How to Establish Religious Authority #13

A. Last week, in this series, we learned that in the Bible there are different kinds of commands that fall
under the Law of God. There are generic laws and there are specific laws. And knowing the
difference between the two is very important. We studied the difference in the kinds of music we are
commanded to offer up to God in our praise, adoration and worship.
In addition to generic and specific commands, some commands in the Bible are limited in their scope or application. And some commands are universal. What does that mean? Some commands are not meant to be observed by everybody. Some commands were given to a specific group of people and do not apply to anyone but that specified group of people. And then there are some commands that are universal in their application. That means they apply to everyone, in every church, in every place, in a dispensation of time.
1. Example: God said, in Ex. 20:8. "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” What is the Sabbath day? It is the seventh day, the last day of the week (That was yesterday. We call it Saturday). Question? Why did we not observe yesterday as a holy day? Why didn’t we gather together yesterday, instead of coming together this morning on the first day of the week?
(1) The command is in the Bible. It is an empirical, specific command given by God. Why do we not obey it? We do not keep that command because it was not given universally. It was not given to the entire world. It was given the Jewish Nation and it was exclusively theirs.
(1) How do I know that? The Bible tells me that. At the end of Israel’s 40 year period of wandering in the wilderness, Moses speaks to the entire nation in Deut. 5:2?3. This command was given only to the nation of Israel under the law of Moses. Ezek. 20:12.
(1) This states that this Sabbath Law was never given to any non-Jew outside of the Law of Moses and the nation of Israel. It was never meant to be binding on Christians in any way. This specifically states that the Sabbath Day of Worship was for the Jews only. It was given as a SIGN of the covenant relationship between God and the nation of Israel.
(2) I wear this wedding ring as a sign of the covenant relationship between me and my wife. She might become upset if I go around giving rings to and receiving rings from all the ladies in this congregation. This ring is the sign of the special one-of-a-kind relationship I have with her. That’s what the Sabbath was to the nation of Israel. God did not have that covenant relationship with any of the other nations in the world. And that’s the statement of Psa. 147:19?20.
(2) Another Example: New Testament command not one of you have ever obeyed. In Lk. 24:49, Jesus said, (Its is an imperative. That means it is a command) “...wait in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." The city under consideration here is Jerusalem. Jesus tells some people, “Stay in Jerusalem until the power from on high comes upon you.”
(1) To whom is that command given? The apostles. Not to you or me or the man down the street. Jesus is about to ascend back up into heaven and wants the apostles to know they will not be left alone. In Jno. 16:13, He had promised them, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.” He tells them, “Go into the city of Jerusalem and wait for that to happen.”
(2) Just because a command is given in the Bible does not mean that you are obligated to obey it or practice it. Not all commands and observances given by God are Universal in nature.
(2) Opposite Example: Paul speaks to the people in Athens in Acts 17:30, “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.” Repentance is an imperative command given to all people. It is Universal in nature. “All
people everywhere.” Who does that miss? To whom does it not apply? That means it is
necessary for your salvation. Jesus stated it this way in, Lk. 13:3, “Unless you repent, you
will all perish.”

(1) Here’s another Example: While some commands are permanent some commands are limited by their temporary nature. The entire 14th Chapter of 1 Corinthians deals with the proper use of miraculous gifts that were bestowed in the church in the First century.
It begins with a Command, 1 Cor. 14:1. You could not be indifferent about Spiritual
Gifts in the first century church. Not everybody had them. But, everybody was
obligated to desire to be used in that exalted capacity. Be open to being the kind of
person God could use in a supernatural way.
(1) But I know that is not a command that is to be permanent in the church. How do I know that? In the previous chapter, 1 Cor. 13:8?10. Tongues was the supernatural
ability to speak God’s word in a language you never learned to speak.
(2) Acts 2:4-11. Enable you to go preach the Gospel in any language. Miraculous knowledge of God’s will and prophecy were special spiritual gifts to help the first century church to know God’s will for them. When the completed will of God is written down in black and white you won’t need these temporary miraculous, spiritual gifts to make known and to teach God’s Word to all the world. That which is perfect has already come.
(3) Paul talks about it in Rom. 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is?his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Jas. 1:25, calls this word, “The perfect law of liberty.” That which is perfect has come in the form of the perfect and only sacrifice for our sins. That’s Jesus. And He brought with Him the Perfect Law of Liberty. He sent His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, Jno. 16:13, and that truth is His eternal Word that teaches us how to worship God in Spirit and in Truth. And this Book is it.
(2) We know God did that because two apostles say that. Eph. 3:2-6. 2 Pet. 1:12?15. How is he doing that? By putting it in written form. God did that with the Old Testament. Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11?12.
(1) Guess what? God did that with the New Testament also and we have it here in black and white. You don’t need the gift of prophesy to tell you God’s will. You now have it here to read over and over and to memorize. You don’t need the gift of knowledge to make God’s will understandable. You have it in this Book and it is written in such a way that you have to work hard to misunderstand it. You do not need the gift of tongues so you can miraculously speak a foreign language to preach the Gospel to all the world. It has already been translated into every language on the face of the earth and People everywhere can and are being taught God’s Word in every language under heaven.
(2) Listen to the words of Jesus in Jno. 12:48?49. Hear the words of this book, believe the words of this book, obey the words of this book and you will be saved.
(3) Acts 20:32.

Spur - 04/27/03 am