the authority of christ (part 5)

THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

(Part 5)

Matt. 28:18-20

[By Ron Halbrook]

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Introduction:1. Matt. 28:18-20 Christ proclaimed his authority:

we must submit to receive salvation

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Matt. 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

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Introduction:2. To understand & apply the authority of Christ: I. Authority of Christ Expressed in Scripture II. Authority of Christ as Savior III. Authority of Christ in Local Church IV. Gradual Departures from the Authority of Christ V. Gradual Return to the Authority of Christ

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THE AUTHORITY OF CHRISTV. Gradual Return to the Authority of Christ

A. Catholic Corruption Sparked Reforms in 1400’s-1500’s

Popes exercise political power; church full of ignorance, greed, & immorality

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Indulgence: transfer merits of Christ, Mary, & saints—remit penalties for sin on earth & in purgatory

For the living & the deadGranted if visit saints’ relics, pay

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Indulgence: transfer merits of Christ, Mary, & saints—remit penalties on earth, in purgatory

Pope Leo X offered plenary indulgence (total pardon) to raise money for St. Peter’s Basilica in 1517 Johann Tetzel in Germany: “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, The soul from purgatory springs”

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Indulgence: transfer merits of Christ, Mary, & saints—remit penalties on earth, in purgatory

Inexpensive indulgence 10 days: “In the authority of all the saints… I absolve thee from all sins… & remit all punishment for ten days” More expensive: 1,902,202 years

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In Germany in 1517 Martin Luther wrote 95 theses for debate, challenged Pope’s authority, & was declared an outlaw

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V. Gradual Return to the Authority of ChristA. Catholic Corruption Sparked Reforms

in 1400’s-1500’sBible translated into common languages

John Wycliffe, “morning star” of reform: complete English Bible 1382

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V. Gradual Return to the Authority of ChristA. Catholic Corruption Sparked Reforms in 1400’s-1500’s

Bible translated into common languagesGutenberg printed Latin Bible 1455

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V. Gradual Return to the Authority of ChristA. Catholic Corruption Sparked Reforms in 1400’s-1500’s

Bible translated into common languagesLuther: N.T. 1520, complete Bible 1534

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Bible translated into common languagesWilliam Tyndale: “if God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth a plough shall know more of the Scriptures than he [the Pope] did” (1521)

Pope Leo X

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Bible translated into common languagesKing James I: Commission scholars 1604, 47 men begin 1607, Authorized Version or KJV published 1611 (N.T. 90% Tyndale’s 1534)

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B. Efforts to Reform Catholicism, Return to New Testament Teaching

In Germany Martin Luther a priest wrote 95 theses for debate in 1517, excommunicated 1520-21; Philip Melanchthon wrote Augsburg Confession 1530; origin of Lutheran Church

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In Switzerland Ulrich Zwingli a priest left Catholicism in Zurich 1522-25; origin of Reformed & Presbyterian Churches

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In France John Calvin studied priesthood & law; Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536; led Geneva, Swizlerland; origin of Reformed & Presbyterian Churches

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In England King Henry VIII declared “Defender of the Faith” by Pope Leo X for opposing Luther; Henry made the Church of England independent in 1534 to secure marriage to Anne Boleyn

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In Europe Anabaptist movements: reform ferment by lower classes; Menno Simons priest in Netherlands, immersed 1536; Grebel, Hutter, Hoffman, Hut, etc.; origin of Mennonites, Amish, & Church of the Brethren; Baptists from John Smyth in Holland 1607

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C. Reformers Severely Persecuted by Catholicism, Wars Fought

Reformers protest persecution: Protestant ReformationDeclared outlaws, arrested, tortured, Bibles burned, executedGreat struggle seeking to find & follow the authority of Christ

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V. Gradual Return to the Authority of ChristD. Reformers Struggle with How to Apply Bible Authority

Struggle to clarify restoration principle of 1 Pet. 4:11

1 Peter 4:11 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

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RESTORATION PRINCIPLE(1 Peter 4:11)

What is not authorizedis forbidden

What is not forbiddenIs authorized

ZWINGLI LUTHER“Reject what the Bible did not enjoin”

“Accept what the Bible did not prohibit”

“What the Bible does not command we may not do”

“We may do what the Bible does not forbid”

Oppose images, crosses, organs, choirs, clerical dress, etc.

Embrace images, crosses, organs, choirs, clerical dress, etc.

R.H. Bainton, The Church of Our Fathers, pp. 143-144

VS

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V. Gradual Return to the Authority of ChristD. Reformers Struggle with How to Apply

Bible AuthorityLuther’s looser view prevailedDenominations multiplied


DENOMINATIONS606 Rome Boniface III Roman

Catholic1520 Germany Martin

LutherLutheran

1534 England Henry VIII Episcopal1536 Switzerlan

dJohn Calvin Presbyterian

1550 England Robert Browne

Congregational

1607 Holland John Smythe

Baptist

1739 England John Wesley Methodist1830 America Joseph

SmithMormon

1830 America William Miller

Adventists

1866 America Mary B. Eddy

Christian Science

1872 America Charles Russell

Jehovah’s Witness

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V. Gradual Return to the Authority of ChristD. Reformers Struggle with How to Apply Bible Authority

Denominations multipliedDavid Barrett, World Christian Encyclopedia (2001): 33,000World Christian Database (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) track 9,000 denominations Jan. 2008


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V. Gradual Return to the Authority of ChristE. Basic Doctrines of Denominations Prevent

True RestorationAdditions to Bible Authority Rev. 22:18-19


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Additions to Bible Authority Rev. 22:18-19

Rev. 22:18-19 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

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True RestorationAdditions to Bible Authority Rev. 22:18-19

Human creedsHeadquarters, hierarchy, councils, officersNew revelationsIllumination of the Holy Spirit


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True RestorationSalvation by faith only Ja. 2:24


Ja. 2:24 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

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True RestorationSalvation by faith only Ja. 2:24

Baptism not essentialAllow departures from Bible pattern: work, worship, & organization of churchUngodly living not affect salvation


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True RestorationDirect operation of Holy Spirit Rom. 1:16


Rom. 1:16 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

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V. Gradual Return to the Authority of ChristE. Basic Doctrines of Denominations Prevent True Restoration

Direct operation of Holy Spirit Rom. 1:16Declare the word dead, cold, powerlessClaim power for salvation, 2nd work of graceClaim miracles todayClaim new revelations, illuminations, miraculous guidanceDeny all-sufficient power of original gospel!


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V. Gradual Return to the Authority of ChristF. Restoration Plea: Return to the Authority of Christ by Return to His Original Teaching

Many seek remedy for denominationalism, return to original gospel of Christ 1790-1850Speak as oracles of God 1 Pet. 4:11


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Speak as oracles of God 1 Pet. 4:11

1 Peter 4:11 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

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Speak where the Bible speaks: Bible authority for all we preach & practiceBe silent where the Bible is silent: silence of Scripture prohibits


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Give Book, chapter, & verseCall Bible things by Bible names, do Bible things in Bible ways


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Ask for the old paths Jer. 6:16


Jer. 6:16 16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

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What saith the Scriptures? Rom. 4:3


Rom. 4:3 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

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Christ only head of church Eph. 1:22-23


Eph. 1:22-23 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

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Bible only as our guide 2 Tim. 3:16-17


2 Tim. 3:16-17 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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

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New Testament pattern of faith & practice in all things 2 Tim. 1:13


2 Tim. 1:13 13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

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Christians only Acts 11:26


Acts 11:26 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

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Early efforts in Europe & British Isles in 1700s-early 1800s: Robert Sandeman, Robert Haldane, J.A. Haldane (Social Worship, 1805)Fruitful efforts in U.S.: New England, middle colonies, early western frontier, southern states


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V. Gradual Return to the Authority of ChristG. Restoration Plea Spread Widely in America

Middle states: James O’Kelley & Rice Haggard leave Methodist 1793-1801

Christ only head, Christian only name, Bible only creed


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New England: Elias Smith leave Baptist 1802-1803

Christian’s Journal (1805), Herald of Gospel Liberty (1808)

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Kentucky frontier: Barton W. Stone leaves Presbyterian 1803


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G. Restoration Plea Spread Widely in AmericaKentucky frontier: Barton W. Stone leaves Presbyterian 1803

1801 Great Revival at Cane Ridge, KY audience 10,000-20,000; weaken Calvinism

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Kentucky frontier: Barton W. Stone leaves Presbyterian 1803

1804 Last Will & Testament of the Springfield Presbytery: “take the Bible as the only sure guide to heaven”John Smith at Lexington, KY unity meeting Dec. 25, 1831-Jan. 1, 1832: “Let us…be no longer Campbellites or Stoneites, New Lights or Old Lights, or any other kind of lights, but let us come to the Bible and the Bible alone, as the only book in the world that can give us all the light we need.”

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Western Pennsylvania: Thomas & Alexander Campbell plead for restoration


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Western Pennsylvania: Thomas & Alexander Campbell plead for restoration

1808 leave Presbyterian, work with Baptists1808 T. Campbell: “Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent.” If infant baptism “not found in the Scriptures, we can have nothing to do with it”


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Western Penn. & Vir.: Thomas & Alexander Campbell plead for restoration

1809 Declaration & Address: the Church of Christ will resume its “original unity, peace, & purity” if we “adopt the practice of the primitive Church, expressly exhibited in the New Testament”


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Brush Run Church, Washington County, PA formed 1810, later join Baptist associationJune 12, 1812 Campbells immersed into Christ not Baptist Church

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Distinguished Old & New Covenants “How few among the teachers

of the New Testament seem to know that Christ’s ministers are not able ministers of the Old Testament, but of the New! Do they not…run to Moses to prove forms of worship, ordinances, discipline, and government in the Christian Church, when asked to account for their practices?” (Alexander letter 1812)

“Sermon on The Law” (1816 Redstone Baptist Association)

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Gospel spread via journals & debates1830 dissolve Mahoning Baptist AssociationGreat harvest as thousands converted, but opposed as cult, “Campbellites,” etc.

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Western Reserve (Ohio): Walter Scott left Presbyterian, baptized 1819 in Pittsburg, PA

Five finger exercise: faith, repentance, baptism, remission of sins, gift of Holy Spirit


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Southern states (Georgia): Christian Herman Dasher left Lutheran, baptized 1819

Dasher & S.C. Dunning (former Baptist) in Savannah baptized each other

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V. Gradual Return to the Authority of Christ H. Restoration Plea Put into Practice

The Great Commission Matt. 28:18-20


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The Great Commission Matt. 28:18-20 Facts to believe: death, burial, & resurrection of ChristCommands to obey: believe, repent, confess Christ, be immersed in waterPromises to embrace: remission of sins, hope of eternal life


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Work of the Church Matt. 28:18-20 Preach the gospel 1 Tim. 3:15Worship God, edify saints 1 Cor. 14:26Benevolence to needy saints Acts 6:1


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Worship of the Church Matt. 28:18-20 1st Day of the week: Lord’s Supper Acts 20:71st Day of the week: Give 1 Cor. 16:2Pray Acts 2:42Teach Acts 2:42Sing Eph. 5:19


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Organization of the Church Matt. 28:18-20 Leadership: Elders (Presbyters), Pastors (Shepherds), Bishops (Overseers) Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28 Deacons serve Acts 6:2-3


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Organization of the Church Matt. 28:18-20 Evangelists (Preachers) & Teachers Instruct Eph. 4:11All Saints Participate in Work & Worship Phil. 1:1Women Not Exercise Lead Over Men 1 Tim. 2:12


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Organization of the Church Matt. 28:18-20 Each Local Church Independent, Autonomous (No “Mother” or “Satellite” Church) Acts 14:23No Earthly Headquarters, No Central or Universal Organization


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Invitation:1. Matt. 28:18-20 Christ proclaimed his authority:

we must submit to receive salvation

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the authority of christ (part 5)

Documents

authority of christa

popes authority

authority of christb

authority of christpart

gradual return

catholic corruption

transfer merits of christ

gradual departures