In Bounds or Out of Bounds Authority Exemplified
In Bounds or Out of Bounds? Authority Exemplified in the Bible
Bible Authority Religious authority comes from God because he is our Creator (Gen. 1: 1) and God expresses his authority through his word (Heb. 1: 1 -2)
Bible Authority Let us now consider some examples in the OT and NT of people who acted within God’s authority and people acted without God’s authority
Bible Authority Some people choose to stay “in bounds”, while others to choose to “go out of bounds”
Staying in Bounds: OT Examples There are examples in the OT of people acting within God’s authority (they stayed in bounds) Abel (Gen. 4; see Heb. 11: 4) Noah (Gen. 6: 14, 22; see Heb. 11: 7)
Staying in Bounds: OT Examples Abraham (Gen. 12: 1 -3) Israelites (Josh. 6: 3 -5, 8 -20; see Heb. 11: 30) Naaman (2 K. 5: 1 -14)
Going Out of Bounds: OT Examples There are examples in the OT of people acting without God’s authority (they went out of bounds) Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10: 1 -3; see Ex. 30: 9; Lev. 16: 12)
Going Out of Bounds: OT Examples Moses (Num. 20: 8 -12) Uzzah Uzziah (2 Sam. 6: 6 -7; see Num. 4: 15) (2 Chron. 26: 16 -20; see Num. 16: 39 -40)
Staying in Bounds: NT Examples There are examples in the NT of people acting within God’s authority (they stayed in bounds) The seven servants (Acts 6: 1 -6)
Staying in Bounds: NT Examples Peter preaching to Cornelius (Acts 10; 11: 1 -18) Paul going to Macedonia (Acts 16: 9 - 10) Corinthian discipline (1 Cor. 5: 9 -13)
Going Out of Bounds: NT Examples There are examples in the NT of people acting without God’s authority (they went out of bounds) The religious workers (Mt. 7: 21 -23) Judaizing teachers (Acts 15: 1, 5, 24)
Going Out of Bounds: NT Examples The Corinthians (1 Cor. 1: 12; 5: 1; 6: 1; 11: 20 -22; 15: 12) Thessalonians (2 Thess. 3: 6, 11)
Fenced In By God’s Word There are several OT passages that remind God’s people to stay within the limits of God’s word Num. 22: 18; 24: 13 Josh. 1: 7
Fenced In By God’s Word Deut. Prov. 4: 2; 5: 32; 12: 32 30: 6
Fenced In By God’s Word There are several NT passages that remind God’s people to stay within the limits of God’s word 1 Cor. 4: 6 Gal. 1: 6 -9
Fenced In By God’s Word 2 John 9 -11 Rev. 22: 18 -19
Fenced In By God’s Word Fenced in for the purpose of unity (Eph. 4: 3 -6, 13, 15) Fenced in for the purpose of identity (Eph. 5: 8 -9, 23 -27, 30)
Fenced In By God’s Word Fenced in for the purpose of blessing (Eph. 6: 1 -4) Fenced in for the purpose of protection (Eph. 6: 10 ff) Fenced in for the purpose of glory (Eph. 3: 10, 21)
In Bounds or Out of Bounds? Staying within God’s authority or going outside of God’s authority is our choice, but we must live with the consequences, good or bad (2 Jn. 9)
- Slides: 20