Introduction : 1. Matthew 28:18-20: Christ proclaimed His authority: we must submit to receive salvation

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20

I. Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture A. How Is the Authority of Christ Expressed? Pope, president? Councils, conventions? Creeds? Traditions? Modern revelations? Dreams, visions? Emotions?

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture B. Only in Words: Scripture John 16:13 Christ’s promise to Apostles John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth : for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture B. Only in Words: Scripture 1 Corinthians 1:10— Apostles’ teaching 1 Corinthians 1:10 “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture B. Only in Words: Scripture 1 Corinthians 2:13— Apostles’ teaching 1 Corinthians 2:13 “These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture B. Only in Words: Scripture 1 Corinthians 4:6— Apostles’ teaching 1 Corinthians 4:6 “Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture B. Only in Words: Scripture Galatians 1:8,9— No other message Galatians 1:8,9 “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.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture B. Only in Words: Scripture 2 John 9— Abide in teaching of Christ 2 John 9 “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture B. Only in Words: Scripture Jude 3— Contend for the faith Jude 3 “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture C. How Do Words Communicate? Bible words function in the same way as all human language— no special theology!

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture C. How do words communicate? Two kinds of terms: GENERAL: a class of things “Go,” generic mode of travel. Mark 16:15 “And He said to them, " Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture C. How do words communicate? Two kinds of terms: SPECIFIC: one thing in a class “First day,” specifics one. Acts 20:7 “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture C. How do words communicate? Two kinds of terms: As in all normal language GENERAL: request “FOOD” SPECIFIC: request “RICE”.

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture C. How do words communicate? Express thoughts in three ways: Direct statement: believe, baptized, saved Mark 16:16 “He who believes and is baptized will be saved ; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture C. How do words communicate? Express thoughts in three ways: Approved example: met on “first day” Paul approved and participated Acts 20:7 “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture C. How do words communicate? Express thoughts in three ways: Necessary implication: speaker implies, hearer infers or concludes “Went up…out of the water” implies “Went down into the water.” Matthew 3:16 “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water ;...”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture C. How do words communicate? Express thoughts in three ways: As in all normal language: at school Direct Statement: names, dates, places Approved Example: how to write ABC’s or do math exercises Necessary Implication: apple falling implies gravity; what goes up…

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture C. How do words communicate? Express thoughts in three ways: As in all normal language: at home Direct Statement: clean your room Approved Example: tie shoe strings Necessary Implication: “dinner is ready”—implies time to “come and eat.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture C. How do words communicate? Express thoughts in three ways: As in all normal language: in law Direct Statement: statutes Approved Example: common law Necessary Implication: “right implies duty, (free speech, proper speech.)”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture C. How do words communicate? Express thoughts in three ways: As in all human language Debate in Acts 15 proves Gentiles saved by gospel—not Law of Moses Acts 15:5 “But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture C. How do words communicate? Express thoughts in three ways: As in all human language Debate proves Gentiles saved by gospel Direct statement : Amos 9 promised Acts 15:17 “So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture C. How do words communicate? Express thoughts in three ways: As in all human language Debate proves Gentiles saved by gospel Approved example : Paul’s example Acts 15:12 “Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture C. How do words communicate? Express thoughts in three ways: As in all human language Debate proves Gentiles saved by gospel Necessary implication : Holy Spirit baptism confirmed day of salvation in Christ for Jews (Acts 2) same as Gentiles (Acts 10). Acts 15:8 “So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture C. How do words communicate? Express thoughts in three ways: Debate proves Gentiles saved by gospel No statement, example or implication : God’s silence on binding Law of Moses is forbidden! Acts 15:24 “ Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law" -- to whom we gave no such commandment.”

I. Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture D. All things We Preach and Practice Must Be Authorized by the New Testament Book, chapter and verse General or specific terms Statement, Example or Implication Divine silence forbids, excludes, prohibits Speak Where the Bible Speaks be silent where the Bible is silent Original Church of Christ under His Authority

Invitation: 1. Matthew 28:18-20 Christ proclaimed his authority: We must submit to receive salvation

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20

I. Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture A. How Is the Authority of Christ Expressed? Only in Words: Scripture How Do Words Communicate?

I. Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture D. All things We Preach and Practice Must Be Authorized by the New Testament Book, chapter and verse General or specific terms Statement, Example or Implication Divine silence forbids, excludes, prohibits Speak Where the Bible Speaks be silent where the Bible is silent Original Church of Christ under His Authority

I. Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture E. When God is Specific Specific terms in Scripture function the same as in all normal language. Generic terms : including all things in a class ( as food ) Specific terms : identify one thing in a class excluding all others ( as rice ). Observe this principle to abide under the “authority of Christ.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture E. When God Is Specific CLASS SPECIFIC EXCLUDE Woods Gopher WoodAll Other Woods Genesis 6:14 “Make thee an ark of gopher wood ; rooms shall thou make in the ark, and shall pitch it within and without with pitch.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture E. When God Is Specific CLASS SPECIFIC EXCLUDE Tribes LeviAll Other Tribes Hebrews 7:14 “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture E. When God Is Specific CLASS SPECIFIC EXCLUDE Action in water ImmerseAll Other Actions Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture E. When God Is Specific CLASS SPECIFIC EXCLUDE MusicSingAll Other Music Ephesians 5:19 “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture E. When God Is Specific CLASS SPECIFIC EXCLUDE MusicSingAll Other Music Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture E. When God Is Specific CLASS SPECIFIC EXCLUDE Divorced People Innocent Putting away the guilty All Other Cases Matthew 19:9 “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery ; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”

I. Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture F. Commands Include Aids and Exclude Additions Commands in Scripture function the same as in all normal language. Aid : “give me rice” includes bag to carry it Addition : do not give orange, beef, etc. because “rice” excludes all other foods Observe this principle to abide under the “authority of Christ.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture F. Commands Include Aids and Exclude Additions Command Aids Additions BaptizeBaptistery Sprinkling; Another Kind of Action Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture F. Commands Include Aids and Exclude Additions Command Aids Additions Assemble to Break Bread 1 st Day of Week Building, Seats, Heat, Trays Saturday; Another Day Acts 20:7 “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture F. Commands Include Aids and Exclude Additions Command Aids Additions Sing Books, Light, Songbooks Instrumental Music: Another Kind of Music Ephesians 5:19 “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture F. Commands Include Aids and Exclude Additions Command Aids Additions Church to preach the gospel Radio, TV, Literature Missionary Society: Another Organization 1 Timothy 3:15 “ But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture F. Commands Include Aids and Exclude Additions Command Aids Additions Church Relieve Destitute Saints Money, Food, Shelter Benevolent Society: Another Organization Acts 6:3 “ Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”

I.Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture F. Commands Include Aids and Exclude Additions Command Aids Additions Church Edify Itself Classes, Workbooks, Power Point Sunday School Society: Another Organization Ephesians 4:11,12 “ And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

I. Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture D. All things We Preach and Practice Must Be Authorized by the New Testament Book, chapter and verse General or specific terms Statement, Example or Implication Divine silence forbids, excludes, prohibits Speak Where the Bible Speaks be silent where the Bible is silent Original Church of Christ under His Authority

Invitation: 1. Colossians 3:17 : Christ proclaimed his authority: We must submit to receive salvation

“ 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.” Colossians 3:17