By What Authority
Introduction:
Jesus enters Jerusalem
during the last week before his death. He cleanses the temple,
heals the blind and the lame, and causes the fig tree to wither.
While He was in the temple, the Jewish leaders asked him two
questions. Question #1: What authority did he have to do these
things? Question #2: who gave him that authority? Jesus replied,
clarifying that there are only two possible sources for our
religious practices: God or man. There are no other
possibilities. sermon text Matthew 21: 23-27
body:
1.
False standards of religious
authority (man's)
·
Our conscience: Some people
claim this as their authority. Acts 23:1. Notice what he says in
Acts 26:9. Yet he was wrong? Our conscience is not a safe
standard for our religious practices.
·
Our feelings: Matthew 7:
21-23. These people were thoroughly convinced that they were
saved during their lifetime on Earth. They felt saved. Yet they
were not! Note Proverbs 16: 25; “seems”—feels.
Feelings are good in and of themselves, but they
are not a safe standard for what we do in religion. Never rely
upon them!
·
Man-made traditions: Matthew
15: 7-9. Uninspired men can be wrong! One of the main reasons
for the existence of denominations is that they have followed
men, not God. Do not put your hope in them.
2.
The chain of authority
·
ultimate authority rests
with the godhead. Why? Because we received our very existence
from him.
·
Jesus Christ has been given
all authority in heaven and on earth. Matthew 28: 18, 1
Corinthians 15: 25, 28.
·
Jesus Christ delegated
authority to his apostles. He told Peter, and other apostles
that whatever they bind on earth shall have already been bound
in heaven, or whatever they loose on earth shall have already
been loosed in heaven; Matthew 16: 19. This authority extended
to the inspired prophets of the 1st century as well; Ephesians
3: 3-5.
·
Since the inspired writers
wrote what God gave them to write, the scriptures themselves are
authoritative because they are the very words of God: John 17:
8, 1 Thessalonians 2: 93, 2 Timothy 3: 16.
3.
God's law of authority
·
God has made it clear that
concerning matters of religion, he never accepts anything merely
on the basis of human authority. Colossians 3: 17, “in the name
of the Lord” Means by His authority or power. Acts 4: 7-10.
·
We are to walk by faith. 2nd
Corinthians 5: 7 period since faith comes from the word of God,
Romans 10: 17. We are to live according to the word. Therefore,
where there is no word of God, there can be no faith. Since
without faith, it is impossible to please God, Hebrews 11: 6.
Then we must have a “thus sayeth God” Hebrews 11: 6. Then we
must have a thus sayeth the lord to have God’s approval.
·
To do anything as a
religious act based solely on man's authority is to sin and
stand condemned before God. Two John 9, goes beyond, goes too
far, separated from god. These are serious matters!
Conclusion:
Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, offered
strange, unauthorized fire that God had not approved for them to
use. The result for them was death. Each of us must be very sure
what we practice in our religion has been authorized by God.
Bobby Stafford
The church of Christ at Granby
www.granbychurchofChrist.com
www.gtranbychurchofChrist.org
The
church of Christ
