Are You Doing These Things?

By What Authority Are You Doing These Things?

When Bible authority is taught, some may argue, “there are many things you do that aren’t in the Bible” Church building, song books, communion trays, multiple cups, A/C or heat, Bible classes, bulletins, tracts, PowerPoint, website, etc. We also drive in cars and fly in airplanes that aren’t mentioned in the Bible. “How can you condemn others, when you don’t have Bible authority for what you teach either?” It is right to question what is taught. (1 John 4:1)

The Chief Priests and Elders Questioned Jesus They asked him, “"By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?" Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. "The baptism of John was from what source, from heaven or from men?" And they began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Then why did you not believe him?‘ (Matt. 21:23-25)

Authority Either Comes from Two Sources- Heaven or Men Therefore we must give book, chapter, and verse for what we believe, teach, and practice. (Colossians 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11) We must abide in the doctrine of Christ or we don’t have God’s approval. (2 John 1:9) If we add to or take away from the word of God or preach another gospel we will be condemned. (Rev. 22:18-19; Gal. 1:8-9)

Listeners Have a Responsibility to Examine the Scriptures and Apply It The Bereans…. “received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11) “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22) So study to show yourselves approved to God. (2 Timothy 2:15)

How to Establish Bible Authority Direct Command or Statement of God (Matthew 28:18-20) Divinely Approved Examples (1 Timothy 3:15) Necessary Inference (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:24) Since the church is subject to Christ, the Wonsley Dr. church of Christ desires to obey everything the Lord commanded including divinely approved examples.

General Authority includes Expedients General- “of or pertaining to all persons or things belonging in a category…not limited to one class…not specific.” (Random House Dict.) Expedient- “useful for effecting a desired result; suited to the circumstances or the occasion; advantageous, convenient” (ibid) It must be lawful before we can call it an expedient. (1 Corinthians 10:23)

Specific Authority Excludes any Substitution Specific- “having a specific application, bearing or reference…specified, precise, or particular… concerning specifically with the item or subject named” (Random House Dictionary) (Examples- Will, deed, or license) Excludes- “to keep or shut out; bar…to omit from notice or consideration.” (American Heritage Dictionary)

General Authority includes Expediency

General Authority includes Expediency Therefore any tool or equipment necessary that would advantageous to accomplish the goal would be permitted by God.

Specific Command Excludes Substitution

General Authority includes Expediency When you go any of these ways, you are doing what the Lord said even though cars and airplanes weren’t around in the 1st century.

General Authority Excludes Binding One Way over Another But you cannot bind one way over another or you would be guilty of binding where God has not bound. (Matthew 16:19)

General Authority includes Expediency When you use any or all of these arrangements or methods all you have done is teach with them in order to obey the Lord’s command.

Specific Authority Excludes Substitution

Galatians 1:8-9 “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”

Acts 15:1,24 Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”…. "Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls”

Colossians 2:8-10 “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority”

John 4:21,23 Jesus *said to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father… "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.”

Specific Authority excludes Substitution

John 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Acts 2:42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Ephesians 5:19 “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord”

Are You Doing These Things?