A Study of Authority “And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him; the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:47-48).

A Study of Authority Lesson 4 The Source of Authority (What it Is) (Presentations are basically an adaptation of material found in Billy W. Moore’s classbook, A Study of Authority)

Matthew 21:23 “Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?’” Shows the importance of the source of authority

Recapping What It Isn’t…  The Doctrine and practices of the Old Testament  What the Preachers Say  Creeds of men  Desires of the congregation  Elders of a local church  The Results accomplished

Is Jesus Christ! The Source of Divine Authority Is Jesus Christ! He is God’s ordained Spokesman Matthew 17:1-5; Hebrews 1:1-2

Matthew 17:1-5 “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.“ 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"

Hebrews 1:1-2 “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 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.” Christ is God’s last spokesman, and He requires that we listen to His Son, cf. Deut. 18:18-19

Deuteronomy 18:18-19 “I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 19 And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.”

Is Jesus Christ! The Source of Divine Authority Is Jesus Christ! He is God’s ordained Spokesman Matthew 17:1-5; Hebrews 1:1-2 He has All Authority in Heaven and Earth Matthew 28:18 Given by Father (1 Cor. 15:27) Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6:15)

Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.’”

1 Corinthians 15:27 “For ‘He has put all things under His feet.’ But when He says ‘all things are put under Him,’ it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted.” Authority was given to the Son by the Father in Heaven, who has the rightful power, and who put all things under him, with the exception of Himself.

1 Timothy 6:13-16 “I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.”

Is Jesus Christ! The Source of Divine Authority Is Jesus Christ! He is God’s ordained Spokesman Matthew 17:1-5; Hebrews 1:1-2 He has All Authority in Heaven and Earth Matthew 28:18 Given by Father (1 Cor. 15:27) Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6:15) He is the King raised up to sit on the throne of David 2 Sam. 7:16; Acts 2:30-32; 1 Cor. 15:24-26

2 Samuel 7:16 “And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” God’s promise to David

Acts 2:30-32 “Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.” Christ the fulfillment of that promise

1 Corinthians 15:24-26 “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” Christ is reigning on his throne even today

Is Jesus Christ! The Source of Divine Authority Is Jesus Christ! He is the head of the Body, the church Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18 We are subject to the head, Eph. 5:23-24

Ephesians 1:22-23 “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Colossians 1:18 “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence”

Ephesians 5:23-24 “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.” We must subject ourselves to the will of the head

Is Jesus Christ! The Source of Divine Authority Is Jesus Christ! He is the head of the Body, the church Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18 We are subject to the head, Eph. 5:23-24 All things must be done in His name Colossians 3:17 Some are not content to be restricted by the will of Christ (cf. Matt. 7:23; 15:9)

Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Nothing is acceptable unless it is allowed by the will of the Lord

Matthew 7:23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” The same concept over and over again. Everything must be done in accord with Christ’s will!

Matthew 15:9 “And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

Conclusion In this lesson we have:  Established that Jesus has the right to command; he has jurisdiction or legal authority…  He is God’s ordained spokesman  He has all authority in Heaven and on Earth  He is the seed of David, reigning as King  He is the head of the body, the church  He is the one in whose name all teaching and practice must be done.

Questions Lesson 4 The Source of Authority (What It Is!) ?

Question 1  Explain the difference between sending prophets and sending the Son. What is the significance in the fact that the son was sent last? Son has more authority. The most personal of God’s ambassadors. (Matthew 21:33-41) Last of all indicates that there will be no others. All “latter day” prophets are false!

Question 2  Is there any limitation to “all authority”? Does that leave available authority for any other? No, there is no limitation. Jesus alone has authority (cf. Matthew 28:18). Note, while there is no limitation, there is an exception. The Father who gives the authority is excepted, cf. 1 Cor. 15:27)

Question 3  What is the sign that Jesus is the Christ which God promised he would raise up to sit on the throne of David? The resurrection of Christ from the dead.

Question 4  What is the most significant aspect of headship? If Christ is head, what that mean for the body, the church? The most significant aspect of headship is authority. Christ, as head of the body, determines the functions of the body. The body has only to heed the instructions of the head. That is, to submit to the head’s directives.

Question 5  What does it mean to do something in the “name of Jesus”? Is it simply a verbal affirmation? No. Doing “in the name of” signifies authority. (ex: A diplomat who negotiates “in the name of” the President of the USA). Remember Jesus’ admonition, Matt. 7:21, “Not everyone who says unto me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven…”