1. Two Most Recent Lessons in Series on Authority Our Need for Divine Authority. The Source of Divine Authority. It is Not: –The Old Testament. –Human Traditions. –The Voice of the Preacher. –The Creeds of men. –The Wishes of the Local Church. –The End Results.

2. Jesus Christ Is our Source of Divine Authority! He has “all authority,” Matt. 28:18. He is head over the church, Eph. 1:22,23 He is the “one mediator” between God and man, I Tim. 2:5. He will judge us in the last day, Acts 17:30-31. God speaks to us through His Son, Heb. 1:1-2; 9:15-17.

3. The Proper Attitude Toward Divine Authority: Jesus Christ is the living word, John 1:1- 3; His New Testament is the written word, Eph. 3:3-5. Our Attitude toward His Written word reflects our attitude toward the Living word. Attitude defined: “Position, disposition, or manner with regards to a person or thing.”

4. Six Major Categories which Reflect Attitudes toward the Scriptures: Rationalism. Mysticism. Catholicism. Neo-orthodoxy. Cultism. Orthodoxy.

5. Rationalism “The theory that the exercise of reason, rather than the acceptance of empiricism, authority, or spiritual revelation, provides the only valid basis for action or belief, and that reason is the prime source of knowledge and of spiritual truth. This approach tends to accept only those parts of the Bible that reason approves. Essentially in rationalism, the mind becomes the final authority!

6. Mysticism The premise that divine revelation is not limited to the Bible, but that God continues to give us new truth. The attitude which gave us The Seventh Day Adventist Church, the Mormon Church, Islam, modern day “Pentecostals,” etc.

7. Catholicism The belief that the Roman Catholic Church gave us the Bible, and is the final authority on how the Bible is to be interpreted. The belief that more truth is available, but that it can only come through the Catholic Church!

8. Neo-Orthodoxy The belief that the Bible contains the word of God. It is not the belief that the Bible is the word of God! The belief that the individual becomes the final judge as to what in the Bible is actually the word of God!

9. Cultism The Belief that the Bible, plus other writings, is authoritative. Illus. Mormons view the Bible as the word of God (“so far as it is correctly translated”), but they view the Book of Mormon as equally inspired – as well as Doctrines and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great price. To them, the Bible is inferior to these others books!

10. Orthodoxy The belief that the Bible alone is the supreme authority for determining faith and practice. Note: This is the only position which actually harmonizes with the Bible!

11. Consider the Attitude of Jesus Regarding the Scriptures: Jesus Believed in the Supremacy of the Bible! Matthew 19:3-6, Gen. 2:24. Jesus believed in the inerrancy of the Bible, John 17:17. –Jesus did not say the word of God contains truth; He said “thy word is truth!” Jesus believed in the Authority of the Bible, Matt. 4:4,7,10.

12. The Attitude of Jesus Regarding the Bible, Con’t. Jesus believed in the Historical Accuracy of the Bible, Matt. 12:40; 24:37-39; 19:3-6. Jesus believed in the divine Inspiration of the Bible, Matt. 22:41-46. Jesus was committed to doing God’s will regardless of the Personal Sacrifice or cost! John 4:34; 6:38; Matt. 26:39. Jesus’ love for God, and His love for the Souls of men, prompted Him to make the supreme sacrifice, John 10:11; 15:13.

13. If We Have the Mind of Christ, as it relates to the Bible, we will: Believe in the Supremacy of the Bible. Believe in the Inerrancy of the Bible. Believe in the Authority of the Bible. Believe in the Historical Accuracy of the Bible. Believe in the Divine Inspiration of the Bible. Be Committed to doing God’s will, regardless of the cost of personal sacrifice. Demonstrate (not merely profess) our love for God and for the souls of others!

14. What Should be Our Attitude Toward Divine Authority? That Authority to Act is Determined by what is said – not by what is not said! Heb. 8:4; 7:14. That a good emotional feeling must not supplant the actual doing of what God requires. Mt. 7:21; Heb. 5:9 That Christ’s law is Unchangeable, 2 Peter 1:22-23; Matt. 24:35; John 10:34-35. That Christ’s law is perfect and complete, John 16:13; 2 Peter 1:2-3. That Christ’s law provides the remedy for all sins and social ills among men. 2 Pet. 1:3-11; Tit. 2:11-12 That the instructions of Christ must be received with meekness and obedience, Jas. 1:21-25.

15. Conclusion: Illus. Young Samuel, “speak, for thy servant heareth,” I Samuel 3:10. Illus. Saul, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do,” Acts 9:6? When we read the N.T. of Jesus Christ, Jesus is speaking to us through His word! Our response to His word, for good or bad, reflects our attitude both toward Jesus Christ and His authority!