"FOLLOWING JESUS WITHOUT DENOMINATIONALISM"
Authority, determine standard
INTRODUCTION
1.Following Jesus without denominationalism begins by heeding the call of the gospel...
a. For the Lord "calls" us through His gospel -
2 Th 2:14
" whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
b. As we respond to the call, the Lord Himself adds us to His church (His "called-out" group of people), not a man-made denomination-
Ac 2:41,47 They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added [unto them] in that day about three thousand souls. 42 ¶ And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need. 46 And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with
gladness and singleness of heart, 47 praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved.
2. But I also suggested that if we are to be simply Christians, members of the Lord's church as we read about in the New Testament, then we must follow the example of the early church who "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine..." - as we read in Ac 2:42
3. The importance of this relates very closely to the subject of
AUTHORITY IN RELIGION...
a. It is impossible to maintain unity unless we can agree upon a "standard" of authority
b. This is true in all areas of life
1) Imagine the confusion if we did not have a standard of authority relating to weights and measures
2) We could not even agree on the length of a line, the volume of a tank of gasoline, and jillians of other things.
3) Confusion would reign supreme in the market place if we did not all agree on one standard of authority in regards to weights and measures
c. An essential key to having unity on any subject is this: WE MUST ACCEPT AND SUBMIT TO THE SAME STANDARD OF AUTHORITY!
4. This is especially true in matters of religion...
a. If people can agree on the standard of authority in religious matters, unity is possible when we submit to that same standard
b. There are other elements necessary to have unity (which I will discuss in a later lesson), but without a standard of authority upon which we all agree, unity is impossible!
[What should be the standard of authority for Christ's church ? Let's begin with a point, with which I am sure all those professing to be
Christians can agree...]
I. JESUS CHRIST HAS BEEN GIVEN ALL AUTHORITY
A. SO HE CLAIMED...
1. He claimed all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Him -
Mt 28:18 And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.
b. He therefore expects us to observe all things He has commanded -
Mt 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
B. SO HIS APOSTLES TAUGHT...
1. He is HEAD of the BODY (the church) -
Ep 1:22-23 and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over
all things to the church,23 which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
2. As such, we are to submit to Him in everything -
Ep 5:23-24 For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the church, [being] himself the saviour of the body.24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so [let] the wives also [be] to their husbands in everything.
[If Jesus were on earth today, we could solve all religious questions by simply asking Him. But since He is not on earth, what then ?
This leads to our next point...]
II. JESUS HAS DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO HIS APOSTLES
A. TO RECEIVE CHRIST, WE MUST RECEIVE HIS APOSTLES...
1. As Jesus taught in Jn 13:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
a. Please note that the word "apostle" means "one sent"
b. So as Jesus speaks of "whomever I send", He has particular reference to His apostles
2. The apostles were sent as "ambassadors" for Christ -
cf. 2 Co 5:20 We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech [you] on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.
3. Therefore the early church "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine" - as we read in Ac 2:42
B. TO ENSURE RELIABILITY, JESUS PROMISED THE HOLY SPIRIT...
1. The Spirit would teach the apostles all things, reminding them of what Jesus spoke to them -
Jn 14:26 But the Comforter, [even] the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.
2. The Spirit would guide the apostles into ALL truth -
Jn 16: 12-13 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, [these] shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.
C. THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDED THEM INTO "ALL" THE TRUTH...
1. Paul said he taught "the WHOLE counsel of God" - cf. Ac 20:27
2. Peter wrote that God "has given to us ALL THINGS that pertain
to life and godliness" -
2 Pe 1:3 seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;
[So the apostles were given ALL the truth God (and Christ) wanted us to
know. If the apostles were on earth today, we could simply ask them to
settle religious differences. But again, they are not on earth. so What then?]
III. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, THE APOSTLES HAVE WRITTEN WHAT CHRIST WANTS US TO KNOW!
A. IN THE N.T., WE HAVE WHAT THE APOSTLES WERE GIVEN BY THE SPIRIT...
1. As Paul explained in Ep 3:1-5 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,--if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward; 3 how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, 4 whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; 5 which in other generation was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
2. He wrote, so that when we read his writings we can have his
same understanding
3. Peter wrote his epistles that we might always be reminded -
2 Pe 1:12-15; Wherefore I shall be ready always to put you in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and are established in the truth which is with [you]. 13 And I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 knowing that the putting off of my tabernacle cometh swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ signified unto me. 15 Yea, I will give diligence that at every time ye may be able after my decease to call these things to remembrance.
and chapter 3;1-2
This is now, beloved, the second epistle that I write unto you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance; 2 that ye should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandments of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles:
B. IN THE N.T., WE HAVE THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD HIMSELF...
1. As Paul made clear in 1 Co 14:37 If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.
2. As Peter confirmed, such writings as Paul's were considered Scripture - 2 Pe 3:15-16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you; 16 as also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
3. Therefore, when we have questions about what the Lord would have us to do...
a. We don't have to ascend to heaven for an answer
b. We don't have to ask Jesus personally, nor His apostles
...we simply need to turn to the apostles' writing (i.e., the New Testament)!
[In the New Testament, the repository of the "apostles' doctrine", is
where we can turn to learn the will of Jesus, given through His selected and inspired ambassadors, the apostles. But this raises other questions: Is the New Testament a complete guide for us today? Is it sufficient?]
IV. THE NEW TESTAMENT IS A COMPLETE, ALL-SUFFICIENT GUIDE
A. IT MUST BE COMPLETE, FOR "THE FAITH" HAS BEEN REVEALED "ONCE FOR ALL" - as stated in Jude 3
1. "Once for all" literally means "one time for all time"
2. We cannot expect further revelation in the future
3. The writings of the apostles as collected in the New Testament are all we have
4. Our task, is not to look for further revelation, but to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints"!
B. ACCORDING TO THE APOSTLES THEMSELVES, THESE WRITINGS (SCRIPTURES) ARE INDEED SUFFICIENT!
1. Sufficient to make one complete, furnished unto every good work -
2 Ti 3:16-17 Every scripture inspired of God [is] also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. 17 That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.
2. They provide all we need to enjoy life and godliness -
2 Pe 1:3 seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;
3. By heeding the writings of the apostles...
a. We will have the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
- cf. 2 Pe 1:8-9 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.
b. An abundant entrance will be supplied into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ -
cf. 2 Pe 1:10-11 Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things,ye shall never stumble: 11 for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
C. WE ARE LEFT WITH GOD'S PROVIDENCE AND HIS WORD...
1. As Paul prepared the elders of the church at Ephesus for his departure, he commended them to God and the word of His grace -
Ac 20:32 And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build [you] up, and to give [you] the inheritance among all them that are sanctified.
2. He did not instruct them to appoint apostles to take his place
3. He did not instruct them to seek further revelation (for Paul
had already proclaimed "the whole counsel of God" to them -
Ac 20:27) For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God.
4. He simply directed them to two things:
a. To God Himself (i.e., His Divine Providence)
b. The word of His grace (that word which had been revealed by Paul himself)
5. These two blessings, Paul was confident, were able to do two things:
a. Build them up
b. Give them an inheritance among all those who are sanctified
CONCLUSION
1. The "New Testament", then, is how...
a. Christ speaks to us today
b. He leads us to life everlasting!
2. It is through the writing of the apostles, the "apostles' doctrine",
that the Lord speaks and directs His Church!
a. It is the "apostles' doctrine" that is the standard of authority in matters of religion
b. It is the "apostles' doctrine" in which we must "continue steadfastly"! -
cf. Ac 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.
3. There is more to be said about "authority in religion", which we will cover in the next lesson But I hope that our attitude is such that what was said about the Thessalonians can also be said of us:
"For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when
you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomedit not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe." -
1 Th 2:13 Is that your attitude toward the "apostles' doctrine"?
Is it the only standard of authority that you use in determining what to do and practice in worship and in life??
Have you obeyed the apostles doctrine in becoming a christian.?
Have you beleived that Jesus is the son of God. Jn 8;24
Repented, turned from a life of not obeying Gods will to one of obeying? [ that is repentance, ] acts 17;30
Confessed that before man, rom 10;9-10
and have been baptized for the remission of sins. acts 2;38 & 1 pet 3;21
these are the things that the doctrine requires us to do in order to become a christian, to be forgiven of our sins and added to his church.