“BY WHAT AUTHORITY?” – Part 4 of 4

 

“BY WHAT AUTHORITY?” – Part 4 of 4

“By what authority are You doing these things,

and who gave You this authority?”

(Mt. 21:23).

In Part 3 of this series, we saw that authority is absolute with God. It is important to remember that God alone possesses authority. When we speak of delegated authority, we are referring to our stewardship of something that is rightfully God’s—i.e., ‘authority’.

 

God’s words are a double-edged sword. (Eph. 5:17; Heb. 4:12). We must exercise care when wielding His sword. This care begins with understanding how God’s will and authority are expressed in His words. God’s will and His authority are synonymous. 

God’s authority is worthy of honor, and we honor it through faith and obedience to His will. These are simple concepts which identify His people. Read through the list of the faithful in Heb. 11 and you will find these characteristics in them.  

The ‘cutting’ done by this sword reveals the true desires of our hearts (Mt. 15:18-20). The Spirit’s sword is the word (Eph. 6:17). God’s authority is exercised as His sword cuts with accuracy (2 Tim. 2:15). This stresses the importance of understanding how God’s will and authority are expressed in His word.

God’s words are, at times expressed distinctly and with specifics. At other times it is not. However, this distinct manner is not without purpose. Again, it is to reveal the heart (cf. King Saul, 1 Sam. 10:8; 13:8-11). Failure to distinguish between generics and specifics in divine communication is a sprout that will reap a harvest of division and sin.

If Noah had failed to respect this distinction, the ark would have consisted of any wood of Noah’s choosing. God specified gopher wood; Noah’s heart was revealed. A simple but essential element in the exercise of faith. We must likewise recognize these distinctions in how God has expressed His authority. Our distinctions must harmonize with God’s.

"THE OPENING OF THE EYES: A CONTRAST"

Two had their eyes opened in a garden. Two had their eyes opened on a road. Once their eyes were opened, what each pair saw differed greatly. Two were ashamed of themselves by what they saw. Two were elated by what they saw. Two saw because they disobeyed. Two saw because of Scripture. Two saw their sin. Two saw the Lord. The first pair were Adam and Eve, while in Eden (Gen. 3). The second pair were those walking to Emmaus (Lk. 24)

It is good for our eyes to distinguish between right and wrong. There are two ways this can happen. Both scenarios are depicted in Adam and Eve, and the two traveling to Emmaus. Of Adam and Eve we read, “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked” (Gen. 3:7).

We must recognize why Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened. It happened because they disobeyed a command from God. When we disobey, our eyes will be opened, but what we 'see' does not bring joy. There is nothing but shame and fear, as with Adam and Eve.

When we disobey, we also gain knowledge. But what we learn does not make us rejoice; it makes us hang our heads in shame. Rather than being drawn to God, we attempt a futile thing: To hide from God as Adam did (Gen. 3:10). God asked Adam, “Who told you that you were naked?” How did Adam learn of his nakedness? From God? Did Adam not know he was naked before God asked him? Who was to blame? Satan? No, for Satan only spoke a lie (“Thou shalt not die.”), tempting Adam.

“Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (Jms. 1:14-15). Who allowed lust to conceive? Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed Satan.

Whose word was transgressed and whose word was obeyed? Whose words were perverted and whose words were believed? The answers are obvious. Paul wrote, “Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness” (Rom. 6:16).

Disobedience brings shame and fear into our lives. Both are removed when we turn to God in obedience. When we obey God, there is no need for blaming; rather, for the giving of thanks. We see this from Paul’s epistle to the church of Christ in Rome: “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, they became the servants of righteousness” (Rom. 6:17-18). The giving of thanks is natural when there is joy in the heart.

Let God’s word, not our sin, open our eyes. The view is much better. The joy in our lives is a lighter yoke to bear than the yoke of guilt and grief because of our sin. As the two on the road to Emmaus did, we will want to share the good news with others from a good and honest heart. By this, God will be glorified.

"WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?"

 

"WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?" -- Acts 16:30

This question is asked THREE TIMES in the New Testament.

A. It was asked by the Jews on Pentecost -- Acts 2:37

(1) Peter answers -- Acts 2:38

B. It was asked next by Saul -- Acts 9: 6

(1) Ananias answered the question in Acts 22:16

C. This question was next asked by the Philippian Jailer -- Acts 16: 30

(1) He was an unbeliever

(2) This answer was given to this unbeliever, but this is not the end of the story -- Acts 16: 31

(3) They preached to him so that he might believe -- Acts 16:32; Rom. 10:17

(4) The jailer then repented (washed their stripes) -- Acts 16:33

D. We have read three different answers to the same question.

(1) The Jailer was an unbeliever.

(2) People on Pentecost did believe.

(3) Saul was a believing, penitent man.

They were given different answers to the same question because they were at different places on the road of salvation.

“BY WHAT AUTHORITY?” – Part 3 of 4

“By what authority are You doing these things,

and who gave You this authority?”

 (Mt. 21:23). 

Authority is inherent with God. This is by virtue of being the creator and sustainer of life. Only God is eternal. We need not only to understand that authority belongs to God but also understand how God purposed for His authority to be exerted. Remember, God’s authority is God’s will. God chose how to dispense His will to man. In dispensing His will, God is delegating His authority. He first spoke through prophets, then through His Son (cf. Amos 3:7; Heb. 1:1-2).

Prophets had no authority to alter God’s will (Prov. 30:5-6); or, as Jonah, fail to deliver God’s message (Jonah 1:2-3). The ‘binding and loosing’ of God’s will was explained in Mt. 16:19. Jesus did not speak on His own initiative (Jn. 8:42). He was ‘given’ (delegated) power on earth to forgive sins at His word (cf. Mt. 9:6; Lk. 5:20; 7:48; 23:43). However, what He spoke and did was by command from His Father (cf. Jn. 7:16; 8:28; 12:49; 14:10, 31). Jesus promised the twelve apostles that the Holy Spirit would empower them with God’s authority. This began in Jerusalem on the first Pentecost following His ascension, when the Holy Spirit descended upon them (Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:8; 2:4).

The apostles were stewards of Jesus’ words and spoke and wrote under guidance of the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Cor. 2:12-13; 11:23; 14:37; Gal. 4:11-12). God’s authority now resides in these inspired words (Eph. 3:3-4). In our teaching, we are to speak these oracles from God (1 Pt. 4:11). Remember, delegated authority is our stewardship of God’s authority. 

THE DIFFERENCE IN BEING FOOLISH AND BEING A FOOL

The fool has an enormous talent to sense the needs of another and then transform himself into the kind of person that the other person wants. The fool will use his tongue to flatter others, to convince them that he alone understands them, and that others have misunderstood them and treated them badly.

They have a fun way about themselves that makes you drop your guard because of your natural desire to have fun and feel that you belong. For the fool this is all a show, an act of hypocrisy, so that he might gain a temporary goal at the expense of another and then cast off the one he has used.

A fool has a great confidence that some find attractive. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.” (Proverbs 12:15) He may be bold and love to express his opinion, but he does not know where he is going.

One of the great mistakes a person can make is to get in the way of a fool and his folly. “Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs than to confront a fool immersed in folly.” (Proverbs 17:12)

God warns us in many ways not to even try to teach a fool. “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.” (Proverbs 23:9)

A fool will threaten you if he perceives that you are getting in the way. He will threaten to slander you and will carry out that threat if you do not submit to him.

There is a big difference in being a fool and being foolish. All of us have been foolish and learned, but the fool will not. This is the very person that Jesus warned about: “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” (Matthew 7:6)

DOCTRINE MATTERS: BAPTISM'S PURPOSE--DOES IT MATTER?

BAPTISM'S PURPOSE--DOES IT MATTER?

If baptism is to be administered upon a Christian, then at what point did those in Acts 2 become Christians?

In verse 36, Peter concluded his sermon.

In verse 37, they...were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

QUESTION: Were they Christians BEFORE they were pricked in their heart?

QUESTION: Were they Christians BEFORE asking the question, WHAT SHALL WE DO?

In verse 38, Peter says, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…”

QUESTION: Were they Christians BEFORE Peter said these words to them?

If not, how could their baptism be for the purpose of “showing” their salvation?

If baptism is an "outward sign" to show a salvation that occurred at some earlier point in time; AND one is saved by such means as a sinner's prayer...then at what point were those in Acts 2 saved? Find the prayer to be prayed out of Peter's words in verse 38, for in this verse, he gave his answer to their question, "WHAT SHALL WE DO?

"Repent and be baptized"...how can a prayer be concluded as the answer to WHAT SHALL WE DO?

Why accept repentance, yet reject baptism, when you will submit to being baptized to "show"?

Is the "showing" of salvation by being baptized necessary? If not, would you be condemned to an eternity in hell for NOT "showing"?

What purpose in having an ordinance of "showing" outwardly what took place inwardly, if you won't be in hell for not "showing"?

If, however, baptism is as repentance, i.e., the obedience of faith (Romans 16:26), then the purpose of baptism CANNOT be an "outward sign"; nor can prayer be the meaning of "repent and be baptized" (Acts 2:38).

For any who have been baptized...WHY did you do so? If you were already a Christian...was the SHOWING of your salvation necessary to go to heaven? If not; why do it?

The Lord warned:

"Take heed WHAT ye hear" ~ Mark 4:24

"Take heed HOW ye hear" ~ Luke 8:18

Why? Because DOCTRINE MATTERS!

“BY WHAT AUTHORITY?” – Part 2 of 4

 “By what authority are You doing these things,

and who gave You this authority?”

(Mt. 21:23).

 

The need for authority is seen from the encounter between Jesus and the chief priests in Mt. 21:23-27. It identifies the only two sources by which religious convictions and practices are drawn: God (heaven), or men (self). Authority is defined as lawful right or power. Every religious practice must meet with God’s approval. Therefore, not all worship is acceptable to God. (cf. Cain & Abel; Nadab & Abihu; the Canaanites – Gen. 4:4; Lev. 10:1; Deut. 12:4, 8, 31-32).

God has revealed to man what is and is not acceptable as worship (cf.  Jn. 4:24; Col. 2:23). John’s baptism was not by his own initiative. He was “sent from God” (Jn. 1:6). Therefore, it was binding (cf. Mal. 3:1; Lk. 1:76-77). Likewise, our convictions and practices must be according to the oracles of God (1 Pt. 4:11).

Authority exists in one of two ways: absolute or delegated. Only God has absolute authority. This simply means that no one prior to God possessed authority and then gave it to God. God possesses absolute authority by virtue of creation (cf. Rom. 11:36; 1 Cor. 8:6; 11:12; Col. 1:16).

The absolute nature of God’s authority is seen from Isa. 55:10-11, “My word…shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” The absolute power of God’s word is seen in that the Creation was spoken into existence (Psa. 33:6, 11). Next week, we will examine some aspects of delegated authority.