"THE CHURCH JESUS BUILT" The Authority Of The Church by Mark Copeland

 

 

 

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"THE CHURCH JESUS BUILT"

The Authority Of The Church

INTRODUCTION

1. In examining the nature of the Lord's church as revealed in the Bible...
1. We find a distinction between the church universal and the church local
2. We do not find the denominational concept of the church so prevalent today
2. What has contributed to the development and proliferation of denominations today...?
1. It really comes down to the issue of authority
2. For what distinguishes one denomination from another is their authority
3. Authority in religion is a very important issue for those interested in the Lord's church...
1. It is impossible to maintain unity unless we agree upon the same standard of authority
1. The unity for which Christ prayed - Jn 17:20-21
2. To avoid the division of which Paul condemned - 1Co 1:10-13
2. This is true in all areas of life
1. Imagine the confusion if we did not have a standard relating to weights and measures
2. We could not even agree on the length of a line, the volume of a tank of gasoline, etc.
3. Confusion would reign supreme in the market place if we did not all agree on one standard of authority in regards to weights and measures
3. This is especially true in matters of religion...
1. If people can agree on the standard of authority in religious matters, unity is possible when we submit to that same standard
2. There are other elements necessary to have unity (which I will discuss later), but without a standard of authority upon which we all agree, unity is impossible!

[What should be the standard of authority for Christ's church? Let's begin with a point with which I am sure all those professing to be Christians can agree...]

1. JESUS CHRIST HAS BEEN GIVEN ALL AUTHORITY
1. SO HE CLAIMED...
1. He claimed all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him - Mt 28:18
2. He therefore expects us to observe all things He has commanded - Mt 28:19-20
2. SO HIS APOSTLES TAUGHT...
1. He is the head of the body (the church) - Ep 1:22-23
2. As such, we are to submit to Him in everything - Ep 5:23-24

[If Jesus were on earth today, we could solve all religious questions by simply asking Him. But since He is not on earth, what then? This leads to our next point...]

2. JESUS HAS DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO HIS APOSTLES
1. TO RECEIVE CHRIST, WE MUST RECEIVE HIS APOSTLES...
1. As Jesus taught in Jn 13:20
1. Note that the word 'apostle' means 'one sent'
2. So as Jesus speaks of 'whomever I send', He has particular reference to His apostles
2. The apostles were sent as 'ambassadors' for Christ - cf. 2 Co 5:20
3. Therefore the early church "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine" - Ac 2:42
2. TO ENSURE RELIABILITY, JESUS PROMISED THE HOLY SPIRIT...
1. Who would teach the apostles all things, reminding them of what Jesus said - Jn 14:26
2. The Spirit would guide the apostles into all truth - Jn 16:12-13
3. THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDED THEM INTO 'ALL' THE TRUTH...
1. Paul said he taught "the whole counsel of God" - cf. Ac 20:27
2. Peter wrote God "has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness" - 2Pe 1:3

[So the apostles were given all the truth God (and Christ) wanted us to know. If the apostles were on earth today, we could simply ask them to settle religious differences. But again, they are not on earth. What then...?]

3. THE APOSTLES HAVE WRITTEN WHAT CHRIST WANTS US TO KNOW!
1. IN THE N.T., WE HAVE WHAT THE APOSTLES WERE GIVEN BY THE SPIRIT...
1. As Paul explained in Ep 3:1-5
2. He wrote, so that when we read his writings we can have his same understanding
3. Peter wrote his epistles that we might always be reminded - 2Pe 1:12-15; 3:1-2
2. IN THE N.T., WE HAVE THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD HIMSELF...
1. As Paul made clear in 1Co 14:37
2. As Peter confirmed, such writings as Paul's were considered Scripture - 2Pe 3:15-16
3. Therefore, when we have questions about what the Lord would have us to do...
1. We don't have to ascend to heaven for an answer
2. We don't have to ask Jesus personally, nor His apostles
3. We simply need to turn to the apostles' writing (i.e., the New Testament)!

[In the New Testament, the repository of the "apostles' doctrine", we can turn to learn the will of Jesus, given through His inspired ambassadors, the apostles. But this raises another question: Is the New Testament a complete guide for us today; i.e., is it sufficient...?]

4. THE NEW TESTAMENT IS A COMPLETE, ALL-SUFFICIENT GUIDE
1. IT MUST BE COMPLETE, FOR "THE FAITH" HAS BEEN REVEALED "ONCE FOR ALL"...
1. Consider carefully the words of Jude - Jude 3
2. "Once for all" literally means "one time for all time"
3. We cannot expect further revelation in the future
4. The writings of the apostles as collected in the New Testament are all we have
5. Our task, is not to look for further revelation, but to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints"!
2. ACCORDING TO THE APOSTLES, THESE WRITINGS (SCRIPTURES) ARE INDEED SUFFICIENT...
1. Sufficient to make one complete, furnished unto every good work - 2Ti 3:16-17
2. They provide all we need to enjoy life and godliness - 2Pe 1:3
3. By heeding the writings of the apostles...
1. We will have the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
   - cf. 2Pe 1:8-9
2. An abundant entrance will be supplied into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - cf. 2Pe 1:10-11
3. WE ARE LEFT WITH GOD'S PROVIDENCE AND HIS WORD...
1. As Paul prepared the elders of the church at Ephesus for his departure, he commended them to God and the word of His grace - Ac 20:32
1. He did not instruct them to appoint apostles to take his place
2. He did not instruct them to seek further revelation (for Paul had already proclaimed "the whole counsel of God" to them - Ac 20:27
2. He simply directed them to two things:
1. To God Himself (i.e., His Divine Providence)
2. The word of His grace (that word which had been revealed by Paul himself)
3. These two blessings, Paul was confident, were able to do two things:
1. Build them up
2. Give them an inheritance among all those who are sanctified

CONCLUSION

1. The New Testament, then, is how...
1. Christ speaks to us today
2. He leads us to life everlasting!
2. It is through the writing of the apostles, the apostles' doctrine, that the Lord speaks and directs His Church...!
1. It is the apostles' doctrine that is the standard of authority in matters of religion
2. It is the apostles' doctrine in which we must 'continue steadfastly"! - cf. Ac 2:42
3. There is more to be said about authority in religion, which we will cover in the next lesson

But I hope that our attitude is such that what was said about the Thessalonians can also be said of us (cf. 1Th 2:13). Is that our attitude toward "the apostles' doctrine"...?

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