“On What Authority?” Mark 11:27-33

Text: “...From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God...”

2 Timothy 3:15-16.

Good morning, Christian speaker!  You speak well, but on what authority does your utterances and preaching, teaching; or simple witnessing stand?  This is the real question to be asked in the ministry of any mere mortal who had been saved by God’s free grace.

Your personal opinions on Eternal matters, like mine, might be quite interesting to hear - but they have no Spiritual authority whatsoever.  Thus, a look at true Spiritual authority is crucial to any lesson on Christian doctrine, principle; practice; or ministry unto others.  It is not in any light manner that the Lord God commands us to, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.”  (2 Timothy 2:15)

My humble dictionary defines the concept of authority as follows: Power to compel obedience; person or group of persons having such power; power of influence; book or document giving trustworthy information and reliable opinions.

Therefore, to have authority means one has the power to compel obedience to that authority; the blueprint from which one can authoritatively direct how things are to be done.

To work outside the blueprint of authority is thus to err from the truth, and in the Spiritual realm this is, of course, fatal - Eternally fatal!  (John 8:31-47) (Revelation 21:8)

For Christians, our Eternal blueprint of absolute authority is the Bible - God’s own Word of authority, given to mankind by God the Holy Ghost. 

We KNOW how we should seek to live our lives, establish our thoughts; and worship God in the manner He demands, because we have His instructions written in His Book.  (2 Peter 1:21)

Stealing:  Christians know authoritatively that they must not steal.  How?  Because God’s Word forbids it.  Thus, we forbid stealing by God’s own authority and power.   (Exodus 20:15) (Leviticus 19:11)

Murdering:  How do we KNOW it is wrong to murder another human being?  Why, Gods Word clearly teaches us that this is so.  We therefore forbid murder on the authority of God’s Word. Simple, is it not? (Exodus 20:13) (Romans 13:9)

Homosexuality:  How do we KNOW homosexuality is unnatural and a perversion of God’s will for the human species?  God’s Word clearly teaches us that it is indeed so.  We must therefore condemn it and flee from such a sinful practice.  (Romans 1:18-27) (Jude 7-13)

Mariolatry: How do we KNOW that praying to, worshipping and exulting Mary, the mother of Jesus, is forbidden? Because the Bible teaches us that it is forbidden.  We can’t be Christians and refute the teachings of Christ! (Exodus 20:3-6) (Jeremiah 44:2-8; 17-19; 25-27)

God’s Word, contained in the 66 books of KJV Canonical Scripture is our only true Authority for believing, receiving Christ’s Salvation, practicing and teaching, genuine Christianity to our hearers.

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“The first lesson here is the uselessness of a mere outward profession of Christianity. Not everyone that saith “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven. Not all that profess and call themselves Christians shall be saved.

“Let us take notice of this. It requires far more than most people seem to think necessary, to save a soul. We may be baptized in the name of Christ, and boast confidently of our ecclesiastical privileges; we may possess head knowledge, and be quite satisfied with our own state; we may even be preachers, and teachers of others, and do “many wonderful works” in connection with our Church: but all this time are we practically doing the will of our Father in heaven? Do we truly repent, truly believe on Christ, and live holy and humble lives? If not, in spite of all our privileges and profession, we shall miss heaven at last, and be for ever cast away. We shall hear those awful words, “I never knew you: depart from Me,”

“The day of judgment will reveal strange things. The hopes of many, who were thought great Christians while they lived, will be utterly confounded. The rottenness of their religion will be exposed and put to shame before the whole world. It will then be proved that to be saved means something more than “making a profession.” We must make a “practice” of our Christianity as well as a “profession.” Let us often think of that great day: let us often “judge ourselves, that we be not judged,” and condemned by the Lord. Whatever else we are, let us aim at being real, true, and sincere.”  (J.C. Ryle’s Exposition on Matthew’s Gospel.)

From our study today, therefore, we learn that God’s Word is our ONLY final authority for speaking and teaching on these and all other Spiritual matters.  Either we believe and obey God’s instructions or we run on headlong into gross error, perversion, and even idolatry.  Mankind’s wisdom and all the human reasoning in the world is foolishness when compared to the authoritative wisdom of God, as found in our KJV Bibles. (1 Corinthians 1:17-20)

Speak on then, faithful Christian, teach on in that faithful way; witness at every God-given opportunity - but speak ONLY by the final authority of the infallible written Word.

Thought:  If you seek to do what’s right by God - read and obey God’s righteous Instructions for doing so.  We speak, live, and teach in the authority of God’s Word.