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

Introduction : 2. To understand and apply the authority of Christ: I. Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture II. Authority of Christ as Savior III. Authority of Christ in Local Church IV. Gradual Departures from the Authority of Christ V. Gradual Return to the Authority of Christ VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today

A. Warning: When People Obey the Truth, Satan Counterattacks. Acts 20:29-32 : Constantly teach and warn : Dangers invade from without and arise from within. THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

“ For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.” Acts 20:29,30

“ Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:31,32

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today A. Warning: When People Obey the Truth, Satan Counterattacks Many such warnings : 2 Thessalonians 2:3 —Apostasies come until the final day! 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.” THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today A. Warning: When People Obey the Truth, Satan Counterattacks Many such warnings : 2 Timothy 4:1-5 —Preach the Truth until the final day! 2 Timothy 4:2 “ Preach the word ! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today B. Tactic of Satan: Tempt with Centralization. Israel desired a king: human leader centralized power 1 Samuel 8:5 —” Make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” From that day until now, centralization often found in pattern of apostasy: perverts the true organization of the church. THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today B. Tactic of Satan: Tempt with Centralization. Christ made each local church independent, autonomous —no centralized organization Acts 14:23 —” elders in every church ” Philippians 4:15,16 —” ye sent once and again ” THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today B. Tactic of Satan: Tempt with Centralization. Christ made each local church independent, autonomous —no centralized organization 2 Corinthians 11:8 —” I robbed other churches ” Acts 11:27-30 —” sent to the elders ” where the need existed Local church all-sufficient to do its work THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

Authorized E VANGELISM E DIFICATION B ENEVOLENCE Work Local Church Local Church Phil. 4:16 “ye sent once & again” 2 Cor. 11:8 “I robbed other churches” Acts 11:27-30 “sent it to the elders” Local Church Local Church Divine vs. Human Organization

Authorized Unauthorized E VANGELISM Edification B ENEVOLENCE Work Local Church Local Church Human Institution: Brotherhood Eldership Missionary Society College Orphanage Local Church Local Church Divine vs. Human Organization

In HistoryToday Israel Desired a King ( 1 Sam. 8:5 ) Catholic Church Pope Christian Church Missionary Society Evangelism Herald of Truth Gospel Hour Benevolence Institutional Orphanage Edification Area-wide work Colleges Entertainment Pattern of Apostasy in Church Government

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today C. Tactic of Satan: Pervert the Work of the church. Work revealed by Christ 1 Timothy 3:15 — Evangelism : “the church…the pillar and ground of the truth” 1 Corinthians 14:26 — Worship, Edification ” Let all things be done unto edifying” 2 Corinthians 9:1 — Benevolence to saints. ” ministering to the saints ” THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today C. Tactic of Satan: Pervert the Work of the Church To Change the work is apostasy. Acts 15:24 — Divine silence forbids, prohibits: absence of divine authority 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.” THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today C. Tactic of Satan: Pervert the Work of the Church To Change the work is apostasy. 1 Timothy 5:16 — Distinguish individual action and local church action 1 Timothy 5:16 “If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.” THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today C. Tactic of Satan: Pervert the Work of the Church. “ Let not the church be charged.” Donate funds to human institutions : missionary society; college, camps, orphanage, hospitals, etc. Acts 14:23; 20:28 — Local church all- sufficient to do its work THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today C. Tactic of Satan: Pervert the Work of the Church. “ Let not the church be charged.” Recreation and social activities 1 Corinthians 11:34 — “ if any man hunger let him eat at home.” Changing the “ work ” of the “ purpose” of the church! THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today C. Tactic of Satan: Pervert the Work of the Church. “ Let not the church be charged.” Secular education Ephesians 6:4 — Fathers—duty to children; “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”( Ephesians 4:28 ) 1 Timothy 3:15 —”the church—the pillar and ground of the truth.” THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today C. Tactic of Satan: Pervert the Work of the Church. “ Let not the church be charged.” Political, educational, economic, social reforms 1 Timothy 6:1,2 — Instructs masters and servants—can learn to live the Christian life in ALL cultures. THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today C. Tactic of Satan: Pervert the Work of the Church. “ Let not the church be charged.” Feed and clothe the world Galatians 6:10 — “ let every man prove his own work…bear his own burden…do good unto all men” (vs. 4,5 and 10) Individual duty —not the local church! THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today D. Tactic of Satan: Pervert the Worship of the Church. Worship revealed by Christ Acts 20:7 —Lord’s Supper 1 st Day of Week 1 Corinthians 16:2 —Collection 1 st Day of Week Acts 2:42 —Prayer Acts 2:42 —Teaching God’s Word Ephesians 5:19 —Singing THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today D. Tactic of Satan: Pervert the Worship of the Church. To change the worship is apostasy! John 4:24 —”Spirit and truth” 1 Timothy 4:1 —”Some Will Depart From the Faith” THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

D. Tactic of Satan: Pervert Worship of the Church. “Some…depart from the faith” Instrumental music Church celebrate “holy” days (Easter, etc.) Solo, choir, praise team Drama, theatre, choreography, dance Lord’s Supper any day Lord’s Supper with social meal Women lead Offer traditional & contemporary worship THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today E. The Spiritual Nature of the Church Prevents Apostasy. The spiritual focus of Christ in the work of the church Luke 19:10 —” For the Son of Man is come to seek and save the lost.” Work of the church—the same spiritual focus must be maintained. THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today E. The Spiritual Nature of the Church Prevents Apostasy. The spiritual focus of Christ in the worship of the church John 4:24 —” God is a Spirit: and they that worship must worship in spirit and truth.” Pattern of worship—the same spiritual focus must be maintained. THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today E. The Spiritual Nature of the Church Prevents Apostasy. The spiritual focus of Christ in the organization of the church 1 Peter 2:25 —Christ: ” the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.” Hebrews 13:17 —” Obey those who have the rule over you…” Organization: the same spiritual focus THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

E. The Spiritual Nature of the Church Prevents Apostasy Keep a simple, sincere, single, spiritual focus on Christ 2 Corinthians 11:3 —Satan tries to corrupt and pervert our faith 2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

E. The Spiritual Nature of the Church Prevents Apostasy Keep a simple, sincere, single, spiritual focus on Christ Philippians 3:20 —Focus on spending eternity with Christ in heaven! Philippians 3:20 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

F. The Authority of Christ Rejected by Many Professing His Name Keep a simple, sincere, single, spiritual focus on Christ 1 Samuel 15:13,14 —This is not a new problem! 1 Samuel 15:13,14 “ Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, " Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD.“ But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear ?” VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today

F. The Authority of Christ Rejected by Many Professing His Name Matthew 7:21-23 —Christ said many “ calling Him Lord ” will be lost. VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

“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. 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?‘ And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness !” Matthew 7:21-23

F. The Authority of Christ Rejected by Many Professing His Name 1 Timothy 4:1 —Departing from the faith professing to serve Christ 1 Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today

F. The Authority of Christ Rejected by Many Professing His Name 2 Timothy 4:2-4 —Profess the truth— but reject it! THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST VI. Avoiding Apostasy Today

“ Preach the word ! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 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; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4

F. The Authority of Christ Rejected by Many Professing His Name Slogans of apostasy :  Join the church of your choice  We need love not doctrine  Preach Christ, not baptism or the church  Legalism to preach baptism & the church  Unity in diversity  “ Pharisee,” “ anti ” if expose error  Multi-cultural tolerance, pluralism  New Hermeneutics not Book, chapter, verse

Invitation: 1. Matthew 28:18-20: Remedy to all sin and apostasy: submit to the authority of Christ to receive salvation He protects us from all Satan’s attacks He exposes Satan’s tactic of centralization He guides us in the work of the church He guides us in true worship His spiritual focus protects us from apostasy He exposes errors of men professing his name but rejecting his authority

“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