AUTHORITY Demonstrated

 

I.       With all denominations – How can we be sure?

 

          1.       Far Eastern Religions...teaches a lot of good.....

 

          2.       Jewish ... dedication … O.T. law? ..... Jesus a hoax?

 

          3.       Catholicism….Pope...pray through Mary ... Purgatory

 

          4.       Mormonism...Jesus…..Book of ...elders …angel Maroni told Jos. Smith where golden plates were  

 

          5.       Jehovah's Witnesses ... Millennium……. Watchtower  .. Hell

 

          6.       7th Day Adventists... Saturday. . . Sabbath keeping…..

 

          7.       Methodists...sprinkling...Reverend...music…..

 

          8.       Baptist...convention...vote. .. faith only. ..

 

          9.       Christian Church... music…..structure…missionary societies

 

How can you know??? …..Can you know???

 

Can they ALL be right???.....many say so....doesn’t matter

 

II.      EXAMPLES…

 

          A.      BOOKS (Look at each of the creed books as you tell about each one then drop the book to the floor – use enough to make a small pile)

 

                   1.       Some of contents in Bible

 

                   2.       Some are not

 

                   3.       When we presume to talk about religious matters, God warns us:

 

                             1 Pet. 4:11, “Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God”

 

                   4.       Matt. 15:1-9

 

HOW CAN WE KNOW ???

 

          B.      Watch example      …..R/R watch…..tuning fork...Quartz….digital

 

                   (ASK FOR VOLUNTEERS to tell you what time their watch says))

 

                   1.       Folks take pride in their watch

 

                   2.       Naval observatory...end all questions

 

IN RELIGION...CAN WE KNOW ???

 

          C.      Length of line on blackboard? – (ASK FOR VOLUNTEERS-“How long?”)

 

                   1.       "What if your life depended on it?"

 

                   2.       What if your soul (eternity) depended on it?

 

                              (Use a yard stick)

 

WHEN IT COMES TO OUR WORSHIP, OUR OBEDIENCE, OUR SALVATION DOES DEPEND ON IT!!!

 

III.     Our soul’s destiny depends on whether we have the truth or not

 

          A.      Gal. 1:8-9 (read with me!)

 

                   1.       I want to make sure...doctrine revealed to apostles

                   2.       DON'T YOU? ? ?

 

          B.      Matt. 7:13-14

          ­

                   1.       I want to find that narrow gate!!

                   2.       DON'T YOU ???

 

          C.      Matt. 7:15

 

                   1.       I want to make sure that I’m not being led by a false teacher!! (even if he is sincere – mistaken)

                   2.       DON'T YOU?

 

          D.      Matt. 7:21-27

 

                   1.       I want to act upon the words of Christ, DON’T YOU??

 

                   2.       I want to build on the sure foundation, DON’T YOU??

 

          E.      2 John 9

 

                   1.       In light of this passage, I don't want to go beyond the teaching of Christ.

 

                   2.       DO YOU??

 

IV.     BUT, How do most people become involved in their religious beliefs???

 

          A.      How they FEEL about it  PREDRAWN conclusions

 

                   1.       Most look for a church of THEIR CHOICE.

 

                   2.       Stop 25 people on the street...ask about calculus; astronomy

 

                   3.       Jeremiah 10:23, 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.

 

                    4.       Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”

 

          B.      Many automatically take their PARENTS’ RELIGION

 

                   1.       Suppose they are wrong? - Thumbtack story

 

                   2.       Ezekiel 18:20,  "The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.”

 

                   3.       Phil 2:12, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

 

                   4.       Romans 14:12,  So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”

 

          C.      Some find a preacher that they like & follow him

 

                   1.       Again – how dangerous!!

 

                   2.       Matthew 7:15,  "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

 

                   3.       Matthew 15:12-14  Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?  But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

 

                   4.       READ - 2 Thess. 2:7-15

 

V.      HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT TO FOLLOW?

 

          A.      Jesus said in Matt. 28:18, “All authority….” (no one can deny)

         

                   1.       How do we get that truth today?

 

          B.      Col. 3:16-17,  Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

 

                   1.       Today?

 

          C.      Promise of H/S …. John 16:12-13 – "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”

 

          D.      Describe Acts 1 & 2

 

          E.      2 Tim. 3:16-17,  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.”

 

          F.      Gal. 1:8-9, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!  As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”

 

          G.      2 Pet. 1:3,  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

 

VI.     Conclusion

 

          A.      Gal. 1:8-9, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!  As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”

 

                   1.       What of those teaching:

 

                             a.       Wearing the name Baptist, Methodist, etc.?

 

                             1 Cor. 3:3-4,  for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?  For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not mere men?”

 

                                      This is “contrary” to the apostles teaching

                                      “Let them be accursed”

 

                             b.       Other organizations such as:

                                      Papal rule – Southern Baptist Convention

       Watchtower Bible & Tract Society

       Pastor system – Deacon Rule

       elders overseeing more than one church

                                     

                             Eph. 1:22-23,  And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,  which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

 

                             This is “contrary” to the apostles teaching

                             “Let them be accursed”

 

                             c.       Different work such as:

                                      Opening schools & day care centers – recreation halls

-         going into business – Taking care of the elderly –

-         soup kitchens for the homeless – trips to Disney

 

                                      Find no authority in the NT –

                                      Only – Preach the Gospel (lost – edification) & Benevolence to needy saints

 

                                      This is “contrary” to the apostles teaching

                                       “Let them be accursed”

 

                             d.       Different worship such as:

                                      Instrumental music – choirs – solos - quartets

                                      children’s day (take over worship)

-         Special “states” days – Movies – plays

 

                             John 4:23-24,  "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.  God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

 

                                      This is “contrary” to the apostles teaching

                                       “Let them be accursed”

 

                             e.       Only one plan of salvation – “by grace thru faith”

                                      Jesus died for our sins – that blood is applied via baptism

-         only ones who can be baptized are believers, --

-         committing themselves to Christ (leaving world behind)

 

                                      HAVE YOU DONE THIS?