How To Establish Religious Authority #3
A. In this series we have discussed the fact that many people
do not understand the Biblical concept of religious authority.
Many believe you can govern all things by the concept of democracy
which is a system by which the voice of the people is expressed.
It is a majority rule by which we decide our needs and how they
will be met. Most people want to carry this concept over into
the religious world and say, In religious matters, we ought
to have the right to take a vote to decide what we will believe
and what we will practice, and God will put His stamp of approval
on whatever we decide to do.
Give you an example of how men have used this concept to apply
human wisdom and man-made doctrines and rules to Christianity.
I have in my hand, a denominational creed book entitled, The
Standard Manual for Baptist Churches by Edward Hiscock.
It tells how a person becomes a member of the Baptist church.
Page 36-37, Church Membership, Modes of Admission:
There are three ways in common use, by which persons may
be admitted to the church. (We will look at those other modes
in a later lesson) Each of these presupposes a vote of the body
to receive the candidate. Each new member must be admitted by
the free and voluntary consent and approval of those already members,
usually expressed by a formal vote. a. Great idea, but it
will not work. Why? The church is not a democracy. It is a Theocratic
Kingdom. It has over it, a sovereign Ruler named Jesus Christ
who is its King, its only
King, and He is God. Jesus never said you and I could vote people
in to His Church. In
fact to make man-made rules that determine whom we will allow
to be a member of His
church makes a hideous statement that says, We can negate
the grace which comes by
faith in Jesus---We, as a deliberative body, can bestow or withhold
grace by a subjective
democratic vote.
(A) If you want to do that in the Baptist church thats your
prerogative. The Baptist church
is not mentioned any where in the Bible any way. But that practice
is absolutely
forbidden in the church Christ purchased with His blood on the
cross.
(1) In the Bible, who decides whether or not you can be a member
of Christs Church?
Only God can make that determination. The Bible tells us how people
became
Christians and they did it one way the first time and thats
the way men have
become Christians ever since that day and there is no other way.
Jude 3, says,
Its been established that way and its to stay
that way. And we are to fight to
keep it that way.
Acts 2:36?41. Peter is preaching the first Gospel sermon teaching
men how to get into the church and be saved: He said, "Therefore
let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom
you crucified, both Lord and Christ. (They had committed a terrible
sin---they had rejected and killed Gods Son) When the people
heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the
other apostles, Brothers, what shall we do? (They believed that
first Gospel Sermon, they admitted their sin and the need to have
their sins forgiven and asked Peter what to do) and Peter replied,
Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you (You Jews)
and your children and for all who are far off (Thats the
Gentiles) for all whom the Lord our God will call. With many other
words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, Save yourselves
from this corrupt generation. Those who accepted his message were
baptized, (Those who believed did what Peter told them to dothey
repented and were baptized) and about three thousand were added
to their number that day. That phrase, ...were added
to their number... Means they were added to the church.
And guess what? No body voted on them. Those believing, repentant,
people were baptized for the remission of their sins, they received
the Holy Spirit and were added by God to Christs brand new,
New Testament church. Added by Jesus.
Vs. 47, says, The Lord added to their number daily those
who were being saved. That means that God added to the church,
on a daily basis, all who did what we just described in Vs. 36-41.
Thats how you became a Christian in the New Testament. Thats
how you were brought into the church in the first century. And
the way you get into the Church has forever been established by
the Holy Spirit through the teaching of the New Covenant apostles
and prophets. Why would you want to try to do it any other way?
(2) Matt. 16:18. Jesus promised, I will build my church.
And what you are reading in Acts 2, is the historical account
of the literal fulfillment of that prophecy made by Jesus.
(1) It literally happened and God recorded it in the New Testament.
This Book is God telling us when He established Christs
Church, where He established Christs Church and How He established
Christs Church. And in all of this He is telling us how
we, too, can get into that church. The rest of the New Testament
is Gods personal message to those of us in that church how
to live our lives and invite others into this glorious New Testament
Kingdom. Thats what Paul is talking about when he tells
the young preacher in 1 Tim. 3:14?15.
(2) The Bible is Scripture. It is God calling us into fellowship
with Him; God telling us how to worship Him in spirit and
in truth. 2 Tim. 3:16?17. All Scripture is God?breathed
(inspired by God) and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting
and training in righteousness, (Notice why.) so that the man of
God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. This
is the Word of God and this Word is how God calls to faith that
leads us to salvation and eternal life. Rom. 10:17?18. Faith
(the thing believed that leads to salvation) comes from hearing
the message, ( which is the gospel) and the message is heard through
the word of Christ. (The inspired teaching of the Holy Spirit).
You dont need anything else.
(2) Jno. 16:13?15. The Holy Spirit guided the apostles into all
truth. All means there is nothing left to be added.
You add to it, or take from it and its no longer what God
gave. They wrote it down and God has preserved it in this book.
This book contains All Truth. Everything you need for teaching,
rebuking from God, for correcting error and training in righteousness.
By reading, believing and obeying the instruction of this Book
you are completely equipped for everything God wants you to be,
and do. Who, in the name of God, is authorized to change it in
any way? No body!
(1) Thats why I said, a hundred times, Read it, believe
it, obey it and you will be saved. If you are not going to do
that, Why are you here?
(2) Acts 20:32.
Spur - 02/23/03 am
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