SBSauthority

Authority And How To Determine It

Galatians 1:9 (NKJV) "As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed."

Our study has shown us how God speaks to us today. Through Christ and the Holy Spirit via the Apostles, prophets and the written word. The written word is our source of authority in all that we do pertaining to Christianity and living before God.

There are different realms of authority and each must be kept in its proper place. You cannot regulate beyond the realm of your selected authority. When it comes to God, the authority is established and man cannot change it. Because of the different types of authority in the world, man feels that religious authority can be handled in the same ways. This causes division and differences. This is why there are literally thousands of different religious bodies, though all claim salvation for its followers, they all practice different rules and beliefs.

Note the meaning of the word division and that it is necessary.

Romans 16:17 (NKJV) "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them."

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV) "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."

1 Corinthians 11:18-19 (NKJV) "For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. {19} For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you."

The following passages deal with the word "name". Name is used in several ways. Some just as an identity, some as an authority. See if you can tell the difference.

John 1:12 (NKJV) "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:"

John 2:23 (NKJV) "Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did."

John 3:18 (NKJV) "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

John 10:25 (NKJV) "Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me."

John 12:13 (NKJV) "took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' The King of Israel!"

John 14:13-14 (NKJV) "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

John 14:26 (NKJV) "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

John 20:31 (NKJV) "but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."

Acts 2:21 (NKJV) "And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved."

Acts 2:38 (NKJV) "Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Acts 3:6 (NKJV) "Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."

Acts 3:16 (NKJV) "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all."

Acts 4:7 (NKJV) "And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?"

Acts 4:10 (NKJV) "let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole."

Acts 4:12 (NKJV) "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Acts 8:12 (NKJV) "But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized."

Acts 10:48 (NKJV) "And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days."

Acts 15:17 (NKJV) "So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things."

Acts 19:5 (NKJV) "When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."

Acts 19:17 (NKJV) "This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified."

Acts 22:16 (NKJV) "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

Romans 1:5 (NKJV) "Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,"

Romans 10:13 (NKJV) "For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

1 Corinthians 1:2 (NKJV) "To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:"

1 Corinthians 6:11 (NKJV) "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."

Philippians 2:9-10 (NKJV) "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,"

Colossians 3:17 (NKJV) "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

2 Thessalonians 1:12 (NKJV) "that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."

2 Thessalonians 3:6 (NKJV) "But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

2 Timothy 2:19 (NKJV) "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

1 Peter 4:14 (NKJV) "If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

1 John 3:23 (NKJV) "And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment."

1 John 5:13 (NKJV) "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."

Revelation 19:13 (NKJV) "He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God."

The following passages deal with the subject of obey or obedience. Obedience brings blessings where disobedience brings punishment. This was true in the beginning and is still true today.

Deuteronomy 11:13 (NKJV) "And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,"

Deuteronomy 12:28 (NKJV) "Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God."

Deuteronomy 13:4 (NKJV) "You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him."

Deuteronomy 15:5 (NKJV) "only if you carefully obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe with care all these commandments which I command you today."

Deuteronomy 26:17 (NKJV) "Today you have proclaimed the LORD to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His judgments, and that you will obey His voice.

Deuteronomy 27:10 (NKJV) "Therefore you shall obey the voice of the LORD your God, and observe His commandments and His statutes which I command you today."

Deuteronomy 28:1-2 (NKJV) "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God: "

Deuteronomy 28:15 (NKJV) "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:"

Deuteronomy 28:45 (NKJV) "Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.

Deuteronomy 30:10 (NKJV) "if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Jeremiah 7:23-24 (NKJV) "But this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you. Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward."

Jeremiah 11:3-5 (NKJV) "and say to them, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "Cursed is the man who does not obey the words of this covenant which I commanded your fathers in the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, 'Obey My voice, and do according to all that I command you; so shall you be My people, and I will be your God,'"

Jeremiah 17:23 (NKJV) "But they did not obey nor incline their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear nor receive instruction."

Jeremiah 42:6 (NKJV)

"Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we send you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God."

Mark 1:27 (NKJV) "Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."

Mark 4:41 (NKJV) "And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

Acts 5:29 (NKJV) "But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men."

2 Thessalonians 3:14 (NKJV)And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.

Hebrews 5:9 (NKJV) "And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,"

We also have the pattern that we are to follow. This is a design of divine proportions that is necessary to be followed exactly. No changes are allowed or it is compromised and the builder is challenged.

Exodus 25:40 (NKJV) "And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain."

Ezekiel 43:10 (NKJV) "Son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern."

Acts 7:44 (NKJV) "Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen,"

Philippians 3:17 (NKJV) "Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern."

1 Timothy 1:16 (NKJV) "However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life."

2 Timothy 1:13 (NKJV) "Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus."

Titus 2:7 (NKJV) "in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,"

The following passages deal with example. To follow the example of something that is right, will produce positive results. To follow the example of something that is wrong will produce negative results.

John 13:15 (NKJV) "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you."

Philippians 3:17 (NKJV) "Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern."

2 Thessalonians 3:9 (NKJV) "not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us."

1 Timothy 4:12 (NKJV) "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

1 Peter 2:21 (NKJV) "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:"

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV) "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ."

Lets look at the story of Saul in 1 Samuel 15 to learn more about authority.

1 Samuel 15:1 (NKJV) "Samuel also said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the LORD."

1 Samuel 15:3 (NKJV) "Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.' "

1 Samuel 15:7-11 (NKJV) "And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt. He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed. Now the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, "I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments." And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night."

1 Samuel 15:13-16 (NKJV) "Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD." But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?" And Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed." Then Samuel said to Saul, "Be quiet! And I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night." And he said to him, "Speak on."

1 Samuel 15:19-22 (NKJV) "Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?" And Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. "But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal." Then Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams."

We see that in a commandment there is built in silence. What is not said is just as important as what is said. Commands are of two types; general and specific. General includes all things pertaining to it, but a specific command limits. When specifics are listed, all else is excluded. When general is listed there is liberty to decide how or what to do, but when specific is given, we have no choice of how or what to do.

Genesis 6:14-16 (NKJV)"Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. "And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. "You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks."

The following passages give us the idea that we can reason in order to make decisions. We can look and determine how or what or why things are. God allows us to make choices. He gives us the facts and allows us to reason what is right or wrong. God gave us a mind to make choices and look into the future towards possible consequences for our actions. The important thing to remembers is not to go beyond the scriptures in our reasoning prowess.

Mark 11:31-32 (NKJV)And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' "But if we say, 'From men' "; they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed."

Acts 17:2 (NKJV) "Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,"

Acts 17:17 (NKJV) "Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there."

Acts 18:4 (NKJV) "And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks."

Acts 18:19 (NKJV) "And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews."

Acts 24:25 (NKJV) "Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you."

Job 13:6 (NKJV) "Now hear my reasoning, And heed the pleadings of my lips."

Mark 2:6-9 (NKJV) "And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?"

Acts 19:8 (NKJV) "And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God."

What did Paul use to reason with the Jews? It was the scriptures. We can take the word of God, and show where something is right. We can reason by a standard that all can agree with. Once we cannot accept a standard or guideline, then anything goes. Anyone who claims spiritual truth must base their doctrine on the truth(the Bible). To turn to any other source would go to the wrong authority.

Return to the General Articles page

Return to the Sermons page

Home / Bible studies / Bible Survey / Special Studies / General Articles / Non-Bible Articles / Sermons / Sermon Outlines / Links / Questions and Answers / What Saith The Scriptures /Daily Devotional / Correspondence Courses / What is the Church of Christ / Book: Christian Growth / Website Policy / E-mail / About Me /