OceanSide church of Christ
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BY WHAT
AUTHORITY?
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
Throughout His life, Jesus
often came into contact with the
1.
On the eighth day after His
birth, He was circumcised at the
2.
At the age of twelve, He
confounded the doctors of the law at the
3.
During His temptation, the
devil took Him up to a pinnacle of the
4.
Early in His ministry, He
cleansed the
5.
He went to the
6.
There were several
confrontations with the Jewish leaders at the
7.
Jesus foretold of the
B.
Our question this evening
stems from an event in Jesus’ life that transpired at the
And he went into
the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;
saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of
thieves. And he taught daily in the
temple. But the chief priests and
the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, and could not
find what they might do: for all
the people were very attentive to hear him. And it came to pass, that on one of
those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preach the gospel, the
chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, and spake unto him,
saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? Or who is he that gave thee this
authority? And he answered and said
unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: the baptism of John, was it from heaven,
or of men? And they reasoned with
themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed
ye him not? But and if we say, Of
men; all the people will stone us:
for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. And they answered, that they could not
tell whence it was. And Jesus said
unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these
things.
C.
Within this text we learn
much about authority. Let’s
consider some of the lessons that we are learn.
I. THE
NEED FOR AUTHORITY
A.
The Jews came to Jesus with
a question. Tell us, by what authority doest thou these
things?
1.
The Jews understood the need
for authority within the religious realm.
2.
Jesus understood the need
for authority also. NOTE: He did not respond by saying: “Authority? I don’t need authority for what I’m
doing.”
B.
Today, we must have
authority for the things we do and say in our religious life (Col.
3:17).
And whatsoever
ye do in word in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to
God and to the Father by him.
1.
All inclusive nature of
Paul’s words.
a.
Whatsoever ye do.
b.
In word or deed.
c.
Do all.
2.
Everything is to be done “in the name of the Lord.”
a.
Some believe that this is a mere formula that should be said before
engaging in some action.
b.
This phrase really means “by the authority of
Jesus.”
1)
Example: “Stop in the name
of the law.”
2)
The Samaritans were baptized in the name of the
Lord Jesus (Acts 8:16). They
were baptized by His authority (Matt. 28:18-19).
And Jesus came
and spake unto them saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in
earth. Go ye therefore, and teach
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost.
c.
The Point: Everything we do or say must be done “in
the name of,” or, by the authority of Jesus Christ.
C. There
are many outside the body of Christ who do not comprehend the concept of “the
need” for authority. There are also
many within the church who do not understand this principle. There are three broad categories of
people that exist within the church.
3.
The sound, but
unlearned. This group believes that
we do many things for which we have no authority.
a.
We don’t have authority for
our songbooks (See Col. 3:16).
b.
We don’t have authority for
a church building (See Heb. 10:25).
c.
We don’t have authority for
a preacher’s home (See I Cor. 9:14).
4.
The liberal, but
unlearned. This group practices
things that the New Testament does not authorize being ignorant of the authority
principle.
a.
The use of instrumental
music in worship of God.
b.
The Lord’s Supper taken on
Saturday evening.
c.
Children’s
church.
d.
Praise
teams.
5.
The liberal, but
learned. This group understands the
need to have Bible authority and seeks to use the Scripture to justify their
liberal practices.
a.
Instrumental music found in the Greek word “psalmois” (Eph. 5:19; Col.
3:16).
b.
Solos found in I Corinthians 14:26.
c.
Saturday night Lord’s Supper found in Acts 20:7.
d.
Fellowship with denominations in I Corinthians
9:19-22.
e.
Dismissing I Corinthians 14:34-35 on cultural
grounds.
D.
The issue of authority is
vital, especially in light of II John 9.
Whosoever
transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of
Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
II. THE SOURCES OF
AUTHORITY
A.
Jesus questioned the Jewish
leaders about the baptism of John.
He noted that John’s baptism came from one of two sources (Luke
20:4).
The baptism of
John, was it from heaven, or of men?
1.
Authority either originates
from the mind of God, or, from the mind of men.
2.
If it is from God, it is to
be obeyed. The Jews understood this
concept (Luke 20:5a).
And they
reasoned with themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why then
believed ye him not?
B.
The question for today
is: Where can divine authority be
found today?
1.
Many claim divine
authority: books, councils, the
pope, those who claim to be apostles, prophets and prophetesses, and some
televangelists.
2.
The truth is that divine
authority rests only in that inspired volume we call, The Holy
Bible.
a.
The evidences uphold its inspiration: unity, scientific fore-knowledge,
prophecy, etc.
b.
It has stood the test of time.
c.
It has withstood the attacks of enemies and
critics.
d.
Matthew 24:35.
Heaven and earth
shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
C.
Specifically, we are under
the authority of the New Testament.
The words of Jesus will judge us in the last day (John
12:48).
He that
rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same
shall judge him in the last day.
III. THE REJECTION OF
AUTHORITY
A.
The Jews’ question appeared
to show that they were concerned about authority.
B.
Jesus’ question revealed
that they were not concerned about authority at all.
1.
John was a man sent by God
(John 1:6).
2.
His work and message had
been prophesied of in the long ago (Isa. 40:3).
3.
Even the common man knew
that John was a prophet of God (Luke 20:6).
4.
The Jewish leaders rejected
John’s message and refused to be baptized of him (Luke
7:30).
But the
Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not
baptized of him.
C.
The rejection of divine
authority has been a problem since the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1-6) and continues
to this day.
1.
Attendance of the worship
services (Heb. 10:25).
2.
Bible study (II Tim.
2:15).
3.
Personal evangelism (Mark
16:15-16).
4.
Proper control of the tongue
(Eph. 4:26-27).
5.
Handling of personal
disputes between brethren (Matt. 18:15).
6.
Father’s bringing up
children in the nurture of the Lord (Eph. 6:1).
7.
Withdrawal from those who
walk disorderly (II Thess. 3:6).
8.
Submitting the authority of
the elders (Heb. 13:7, 17).
9.
Marriage, divorce, and
remarriage (Matt. 19:9;
IV. THE WRATH OF DIVINE
AUTHORITY
A.
It is man’s choice to either
heed or reject divine authority.
His choice, however, if he rejects that authority has serious
consequences.
B.
In Luke 20:9-18, Jesus set
forth a parable to the Jews who had confronted Him about His
authority.
1.
A
man planted a vineyard and left it to husbandmen.
2.
When the vineyard was ripe,
the owner sent a servant for his fruit.
The husbandmen beat the servant and sent him away
empty.
3.
A
total of three servants were sent and all were treated
shamefully.
4.
Lastly, he sent his son
thinking he would be reverenced.
Such was not the case. They
cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.
5.
Jesus then posed a question
and followed with the answer (Luke 20:15b-16a).
What therefore
shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? He shall come and destroy those
husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others.
C.
When divine authority is
rejected, God rejects the rebellious.
1.
Adam and Eve were cast from
the Garden (Gen. 3:22-24).
2.
Saul was rejected as being
king (I Sam. 15:22-23).
3.
God will reject us if we
refuse to obey the gospel (Matt. 7:21-23; II Thess.
1:7-9).
And to you who
are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven
with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not
God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting
destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his
power.
CONCLUSION
A.
As one continues to read
Luke 20:19-20, he finds that the words of Jesus had a negative impact on the
Jewish leaders.
1.
The text says that they
desired to deliver Jesus up to governor.
2.
Eventually, they would
succeed in their mission and Jesus would be killed.
B.
Jesus, however, was raised
from the dead on the third day victorious over his adversaries. His resurrection is a sure sign of His
authority. It is also a sure sign
that He will return to judge the world in righteousness (Acts
17:30-31).
And the times of
this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to
repent: because he hath appointed a
day, in the which he will judge the world in righteous-ness by that man whom he
hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath
raised him from the dead.
C. Have you submitted to the authority of Christ with regard to initial obedience to the gospel? If you are a Christian, has your life continued to manifest your constant submission to Jesus Christ as Lord?