doing His Father’s will.
(2) Jesus did nothing on His own. He always did God’s will and He teaches us that we have to do the same. Jno. 5:19. He said that here and again in Jno. 5:30; John 6:38.
(a) In Jno. 7:16, Jesus repeated Himself. Now Jno. 8:26. Jesus had much to say about being redeemed and restored to God. He did not exercise His opinions and judgments on this matter. He deferred His will and judgment to God.
(b) Jesus was sent into the world to provide a way for man to be made sinless and righteous, Jno. 20:21. How was Jesus sent? By God. Why were the apostles sent? To do and to teach God’s will. The Apostles were told to teach and baptize people and tell people to do all things Jesus had commanded. Luke 10:16. What did they teach? God’s absolute, final, irrevocable will.
(3) Is there anything in any of those scriptures that says you can change any command in the Bible? Ignore or not obey with impunity? Jesus said in Jno. 14:15; 25.
(a) Jno. 12:48?50.
(b) Acts 20:32.

Spur - 06/22/03 am