Authority Is Necessary in All Matters of Life! Having authority is a necessity of life – in a home, school, nation, religion, etc. Authority makes the difference between harmonious unity and chaotic confusion Nowhere else is authority as essential as it is in religion An objective standard is absolutely crucial when it comes to our eternal salvation! Jesus taught that there are only two sources of authority (Matt 21:23-27) One source of authority is from Heaven, the other is from Men

Man’s Attempts to Identify His Own Authority in Religion Have Always Failed! Man has sought “externally” for an adequate source of authority: Follow the majority Follow a group of men—councils, synods, conferences Follow a man—like the Pope or a favorite preacher Follow human traditions/commandments of men Follow human creeds—confessions of faith, manuals, disciplines Follow the religious beliefs of our ancestors

Man’s Attempts to Identify His Own Authority in Religion Have Always Failed! Man has sought “internally” for an adequate source of authority: Personal feelings Individual conscience & sincerity Human wisdom & reasoning Direct (modern-day) revelation from God Neither man nor any of his devices are an adequate authority in religion “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12) “…It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23)

Christ Alone Has All Authority in Religious Matters! The only authority in religion is the authority of Heaven, of God Himself (Acts 17:24-31; Gen. 1-3) All authority was given by the Father unto Christ (Matt. 28:18) Christ’s authority resides in His Word (Heb. 1:1-2; John 12:48-50) Christ delivered His all-authoritative Word to His apostles through the Holy Spirit (John 17:8, 14; 14:26; 16:13, 7-15) The apostles spoke and wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:20-21; 2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Thess. 2:13; 1 Cor. 14:37; 2:11-13) Thus, the very authority of God is inherent in the words of the Bible God’s written word will be the only standard of authority on the day of judgment (John 12:48; Rev. 20:12; Acts 17:30-31)

The All-Authoritative Word of God Is the Only All-Sufficient and All-Delivered Standard of Authority! God’s Word is all-sufficient – it is complete and lacking in nothing (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3) God’s Word is all-delivered – it has all been given and there is nothing else to be given (Jude 3) God’s Word is the only gospel that Christ gave to be preached on this earth (Gal. 1:6-9)

Man’s Only Proper Response Is to Respect and Obey the All-Authoritative Word! We must accept God’s will completely (Luke 10:16) We must do all things by the authority of Christ (Col. 3:17) We must not add to or subtract from God’s Word (Rev. 22:18-19) We must not modify, substitute or pervert the will of God (Gal. 1:6-9) We must not go beyond that which is written (1 Cor. 4:6) We must not speak beyond that which is written (1 Pet. 4:11) We must obey Christ’s Words to prepare for judgment (Jn. 12:48) We must respect & obey God’s Word to enter heaven (Mt. 7:21)

God Will Not Tolerate That Which Is Unauthorized! Whatever is not authorized by God is not acceptable to God, even if “intended to be” Cain’s worship (Gen. 4:1-5) Nadab & Abihu’s worship (Lev. 10:1-3) The Pharisees’ worship (Matt. 15:7-9) Uzzah’s “well-intentioned” touch (2 Sam. 6:3-7) Moses’ striking the rock instead of speaking (Num. 20:7-12) Eternal condemnation awaits anyone who disregards the authority of God’s Word “And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matt. 7:23) “These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thess. 1:8-9)

Conclusion Man must recognize his own inferiority before God (Isa. 55:7-8) Man must look to Christ and His Word for authority in all religious matters (Col. 3:17) Man must learn to “Speak where the Bible speaks” (1 Pet. 4:11) Man must live his life and prepare for the day of judgment by respecting God’s authority, limiting himself to it and obeying it (Matt. 7:21) There are only two possible sources of authority (Matt. 21:23-27) “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29)