Comunicacin y Gerencia Ascertaining Bible Authority ognizing Applying

Comunicación y Gerencia Ascertaining Bible Authority ognizing & Applying God’s Standard of Authority in Rel

• “More and more Christians are not grounded in how to ascertain and apply Bible authority. While most Christians agree that we must have Bible authority for all that we believe and do, many do not know where to go from there. This has led to many unauthorized and sinful doctrines and practices within churches of Christ (1 Jhn 3: 4). Saying we must have Bible authority is one thing, but being able to properly ascertain and apply that Bible authority is another. ” --- Mike Riley, Showtime 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 2

“Ultimately, submitting to God’s authority and grace is the essence of what it means to be His people. We cannot properly claim to be disciples of Jesus if we are refusing His authority. He is Lord. He is the King. He has all power. Since we are subjects to the King, then we ought to be concerned in how to understand His will for us…When we are saying we have God’s authority we are claiming we have His permission to act” --- Doy Moyer, Mind the King, page 7 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 3

• “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns” (Isa. 52: 7) • “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt. 28: 18) • “Why do you call me ‘Lord, ’ and not do what I tell you? ” (Lk. 6: 48) 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 4

• “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Dan. 7: 13 -14) • He is “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19: 16) 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 5

Recognizing the right standard of authority (Heb. 1: 1 -2; 2 John 9) It is not … 1. What parents believe or teach. 2. What the majority believes. 3. Religious leaders and scholars advocate. 4. Custom or tradition. 5. Human creeds. 6. The church. 7. The Law of Moses (O. T. ). 11/27/16 --- Fink It is… 1. The authority of Christ (Matt. 28: 18; Col. 1: 15 -16; Eph. 1: 20 -23). 2. The word that God has spoken unto us through His Son (Heb. 1: 1 -12; Jhn. 1: 17; Mt. 17: 5). 3. The apostles as they spoke by the authority of Christ with the aid of the Holy Spirit (Jhn. 14: 26; 16: 13; 13: 20; 1 Cor. 2: 9 -12). 4. The word Christ gave by the apostles is complete and binding (2 Pet. 1: 3; 2 Ti. 3: 16 -17) How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 6

Comunicación y Gerencia How long is the line? ? Ascertaining Bible Authority ognizing & Applying God’s Standard of Authority in Rel

How Long is the Line? • “However, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained” (Phil. 3: 16. NASV) • “Let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing” (KJV) • ”And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority? ” (Mt. 21: 23) 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 8

Seeking the “due order” not inquire all of. Israel him about how to tobring do itup the ““We 3 Anddid David assembled at Jerusalem in of the way” (NIV) ark theprescribed Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it… 12 and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites. Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God did notplace seekthat Him according of“We Israel, to the I have prepared to for according it. 13 Because to did thenot ordinance” (NASV) you carry it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to“that the rule. ” 14 So the and the Levites we sought himpriests not after the due consecrated order” themselves (KJV) to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord (1 Chr. 15: 3. 12 -15) 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 9

“Due order”… “They (priests) serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain” (Heb. 8: 5) 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 10

“Due order”… “They (priests) serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain” (Heb. 8: 5) “Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it” (Ex. 25: 9; cf. 26: 1 ff). 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 11

“Due Order”…(Nu. 19: 1 -10) 1 “Now the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 “This is the statute of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the people of Israel to bring you a red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish, and on which a yoke has never come. 3 And you shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and it shall be taken outside the camp and slaughtered before him. 4 And Eleazar the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, and sprinkle some of its blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times. 5 And the heifer shall be burned in his sight. Its skin, its flesh, and its blood, with its dung, shall be burned. 6 And the priest shall take cedarwood and hyssop and scarlet yarn, and throw them into the fire burning the heifer. 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 12

7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. But the priest shall be unclean until evening. 8 The one who burns the heifer shall wash his clothes in water and bathe his body in water and shall be unclean until evening. 9 And a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place. And they shall be kept for the water for impurity for the congregation of the people of Israel; it is a sin offering. 10 And the one who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. And this shall be a perpetual statute for the people of Israel, and for the stranger who sojourns among them. ” 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 13

Old Testament • • • Cain and Abel (Gen. 4) Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10: 1 -3) Korah’s rebellion (Nu. 16: 3, 9) Moses’s failure (Nu. 20: 1 -13) King Uzziah entering the temple (2 Chr. 26: 16 -20) • Noah and the Ark (Gen. 6: 13 ff. ) 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 14

New Testament 1 • 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, ’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? ’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Mt. 7: 21 -23) 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 15

New Testament 2 • “That he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Eph. 1: 21 -23) 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 16

New Testament 3 • “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works” (2 John 8 -9) 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 17

New Testament 4 • “I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written…” (1 Cor. 4: 6) • “And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him” (Heb. 5: 9) 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 18

How long is the line? • Is instrumental music authorized? • Why are their so many religions? • Is it wrong to have a gymnasium or a softball team? • Is it wrong to have a kitchen? allhave things done • “But Do we to takeshould the Lord’sbe Supper every first day of the week? decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14: 40) • Is it wrong to forsake the assembly? • Can women preach? • Is divorce a sin? • Is baptism essential to salvation? • Is church membership require? • Is it wrong to have a building? 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 19

How long is the line? • As God tells us in I Peter 4: 11, "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. " – In other words, we are to speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent. – We must call Bible things by Bible names and do Bible things in Bible ways. – We will not be wrong in doing this. To do this we must get rid of all the manuals, creeds, disciplines, and confessions that men have written and follow only what we can read in the Bible, because the Bible is our only guidebook to heaven. 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 20

“Do we really need authority (permission from God) in all that we do in our service toward Him? Some may think not, but once the negative positon is taken, it traps the person in a nebulous, subjective thought process of being more concerned about what mankind thinks than what God thinks. If our goal is to please God, then we cannot afford to deny the need for authority from Him. The question then is, to borrow from Paul, “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I seeking to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ” (Gal. 3: 10). That which pleases 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 21

God (or displeases Him) is what the subject of authority is all about. These ideas cannot be separated. If we decide to act without God’s authority, then we are deciding against trying to serve and please Him in favor of pleasing ourselves. ” --- Moyer, Mind Your King, page 32 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 22

How is anyone’s will communicated? 1. We tell others what we want – this is direct or an order of statement. 2. We show others what we want and how to do it – illustrations, or models are part of the process. 3. We imply what we expect other to get by what we say or by what we show. 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 23

Example of communication E-mail from the elders – 11/14/16 “We also discussed the need / timing for a lesson on deacons. Can you please let us know if you would be ready to present a lesson on 12/4? ” • Included in this message is the subject and the date. Excluded are all other dates and all other subjects; it is specific in nature. Ø Did they tell me, show me, or imply what they expect? Ø Would it be okay to ignore the request? Preach on a different subject or on a different date? 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 24

“Due order” demands clear communication 11 • The ”Forcommunication who knows a person's processthoughts is straightforward except the in spirit of that. person, which in him? alsotono principle There are onlyisso many. So ways to one try comprehends the thoughts of God exceptand the Spirit to communicate and telling, showing of God. 12 Now have implying is justwe the wayreceived we talk. not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who to is from God, that • I believe God speaks us this way, notwe bymight some understand the things freely given usrather by God. special means of communication, by 13 the. And weway impart in wordscommunicate. not taught by human wisdom we this commonly but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual” (1 Cor. 2: 11 -14) 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 25

Acts 10 1. God shows Peter a vision that was intended to teach something about God’s intentions: • • 11/27/16 Three times: “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy” (10: 15 -16). IN 10: 28 Peter was shown something by God, and he recognized this, “God has shown me…” --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 26

Acts 10 2. God directly tells Peter to go with the Gentiles who are coming for him “ 9 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them. ” 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 27

Acts 10 3. Peter inferred that he should not call any man common or unclean. We know he figured it out because of his words to Cornelius’ words: “ 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me. ” 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 28

Acts 10 - Inference • Nowhere in the text does God say, “The gentiles are now clean and you may go preach to them. ” • Nowhere in the vision is instruction given about men – only about animals, and food, not men. • Peter had to trust what was inferred, that what God showed was about men, not animals are food. • Peter put all the pieces together knowing from what was shown that the implication was that he was not to call any man common or unclean. • By telling, showing, and implying, God communicated His will to Peter. • Does this not validate that God values this communication process? 11/27/16 --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 29

We are taught in the New Testament by… 1. Direct statements (tell) – include precepts and commands (Mk. 16: 15 -16; 1 Cor. 16: 2; Col. 3: 16; 1 Cor. 11: 23 -25) 2. Approved examples (show) – The practice of Christians i. e. , day of the week for Lord’s Supper (Acts 20: 7) 3. Necessary inferences (imply) – These are not commands or examples but are necessarily implied by the force and the meaning of the text. These are not just logical, reasonable or possible. v 11/27/16 Christ commanded that we partake of the Lord’s Supper, the disciples did it on the first day of the week (example), the frequency is inferred that we do the same each first day of the week. (cf. Ex. 20: 8; 1 Cor. 16: 2). --- Fink How Long is the Line? Bible Authority 30

Comunicación y Gerencia How long is the line? ? Ascertaining Bible Authority ognizing & Applying God’s Standard of Authority in Rel