THE AUTHORITY OF THE PROPHETS Lesson 8 for February 21, 2009

Moses Some prophets looked for an excuse when they were called: “I have never been eloquent… I am slow of speech and tongue… Please send someone else.” (Exodus 4:10, 13 NIV)

Jeremiah Some prophets looked for an excuse when they were called: “Alas, Sovereign Lord, I do not know how to speak; I am too young… I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name.” (Jeremiah 1:6; 20:9)

Some prophets looked for an excuse when they were called: “For several days, and far into the night, I prayed that this burden might be removed from me, and laid upon some one more capable of bearing it. But the light of duty did not change, and the words of the angel sounded continually in my ears, ‘Make known to others what I have revealed to you.’” (Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, cp. 8, p. 69) Ellen G. White

Why didn’t those prophets want to be used by God as His messengers? Why didn’t they accept the divine authority? Why did they feel they weren’t ready? Why did they have other plans they thought were more important?

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” THE GREATEST AUTHORITY “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Matthew 28:18 JESUS CHRIST

The authority of Jesus came from His father while He was on Earth (John 5:19). He was given all authority once He resurrected. All God’s messengers receive authority from Him: “Therefore I write these things… according to the authority which the Lord has given me” (2 Corinthians 13:10)

The princes in the Reformation explained which was the foundation of their doctrines: “We are resolved, with the grace of God, to maintain the pure and exclusive preaching of His only word, such as it is contained in the biblical books of the Old and New Testaments, without adding anything thereto that may be contrary to it. This word is the only truth; it is the sure rule of all doctrine and of all life, and can never fail or deceive us.” Why is the Bible the only rule for doctrine? Where does its authority come from?

Jesus stated the Bible is the authority for doctrinal matters: “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.’” (Matthew 22:29) The apostles used it to confirm their beliefs: “Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.’” (Acts 17:2-3)

Jesus and the apostles used the Old Testament Jesus and the apostles used the Old Testament. Nevertheless, Peter set Paul’s letters to the same level as the Old Testament: “And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.” (2 Peter 3:15-16)

“He [Christ] pointed to the Scriptures as of unquestionable authority, and we should do the same. The Bible is to be presented as the word of the infinite God, as the end of all controversy and the foundation of all faith.” Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, cp. 2, pg. 39)

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

Reactions to the written or spoken message from God: ACCEPTANCE REJECTION King Josiah read the book of the Law that was found in the Temple. He tore his clothes as a sign of repentance (2 Kings 22:10-13) King Jehoiakim tore apart and burned the book Jeremiah wrote (Jeremiah 36:22-31) The princes in the time of Zedekiah wanted to kill Jeremiah after listening to his message (Jeremiah 38:1-4) The Philippian jailer surrendered to God after hearing the prayers and praise songs of the apostles (Acts 16:25-34)

The spoken and written messages of Ellen G The spoken and written messages of Ellen G. White were also accepted and rejected by the people who received them: ACCEPTANCE REJECTION The Church heard the advise from Ellen White and accepted her message. The day before the General Conference in 1901, Ellen White met all the leaders of the Church and encouraged them to carry out important changes in the administration of the Church. After that advise, the Board of the General Conference was extended and the associations became departments of the General Conference. “I was informed that you intended to institute a suit against me, on the ground that you had been wronged by the testimonies given in your case. A letter came to me, threatening that if I did not acknowledge that I had wronged you, the suit would be entered upon. Now, I could hardly believe that you had gone so decidedly on the enemy’s ground, knowing my lifework as well as you do.” (Selected Messages, vol. 3, cp. 37, pg. 301)

We may accept or reject God’s messages, but we can’t remain indifferent. Those rejecting God’s messages are rejecting God’s authority. Those accepting His messages are accpeting His authority.

The noncanonical messages are those given with divine authority but not written in the Bible. For example, the books of Nathan, Gad and other prophets, as well as letters from Paul that are not found in the Biblical canon (the 66 books in the Old and New Testaments)

Do Ellen G. White’s writings and the Bible have the same authority? Several questiones may arise from that statement: If we found the lost books of Paul or the other prophets, should we include them in the Biblical canon? Should we include in the Biblical canon the authorized writings of Ellen G. White? Do Ellen G. White’s writings and the Bible have the same authority? Were Ellen G. White’s writings and the Bible inspired by the same source of authority (Jesus Christ)?

The Adventist Church states the following on the Bible and Ellen G The Adventist Church states the following on the Bible and Ellen G. White: Affirmations Denials We believe that Scripture is the divinely revealed word of God and is inspired by the Holy Spirit. We believe that the canon of Scripture is composed only of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that Scripture is the foundation of faith and the final authority in all matters of doctrine and practice. We believe that Scripture is the Word of God in human language. We do not believe that the quality or degree of inspiration in the writings of Ellen White is different from that of Scripture. We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White are an addition to the canon of Sacred Scripture. We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White function as the foundation and final authority of Christian faith as does Scripture. We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White may be used as the basis of doctrine.

Afirmaciones Negaciones We believe that Scripture teaches that the gift of prophecy will be manifest in the Christian church after New Testament times. We believe that the ministry and writings of Ellen White were a manifestation of the gift of prophecy. We believe that Ellen White was inspired by the Holy Spirit and that her writings, the product of that inspiration, are applicable and authoritative, especially to Seventh-day Adventists. We do not believe that the study of the writings of Ellen White may be used to replace the study of Scripture. We do not believe that Scripture can be understood only through the writings of Ellen White. We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White exhaust the meaning of Scripture.

Afirmaciones Negaciones We believe that the purposes of the Ellen White writings include guidance in understanding the teaching of Scripture and application of these teachings, with prophetic urgency, to the spiritual and moral life. We believe that the acceptance of the prophetic gift of Ellen White is important to the nurture and unity of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. We believe that Ellen White's use of literary sources and assistants finds parallels in some of the writings of the Bible. We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White are essential for the proclamation of the truths of Scripture to society at large. We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White are the product of mere Christian piety. We do not believe that Ellen White's use of literary sources and assistants negates the inspiration of her writings.

“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39