A Study of Authority “And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him; the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:47-48).

A Study of Authority Lesson 2 The Need for Authority As Revealed in the New Testament (Presentations are basically an adaptation of material found in Billy W. Moore’s classbook, A Study of Authority)

Definition - Authority Greek Word – Exousia ( exousia ) Vine: “The power of authority, the right to exercise power… the power of rule or government… the power of one whose will and commands must be obeyed by others.” (page 89). Thayer: “The power of authority and of right… the power of rule or government”

Jesus Recognized and Taught the Need of Authority Workers of Iniquity will be rejected Iniquity – Lawlessness Matt. 7:21-23; Matt. 13:41-42; Rev. 21:8; 2 Thess. 2:7

Matthew 7:21-23 “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!’”

Matthew 13:41-42 “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Notice the company the iniquitous will have in that lake of fire

2 Thessalonians 2:7 “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.” The great apostasy referred to by the apostle Paul is called by him the mystery of iniquity or lawlessness

Jesus Recognized and Taught the Need of Authority Workers of Iniquity will be rejected Iniquity – Lawlessness Matt. 7:21-23; Matt. 13:41-42; Rev. 21:8; 2 Thess. 2:7 Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders Wise man does the will of the Lord Foolish man hears but does not obey Matt. 7:24-27; cf. Luke 6:46

Matthew 7:24-27 “"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Luke 6:46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” Note that saying “Lord, Lord” is not enough. God expects us to do his will.

Jesus Recognized and Taught the Need of Authority Workers of Iniquity will be rejected Iniquity – Lawlessness Matt. 7:21-23; Matt. 13:41-42; Rev. 21:8; 2 Thess. 2:7 Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders Wise man does the will of the Lord Foolish man hears but does not obey Matt. 7:24-27; cf. Luke 6:46 The Baptism of John Both Jesus and the Jews recognized the need for divine authority Matthew 21:23-27

“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?’…”

Matthew 21:23-27 (cont.), “…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.’”

The Apostles Taught the Need of Authority The Appeal for Unity Unity comes only through adapting the same standard (all speaking the same thing) Examples: Weights and Measures Philippians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 1:10-ff

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.”

1 Corinthians 1:10-13 but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind Is Christ divided? “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… 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’ 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

The Apostles Taught the Need of Authority The Appeal for Unity Unity comes only through adapting the same standard (all speaking the same thing) Examples: Weights and Measures Philippians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 1:10-ff Do All in the Name of the Lord Jesus 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.” “In the name of” means by the authority of

The Apostles Taught the Need of Authority The Appeal for Unity Unity comes only through adapting the same standard (all speaking the same thing) Examples: Weights and Measures Philippians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 1:10-ff Do All in the Name of the Lord Jesus Colossians 3:17 Don’t Think of Men above What is Written 1 Corinthians 4:6

not to think beyond what is written “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.” This emphasizes the need for authority from scripture in religious practices. Man is not the authority.

The Apostles Taught the Need of Authority The Appeal for Unity Unity comes only through adapting the same standard (all speaking the same thing) Examples: Weights and Measures Philippians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 1:10-ff Do All in the Name of the Lord Jesus Colossians 3:17 Don’t Think of Men above What is Written 1 Corinthians 4:6 We Must abide in the Doctrine of Christ 2 John 9-11

“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. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” To abide in the doctrine of Christ shows respect for His authority. Fellowship is dependent upon it!

The Apostles Taught the Need of Authority The Appeal for Unity Unity comes only through adapting the same standard (all speaking the same thing) Examples: Weights and Measures Philippians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 1:10-ff Do All in the Name of the Lord Jesus Colossians 3:17 Don’t Think of Men above What is Written 1 Corinthians 4:6 We Must abide in the Doctrine of Christ 2 John 9-11 Must not add to or take away from Word Revelation 22:18-19

“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.” Adding to or taking away from God’s word shows a lack of respect for His authority!

Conclusion In this lesson we have:  Seen that both the Lord and the Apostles taught the need for Authority  Shown that those who scorn the need for authority overlook a basic principle taught in God’s word regarding our relationship with God  Shown the need to recognize that our standing with God depends upon our accepting and obeying His word.

Questions Lesson 2 The Need for Authority as Revealed in the New Testament ?

Question 1  Define Iniquity. What will be done with those who practice iniquity? Iniquity (anomia, anomia ) lit. Lawlessness. A (neg.) nomos (law). Is used in a way which indicates the meaning as being lawlessness of wickedness. The iniquitous will be cast into the lake of fire (cf. Matthew 13:41-42)

Question 2  Is it enough for a man to do what he does in the name of Jesus? That is, if it is a good work, and I am doing it for God, does that make it acceptable in and of itself? No, it is presumptious. Reference Luke 6:46, and Matthew 7: Saying “Lord, Lord” is not sufficient to establish the validity of a practice

Question 3  Is it “unity” if we all get along despite differences? The “non-denominational” concept is to accept anyone, regardless of conviction. Is this a Biblical principle? No. Biblical unity is based upon a standard, the word of God. In order for us to have unity, we must all “have the same mind” and “all speak the same thing.” (cf. Phil. 3:16; 1 Cor. 1:10-ff)

Question 4  Paul, in 1 Corinthians 4:6, said they had established to the Corinthians that we are not to “not to think beyond what is written.” What does this mean? See verse 2, it is a steward’s place to be faithful. And verse 4, Jesus is the judge. It is not our place to establish ourselves as the standard, but to recognize that Jesus is, and accede to his will (as the apostles had done).

Question 5  Do we have the right for any reason (culture, greater enlightenment, new knowledge) to modify in any way the word of God? (cf. Revelation 22:18-19). No. God’s will is eternal and unchanging. It is as pertinent today as it ever has been. To change it in any way indicates a lack of respect for his will, and will bring his judgment upon us as evildoers.