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Authority In Religion
INTRODUCTION
I. HOW AUTHORITY IS ESTABLISHED
A. AUTHORITY CAN BE ESTABLISHED IN ONE OF THREE WAYS...
1. Direct command or precept - a direct
statement of something that can or cannot be done
a. E.g., "repent and be baptized"-Ac 2:38
b. E.g., "love one another" - Jn 13:34
c. E.g., "abstain from sexual immorality" - 1
Th 4:3
2. Approved example - illustration that shows practice
was done with approval of the Lord's apostles
a. As an apostle, Paul taught by both precept and
example
1) Encouraged others to imitate him, Sent Timothy to
remind people of "his
ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church" - 1
Co 4:16-17
2) The God of peace will be with those who do the sort
of things both heard (precept) and seen (example) in an apostle like Paul -
cf. Ph 4:9
b. When we have example that meets w/ apostolic
approval, we know there’s authority for practice
1) E.g., having a plurality of elders in one church - Ac
14:23; 20:28; Ph 1:1
2) E.g., meet on 1st day of week to break bread (i.e.,
Lord's supper, cf. 1 Cor 10:16-17) - Ac 20:7
3. Necessary implication / "forced
conclusion" - something neither expressly stated nor specifically
exemplified, yet necessarily implied by clear import & meaning of
language used so that one can only draw particular conclusion
a. Jesus appealed to necessary implication when He
reasoned that there must be a resurrection of the dead based upon the
implication of God's statement to Moses - cf. Mt 22:29-33
b. Peter & brethren in Judea understood necessary
implication of Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit, that it meant Gentiles
were permitted to be baptized and enjoy the repentance that leads to life -
cf. Ac 10:44-48; 11:15-18
c. Therefore, if evidence of Scriptures warrant, may
draw certain conclusions because of necessary implication
1) E.g., the issue of baptizing infants...
a) The prerequisites for baptism include faith and
repentance - Mk 16:16; Ac 2:38; 8:37
b) Infants are incapable of faith and repentance --
Therefore the necessary implication (or forced conclusion) is that baptism
is not required of infants
2) E.g., the matter of using unleavened bread in partaking the Lord's Supper...
a) There is nothing expressly stated nor specifically
exemplified in reference to using unleavened bread as we observe the Lord's
Supper
b) But when Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper at the
Last Passover, we know that He was using unleavened bread - cf. Lk 22:7-19
B. THERE IS BOTH "GENERAL" AND
"SPECIFIC" AUTHORITY...
1. Using a "direct command" as an example,
sometimes it is "general" in its authority
a. That is, "not limited in scope, area, or
application" (The American Heritage Dictionary)
b. E.g, the command to
"go" in Mt 28:19 is generic enough to authorize all
methods of transportation
2. Sometimes a "direct command" is
"specific" in its authority
a. That is, "explicitly set forth; definite"
(The American Heritage Dictionary)
b. E.g., when God commanded Noah to build the ark with
"gopher" wood (Gen 6:14), the specific nature of the
command ruled out using any other kind of wood
3. A "specific" command may itself have a
degree of "general" authority
a. E.g., the command to "sing" specifically
authorizes acapella music Eph 5:19
b. It is not generic enough to authorize instrumental
music...
1) ...which is totally different class (or kind) of
music
2) ...but it is generic enough to authorize different
aids or "expedients" (see below), such as song books, to carry
out the command to sing
C. "EXPEDIENTS" MAY BE USED TO CARRY OUT
AUTHORIZED PRACTICES...
1. "Expedient" means "appropriate to a
purpose" (The American Heritage Dictionary)
2. Thus an "expedient" is an aid that is
suitable for carrying out that which is authorized
3. Sample "expedients" based upon what is
authorized in the Scriptures:
a. Assembling is authorized, so meeting
house is an expedient to carry out the command to assemble
1. Acts 20: 7
b. Temple,
house to house 2:46, upper room 20:8
1. Teaching is authorized, so arrangement in classes is
an expedient to carry out the command to instruct
c. Giving is authorized, so collection baskets
are an expedient for gathering the contribution
1. I Cor 16:1
d. Baptism is
authorized, so the baptistery is an expedient to provide a place for
immersion
e. Singing is
authorized, so hymn books are expedient to helping us sing
II. WARNINGS FOUND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
A. WE MUST NOT CHANGE ITS MESSAGE!
1. This is especially true in regards to the gospel of
Christ! - Ga 1:8-9
2. Even if we claimed a change was authorized by an
angelic messenger, we would be accursed!
3. Therefore, the gospel of salvation in Christ must be
preserved in every respect!
B. WE MUST NOT ADD TO OR TAKE AWAY FROM IT!
1. We find such a warning at the conclusion of the last
book of the Bible - Re 22:18-19
2. Though primarily applicable to the book of
Revelation, this warning is consistent with others pertaining to the
revelation of God's will to man - Deu
4:2; Pro 30:5-6
C. WE MUST ABIDE IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST!
1. Otherwise, we will not have fellowship with the
Father and the Son - 2 Jn 9
2. Is this passage referring to the doctrine
"about" Christ, or the doctrine "taught by" Christ
(along with His apostles)?
a. In Expositor's Bible Commentary, the question is of
little importance for John holds equally to both positions
1) It is fundamental to the faith to hold to the proper
views about Christ - cf. 2 Jn 7
2) It is fundamental to the faith to obey the
commandments of Christ - cf. 1 Jn 3:24
b. Thus what John says here applies in either case
D. We Must Not Allow "Traditions Of Men" To
Make The "Commands Of God" Of No Effect!
1. Jesus charged the Pharisees with "vain"
worship for doing this - Mk 7:5-13
2. In view of this warning, we should evaluate our
religious practices:
a. Are they based upon "traditions of men",
or the "commandments of God"?
b. If "traditions of men", does our keeping
them render the "commands of God" of no effect?
c. E.g., by keeping man-made tradition of sprinkling
for baptism, we render command of God for immersion (Grk.
"baptizo") of no effect
E. WE MUST NOT ABUSE OUR LIBERTY IN CHRIST!
1. In Christ we enjoy wonderful freedom, but we must be
careful in our use of it - Ga 5:1, 13
2. We must be considerate of our brothers' consciences
- Ro 14:14 - 15:3
3. We should be willing to forego our liberty rather
than let it destroy a brother - 1 Co 8:9-13
4. We should not only ask "Is it lawful?",
but also "Does it edify?" - 1 Co 10:23-24,31-33
CONCLUSION
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