"THE CHURCH JESUS BUILT"

Other Thoughts Related To Authority

INTRODUCTION
  1. We saw in our previous lesson...
    1. What is our obligation regarding authority
    2. How one can use the New Testament to establish authority
  2. Two more questions remain in our consideration matters related to authority...
    1. Are there limitations placed upon how far we may go in matters of religion?
    2. Will having the same standard of authority guarantee unity among followers of Christ?

[To help answer these questions, first consider these...]

  1. WARNINGS FOUND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
    1. 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 authorized by an angelic messenger, we would be accursed!
      3. Therefore, the gospel of salvation in Christ must be preserved in every respect!
    2. 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 - Deut 4:2; Pr 30:5-6
    3. WE MUST ABIDE IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST...!
      1. Otherwise, we will not have fellowship with the Father and the Son - 2Jn 9
      2. Is this passage referring to the doctrine about Christ, or the doctrine taught by Christ (along with His apostles)?
        1. As pointed out in the 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 - 2Jn 7
          2. It is fundamental to the faith to obey the commandments of Christ - 1Jn 3:24
        2. Thus what John says here applies in either case
    4. 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:
        1. Are they based upon traditions of men, or the commandments of God?
        2. If traditions of men, does our keeping them render the commands of God of no effect?
        3. E.g., by keeping the man-made tradition of sprinkling for baptism, we render the command of God for immersion (Grk. baptizo) of no effect
    5. WE MUST NOT ABUSE OUR LIBERTY IN CHRIST...!
      1. In Christ we enjoy 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 - 1Co 8:9-13
      4. We should not only ask "Is it lawful?", but also "Does it edify?" - 1Co 10:23-24,31-33

      [With such warnings weighing upon our hearts, we are more likely to approach the Word of God with the humility it deserves as we seek to establish the authority for our service to God.

      Now for our last question related to having the same standard of authority: Will it guarantee unity among the followers of Christ...?]

  2. HAVING THE SAME STANDARD DOES NOT GUARANTEE UNITY
    1. THERE ARE STILL CHALLENGES TO FACE...
      1. Which commands are binding today?
        1. Some commands must be understood to be limited in application
        2. Effort must be made to determine whether a command was intended to be limited or universal in application
      2. Which approved examples are to be considered normative for the church today?
        1. Much of what we learn about the church pertaining to its work and organization is by example, not precept
        2. Effort must be made to determine whether an example should be understood as teaching a binding principle for the church to observe universally
      3. When are necessary implications really necessary implications?
        1. People often infer things from the Bible and call their conclusion a necessary implication
        2. But it may only be a possible implication, not one necessarily inferred
        -- These are questions or challenges faced by every congregation of Christians
    2. WE NEED THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST...
      1. Barton W. Stone, a promoter of Christian unity in the early 1800's, had these insightful words in an article entitled "Christian Union" published in The Christian Messenger (1828): "On no other foundation can the parties ever meet, than on the Bible alone, without note or comment; and in no other name will they ever unite, but in that given to the disciples at Antioch—CHRISTIAN. But should all the professors of Christianity reject all their various creeds and names, and agree to receive the Bible alone, and be called by no other name than Christian, will this unite them? No, we are fully convinced that unless they all possess the spirit of that book and name they are far, very far, from Christian union." (As quoted by J. M. Powell, The Cause We Plead: A Story Of The Restoration Movement, 20th Century Christian, 1987, p. 56)
      2. In addition to agreeing on the same standard of authority (i.e., the Word of God), we need the proper spirit to "rightly divide the word of truth" - cf. 2Ti 2:14-16
      3. As Paul told Timothy, the servant of the Lord must carefully apply the Word when seeking to teach others - 2Ti 2:23-25
      4. We need to have the proper attitudes to maintain the unity of the Spirit - Ep 4:1-3
      5. We need to have the mind of Christ to be of one accord, of one mind - Php 2:1-5
CONCLUSION
  1. The Bible teaches us, not only by way of direct commands, but through approved examples and necessary implications
  2. It is helpful to understand the principles of general and specific authority, and when something may be expedient to fulfill things that are authorized
  3. Warnings throughout the scriptures should serve to keep us on "the straight and narrow"
  4. But as valuable and needful the same standard of authority may be, simple agreement on what the standard is will not guarantee unity
    - we need to apply the proper spirit of love, patience and humility as we grow together towards unity in Christ
  5. What is our attitude toward the authority of God's Word? Are we willing...
    1. To accept the authority of Jesus Christ, as delegated to His apostles?
    2. To adopt the mind of Christ, as illustrated in His sacrificial life and death?

Again, our answer will determine whether we are "The Church Jesus Built"... - cf. Mt 28:18-20