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 it’s King, it’s 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 that’s 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 Christ’s 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 that’s the way men have
become Christians ever since that day and there is no other way. Jude 3, says,
“It’s been established that way and it’s 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 God’s 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 (That’s 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 do—they 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 Christ’s 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. That’s how you became a Christian in the New Testament. That’s 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 Christ’s Church, where He established Christ’s Church and How He established Christ’s 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 God’s personal message to those of us in that church how to live our lives and invite others into this glorious New Testament Kingdom. That’s 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 don’t 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 it’s 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) That’s 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