Understanding Authority

Matt. 21:23-27 - Two sources of Authority

“The baptism of John--where was it from? From heaven or from men ?”

Heaven - God’s doctrine = revealed

Men - Doctrines of men = false

Authority = right, lawful

Matt. 28:18 “all power-authority”

Commandment

“right to exercise power”

False False StandardsStandards

Feelings Conscience Common Sense Creeds

GodGod

ChristChrist

ApostlesApostles

Holy SpiritHoly Spirit

New TestamentNew Testament

I. Examples from the Old Testament

Genesis 2:16-17Genesis 2:16-17 - Garden of Eden

Eat of every tree except one …

Tree of knowledge of Good and EvilTree of knowledge of Good and Evil

They ate of it !

Did it make any difference ?

NecessaryAllowed

Optional Forbidden Sinful Not authorized

All other trees

Tree of knowledge of good and evil

Garden of Eden

NecessaryAllowed


Cain and Abel

Animal Abel

Fruit of ground Cain

“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”

NecessaryAllowed


Noah and the Ark

Gopher

300X50X30

animals

1 window

8 people

½ cedar12 animalsNo skunksRelatives

How to cut

Length

Where

NecessaryAllowed


Nadab and Abihu

Strange Fire

Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. ESV

II. Application of this PrincipleTo New Testament Practices

GodGod

ChristChrist

Holy SpiritHoly Spirit

ApostlesApostles

New TestamentNew Testament

NecessaryAllowed


Baptism

Water

Burial

Remission

Infant

Sprinkling

Pouring

Warm/Cold

Baptistry

Pond

Preacher

Member

NecessaryAllowed


Worship

God

Spirit

and Truth

PlaceHour

NecessaryAllowed


1. Lord’s Supper

1st Day Unleavened

Fruit of vine

Thursday

Steak

Tea

Monthly

Hour

Before

After the sermon

NecessaryAllowed


2. Giving

1st Day

As prospered

Pie Supper

Car Wash

Bingo

Yard Sale

HatBoxTray

NecessaryAllowed


3. Prayer

In Jesus Name

Through Mary

Posture

NecessaryAllowed


4. Teaching/Preaching

All WorldGospel Women

preachers

TravelVisual Aids

“And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.”

NecessaryAllowed


5. Singing

Sing Instrument

Choir

Song books

Number of songs

“singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”

Many say:

“The Bible does not forbid it.”

The Silence of the ScriptureDoes not authorize aReligious Practice !

Baptism

The Bible does not say: “You must not sprinkle water upon a baby as

a religious act.”


Worship

The Bible does not say: “You must not count beads as an act of

worship.”


Marriage

The Bible does not say: “You must not have 40 wives.”


Singing in Worship

The Bible does not say: “You shall not use instrumental music in

worship.”


NecessaryAllowed


5. Singing

Sing Instrument

Choir

Song books

Number of songs

The Bible is our authority in religion.

We must have Bible authority for all that we do.

1 Pet. 4:11a “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;”

“If any one preaches, let him always preach as one who utters God's truth;” [MNT]

II John 9 “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.”

Sermon by Arthur Pigman

Evans Church of Christ

515 Gibbs Road

Evans, Ga. 30809

706-855-1249

[email protected]@bellsouth.net

www.evansgachurchofchrist.orgwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org

Sunday Morning Jan. 19, 2014

Documents

Understanding Authority