A Study of Authority

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A Study ofAuthority

• And if anyone hears My words and does not
  believe, I do not judge him for I did not come
  to judge the world but to save the world. He who
  rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has
  that which judges him the word that I have
  spoken will judge him in the last day (John
  1247-48).

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A Study ofAuthority

• Lesson 6
• How To Establish Authority

(Presentations are basically an adaptation of
material found in Billy W. Moores classbook, A
Study of Authority)
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A Quick Summary of Past Lessons

• We have established what authority is, and the
  need for it in religion
• The Old Testament, the preacher, creeds of men,
  desires of a congregation, elders, or end
  justifies the means are not the source of
  authority
• Christ is the source of authority as king, and
  head over the church
• The will of Christ is set forth in the New
  Testament

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How to Establish Authority

• It has long been recognized that God teaches us
  in one of three ways
• N.B. Hardeman quote, 1938

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N.B. Hardeman
May I suggest to you now that there are three
ways by which God teaches us his will, his word,
his way. Now hear them First, he teaches by
direct statement, by positive command, saying the
thing in so many words. Now that is one way.
Well, there is another. You might not have a
direct Thus saith the Lord, but if you can find
an example approved and inspired of God, that
concrete example comes to us with all the power
and force of divine authority. That is Gods way
of teaching (cont.)
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N.B. Hardeman
(cont.), Then again, if there is a passage in
the bible from which a necessary conclusion and
inference must be drawn, I am willing to accept
the statement that the Bible teaches that thing.
So watch then. How does God teach us? First, by
direct statement. Second, by approved example.
Third, by a necessary inference. (N.B.
Hardeman, Hardemans Tabernacle Sermons, Vol. IV,
page 52, 1938 edition)
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How to Establish Authority

• It has long been recognized that God teaches us
  in one of three ways
• N.B. Hardeman quote, 1938

• Three ways by which Authority may be established
• Direct Statement or Command
• Approved Example (Example approved by an inspired
  man)
• Necessary Inference (An inference is a conclusion
  that is drawn that is necessary)

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Examples of Direct Command

• All Must Repent (Acts 1730 Luke 133)

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Acts 1730
Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked,
but now commands all men everywhere to repent.
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Luke 133
I tell you, no but unless you repent
you will all likewise perish.
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Examples of Direct Command

• All Must Repent (Acts 1730 Luke 133)

• Disciples are to Contribute (1
  Cor. 161-2)

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1 Corinthians 161-2
Now concerning the collection for
the saints, as I have given orders to the
churches of Galatia, so you must do also 2 On
the first day of the week let each one of you lay
something aside, storing up as he may prosper,
that there be no collections when I come.
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Examples of Direct Command

• All Must Repent (Acts 1730 Luke 133)

• Disciples are to Contribute (1
  Cor. 161-2)

• The Assembling of the Saints (Heb.
  1025)

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Hebrews 1025
Not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but
exhorting one another, and so much the more as
you see the Day approaching.
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Examples of Direct Command

• All Must Repent (Acts 1730 Luke 133)

• Disciples are to Contribute (1
  Cor. 161-2)

• The Assembling of the Saints (Heb.
  1025)

• It is wrong to lie (Colossians 39)

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Colossians 39
Do not lie to one another, since you
have put off the old man with his deeds.
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Examples of Approved Examples

• Breaking Bread on the first day of the week (Acts
  207)

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Acts 207
Now on the first day of the week,
when the disciples came together to break bread,
Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them
and continued his message until midnight.
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Examples of Approved Examples

• Breaking Bread on the first day of the week (Acts
  207)

• Churches sending to the relief of others in
  benevolence (Acts 1129-30)

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Acts 1129-30
Then the disciples, each according
to his ability, determined to send relief to
the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 This they
also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands
of Barnabas and Saul.
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Examples of Necessary Inference

• An inference is a logical conclusion drawn from
  given data or premises
• Lot went down into Egypt with Abram (Gen. 131
  1210)

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Genesis 131 1210
(131), Then Abram went up from
Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had,
and Lot with him, to the South. (1210), Now
there was a famine in the land, and Abram went
down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was
severe in the land.
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Examples of Necessary Inference

• An inference is a logical conclusion drawn from
  given data or premises
• Lot went down into Egypt with Abram (Gen. 131
  1210)

• Before he was baptized Jesus went down into the
  water (Matthew 316)

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Matthew 316
When He had been baptized, Jesus
came up immediately from the water and behold,
the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the
Spirit of God descending like a dove and
alighting upon Him.
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All Means of establishing authority illustrated
in the New Testament teaching regarding the
Lords Supper

• We Learn what to eat and drink by a direct
  statement (Matt. 2626-28)

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Matthew 2626-28
And as they were eating, Jesus
took bread, blessed and broke it, and
gave it to the disciples and said, Take, eat
this is My body. 27 Then He took the cup, and
gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink
from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of
the new covenant, which is shed for many for the
remission of sins.
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All Means of establishing authority illustrated
in the New Testament teaching regarding the
Lords Supper

• We Learn what to eat and drink by a direct
  statement (Matt. 2626-28)

• We know when to eat and drink by an approved
  example (Acts 207)

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Acts 207
Now on the first day of the week,
when the disciples came together to break bread,
Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them
and continued his message until midnight.
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All Means of establishing authority illustrated
in the New Testament teaching regarding the
Lords Supper

• We Learn what to eat and drink by a direct
  statement (Matt. 2626-28)

• We know when to eat and drink by an approved
  example (Acts 207)

• We know the frequency of eating by a necessary
  inference (Acts 207)
• (For a daily observance, only the day of
  the week need be specified) Exodus 208, 10

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Acts 207
Now on the first day of the week,
when the disciples came together to break bread,
Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them
and continued his message until midnight.
31
Exodus 208, 10
Remember the Sabbath day, to
keep it holy. (10), But the seventh day is
the Sabbath of the LORD your God
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Questions
?

• Lesson 6
• How To Establish Authority

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Question 1

• What are the three ways Bible Authority is
  Established?

1. Expressed Command
2. Approved Apostolic Example
3. Necessary Inference

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Question 2

• What three things are established by each of the
  three methods of establishing authority in the
  lesson example (The Lords Supper)?

1. Command What to eat and drink
2. Example When to eat and drink
3. Inference The frequency of eating and drinking

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Question 3

• Application The kingdom of God was established
  on Pentecost (cf. Mk. 91 Acts 14-8 Acts
  21-4). Which of the three ways were used to
  establish this truth?

Inference 1) Promise of the kingdom present
with Power. 2) They would receive Power, when
Holy Spirit came upon them. 3) Holy Spirit came
upon them on Day of Pentecost. Inference
Kingdom established on Pentecost!
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Question 4

• Application Baptism to the penitent believer is
  for the remission of sins (Acts 238). Which of
  the three ways were used to establish this truth?

Direct Command Repent, and let everyone of you
be baptized
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Question 5

• Application Are these things authorized or
  unauthorized? Counting of Beads, Burning
  incense, Offering animal sacrifices, Confessing
  sins to a priest, Sprinkling for baptism,
  Thursday night communion?

Unauthorized. In every example given above,
there is no command, example or inference which
can be pointed to in establishing that Christians
in the New Testament ever practiced or taught any
of these things.