Bible Authority

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Bible Authority

• Need for Authority In Religion

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What is Authority?

• The power of rule or government, the power of
  one whose will and commands must be obeyed by
  others. (Vines Expository Dictionary)
• John 17 2, As thou hast given him power over
  all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as
  many as thou hast given him.
• Matthew 28 18, All power is given unto me in
  heaven and in earth.

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Who Has Authority in Religion?

• Matthew 21 23,25 And when he was come into the
  temple, the chief priests and the elders of the
  people came unto him as was teaching, and said,
  By what authority does thou these things? And who
  gave the this authority? 25, The baptism of
  John, whence was it? From heaven or of men?
• The priests and elders recognized a need for
  authority.

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Religious Authority?

• Jesus answer recognizes only two authorities,
  from heaven or from men.
• We cannot have both.
• I cannot look to self Jeremiah 10 23 Proverbs
  14 12
• I cannot look to other men Colossians 2 21
  22 Matthew 15 8 9.

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Divine Authority Needed In Religion

• Old Testament Examples
• Cain and Abel Genesis 4 1 7
• Abel acted with authority of God Hebrews 11 4
• Abel acted by faith Romans 10 17
• Cain rejected Gods instruction and was cursed
  for it.
• He had no authority for his sacrifice.
• God accepts only what he has revealed.

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Nadab and Abihu

• Leviticus 10 1 2
• Ignored God, offered fire not commanded.
• Same act, (burning incense) what difference did
  the fire make?
• Enough that God killed them.

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Uzzah

• 2 Samuel 6 6 7 Numbers 4 15
• He did what God specifically had forbidden
• Emergency makes exception, right?
• Not for him!
• He acted against Gods authority and received the
  consequence.

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Uzziah

• 2 Chronicles 26 16 20
• Tried to burn incense himself
• It was a good work, but it was assigned to the
  priests Exodus 30 7 10
• When he turned from Gods instructions, Uzziah
  became his own authority.

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I Have Authority For Anything Authorized By Gods
Word!

• Abel points to Gods instructions and that gave
  him authority to offer anything he wanted, so
  long as he could show he had instructions to do
  so.
• No instructions, no right to offer.
• Nadab and Abihu any fire they wanted if they
  could find authority for it.
• No authority, no right to use fire.

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Authority I Have For Anything Authorized By Gods
Word!

• Uzzah could have touched the ark IF he could
  find instructions to do so.
• No instruction, no touch!
• Uzziah, had every right to offer incense, IF he
  could show authority.
• No Authority, no right to burn incense.

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Maybe Unimportant To Us?But, Important To God!

• How do I Know?
• He rejected Cains offering.
• He destroyed Nadab and Abihu.
• He killed Uzzah.
• He struck Uzziah with leprosy.

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What Can We Conclude?

• Since faith comes by hearing the word of God
  Romans 10 17, we must ask,
• Could Cain offer his sacrifice by faith?
• Could Nadab and Abihu offer their fire by faith?
• Could Uzzah touch the ark by faith?
• Could Uzziah burn incense by faith?

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What Can We Conclude?

• Can we use cookies and coke on the Lords table?
• Take the Lords supper on Friday night?
• Bring instruments of music into worship?
• Why not?
• We have the right to do whatever we want to do,
  so long as we can show by scripture it is
  authorized.

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Mans Claim For Authority

• Matthew 7 21 23
• Lords Supper
• Some only partake partially, others use wrong
  elements
• Matthew 26 26 29 The who and how
• Acts 20 7 When

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Mans Claim For Authority

• Instruments of music
• Wheres the authority?
• Ephesians 519 Colossians 3 16
• How? - Singing, Speaking
• What? - Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs
• Make melody music
• Where in your hearts
• To whom the Lord
• Purpose teaching and admonishing one another

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Adding To Taking From

• Deuteronomy 4 2
• Revelation 22 18 19
• To disobey the command or silence of the
  scripture has in every age brought punishment.
• But God didnt say not to is an invalid
  argument
• God said it and thats the end of it.

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Invitation

• By the Authority of God we are taught to
• Hear
• Believe
• Repent
• Confess
• Be Baptized
• Confess sin as a child of God and ask for
  forgiveness through prayer

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