Category: Authority
Subject: Authority
Sermon: Emotion VS Emotionalism
There is a difference between having an emotion connection with the Lord due to your faith and relationship with Him, and being subjective in your assessment of your obedience, which is prevalent, and an example of Emotionalism.
The Help of God’s Holy Word
Paul told Timothy, “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:14-15).
This passage succinctly establishes the purpose and holiness of the Old Testament scriptures. Timothy was half Jewish (cf. 2 Timothy 1:5), and had been taught by his grandmother and mother from the Old Testament scriptures. These verses paved the way for the coming of the Christ. They prophesied His coming, described His kingdom, and established what constitutes righteousness before the Father. They were able to make Timothy “wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
The Old and New Testaments are both God’s word, coming through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Together they make the whole of God’s revelation to man. While we are under the authority of the new covenant, we must learn and familiarize ourselves with the entirety of the Bible.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Setting Things in Order
The apostle Paul directed the young evangelist Titus in his letter to him, preserved for us through God’s providence. It is apparent from the text that the church was not all it could be on the island of Crete, and so admonition and instruction was needed from Titus.
After his greeting, Paul wrote Titus, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set it in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you” (1:5). The rest of the epistle is a discourse on the lacking things, and the efforts Titus needed to make. By noting them, we can know what kind of congregation and individual Christians we need to be! Consider broadly the text. Continue reading “Setting Things in Order”
Sermon: Pilate’s Limited Authority
(John 19:1-16) It is evident by Jesus’ statement in verse 11 of our text, that Pilate greatly exaggerated his own authority. All men only have authority granted to them by the Almighty Himself.
Divine Implication
Another lesson in our series on Principles of Authority. God authorizes and establishes truth through implication. The principle is explained.
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Sound Doctrine
Doctrine is not important to many religious people today. A common belief distinguishes between the gospel of Christ and Christian doctrine. One is necessary to hold to and be in agreement about, the other is not. Others emphasize the “Man” rather than the “Plan,” and call those who advocate for unity in doctrine to be “legalists.” They emphasize a relationship and deemphasize the necessity of adhering to scriptural precepts. In their words, they serve “the Living Word [Christ}, and not a bunch of dead words on paper.”
The apostle Paul felt differently. In his words to Timothy, he denounced some in his time that were causing disputes, straying from the “purpose of the commandment.” He noted the “ungodly and sinners” the “unholy and profane” who were guilty of various listed sins like murder, fornication, homosexuality and lying. He ended the list with “any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust” (1 Timothy 1:3-11). Continue reading “Sound Doctrine”
Sermon: Does the End Justify the Means?
Many have the idea that as long as you attain a goal, the means of obtaining it is unimportant. This is not true with God. Both the method as well as the result must be sanctioned by the Lord.
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Sermon: And Ezra Opened the Book
A discussion of Nehemiah 8, emphasizing the commendable attitudes and demeanor of God’s people as the Law of Moses was read.
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Sermon: Approved Examples
A discussion of how Bible authority is established, emphasizing the use of Biblical examples to establish permission for action.
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Sermon: The Commands of God
God has explicitly revealed both requirements and prohibitions for us to heed in our lives to please Him. What God says DO, we must DO. What God says DO NOT, we must DO NOT.
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