Paul's Passing Thoughts

Authority: Its Relevance to Eternal Life; 7 Points

Introduction

1. Mediation

2. Epistemology

3. Law

4. Judgment

5. Leadership

6. Truth

7. Unity

Conclusion

Introduction

How funny. You slave over an article for days and people will barely read it or comment on it, but this week, I spent 15 minutes to produce this poster and it ignited a fire storm. People are clamoring about wanting it to be put on a T-shirt, and the post has 180 comments and counting.

The subject of authority seems to hit a nerve in our day. We know that we must fear God, but has God appointed gifted men to lead the masses by proxy? Are we responsible to God’s appointed authorities, or are we answer directly to God?

This was the big question in my own life as I was confronted by church leaders in regard to demands that were obviously not biblical according to a grammatical understanding of the Bible. Did they have the authority to be wrong? Were they gifted to see truth in a way that I couldn’t? Was I accountable for obeying them? Was I covered from accountability if I did? What about the right gospel? Where does that fit in?

1. Let’s begin our study at the beginning. Genesis, Chapter 3.

A. Mediation

a. Interpretation

B. It all begins here with the only two religions in the world.

a. Mediation versus individual accountability.

b. Anthropology

• Man’s competence to understand reality.
• Philosophy

C. The oldest religion in the world came from this construct.

a. The caste system.

• Philosopher Kings

D. It immediately shows up in world history.

a. The many following the few.

• The Flood
• The Tower of Babel
• 1Samuel, Chapter 8.

2. Epistemology

A. Deuteronomy 29:29

B. Deuteronomy 30:11-18.

C. Mathew 5: 1,2.

3. Law

A. The Nuremberg Trials

B. Romans 2:12-16

4. Judgment

A. Man will be judged individually by God.

B. The two judgments and the gospel.

a. The Gospel

• Condemnation
• Rewards

5. Leadership, not authority.

A. Matthew 20:20-28

B. 1 Cor 11:1; “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.

C. The Bereans in Acts 17:10 ff.

D. Hebrews 13:17

E. Acts 5:29

a. Nuremburg

6. Truth

A. Bible calls for obedience to the truth.

7. Unity

A. One mind in Christ.

a. In context of home fellowships.

Conclusion

There is only one mediator between God and man—Jesus Christ. These are the only two religions in the world: spiritual caste versus Jesus Christ as the only mediator.