A Study of Authority

1
A Study ofAuthority

• And if anyone hears My words and does not
  believe, I do not judge him for I did not come
  to judge the world but to save the world. He who
  rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has
  that which judges him the word that I have
  spoken will judge him in the last day (John
  1247-48).

2
A Study ofAuthority

• Lesson 5
• The Authority of Jesus Christ is Set Forth in the
  New Testament

(Presentations are basically an adaptation of
material found in Billy W. Moores classbook, A
Study of Authority)
3
The New Testament is the Will of Jesus

• Jesus does not speak to us directly, we have not
  seen him personally
• God had promised to make a New Covenant
• Jeremiah 3131-34
• First covenant was made old by giving of the
  New Covenant

4
Jeremiah 3131-34
"Behold, the days are coming, says
the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with
the house of Israel and with the house of Judah
32 not according to the covenant that I made
with their fathers in the day that I took them by
the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt,
My covenant which they broke, though I was a
husband to them, says the LORD
5
Jeremiah 3131-34
(cont.), But this is the covenant that
I will make with the house of Israel after
those days, says the LORD I will put My law in
their minds, and write it on their hearts and I
will be their God, and they shall be My people.
34 "No more shall every man teach his neighbor,
and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the
LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least
of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD.
For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin
I will remember no more."
6
The New Testament is the Will of Jesus

• Jesus does not speak to us directly, we have not
  seen him personally
• God had promised to make a New Covenant
• Jeremiah 3131-34
• First covenant was made old by giving of the
  New Covenant

• The N. T. is the New Covenant
• He is mediator (Heb. 915-17 86-13)

7
Hebrews 915-17
And for this reason He is the Mediator
of the new covenant, by means of death,
for the redemption of the transgressions under
the first covenant, that those who are called may
receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
16 For where there is a testament, there must
also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is in force after men are
dead, since it has no power at all while the
testator lives.
8
Hebrews 86,13
But now He has obtained a more
excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also
Mediator of a better covenant, which was
established on better promises. In that He
says, A new covenant, He has made the first
obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and
growing old is ready to vanish away.
9
The New Testament is the Will of Jesus

• Jesus does not speak to us directly, we have not
  seen him personally
• God had promised to make a New Covenant
• Jeremiah 3131-34
• First covenant was made old by giving of the
  New Covenant

• The N. T. is the New Covenant
• He is mediator (Heb. 915-17 86-13)
• Dedicated by His Blood (Matt. 2628)

10
Matthew 2628
For this is My blood of the new
covenant, which is shed for many for the
remission of sins.
11
The New Testament is the Will of Jesus

• Jesus does not speak to us directly, we have not
  seen him personally
• God had promised to make a New Covenant
• Jeremiah 3131-34
• First covenant was made old by giving of the
  New Covenant

• The N. T. is the New Covenant
• He is mediator (Heb. 915-17 86-13)
• Dedicated by His Blood (Matt. 2628)
• Preached after death (Heb. 916-17)

12
Hebrews 916-17
For where there is a testament, there
must also of necessity be the death of the
testator. 17 For a testament is in force after
men are dead, since it has no power at all while
the testator lives.
13
The New Testament is the Will of Jesus

• The first covenant (old law) was abolished that
  the new covenant might be inaugurated
• Jesus came to fulfill the law and prophets, Matt.
  517

14
Matthew 517
Do not think that I came to destroy
the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to
destroy but to fulfill.
15
The New Testament is the Will of Jesus

• The first covenant (old law) was abolished that
  the new covenant might be inaugurated
• Jesus came to fulfill the law and prophets, Matt.
  517
• Old law was taken away, Heb. 109-10

16
Hebrews 109-10
Then He said, Behold, I have
come to do Your will, O God. He takes
away the first that He may establish the second.
10 By that will we have been sanctified through
the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for
all.
17
The New Testament is the Will of Jesus

• The first covenant (old law) was abolished that
  the new covenant might be inaugurated
• Jesus came to fulfill the law and prophets, Matt.
  517
• Old law was taken away, Heb. 109-10
• Old law was the middle wall of partition, broken
  down by Christ, Eph. 214-17

18
Ephesians 214-17
For He Himself is our peace, who
has made both one, and has broken down the
middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished
in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of
commandments contained in ordinances, so as to
create in Himself one new man from the two, thus
making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile
them both to God in one body through the cross,
thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He
came and preached peace to you who were afar off
and to those who were near.
19
The New Testament is the Will of Jesus

• The first covenant (old law) was abolished that
  the new covenant might be inaugurated
• Jesus came to fulfill the law and prophets, Matt.
  517
• Old law was taken away, Heb. 109-10
• Old law was the middle wall of partition, broken
  down by Christ, Eph. 214-17
• Old law, handwriting of ordinances taken away,
  Col. 214-17

20
Colossians 214-17
Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements
that was against us, which was contrary to us.
And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed
it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed
principalities and powers, He made a public
spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 16
So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or
regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the
substance is of Christ.
21
The New Testament is the Will of Jesus

• The first covenant (old law) was abolished that
  the new covenant might be inaugurated
• Jesus came to fulfill the law and prophets, Matt.
  517
• Old law was taken away, Heb. 109-10
• Old law was the middle wall of partition, broken
  down by Christ, Eph. 214-17
• Old law, handwriting of ordinances taken away,
  Col. 214-17
• Old law, schoolmaster we are no longer
  under, Gal. 324,25

22
Galatians 324-25
Therefore the law was our tutor to
bring us to Christ, that we might be justified
by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no
longer under a tutor.
23
The New Testament is Gods Message to Men in This
Dispensation

• God speaks to us by His son, Hb. 11-2
• In Old Testament days Prophets
• Today, His Son through the New Test.

24
Hebrews 11-2
God, who at various times and in
various ways spoke in time past to the
fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last
days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has
appointed heir of all things, through whom also
He made the worlds.
25
The New Testament is Gods Message to Men in This
Dispensation

• God speaks to us by His son, Hb. 11-2
• In Old Testament days Prophets
• Today, His Son through the New Test.

• Jesus spoke through the apostles who were his
  witnesses and ambassadors
• Luke 2446-48 Acts 18 2 Cor. 520

26
Luke 2446-48
Then He said to them, Thus it is
written, and thus it was necessary for the
Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the
third day, 47 and that repentance and remission
of sins should be preached in His name to all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are
witnesses of these things.
27
Acts 18
But you shall receive power when
the Holy Spirit has come upon you and
you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in
all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the
earth.
28
2 Corinthians 520
Now then, we are ambassadors for
Christ, as though God were pleading through
us we implore you on Christ's behalf, be
reconciled to God.
29
The New Testament is Gods Message to Men in This
Dispensation

• God speaks to us by His son, Hb. 11-2
• In Old Testament days Prophets
• Today, His Son through the New Test.

• Jesus spoke through the apostles who were his
  witnesses and ambassadors
• Luke 2446-48 Acts 18 2 Cor. 520
• Apostles were eyewitnesses (Acts 121-22 2 Peter
  116 1 Cor. 158)

30
Acts 121-22
Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us
all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out
among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John
to that day when He was taken up from us, one of
these must become a witness with us of His
resurrection.
31
2 Peter 116
For we did not follow cunningly
devised fables when we made known to you
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
32
1 Corinthians 158
Then last of all He was seen by me
also, as by one born out of due time. Paul was
also an eyewitness of the resurrected Lord, hence
qualified to be an apostle
33
The New Testament is Gods Message to Men in This
Dispensation

• God speaks to us by His son, Hb. 11-2
• In Old Testament days Prophets
• Today, His Son through the New Test.

• Jesus spoke through the apostles who were his
  witnesses and ambassadors
• Luke 2446-48 Acts 18 2 Cor. 520
• Apostles were eyewitnesses (Acts 121-22 2 Peter
  116 1 Cor. 158)
• Apostles were chosen ambassadors (2
  Cor. 518)

34
2 Corinthians 518
Now all things are of God, who has
reconciled us to Himself through Jesus
Christ, and has given us the ministry of
reconciliation. Paul was given the ministry of
reconciliation. Sent especially to the Gentiles
who once were afar off
35
The New Testament is Gods Message to Men in This
Dispensation

• When the apostles spoke, they represented Christ,
  and their words must be respected
• Matt. 1040 Luke 1016 John 1320

36
Matthew 1040
He who receives you receives Me,
and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
37
Luke 1016
He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you
rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who
sent Me.
38
John 1320
Most assuredly, I say to you, he
who receives whomever I send receives
Me and he who receives Me receives Him who sent
Me."
39
The New Testament is Gods Message to Men in This
Dispensation

• When the apostles spoke, they represented Christ,
  and their words must be respected
• Matt. 1040 Luke 1016 John 1320
• They were guided by the Holy Spirit, Jn 1613
  Gal. 111-12

40
John 1613
However, when He, the Spirit of
truth, has come, He will guide you into
all truth for He will not speak on His own
authority, but whatever He hears He will speak
and He will tell you things to come.
41
Galatians 111-12
But I make known to you, brethren,
that the gospel which was preached by me is not
according to man. 12 For I neither received it
from man, nor was I taught it, but it came
through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
42
The New Testament is Gods Message to Men in This
Dispensation

• When the apostles spoke, they represented Christ,
  and their words must be respected
• Matt. 1040 Luke 1016 John 1320
• They were guided by the Holy Spirit, Jn 1613
  Gal. 111-12

• These ambassadors and other inspired men wrote
  the New Testament
• Divine (1 Thess. 213)

43
1 Thessalonians 213
For this reason we also thank God
without ceasing, because when you
received the word of God which you heard from us,
you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it
is in truth, the word of God, which also
effectively works in you who believe.
44
The New Testament is Gods Message to Men in This
Dispensation

• When the apostles spoke, they represented Christ,
  and their words must be respected
• Matt. 1040 Luke 1016 John 1320
• They were guided by the Holy Spirit, Jn 1613
  Gal. 111-12

• These ambassadors and other inspired men wrote
  the New Testament
• Divine (1 Thess. 213)
• Complete (2 Tim. 316-17)

45
2 Timothy 316-17
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
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good
work.
46
The New Testament is Gods Message to Men in This
Dispensation

• When the apostles spoke, they represented Christ,
  and their words must be respected
• Matt. 1040 Luke 1016 John 1320
• They were guided by the Holy Spirit, Jn 1613
  Gal. 111-12

• These ambassadors and other inspired men wrote
  the New Testament
• Divine (1 Thess. 213)
• Complete (2 Tim. 316-17)
• Final (Jude 3)

47
Jude 3
Beloved, while I was very diligent
to write to you concerning our common
salvation, I found it necessary to write to you
exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith
which was once for all delivered to the saints.
48
Conclusion

• In this lesson we have
• Established that the New Testament is the Will of
  Jesus
• It is the New Covenant, and the Old Covenant has
  been taken away
• Established that the New Testament is Gods
  message to man in This dispensation
• God speaks today through his son
• The apostles were ambassadors of Christ
• The apostles and other inspired men wrote
  down the truth for us today

49
Questions
?

• Lesson 5
• The Authority of Jesus Set forth in the New
  Testament

50
Question 1

• What does it mean that Jesus is the Mediator of a
  New Covenant (cf. Heb. 915-17 86-13)?

The word simply means a go-between. Jesus, by
means of his death, established a new agreement
between God and man. It is through his efforts
that redemption is made available to all men!
51
Question 2

• What are some of the scriptural designations for
  the Old Covenant which indicate that it is
  insufficient for our redemption (cf. Eph.
  214-17 Col. 214-17 Gal. 324,25)?

the enmity, that is, the law of commandments
contained in ordinances contrary to us a
shadow of things to come A tutor we are no
longer under
52
Question 3

• Why are the apostles called ambassadors?

The term indicates and official representative.
They were to give to the world all truth, as
supplied by the comforter. (cf. Matthew 1619
John 1612-13).
53
Question 4

• When the apostles spoke, why was it necessary to
  heed them?

What the apostles spoke was from God! For this
reason we also thank God without ceasing, because
when you received the word of God which you heard
from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men,
but as it is in truth, the word of God, which
also effectively works in you who believe. (1
Th. 213)
54
Question 5

• Name three things about the New Testament which
  makes it significant?

• It is Divinely inspired (1 Thess. 213)
• It supplies man with all needed for redemption (2
  Tim. 316-17)
• It is the final word of God to men (Jude 3)