spc. first century christianity in the twenty-first century the basis of authority
TRANSCRIPT
SPC
First Century First Century Christianity In the Christianity In the
Twenty-First Twenty-First CenturyCentury
The Basis Of Authority
The Basis Of Authority
➡ The Need For Authority
The Need For Authority
➡ Government
➡ School
➡ Workplace
➡ Home
➡ Church
The Need For Authority
Lack of Authoritative Lack of Authoritative Preaching Leads to:Preaching Leads to:
Unity in DiversityUnity in Diversity
Core GospelCore Gospel
Distinction between Distinction between the Gospel and the Gospel and
DoctrineDoctrine
Anyone who goes too far and does not abide
in the teaching of Christ, does not have
God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father
and the Son.
2 John 9
The Basis Of Authority
➡ The Need For Authority
➡ Lack Of Authority Is Punishable
Lack Of Authority Is Punishable
➡ Nadab and Abihu - Lev 10:1,2
➡ Uzzah - 2 Sam 6:7
➡ King Uzziah - 2 Chr 26:16-18
The Basis Of Authority
➡ The Need For Authority
➡ Lack Of Authority Is Punishable
➡ Sources Of Authority
Sources Of AuthorityEldership?Eldership?
Instrumental music?Instrumental music?Partaking of the Partaking of the Lord’s Supper?Lord’s Supper?
Supporting orphan Supporting orphan homes?homes?
Supporting gospel Supporting gospel preachers?preachers?
Sponsoring social Sponsoring social activities?activities?
23By what authority are You doing these
things?...25The baptism of John was from what source, from heaven or
from men?
Matthew 21:23-27
I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.
Jeremiah 10:23
The Basis Of Authority
➡ The Need For Authority
➡ Lack Of Authority Is Punishable
➡ Sources Of Authority
➡ Authority Comes From The Scriptures
Authority Comes From Scriptures
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable
for teaching, for reproof, for correction,
for training in righteousness; so that
the man of God may be adequate, equipped for
every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16,17
➡ We seek no additional creed - 1 Pt 4:11
➡ The Scriptures provide every good work - 2 Tim 3:17
“A New Hermeneutic!”
““Part of my problem with Part of my problem with the way we use our the way we use our
hermeneutic to establish hermeneutic to establish examples is we’re examples is we’re
demanding that the New demanding that the New Testament Christians Testament Christians
read the Bible and argue read the Bible and argue when they didn’t have a when they didn’t have a collected canon to use. collected canon to use.
They couldn’t haveThey couldn’t have
“A New Hermeneutic!”
...pulled Acts 16:2 [sic] ...pulled Acts 16:2 [sic] and Acts 20:7 together. and Acts 20:7 together.
They didn’t have a They didn’t have a collected canon. But we collected canon. But we do that and say we’re do that and say we’re
restoring New Testament restoring New Testament Christianity using an Christianity using an
argument they couldn’t argument they couldn’t have put together...have put together...
“A New Hermeneutic!”
...this is not the way the ...this is not the way the early Christian even early Christian even
could have argued from could have argued from Scripture.” Scripture.”
Rick Atchley, “Acts As A Rick Atchley, “Acts As A Pattern for the Church Pattern for the Church Today,” Part 3, Searcy, Today,” Part 3, Searcy, AR, Harding University AR, Harding University
Lectures, 1989Lectures, 1989
“A New Hermeneutic!”
““We cannot equate the We cannot equate the authority of the Bible authority of the Bible
with the authority of God with the authority of God as we can the authority as we can the authority
of Christ and God, for the of Christ and God, for the Bible is an earthen Bible is an earthen
vessel. God is perfect, vessel. God is perfect, infallible, and infinite. infallible, and infinite. The Bible as a human The Bible as a human
product is product is
“A New Hermeneutic!”
not...If the Bible was not...If the Bible was brought to us by an angel brought to us by an angel
directly from heaven, directly from heaven, having been dictated having been dictated word-for-word by God word-for-word by God
himself, so that its himself, so that its contents would be contents would be
nothing less and nothing nothing less and nothing more than the actual more than the actual
words of God, words of God,
“A New Hermeneutic!”
then we could equate the then we could equate the authority of the Bible and authority of the Bible and the authority of God. But the authority of God. But
the Bible is clearly not the Bible is clearly not that kind of book.”that kind of book.”
Leroy Garrett, “In What Way Leroy Garrett, “In What Way Is the Bible Authoritative?,” Is the Bible Authoritative?,” Restoration Review, March Restoration Review, March
19871987
Conclusion
• Scriptural Authority is necessary to establish unity of practice.
• Scriptural Authority recognizes the word of God as God’s revelation to man, revealing His plan of salvation.