HOW TO ESTABLISH SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY.

By  E. Olu. Alonge

Objectives: at the end, we should be able to:
Define authority
State why we should be concerned about matter of authority
Explain why we need divine authority
Affirm that there is a sure source of authority in spiritual matter
Identify how to establish authority
Explain application of the principle of establishing scriptural authority

Introduction
Ferrell Jenkins (1990) in the preface to his Biblical Authority states “…of laying a good foundation in Biblical authority, whether teaching an individual or instructing the church… we could never move towards a common understanding unless we agree on the standard of authority”
In a similar vein Keith Sharp wrote “… for us to be the church Jesus built, we must have proper standard of authority… that standard is the will of Christ as revealed in the apostles doctrine , that is the teachings of Christ’s apostles as inspired by the Holy Spirit and preserved for us in the pages of the New Testament. Other standards are not suitable guides to lead us to the way of salvation. Not the Old Testament, majority rule, parents, preachers, creed, (constitution) and traditions of men, nor our conscience, human wisdom or feelings,,,”
Authority Defined 
Microsoft Encarta Dictionary 2009 among others defines authority as “right to command the right or power to enforce rules or give orders.” Webster Dictionary defines it as “the right and power to command, enforce obedience, make a decision or take action”
Thayer says authority is from exousia which means the power of rule or government. (The power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed.)
Authority is either inherent (Acts 17:24) or delegated. (Matt.28:18)
Why Should We Be Concerned About Matter Of  Authority
Jesus did not speak without having authority - John 12:49-50
The Spirit spoke/guided on the basis of authority - John 16:13
The apostles acted under the guidance of authority. 1Cor 14:37
The Jews recognised the need for authority in spiritual matter Lk 20:1-8
Those who despised authority are ill-spoken of in the Scriptures - 2 Pe 2:10; Jude 1:8
We are charged to recognise The need for authority in our beliefs and practices. Col. 3:17cf Acts 4:7,10,12,18
   IV. Why do we need divine authority?
We are not capable of deciding what is right and acceptable in guiding ourselves. Jer. 10:23
Divine authority is a must to achieve divinely required unity1 Cor. 1:10-13; John 17:20-21
Divine authority guides us to God. 1Cor. 1:21
We walk by faith. 2 Cor. 5:7cf Rm. 10:17
Result of rejecting divine authority is tragic. Judges 17:6:19:30;21:25 John 12:48
Is There Reliable Source Of Authority?
God has the right and power to command all. Gen. 1:1-2, 27;2:7
God gave the authority to Christ Jesus cf Matthew 17: 5;7:28-29;Joh. 14:24;Matt. 28:18
Jesus has authority even to forgive sins Matt. 9:6
He is the head over all things to the church. Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18,24
It is the head that provides guidance and gives direction
Jesus taught the truth and committed the assignment to His followers
Jesus delegated the authority to His disciples and other inspired men.
He puts them under the direction of the Holy Spirit to reveal all the truth. John 16:13;14:26; 15:26
God’s word was revealed to them. John 17:8-14
The apostles were the ambassadors of Christ. 2Cor. 5:20
To reject the apostles  is to reject Christ and to receive them is to receive Christ Lk. 10:16
The apostles are seated on the twelve thrones of regeneration. Matt. 19:28 Tit. 3:5; John 3:5
Thus, they judge by the written words. 2Tim. 3:16-17
They were given key to God’s kingdom as well. Matt. 16:19;18”18 cf Act. 2; 10-11
What they taught and wrote remains authoritative, divine, inspired, all-sufficient and final.
1 Cor. 2:13; 1Thes 2:13; 1 Cor. 14:37
Gal/ 1:6-9; Jude 3; 2John 9-10; 2Pt. 1:3
Rev. 22:18-19
How Should We Consider The Bible Written By These Men?
As the very word of God 1 Pt 4:11 (NIV)
As God’s pattern Heb. 8: 5 cf Ex. 25:40
Sufficient will of God 2Tim. 3:16-17
Faith once for all time delivered Jude 3
All that God revealed for salvation and living godly life 2Pet. 1:3
How to Establish Divine Authority
   Authority can be established in three ways:
Direct command /Declaration or Direct precept – This is a direct statement of something that can done or should not be done
"repent and be baptized" - Ac 2:38
"love one another" - Jn 13:3
"abstain from sexual immorality" - 1Th 4:3
You should not murder Ex. 20:3; Rm. 13:9-10
What God has joined together, let no one put asunder . Matt. 19:6-9
Saints are to assemble. Heb. 10:25
It is wrong to lie Col. 3:9
Approved Apostolic Example: These are practices of the people of God in the New Testament under the guidance of the apostles.
We call it approved because it meets God’s approval
Numerous examples are recorded in God’s word that did not meet God’s approval. Gal 2:11-14,1Cor. 5;1-13,1 Cor11;20-22
Apostle/ early church taught the churches what they received of the Lord  1 Cor 4;16-17; Phil. 4:9
They demanded that their examples be followed/ Phil. 3:17; 1Cor. 11:1; Eph. 5:1
Some examples
A local church should ordain more than one elders Acts 14:23; Phil. 1:1; Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1-4
Saints are to assemble on the first day of the week Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2\
Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week Acts 20:7
Church sending relief to others in benevolence. Acts 11:29-30
Necessary Inference or Forced Conclusion 2Tim. 2: 7: this is something neither expressly stated nor specifically exemplified, yet it is necessarily implied by the clear import and meaning of the language used so that one can only draw a particular conclusion:
“This recognizes the implication of logic to the scripture studied” Keith Sharp
It does not imply, however, that all inferences drawn by men are scriptural/ Acts 16:14-15
Jesus appealed to necessary inference when He reasoned that there must be a resurrection of the dead based on the implication of God’s statement to Moses. cf. Matt. 22:29-33
Peter and the brethren in Judea understood the necessary implication of the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit, that it meant Gentiles were permitted to be baptized and enjoy the repentance and forgiveness of sins cf. Ac 10:44-48; 11: 15-18
The prerequisite to baptism include faith and repentance Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 8:37
It implies that infants are not candidates of baptism. The are not capable of the prerequisites
The use of unleavened bread for Lord’s Supper.
Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper at the last Passover. We know that He used unleavened bread. Lk. 22:7-19
The necessary conclusion is that we should use unleavened bread as we keep His command to observe the Lord’s supper.
Application of the Principle Illustrated
The Lord’s Supper: There is no single passage that gives all the detail of what God requires. We must study all that God’s word say on the subject .
Direct Command: “ Do this in remembrance of me” 1Cor. 11:25
Approved apostolic example: “And upon the first day of the week…” Acts 20:7
Necessary Inference: Frequency of observance: “…first day of the week…” Acts 20:7 cf Ex.20:8
Controversy Over Gentiles and Observance of the Law of Moses (Circumcision): Acts 15
Question: is it necessary for gentiles to keep the Law of Moses?
Necessary Inference: Peter inferred from Acts 10:17, 28,34,47;11:17,18 that God made no distinction between Jews and gentiles Acts 15:7-9.
James drew conclusion Acts 15:19
No inference could be drawn that gentiles must keep the law
Approved Example: God gave them the Holy Spirit even as He did to the Jews. Acts 15:8
Barnabas and Paul: We laboured among the gentiles and God did signs and wonders. Acts 15:12
The examples showed that God has accepted the gentiles without obedience to the law of Moses
Direct Command: Peter told them how he was commanded by God to go to the house of Cornelius. Acts 15:7
James cited the words of the prophet. Acts 15:15
God did not tell the gentiles to keep the Law of Moses.
CONCLUSION: The application of how to establish authority helped the early church:-
To solve the problems that faced them
To keep the unity of the church
We need the application of the method today to determine what God wants us to do so that we will not fall into the denominational heresies
VIII. There Is both General And Specific Authority
      1. Using a direct command as an example, sometimes it is general in its authority
         a. That is, "not limited in scope, area, or application"
   b. The command 'go' in Mt 28:19 is generic and authorizes all methods of transportation
      2. Sometimes a direct command is specific in its authority
         a. That is, "explicitly set forth; definite" (American Heritage Dictionary)
         b. When God commanded Noah to build the ark with gopher wood (Gen 6:14),
the specific nature of the command ruled out using any other kind of wood
      3. A specific command may itself have a degree of general authority
a. the command to sing specifically authorizes acapella music
b. It is not generic enough to authorize instrumental music, a totally different class (or kind) of music
c. But it is generic enough to authorize different aids or expedients (see below), such as song books, to carry out the command to sing

being a paper delivered@ the church of Christ, Challenge, Ibadan on Monday 6th March, 2017 at a Lectureship tagged GROWING IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST