By What Authority?
Michael E. Grooms
Introduction:
A. Jesus was asked by the chief priests and elders where he received His authority (Matt. 21:23)
1. "By what authority doeth thou these things?"
2. "Who gave thee this authority?"
B. These are valid questions but Jesus refused to answer them because their heart was not right
C. Jesus said in another place that His authority came from God John 12:44-50
D. We must be ready to ask these questions and to answer them concerning doctrine
1. We must "be ready always to give an answer" (1 Peter 3:15)
2. And we must "try the spirits whether they are of God" (1 John 14:1)
I. God's Chain of Authority
A. God has all authority Eph. 4:6
B. Christ has power over all creation
1. "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Matt. 28:18 NASB)
2. Jesus received authority from God over all flesh John 17:1, 2(ASV)
3. God only has authority over Christ 1 Cor. 15:27, 28
C. Christ sent the Holy Ghost (John 16:7-15)
1. Jesus said of the Holy Ghost, speaking to the apostles, "I will send Him unto you"(Jn. 16:7)
2. He stated that the Holy Ghost would speak the things He received of Christ Jn. 16:13-15
D. The apostles were authorized to speak God's word
1. Jesus said the Holy Ghost would guide them into "all truth" (John 16:13)
2. He told Peter he would bind or loose as was done in Heaven Matt. 16:19 (NASB)
3. In Acts 2:4"and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues
as the spirit gave them utterance"
E. The apostles and other inspired writers then revealed God's word in the New Testament
1. The New Testament is the commandment of the Lord 1 Cor. 14:37
2. The New Testament is our sole authority in doctrine under Gods new covenant
3. Scripture is sufficient to reveal God's will 2 Tim. 3:16, 17
II. One May then Ask of the Religious World, "By What Authority Do You…"
A. Practice infant baptism?
1. Scripture authorizes baptizing "men and women' Acts 8:12
2. Those baptized were capable of believing Acts 18:8
B. Teach baptism is not necessary for salvation?
1. Scripture commands baptism Acts 10:48
2. Scripture states that baptism is necessary for salvation 1 Peter 3:21; Acts 2:38
C. Teach one is saved by "faith only?"
1. Scripture teaches one is not saved by "faith only" James 2:24
2. The faith which justifies is one "which worketh by love" Gal. 5:4-6 (Read Bible)
D. Teach to join the "church of your choice?" (Denominationalism)
1. The Bible teaches that we should all "speak the same thing" 1 Cor. 1:10
2. The Bible teaches there is "one body" and "one faith" (Eph. 4:4, 5)
3. That "one body" is the church of Christ Eph. 1:22, 23
E. Use instruments of music, choirs, and solos in worship?
1. God commands us to be "singing and making melody in your heart" Eph. 5:19
2. And to "sing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" Col. 3:16
Conclusion:
A. All authority in matters religious come from God or man. If not in the Bible, it is not from God.
B. Thus, the practice of the things discussed must be man-made
C. All such man-made innovations are displeasing to God
John 12:44 through John 12:50 (KJV)
44Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. 45And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. 46I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 47And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 49For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
Eph. 4:6 (KJV)
6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
John 17:1 through John 17:2 (ASV)
1These things spake Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that the son may glorify thee: 2even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that to all whom thou hast given him, he should give eternal life.
1 Cor. 15:27 through 1 Cor. 15:28 (KJV)
27For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
John 16:13 through John 16:15 (KJV)
13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. 15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.
Matt. 16:19 (NASB)
19“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”
1 Cor. 14:37 (KJV)
37If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
2 Tim. 3:16 through 2 Tim. 3:17 (KJV)
16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Acts 8:12 (KJV)
12But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 18:8 (KJV)
8And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
Acts 10:48 (KJV)
48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
James 2:24 (KJV)
24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
1 Cor. 1:10 (KJV)
10Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Eph. 1:22 through Eph. 1:23 (KJV)
22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Eph. 5:19 (KJV)
19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Col. 3:16 (KJV)
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.