"THE CHURCH JESUS BUILT"
Other Thoughts Related To Authority
INTRODUCTION
1. We saw in our previous lesson...
a. What is our obligation regarding authority
b. How one can use the New Testament to establish authority
2. Two more questions remain in our consideration matters related to
authority...
a. Are there limitations placed upon how far we may go in matters of religion?
b. Will having the same standard of authority guarantee unity
among followers of Christ?
[To help answer these questions, first consider these...]
I. WARNINGS FOUND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
A. WE MUST NOT CHANGE ITS MESSAGE...!
1. This is especially true in regards to the gospel of Christ!
- Ga 1:8-9
2. Even if authorized by an angelic messenger, we would be accursed!
3. Therefore, the gospel of salvation in Christ must be preserved
in every respect!
B. WE MUST NOT ADD TO OR TAKE AWAY FROM IT...!
1. We find such a warning at the conclusion of the last book of
the Bible - Re 22:18-19
2. Though primarily applicable to the book of Revelation, this
warning is consistent with others pertaining to the revelation
of God's will to man - Deut 4:2; Pr 30:5-6
C. WE MUST ABIDE IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST...!
1. Otherwise, we will not have fellowship with the Father and the
Son - 2Jn 9
2. Is this passage referring to the doctrine about Christ, or the
doctrine taught by Christ (along with His apostles)?
a. As pointed out in the Expositor's Bible Commentary, the
question is of little importance for John holds equally to
both positions
1) It is fundamental to the faith to hold to the proper
views about Christ - 2Jn 7
2) It is fundamental to the faith to obey the commandments
of Christ - 1Jn 3:24
b. Thus what John says here applies in either case
D. WE MUST NOT ALLOW TRADITIONS OF MEN TO MAKE THE COMMANDS
OF GOD OF NO EFFECT...!
1. Jesus charged the Pharisees with 'vain worship' for doing this
- Mk 7:5-13
2. In view of this warning, we should evaluate our religious practices:
a. Are they based upon traditions of men, or the commandments of God?
b. If traditions of men, does our keeping them render the
commands of God of no effect?
c. E.g., by keeping the man-made tradition of sprinkling for
baptism, we render the command of God for immersion (Grk.
baptizo) of no effect
E. WE MUST NOT ABUSE OUR LIBERTY IN CHRIST...!
1. In Christ we enjoy freedom, but we must be careful in our use
of it - Ga 5:1,13
2. We must be considerate of our brothers' consciences - Ro 14:14-15:3
3. We should be willing to forego our liberty rather than let it
destroy a brother - 1Co 8:9-13
4. We should not only ask "Is it lawful?", but also "Does it
edify?" - 1Co 10:23-24,31-33
[With such warnings weighing upon our hearts, we are more likely to
approach the Word of God with the humility it deserves as we seek to
establish the authority for our service to God.
Now for our last question related to having the same standard of
authority: Will it guarantee unity among the followers of Christ...?]
II. HAVING THE SAME STANDARD DOES NOT GUARANTEE UNITY
A. THERE ARE STILL CHALLENGES TO FACE...
1. Which commands are binding today?
a. Some commands must be understood to be limited in application
b. Effort must be made to determine whether a command was
intended to be limited or universal in application
2. Which approved examples are to be considered normative for the
church today?
a. Much of what we learn about the church pertaining to its
work and organization is by example, not precept
b. Effort must be made to determine whether an example should
be understood as teaching a binding principle for the church
to observe universally
3. When are necessary implications really necessary implications?
a. People often infer things from the Bible and call their
conclusion a necessary implication
b. But it may only be a possible implication, not one
necessarily inferred
-- These are questions or challenges faced by every congregation
of Christians
B. WE NEED THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST...
1. Barton W. Stone, a promoter of Christian unity in the early
1800's, had these insightful words in an article entitled
"Christian Union" published in The Christian Messenger (1828):
"On no other foundation can the parties ever meet, than on the
Bible alone, without note or comment; and in no other name will
they ever unite, but in that given to the disciples at Antioch-
-CHRISTIAN. But should all the professors of Christianity
reject all their various creeds and names, and agree to receive
the Bible alone, and be called by no other name than Christian,
will this unite them? No, we are fully convinced that unless
they all possess the spirit of that book and name they are far,
very far, from Christian union." (As quoted by J. M. Powell,
The Cause We Plead: A Story Of The Restoration Movement, 20th
Century Christian, 1987, p. 56)
2. In addition to agreeing on the same standard of authority
(i.e., the Word of God), we need the proper spirit to "rightly
divide the word of truth" - cf. 2Ti 2:14-16
3. As Paul told Timothy, the servant of the Lord must carefully
apply the Word when seeking to teach others - 2Ti 2:23-25
4. We need to have the proper attitudes to maintain the unity of
the Spirit - Ep 4:1-3
5. We need to have the mind of Christ to be of one accord, of one
mind - Php 2:1-5
CONCLUSION
1. The Bible teaches us, not only by way of direct commands, but through
approved examples and necessary implications
2. It is helpful to understand the principles of general and specific
authority, and when something may be expedient to fulfill things that
are authorized
3. Warnings throughout the scriptures should serve to keep us on "the
straight and narrow"
4. But as valuable and needful the same standard of authority may be,
simple agreement on what the standard is will not guarantee unity
- we need to apply the proper spirit of love, patience and humility
as we grow together towards unity in Christ
5. What is our attitude toward the authority of God's Word? Are we willing...
a. To accept the authority of Jesus Christ, as delegated to His
apostles?
b. To adopt the mind of Christ, as illustrated in His sacrificial
life and death?
Again, our answer will determine whether we are "The Church Jesus
Built"... - cf. Mt 28:18-20
Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011
