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The Necessity for Authority in Religious Matters “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” (Col. 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” (Col. 3:17). “And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, ‘By what power or by what name have you done this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the “stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.” Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’” (Acts 4:7-12). “And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, ‘By what power or by what name have you done this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the “stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.” Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’” (Acts 4:7-12).

The Necessity for Authority in Religious Matters We are obligated to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). We are obligated to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). – “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). – “Without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6). – Thus, we must walk by the Word of God in order to please God. “…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?’ But Jesus answered and said to them, ‘I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John--where was it from? From heaven or from men?’ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” He will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “From men,” we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus and said, ‘We do not know.’ And He said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things’” (Matt. 21:23-27). “…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?’ But Jesus answered and said to them, ‘I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John--where was it from? From heaven or from men?’ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” He will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “From men,” we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus and said, ‘We do not know.’ And He said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things’” (Matt. 21:23-27).

The Necessity for Authority in Religious Matters This is a tremendously important matter! This is a tremendously important matter! – Unless we know how God/Bible authorizes, we cannot be sure about anything we do or say in the realm of religion. – Consider these Bible examples: Abel offered an animal sacrifice Abel offered an animal sacrifice Noah built an ark Noah built an ark Abraham built an altar to worship God Abraham built an altar to worship God Moses built the tabernacle Moses built the tabernacle Israelites approached God through a priest of Levi Israelites approached God through a priest of Levi Israelite men gathered in Jerusalem three times per year Israelite men gathered in Jerusalem three times per year David commanded instrumental music in worship David commanded instrumental music in worship OT characters practiced polygamy, burnt incense in worship, etc. OT characters practiced polygamy, burnt incense in worship, etc. – If I can do these things, and if I must do these things—how can I know that I can and how can I know that I must? – If I cannot do these things, and if I must not do these things—how can I know that I cannot or must not? – How do we decide? – How do we ascertain Bible authority for matters today?

God Demands Biblical Authority for a Christian’s Work and Worship Walk by faith! By the Word of God! To be pleasing! Walk by faith! By the Word of God! To be pleasing! “…That you may learn in us not to think beyond [go beyond, ASV] what is written” (1 Cor. 4:6). “…That you may learn in us not to think beyond [go beyond, ASV] what is written” (1 Cor. 4:6). “I marvel that you are turning away…to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:6-9). “I marvel that you are turning away…to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:6-9). “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18-19). “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18-19).

God Demands Biblical Authority for a Christian’s Work and Worship The Scriptures teach that in Christian work and worship we must do only that which is authorized by the Word of God. The Scriptures teach that in Christian work and worship we must do only that which is authorized by the Word of God. It is possible for human beings to ascertain that which is authorized by the Word of God. It is possible for human beings to ascertain that which is authorized by the Word of God. It is possible for human beings to practice in Christian work and worship only that which is authorized by the Word of God. It is possible for human beings to practice in Christian work and worship only that which is authorized by the Word of God. How does a Christian ascertain Scriptural authority for his actions and attitudes? How does a Christian ascertain Scriptural authority for his actions and attitudes?

God Will Not Tolerate That Which Is Not Authorized Whatever is not authorized by God is not acceptable to God, even if it is “intended to be” acceptable. Whatever is not authorized by God is not acceptable to God, even if it is “intended to be” acceptable. – Cain’s worship (surely intended to be acceptable) was not acceptable to God (Gen. 4:2-5). – Israel’s worship (surely intended to be acceptable) was not acceptable to God (cf. Mal. 1:6-9). “A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’ You offer defiled food on My altar. But say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table of the LORD is contemptible.’ And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?’ Says the LORD of hosts. ‘But now entreat God's favor, That He may be gracious to us. While this is being done by your hands, Will He accept you favorably?’ Says the LORD of hosts.” “A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’ You offer defiled food on My altar. But say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table of the LORD is contemptible.’ And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?’ Says the LORD of hosts. ‘But now entreat God's favor, That He may be gracious to us. While this is being done by your hands, Will He accept you favorably?’ Says the LORD of hosts.” – The worship of the Pharisees and scribes (surely intended to be acceptable) was not acceptable to God (Matt. 15:7-9).

God Will Not Tolerate That Which Is Not Authorized The Bible often uses the word “strange” in the sense of “not acceptable because not authorized”: The Bible often uses the word “strange” in the sense of “not acceptable because not authorized”: – Nadab & Abihu “offered strange/profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD” (Lev. 10:1-2). – “King Solomon loved many strange women” (1 Kings 11:1). – Israel also did “this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange/pagan wives” (Neh. 13:27). – Sodom and Gomorrah had “gone after strange flesh” (Jude 7). – We are warned about being “carried about with various and strange doctrines” (Heb. 13:9).

We Must Stand on Bible Truth & Avoid Destructiveness of Extremes BIBLE TRUTH Authority Makes laws God did not make Treats matters of opinion as matters of faith Seeks to bind where God has not bound Disregards laws God did make Treats matters of faith as matters of opinion Seeks to loose where God has bound One extreme Another extreme “Do all in the name of the Lord” (Col. 3:17). Do “not go beyond what is written” (1 Cor. 4:6). Do not add to or take away from His Word (Rev. 22:18-19). Man’s tendency is to react from one extreme to an opposite extreme. Extremes breed extremes. Truth lies between extremes.

We Must Know How God Does Not Authorize God does not authorize by: God does not authorize by: – My personal likes or dislikes (Prov. 14:12) – What pleases me (John 8:29) – Erroneous conclusions which I may reach (2 Kings 5:11) – My opinion or the opinions of others (2 Peter 1:20) – What is popular – What my friends and family say or believe – What my preacher says or believes – What a well-known or highly respected brother says – Human traditions (Matt. 15:9; Col. 2:8) – My inability to “see any harm in it” (2 Sam. 6:3-7) – Long-standing practices or “what we’ve always done/believed” – What I feel in my heart (Acts 23:1; 1 Tim. 1:15; Prov. 28:26) Many points in this lesson adapted from Roy Deaver’s Ascertaining Bible Authority