1. Do You Believe the Bible

2. What is Authority ? # 1

3. Authority = “the right to command and to enforce obedience” Authorize = “To empower, permit, to justify, to furnish ground for.” Authorized = “Sanctioned or approved by authority” Merriam-Webster Dictionary

4. “Exousia” Greek Greek - “The power of rule; the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed.”

5. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Matt. 28:18 “jurisdiction, power, right, strength.”

6. “as You have given Him authority over all flesh…” Jn. 17:2 “To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.” Jude 25

7. Need for Authority ? # 2

8. Authority is the Regulator of our lives Authority is the Regulator of our lives Driving

9. Authority is the Regulator of our lives Authority is the Regulator of our lives Government

10. Authority is the Regulator of our lives Authority is the Regulator of our lives Heights and Measures

11. Religious World Requires Authority Judges 21:25 “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 chaos division different doctrines

12. Respect for Authority ? # 3

13. Respect Respect = to consider worthy of esteem, regard, honor, consideration World has lost respect for authority God is the lawgiver – we are the law keepers God is the Creator – we are the created

14. False Standards of Authority # 4

15. 1. Majority Opinion  “Voice of people = voice of God”  Asia = Buddhist  Italy = Catholic  World = Atheist, infidel Majority is not always right

16. 1. Majority Opinion “ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” Matt. 7:13-14

17. 2. Man’s Conscience “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” Jer. 10:23 “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Prov. 14:12 Saul – had a good conscience But he was wrong – Acts 23:1

18. 3. Philosophers & Wise Men  Acts 17:18 – Athens  1 Cor. 1:26 – not many wise men  Some wise men do not know God  Contradict One another  Contradict the Bible

19. 4. Kinfolks  Are our relatives our authority?  4 Generations = 30  5 Generations = 62  Rare if they all are the same

20. 4. Kinfolks “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” Matt. 10:37 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.” Lk. 14:26

21. 5. Human Creeds  Contradict one another  Contradict the Bible  Cause division and confusion

22. 5. Human Creeds “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one” Jn. 17:20-21 “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matt. 15:9

23. The chain of Authority # 5

24. “…For there is no power but of God.” Rom. 13:1  Supreme in authority  “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being…” Acts 17:28  Father, Son and Holy Spirit God

25. Matt.17:5 “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear Him.” Matt.17:5 “ ” Heb.1:1-2 “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds ” Heb.1:1-2 God Christ

26. Christ delegated his authority to the Apostles John 14:26 John 16:12-14 God Inspired Apostles Christ

28. Holy Spirit guided them into all truth God Inspired Apostles Christ

29. Speak as the Oracles of God # 6

30. “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God.” 1 Pet. 4:11 Oracles = His written Word The Bible is our one and only Source of Authority in Religion !

31. Do You Believe the Bible

32. Yes No  Maybe - Partly  Believe parts of the Bible Partial Obedience is Disobedience The Bible does not become outdated

33. IN CHRIST “ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS” (EPH. 1:3) SALVATION (2 TIM. 2:10) “NO CONDEMNATION” (ROM. 8:1) “NEW CREATION” (2 COR. 5:17) BAPTISM ROM. 6:3-4