GOD’S PLAN OF REDEMPTION His Eternal Plan for Us As Revealed in the Word Lesson 2

An 8-Lesson Bible Study Series Lesson 2: On Religious Authority Lesson 2: On Religious Authority

LESSON 2: WHAT IS YOUR RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY? A discussion of authority as men define it A discussion of authority as men define it A discussion of authority as the Bible defines it A discussion of authority as the Bible defines it The importance of authority The importance of authority What authority men invoke to promote their religious causes What authority men invoke to promote their religious causes The true authority on everything that concerns our lives The true authority on everything that concerns our lives

IS YOUR RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY… From God? From God? Or from men? Or from men?

“AUTHORITY” AS MEN UNDERSTOOD IT It means commanding influence. Some people who have commanding influence over their friends also have authority over those people, whether they admit it or not. It means commanding influence. Some people who have commanding influence over their friends also have authority over those people, whether they admit it or not. It means right, such as when men insist on their right as their authority and their reason for imposing their will on others. Mobs of the streets do this. It means right, such as when men insist on their right as their authority and their reason for imposing their will on others. Mobs of the streets do this.

“AUTHORITY” AS MEN UNDERSTOOD IT It means the person who has the power. This includes the power to enforce laws, to command, or exact obedience. It means the person who has the power. This includes the power to enforce laws, to command, or exact obedience. It means one that is invested with this power, It means one that is invested with this power, such as a body of government officials, like the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Bureau of Lands, the Bureau of Customs, Civil Registrar, the Land Transportation Office, etc.

“AUTHORITY” AS MEN UNDERSTOOD IT It means control, jurisdiction. Someone or a body of men who alone claims to have authority in areas where their jurisdiction lies. It means control, jurisdiction. Someone or a body of men who alone claims to have authority in areas where their jurisdiction lies. One who is an expert. The authority of one who is well-read, who is knowledgeable, whose job is related to the matter in question, such as writers, lawyers and doctors. One who is an expert. The authority of one who is well-read, who is knowledgeable, whose job is related to the matter in question, such as writers, lawyers and doctors. A quotation or citation from a source, that becomes the basis for moral arguments. A quotation or citation from a source, that becomes the basis for moral arguments.

“AUTHORITY” AS MEN UNDERSTOOD IT A conclusive statement or decision that may be taken as a guide or precedent. A conclusive statement or decision that may be taken as a guide or precedent. Justification or grounds for doing a thing. Such as when we ask the question, On what authority do you make such a claim? Justification or grounds for doing a thing. Such as when we ask the question, On what authority do you make such a claim? Confidence derived from experience or practice, such as the firm self-assurance of a maestro who played the sonata with authority. Confidence derived from experience or practice, such as the firm self-assurance of a maestro who played the sonata with authority.

HOW THE BIBLE USES THE WORD: ROMANS 13:1. THE AUTHORITY OF EARTHLY GOVERNMENTS. ROMANS 13:1. THE AUTHORITY OF EARTHLY GOVERNMENTS. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” PROVERBS 29:2. AUTHORITY OF DICTATORS AND TYRANTS. “When righteous people increase, the people of God rejoice, but when a wicked person rules, everybody groans.” PROVERBS 29:2. AUTHORITY OF DICTATORS AND TYRANTS. “When righteous people increase, the people of God rejoice, but when a wicked person rules, everybody groans.”

HOW THE BIBLE USES THE WORD: TITUS 2:15. TITUS 2:15. THE AUTHORITY OF A MINISTER OF THE WORD. “Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” HEBREWS 13:7. THE AUTHORITY OF THOSE WHO LEAD IN THE CHURCH. “Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.” (ASV) HEBREWS 13:7. THE AUTHORITY OF THOSE WHO LEAD IN THE CHURCH. “Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.” (ASV)

THE IMPORTANCE OF AUTHORITY If there is no authority, what happens? If there is no authority, what happens? EVERYONE WOULD DO WHAT SEEMS GOOD TO HIM. “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” JUDGES 17:6. EVERYONE WOULD DO WHAT SEEMS GOOD TO HIM. “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Absence of authority poses a great danger to life and limbs as well as souls. Absence of authority poses a great danger to life and limbs as well as souls. PROVERBS 14:12. “ PROVERBS 14:12. “There is a way that seems right to a person, but eventually it ends in death.”

WHY THE NEED FOR AUTHORITY JEREMIAH 10:23. MAN CANNOT BE HIS OWN GUIDE. “I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” JEREMIAH 10:23. MAN CANNOT BE HIS OWN GUIDE. “I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” ISAIAH 55:8-9. ISAIAH 55:8-9. OUR HUMAN WAYS AND THOUGHTS RUN COUNTER TO GOD’S WAYS AND THOUGHTS. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

WHAT IS YOUR AUTHORITY? Paul says, “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth” (Acts 26:9). HUMAN OPINIONS? Paul says, “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth” (Acts 26:9). MAJORITY DECISION? MAJORITY DECISION? “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13- 14).

WHAT IS YOUR AUTHORITY? TRADITION? “3 He answered them, ‘And why do you transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?’… 6 So, for the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God” (Matthew 15:1-9). “And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray” (Matthew 24:11) MODERN PROPHETS? “And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray” (Matthew 24:11) “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1). “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1).

WHAT IS YOUR AUTHORITY? OTHER MEDIATORS? “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). OTHER MEDIATORS? “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6) Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)

JESUS IS OUR AUTHORITY! DEUT. 18:18, 19. “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not give heed to my words which he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.” DEUT. 18:18, 19. “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not give heed to my words which he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.” ACTS 3: ACTS 3: “Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.” JESUS ALONE FULFILLS THIS PROPHETIC REQUIREMENT, NOT MARY NOR ANY MAN OR WOMAN!

JESUS IS OUR AUTHORITY! HEBREWS 1:2. BECAUSE OF HIS BEING THE SON OF GOD. “But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world.” HEBREWS 1:2. BECAUSE OF HIS BEING THE SON OF GOD. “But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world.” MATTHEW 17:5. THE FATHER DECLARED HIM TO BE THE ONLY ONE EVERYONE SHOULD LISTEN TO! MATTHEW 17:5. THE FATHER DECLARED HIM TO BE THE ONLY ONE EVERYONE SHOULD LISTEN TO! “He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’”

JESUS IS OUR AUTHORITY! HIS WORD SHALL BE OUR JUDGE ON THAT DAY. JOHN 12:48. HIS WORD SHALL BE OUR JUDGE ON THAT DAY. “He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings has a judge; the word that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day.” JOHN 14:15. HIS COMMANDMENTS WE ARE TO KEEP. JOHN 14:15. HIS COMMANDMENTS WE ARE TO KEEP. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” MATTHEW 28: HE HAS ALL AUTHORITY. “And Jesus came to them and said, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” MATTHEW 28: HE HAS ALL AUTHORITY. “And Jesus came to them and said, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”

IS JESUS YOUR AUTHORITY? He alone, not any man or woman. He alone, not any man or woman. His Bible alone, not any book or manual or creed. His Bible alone, not any book or manual or creed. His word alone, not the word of your pastor or your minister or your priest. His word alone, not the word of your pastor or your minister or your priest. He alone died for us. He alone died for us. He alone will judge us all. He alone will judge us all. He alone could save us. He alone could save us.

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