Our Source of Authority And what it is NOT

Need for Authority Universally Recognized 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?" 24 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: 25 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?' 26 But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet." 27 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. NKJV

What is Authority? NT:1849 exousia (ex-oo-see'-ah); from NT:1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence. The right to exercise power. The power of one whose will must be obeyed. Legal, rightful power, the right to command or act.

The Need for Authority Abel Genesis 4:3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 So the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." NKJV Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. NKJV

The Need for Authority Nadab & Abihu Leviticus 10:1 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. 2 So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. NKJV Leviticus 16:12 Then he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, with his hands full of sweet incense beaten fine, and bring it inside the veil. NKJV

The Need for Authority Uzziah 2 Chronicles 26:16 But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the Lord — valiant men. 18 And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the Lord God." 19 Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar. 20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the Lord had struck him. NKJV Compare this with Exodus 30:1-10 – Nothing about the King offering incense.

The Need for Authority Jesus Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' NKJV

The Need for Authority The Apostles Philippians 3:16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. NKJV I 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. NKJV 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. NKJV

(1) Some religious matters are accepted as authoritative with no consideration of the source of their authority. (2) Not only must we have authority, but it must come from the correct source. (3) All authority comes from one of two sources: God Almighty or Mankind. Tradition, Leader(s), Gurus, Conventions, Cult Leaders, Councils, Synods, Committees… THEY ARE ALL MANKINKIND.

What our religious authority is NOT: The Old Testament Preachers, Teachers and Authors Creeds of Men Congregational Whims Elders “The Ends Justifies the Means”

The Old Testament Tithing Sabbath Observance Priesthood Instrumental music offered to God Infant baptism and infant church membership Polygamy The church is the building – not the people

The Old Testament Hebrews 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. NKJV

The Old Testament Ephesians 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, Who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one Body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. NKJV

A thought on separating the Ten Commandments from the Law of Moses, how would you know HOW to keep the Ten Commandments without the Law of Moses? The only way to know what keeping the Sabbath Day Holy meant was by looking to the Law of Moses. Matthew 22: 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?“ 37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.‘ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.‘ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." NKJV How would one know how to do these if they didn’t have the Law of Moses?

Preachers, Teachers & Authors Many regard preachers, teachers and authors as religious authority. The Pope, Cult leaders, Televangelists and Max Lucado are a few examples. Some have the belief that folks are "called by the Lord" to preach or teach. The world notes the absolutely contradictory doctrines taught by these people that were "called by God."

Preachers, Teachers & Authors 2 Timothy 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. NKJV

Creeds of Man Denomination have their manual, discipline, prayer book, book of minutes or other source of doctrine that sets them apart from everyone else in the religious world. It records the doctrines and procedures for organizing a church of that kind. In times past these creeds were much more highly respected than they are today. Back then rejection of the creed resulted in expulsion from that religious order. Inconformity was not tolerated.

Creeds of Man Either we accept God, or we accept the creeds of men; they’re mutually exclusive! Matthew 15:9 And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" NKJV Colossians 2:21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22 which all concern things which perish with the using — according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. NKJV

Whims of the Congregation Some religious groups take pride in being “democratic,” having their policies determined by majority vote. Seeing that any group of people is fallible, why would we follow such as our source of authority?

Whims of the Congregation Israel wanted gods to go before them. Exodus 32:1 Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, "Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." 2 And Aaron said to them, "Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me." 3 So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. 4 And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, "This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!" NKJV

Whims of the Congregation Israel wanted a king. 1 Samuel 8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 and said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. NKJV

Whims of the Congregation King Saul said that he followed the will of the people, but… 1 Samuel 15:14 But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?" 15 And Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed." 24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. NKJV

Whims of the Congregation Desires of people are usually contrary to the wishes of the Lord, but how would that help us to serve the Lord?

The Elders Elders are to tend the flock, 1 Peter 5:2, and exercise the oversight of it as its shepherds, Acts 20:28, but they are under the authority of the Chief Shepherd and have no legislative power of their own in matters of doctrine. 1 Peter 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; NKJV Acts 20:26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. NKJV

The Elders Some assume that elders have such power. One gospel (?) preacher said he would have no objection to the use of instrumental music in worship if the elders authorized it. One congregation reported that, concerning a direct commandment in the New Testament, “Oh, we have no such policy here.” One brother told a woman she could stay home and iron her clothes on Sunday morning, and worship Sunday night, if the elders said it was alright.

The Elders Elders are under the authority of Christ and have no legislative power. They do not have authority to add to God’s Word or take from it. 1 Peter 5:1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. NKJV Revelation 22:18 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; 19 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. NKJV

“The Ends Justify the Means!” Some assume that if a thing seems good to them, or if it accomplishes what they believe are good or impressive results, then it is thus authority for the actions in question. What a dangerous concept!

“The Ends Justify the Means!” David and Uzzah were getting results in getting the Ark of the Covenant back toward Jerusalem on an ox cart, but it was not authorized as the way for moving the Ark 2 Samuel 6:1 Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. 3 So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. 5 Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the Lord on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals. 6 And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. 8 And David became angry because of the Lord's outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day. 9 David was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, "How can the ark of the Lord come to me?" NKJV

“The Ends Justify the Means!” Uzziah was busy in a good work, trying to bum incense to the Lord, but God had authorized him to do this. 2 Chronicles 26:16 But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the Lord — valiant men. 18 And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the Lord God." 19 Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar. 20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the Lord had struck him. 21 King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He dwelt in an isolated house, because he was a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the Lord… NKJV

“The Ends Justify the Means!” The fire Nadab and Abihu used was getting results, but what a price they both paid! Leviticus 10:1 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. 2 So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. NKJV

Conclusions: 1. We must have authority, and that authority must come from the proper source. 2. While we’ve spent our time showing what authority in religion IS NOT, we will later see that our ONE and ONLY source of religious authority is Jesus the Christ.