God's Authority Expressed to Man
Notes
Transcript
Handout
1. God’s Will Has Always Been Made Known Through His Speaking—His Word
1. God’s Will Has Always Been Made Known Through His Speaking—His Word
A. His truth is a manifestation of His moral character.
A. His truth is a manifestation of His moral character.
1. His law, statutes, commandments, etc., are holy because He is holy.
1. His law, statutes, commandments, etc., are holy because He is holy.
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
2. His law, statutes, commandments, etc., are true because He is truth.
2. His law, statutes, commandments, etc., are true because He is truth.
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
B. He spoke through prophets in previous dispensations.
B. He spoke through prophets in previous dispensations.
1. Holy men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit to speak the things of God.
1. Holy men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit to speak the things of God.
19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
A. All Scripture is inspired by God.
A. All Scripture is inspired by God.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
B. Peter said Paul’s authority was given to Him.
B. Peter said Paul’s authority was given to Him.
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
1. Paul said He did not receive it from Man but through revelation of Jesus Christ.
1. Paul said He did not receive it from Man but through revelation of Jesus Christ.
12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
2. This revelation came in demonstration of the Spirit.
2. This revelation came in demonstration of the Spirit.
4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
2. God, in times past, spoke to the fathers through the prophets.
2. God, in times past, spoke to the fathers through the prophets.
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
A. God spoke for years through prophets.
A. God spoke for years through prophets.
29 And testified against them, That You might bring them back to Your law. Yet they acted proudly, And did not heed Your commandments, But sinned against Your judgments, ‘Which if a man does, he shall live by them.’ And they shrugged their shoulders, Stiffened their necks, And would not hear. 30 Yet for many years You had patience with them, And testified against them by Your Spirit in Your prophets. Yet they would not listen; Therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
B. Isaiah, a prophet, spoke for God.
B. Isaiah, a prophet, spoke for God.
16 “Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord God and His Spirit Have sent Me.”
3. The Spirit of the Lord spoke through David.
3. The Spirit of the Lord spoke through David.
2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue.
4. God testified of Jesus Christ before His coming to the earth through the prophets.
4. God testified of Jesus Christ before His coming to the earth through the prophets.
10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
2. In This Present Age God Speaks Exclusively Through His Son.
2. In This Present Age God Speaks Exclusively Through His Son.
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
A. The Father has delegated all authority to the Son.
A. The Father has delegated all authority to the Son.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
B. Jesus is the “prophet” of whom Moses spoke would be “like unto” him.
B. Jesus is the “prophet” of whom Moses spoke would be “like unto” him.
15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,
22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.
C. Jesus repeatedly stated that God had “sent” Him into the world.
C. Jesus repeatedly stated that God had “sent” Him into the world.
16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.
18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”
26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.”
29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.
42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;
45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.
49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,
D. The apostles, over and over, declared the Lordship of Jesus.
D. The apostles, over and over, declared the Lordship of Jesus.
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
E. Since Jesus is God’s only spokesman today and since He possesses all authority, all teaching must be “of Christ” if it is to have proper authority behind it.
E. Since Jesus is God’s only spokesman today and since He possesses all authority, all teaching must be “of Christ” if it is to have proper authority behind it.
9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
3. Jesus, Using The Holy Spirit To Guide Them, Authorized His Apostles To Use His Authority.
3. Jesus, Using The Holy Spirit To Guide Them, Authorized His Apostles To Use His Authority.
A. He promised them they would receive dunamis, power.
A. He promised them they would receive dunamis, power.
49 “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
B. They were to be given exousia, authority.
B. They were to be given exousia, authority.
8 For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed—
10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.
C. The Holy Spirit, as promised by Jesus, endowed the apostles with their power and authority.
C. The Holy Spirit, as promised by Jesus, endowed the apostles with their power and authority.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
1. This work began on the day of Pentecost recorded in the second chapter pf the book of Acts.
1. This work began on the day of Pentecost recorded in the second chapter pf the book of Acts.
2. Later, when they wrote, the words were given to them by the Holy Spirit.
2. Later, when they wrote, the words were given to them by the Holy Spirit.
9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
1. Why is the word of God authoritative?
1. Why is the word of God authoritative?
2. How has the will of God always been made known?
2. How has the will of God always been made known?
3. How is God’s will a manifestation of His character?
3. How is God’s will a manifestation of His character?
4. How did God express His authority to man in previous dispensations?
4. How did God express His authority to man in previous dispensations?
5. How does God speak to man today? Is there any other way that God makes His will known to man? Explain your answer.
5. How does God speak to man today? Is there any other way that God makes His will known to man? Explain your answer.
6. How can Jesus be compared to Moses as a “prophet?”
6. How can Jesus be compared to Moses as a “prophet?”
7. Why, do you believe, did the apostles repeatedly emphasize the Lordship of Jesus?
7. Why, do you believe, did the apostles repeatedly emphasize the Lordship of Jesus?
8.Why must all religious teachings today be “of Christ?”
8.Why must all religious teachings today be “of Christ?”
9. What kind of authority did the apostles possess? Why did they have that authority? Why are their writings authoritative?
9. What kind of authority did the apostles possess? Why did they have that authority? Why are their writings authoritative?
10. How does 1 Corinthians 14:37 apply to the writings of the inspired men?
10. How does 1 Corinthians 14:37 apply to the writings of the inspired men?