2. "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.“ Acts 26:27 NKJV Paul asked and answered the question !

3. You Believe… 1.The Bible is Inspired 2. God Created all things 3. You have a soul 4. In Eternity 5. Christ is the Son of God Do You Believe the Bible ?

4. Do You Believe the Bible

5. What is Authority ?

6. Authority = “the right to command and to enforce obedience” Authorize = “To empower, permit, to justify, to furnish ground for.” Authorized = “Sanctioned or approved by authority” Greek Greek - “The power of rule or government; the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed.”

7. Mt. 28:18 ASV “And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.” “jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.” John 17:2 NKJV “as You have given Him authority over all flesh…

8. Need for Authority ?

9. Authority is the Regulator of our lives  Driving  Taxes  Government  Military  Sports  Time

10. Religious world Needs Authority Judges 21:25 Judges 21:25 “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” chaos division Different doctrines

11. Respect for Authority ?

12. Respect Respect = to consider worthy of esteem, regard, honor, consideration World has lost respect for authority God is the lawgiver – we are the law keepers God is the creator – we are the created

13. False Standards of Authority

14. 1. Majority Opinion “Voice of people = voice of God” Asia = Buddhist Italy = Catholic World = Atheist, infidel Matt. 7:13-14 Majority is not always right

15. 2. Man’s Conscience Inner feelings Jer. 10:23 “not in himself” Prov. 14:12 “seems right” Saul – had a good conscience But he was wrong – Acts 23:1

16. 3. Philosophers & Wise Men Acts 17:18 – Athens 1 Cor. 1:26 – not many wise men Some wise men do not know God Contradict One another Contradict the Bible

17. 4. Kinfolks Are our relatives our authority? 4 Generations = 30 5 Generations = 62 Rare if they all are the same Matt. 10:37 – not to love father or mother more than Jesus

18. 5. Human Creeds Contradict one another Contradict the Bible Cause division and confusion John 17:20-23 Jesus prayed for unity Matt. 15:9

19. The chain of Authority

20. “…For there is no power but of God.” Rom. 13:1 Supreme in authority Acts 17:28 “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being…” Father, Son and Holy Spirit God

21. Mt.17:5 “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. Mt.17:5 “ God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;” Heb.1:1-2 NKJV “ God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;” Heb.1:1-2 NKJV God Christ

22. Christ delegated his authority to the Apostles John 14:26 John 16:12-14 God Inspired Apostles Christ

24. Holy Spirit guided them into all truth God Inspired Apostles Christ

25. Speak as the Oracles of God

26. “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God.” 1 Pet. 4:11 Oracles = His written Word The Bible is our one and only Source of Authority in Religion !

27. Do You Believe the Bible

28. Yes No Maybe - Partly Believe parts of the Bible Partial Obedience is Disobedience The Bible does not become outdated

29. Do You Believe the Bible

30. Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249evanscoc@bellsouth.netwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Morning August 19, 2007