I.
Introduction:
A. Why do we have trouble in studying Biblical subjects with others?
B. One problem is not having the same foundation. We must be able to establish a common ground and build from there.
C. Ex. John 4 and the Samaritan woman by the well.
A. More basic question is: How long is an inch?
B. Must agree upon a standard for authority.
III.
MEANING OF AND THE NEED FOR AUTHORITY.
A. There are practical needs for standards. Leviticus 19:36
Leviticus 19:36 You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
1. Standard for time, weight, money.
Proverbs 16:11 A just balance and scales are the Lord's; all the weights in the bag are his work.
2. In our country the government has Department of Weights and Measurements.
3. Standards are not set by –
a. Feelings,
b. Family traditions
c. Parents
d. The owners, etc.,
B. The need for a standard is true in religion. Hosea 8:5-7
Hosea 8:5-7
I have spurned your calf, O Samaria.
My anger burns against them.
How long will they be incapable of innocence?
[6] For it is from Israel;
a craftsman made it;
it is not God.
The calf of Samaria
shall be broken to pieces.
[7] For they sow the wind,
and they shall reap the whirlwind.
The standing grain has no heads;
it shall yield no flour;
if it were to yield,
strangers would devour it.
1. Needed in the days after Joshua.
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
2. Idolatry, immoral behavior, murder, religious apostasy.
a. Romans 1:20ff describes what happened to the gentiles after they left the right standard of truth.
A. God is our creator.
1. As such He has the right to command all mankind.
Habakkuk 2:20 But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him."
2. Bible describes God as the potter and Israel as the clay,
3. Isaiah 45:9. "Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' or 'Your work has no handles'?
4. God has the ability to reward and punish.
5. If God says it, it is settled. Dan. 5:24ff
Daniel 5:24
"Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed.
6. Rules out – feelings, family traditions, parents, the owners, etc.,
B.
The Bible determined the right standard.
1. Cannot go to another source to find the mind of God,
a. Exodus 34:27. And the Lord said to Moses, "Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel."
2. Includes the Old Testament and New Testament, both inspired of God.
3. The Bible is the final and only source of authority.
a. Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures:
" 'The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes'?
b. Matthew 19:4 He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,
4. Includes the writings of the Apostles, 1 Thess. 5:27.
1 Thes. 5:27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
5. We are to listen to that revealed by the Holy Spirit,
John 16:7 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 go, I will send him to you.
John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
6.
Rules out –
a. Creeds of men
b. Feelings
c. Family traditions
d. Parents, etc.,
C. Jesus is the right standard.
1. God sent His Son; the Bible speaks of the Messiah.
2. Listen to God
a.
Matthew 17:5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them,
and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am
well pleased; listen to him."
3. We are to listen to the words of Jesus.
4. We are to follow His example.
1 Peter 2:21-25
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. [22] He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. [23] When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. [24] He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. [25] For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
5. Rules out – false prophets, preacher, family traditions, parents, etc.,
V.
Conclusion.
A. Once the standard is determined we can then apply it to all situations.
B. Religious harmony can be attained.
C. How about you?