How Scriptural Authority is Established
Authority is the right to command or direct, enforce obedience or or administer
punishment or reward.
To authorize a thing is to empower to act, or direct by authority.
In spiritual and in christian affairs, all authority comes from God.
I. God gave his authority, absolute authority, to Jesus Christ.
He is God’s law giver
Heb. 1:2 "Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his son, whom he hath
appointed hier of all things."
"This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear him."
Acts 3:22 "For Moses said, "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto your
brethern, like unto me..."
Col. 2:14-17
Matt. 28:18
This includes legislative, executive and judicial-He is the head of the church.
Eph. 1:19-23
Col. 1:18 "And he is the head of the body, the church..."
Just as our head controlls the body so Christ controlls the church.
The church is not a democracy but a Monarchy, Christ is the King.
Elders like mayors. Decons-councilmen.
Col. 3:17 "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."
Matt. 28:18-20
Christ gave binding and loosing Authority to his Apostles only Matt. 15:1-9
Matt. 16:19 "And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of God; and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shalt be bound in heaven and..."
1) Human authority makes worship in vain. Matt 15:8-9
2) Human authority shall be rooted up. Matt 15:13
3) Even those who follow blindly are lost Matt 15:14
Proper authority and respect for the authority of Christ can only be shown by
respecting the authority of the apostles.
Acts 1:7-8
John 16:7-14
John 20:21-23
I Corn. 14:37
Follow their example & pattern.
No man has the right to go beyond this.
II John 9 "Whosoever trangresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath no
God. He that abideth in the doctorine of Christ, he hath both the Father & the
Son."
The scriptures are complete, perfect and sufficient.
II Tim. 3:13-17; II Peter 1:3
We are forbidden to change this doctorine. Gal 1:6-8
We must follow the apostolic way or pattern. Phil 3:16-19
I Thess 2:14 "For ye, brethern, become followers of the churches of God which in
Judea are in Christ Jesus..."
I Corr 4:16 "Follow me as I follow Christ"
I Corr 4:17 sent Timothy "bring in remberance of my way as I teach every where in
every church."
How to establish New Testament authority for anything.
1) By precept-that direct statement or positive command. "Children obey parents in
the Lord."
2) By approved example-by this we mean a practice of the New Testament church
under the guidance of the apostles.
Acts 20:7
I Corr 16:2 first day of the week
3) Necessary inferance-though not stated we can see that it is necessary by use of
the language. (Building)
Consider the Lord’s supper
Luke 22:16-19 "This do in remembrance of me." Precept.
Example: the bread-inferance something to put it on.
Fruit of vine-necessary something to contain it.
Approved example:
Acts 20:6-7 Paul waited at Troas 7 days-obviously waiting for the 1st day of the
week.
How often upon the first day of the week?
The New Testament church came together every 1st day and the purpose was to
remember his death in breaking bread.
Authority is General (Generic) or Specific
Example:
Matt 28:19 "Go" walk, ride, fly, sail? anyway.
Example:
Matt 28:19-20 Private (house to house)
Acts 20:20 Common meal
Public
I Corr 14:29-34
I Corr 11
"What have ye not houses to eat in" Not a common meal
Assemble
Heb 10:25
Home, rented hall, own meeting house, outside
Eph 5:19 Sing
Col 3:16
With book or memory?
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, also-Fact he said sing exludes other types of music &
instruments of any kind.
God has made choice as regards to his church and man must either comply or rebel.
Noah and the ark. Gopher wood! Excluded all other wood. Gen 6:22
