How To Establish Scriptural Authority

Lesson 7

Understanding what God has and has not authorized is crucial in our attempt to please, honor and glorify God. Many are using God’s word in an incorrect way to authorize anything they want.  2 Timothy 2:15 demands that we use God’s word only in the way He intended.  Nadab and Abihu found out the hard way that God expects His word to be followed implicitly, Leviticus 10:1-2.  To presume God will accept a practice on the basis that it is done with good intentions or in the name of religion is dangerous.  This study will explore how we are to determine exactly what God has authorized in His word.

I.    ALL AUTHORITY IS IN GOD.

A.  God Has Given To Christ Absolute Authority In The Church Today.

1.   “All authority” – legislative, executive, judicial - belongs to Him, Matthew 28:18;
Hebrews 1:1-2; Ephesians 1:22-23.  Christ is the monarch.

2.   Conclusion: The church can act only by His authority. We cannot go beyond it, 2 John 9, 11.

B.  Christ Exercised His Authority Through The Apostles.

1.   Matthew 16:19; 18:18.  Binding (restriction) and loosing (liberty) authority given only to them.

2.   What they were to teach was predetermined in heaven (Check NASB translation).

C.  Christ Sent The Holy Spirit Upon The Apostles To Guide Them Without Error.

1.   John 14.26, 16:13.  This insured the infallibility of their teaching.

2.   The teaching of the apostles was not their own.

D.  To Respect The Authority Of Christ - We Must Respect The Authority Of The Apostles.

1.   John 13:20; 1 John 4:6; 1 Corinthians 14:37.  The New Testament scriptures are the product of Christ exercising His authority through the apostles.

2.   One cannot claim loyalty to Christ and reject the inspired teaching of the apostles.

E.  False Standards Of Authority.

1.   The conscience or feelings, Proverbs 14:12; Acts 23:1 with 26:9.

2.   Religious teachers, Matthew 15:1-14.

3.   The majority, Matthew 7:13-14.

4.   Parents or family members, Matthew 10:37.

F.  The New Testament Scriptures – The Final Product Of Christ’s Authority.

1.   They are complete, perfect and all-sufficient, 2 Peter 1:3; 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

2.   We cannot go beyond them, 2 John 9; 1 Corinthians 4:6, 16-17. One pattern for all!

II.   HOW TO DETERMINE WHAT GOD HAS AND HAS NOT AUTHORIZED.

A.  By Direct Statement – A Command, Specific Order Or Instruction.

1.   1 John 2:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:15. It almost goes without saying that direct statements from God are to be followed. Obviously, the direct statements of one in authority are to be heeded.

2.   The methods by which we determine what God has authorized are not rules made up by man.  They are inherent to communication.

B.  By Approved Example – The Practice Of The Church Under The Apostles’ Guidance.

1.   Philippians 3:16-17; 4:9. The practice of the apostles was to be imitated. These passages are direct statements commanding us to follow examples!

2.   2 Thessalonians 3:7-10. Every example was originally established by a direct statement.  In this passage, both the “order” and the resulting “example” are revealed. The Bible does not record the direct statement in every instance, therefore we are left to follow the examples.

C.  By Necessary Inference – Not Expressly Stated, But Clearly And Explicitly Implied.

1.   Matthew 3:16, Though not stated, we are to necessarily infer that Jesus went into the water, language implies such.  Not all inferences that we might draw from Scripture are necessary, we can only speak firmly on that which can be “necessarily” inferred.

2.   Matthew 22:23-32, Jesus argues from implication with the Sadducees.  “I am” implied that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob continued to exist although they had died many years previously.

D.  All Three Of These Methods Of Determining God’s Will Are Evident In The Lord’s Supper.

1.   Direct Statement - “Do this,” 1 Corinthians 11:24-25; Luke 22:19.

2.   Approved Example -”And on the first day of the week,” Acts 20:7 - establishes when taken.

3.   Necessary Inference - Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:26 – imply frequency.

a.   When all the scriptures which apply to the Lord’s Supper are put together, it is necessarily inferred that the early church partook each first day of the week.

b.   All would understand similarly if the text said, “first day of year” or “first day of month.

III.     TWO KINDS OF AUTHORITY:  GENERIC AND SPECIFIC.

A.  Generic Authority – When God Has Not Indicated A Particular Method Or Means Of Action.

1.   Generic authority presents one with options as long as the methods or means are lawful.

2.   Matthew 28:19 – “Go.” How is not specified (walk, fly, ride, sail, etc.).

3.   Matthew 28:19 – “Teach.” How is not specified (public, private, class, television, newspaper, etc.)

4.   Hebrews 10:25 – “Assemble.” Where is not specified (home, rented or owned facility, courtyard)

5.   Ephesians 5:19 – “Sing:”  How is not specified (book, memory, parts, softly, loudly, etc.).

B.  Specific Authority – When God Has Indicated A Particular Method Or Means Of Action.

1.   Specific authority leaves no option nor judgment on man’s part.

2.   Genesis 6:14 – “Gopher wood” rules out any metals or different type of wood such as oak or maple

3.   Numbers 19:2 – “Red heifer” rules out a steer, a bull or different color heifers.

4.   Matthew 26:17, 26-29 – “Unleavened bread” and “fruit of the vine” rule out other meats, fruit vegetables and leavened bread.

5.   Ephesians 5:19 – “Sing” rules out other kinds of music such as playing an instrument. If the command were merely to “make music,” any instrument would be authorized.

C.  Silence Authorizes Nothing.

1.   Hebrews 7:14 – The Law of Moses was silent regarding priests from other tribes than Levi – it did not allow it. Since Jesus was of the tribe of Judah, His priesthood then was of necessity a different type.  The superiority of Jesus’ priesthood is the whole point of Hebrews 7.

2.   Numbers 22:18; 1 Peter 4:11 – We must be careful to speak only as God has spoken.

Conclusion:  God restricts us to act only where he has authorized. A failure to respect God has serious consequences.  Approach God’s word with a desire to know and cling to the truth only.

True or False

             1.  The apostles did not have the authority to make laws according to their own wisdom.

             2.  Determining what is authorized by direct statements, approved examples and necessary inference is something which is peculiar to the Bible.

             3.  If you were told to pick up a ball and throw it, generic authority would allow you to choose any type, shape, size or color of ball you desired.

             4.  If you were instructed to pick up a brown, 9” inch diameter basketball and throw it, specific authority would not allow you to throw a football or a red, white and blue basketball.

 

Page last revised January 19, 2008 by Bob Sarrett.