Authority in Religion

 

I. Introduction:

A. Perhaps the most important question one could ask is: What must I do to be saved? Ultimately, nothing else really matters.  Because if we lose our souls eternally, we've lost everything.

1.  That's why it's so important that we find the right answer.  

2. It's seems incredible that many people, even those who claim to believe in Jesus and the Bible, give less serious consideration to that question than to comparatively trivial questions. Some people spend more time planning their next vacation than they do planning their eternal destiny.  

 

B.  In order to arrive at the correct answer, one must go to the authorized source.

            1. Illustration:

a. If we need to know the precise length of something, we don't guess, we consult a ruler or tape measure.

 b. If we need to know what a word means, we check the dictionary.

c. If we want to know how to get to Fondalac, Wisconson, we look at a map.

            2. Getting to heaven also requires consulting the right authority.

C. Various "authorities" have been used to answer the question: What must I do to be saved? But only one authority is correct. Christians must insist on that Divine authority for their religious practice. Why?

1.Because believers,  acting with some other religious authority, may lose their souls:

 a. Matt. 7:21-23  
 b. Gal. 1: 6-9    

 2. Because division among believers occurs when different authority is used.

a. Jn. 17: 20-21
 b. 1 Cor. 1: 10-13

D. Various types of religious authority used today:

1. Religious leaders, 1 Cor. 1:10-13
2. Traditions of men, Mk. 7:1-9
3.  Feelings (sincerity, conscience, or "experience"), Mt. 7:21- 
     23;  Prov. 14:12;  Acts 23: 1 à Acts 26: 9-10
4.  The Bible, plus some religious documents (creeds, confessions, etc.)
     2 Tim 3: 16-17; Rev. 22: 18-19

II. The New Testament is the only Divine religious authority today.

A. God has used different dispensations (covenants, legal arrangements)  to deal with different peoples in the past  (Heb. 1: 1-2).

1. Patriarchal Dispensation.  In this dispensation, God talked directly to the   patriarchs.   Gen. 12:1-3

2. Mosaical Dispensation.  This dispensation, including the Ten Commandments,  applied only to the Israelites, no one else.

a. The 10 Commandments was the basis of the
     covenant God made with Israel.  Exodus 34:
     27-29

b. This covenant, including the 10 Commandments,
     was between God and  Israel, no one else.
     Duet. 4: 9-13;  Duet. 5: 1-3ff 

 c. During the Mosaical dispensation, God, through
     the prophet Jeremiah,   predicted a new 
     covenant.   Jeremiah 31:31-34

            3. Jesus established a new covenant.  Matt. 26: 26-28

a.  This is the fulfillment of prophecy.  Heb. 8: 6-13

b.  This new covenant did not come into force until
       after the death of Jesus.  Heb. 9: 15-18 

c.  The old covenant, with its law, has been done
     away with. Rom. 7: 6-7;   Gal. 3: 23-25

d.  The covenant of Christ, with its law, is binding
      on all men today. Gal. 6: 2;  Matt. 5: 21ff;  Acts
      17: 30-31

B. Jesus now has all religious authority.  Matt. 28: 18; Heb. 1: 1-2

  1. He has invested his authority in his word.  John 12:48 (illustration: doctor's prescription, last will, etc.)     Luke 6: 46-49

  2. He arranged the transmission of his word (by inspiration of the Holy Spirit) to the apostles and other inspired men.  Jn. 14:26;  Jn. 6:13;   2 Tim 3:16-17;  2 Pet. 1: 20-21  

  3.  His word is the pure seed of the kingdom.  If all you plant is the word of God, all that you get are true Christians. Matt. 13:3ff, 18ff

  4.  His word is to be strictly adhered to.   Matt. 7:21-23;  Gal. 1:6;  Rev. 22: 18-19.

III.  A Crucial Principle of Religious Authority  —  the Law of Exclusion

 

A. The law of exclusion is derived from principles of logic, common sense, and clear Scriptural examples. It can be expressed as follows:

 When a general command is given, everything embraced within that general command is authorized (unless a specific thing is expressly prohibited).  When a com­mand is specific, only that which is specified is authorized. Everything else is automatically excluded.

 B. Scriptural applications of this principle:

  1. Noah and the ark  (Gen. 6: 13-15)  Gopher wood is specified.

  2. Nadab and Abihu  (Lev. 10: 1 à Lev. 16: 12) 

  3. Moses struck the rock (Num. 20: 7-12,24; Deut. 32:48-52)

  4. Uzza  struck dead (2 Sam. 6: 3-7 à Exod. 25: 14-15)

  5. Lord's Supper (Milk and cookies? Burgers and Coke?...)

  C. Common, everyday applications of this principle: menu, recipe, contract, etc.       

The law of exclusion is a common sense principle that we use in our daily activi­ties and that God clearly intends for us to apply to religious authority.

Steve Kissell

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