Bible Authority

When we talk about “Bible Authority,” we really mean the authority of Jesus.  Jesus stated, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”  Mt. 28:18, KJV.  The American Standard Version translates it, “All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.” the idea of power and authority are the same in this passage.  Jesus has all authority or power.  Jesus did a lot of teaching on earth that we have recorded in the New Testament, and He went back to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles and other inspired men into all truth–Jn. 16:13.  The Bible contains ALL TRUTH.  When we teach the Bible is the complete, inspired Word of God, we are talking about God’s divine book which we can count on to be the truth, the whole truth.  To say we need Bible authority is the same as recognizing the authority of God.
Take The Church, How Does One Become A Christian?

1. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Rom. 10:17.
2. Once one has faith, he should repent of all sins in his life.  In Acts 17:30, “The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent.”
3. On needs to confess Christ.  In Acts 8:36-37, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.  And as they went on their way, they cane unto a certain water: and the eunch said, See, here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?  And Philip said, if though believeth with all thine heart, thous mayest.  And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
4. After faith, repentance, and confession of Christ, one is ready for baptism.  Baptism is “remission of sins” – Acts 2:38; to be saved = Mk 16:16; to have sins washed away.  Jesus is the Head of the body, the church- Col 1:18 .  the Lord adds the saved to His church – Acts 2:47.

The Local Church is to Worship in Assembly

1. Acts 20:7, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread Paul preached….”

• This breaking of bread obviously was a religious breaking of bread, the Lord’s supper.  Acts 20:7 indicates such was to be observed on the first day of the week (Our Sunday).  When the Bible states a day of the week, that is weekly, a day of the month is monthly, a day of the year is yearly.  The Lord’s supper is a weekly observance.  In Mt. 26:26-29, Jesus instituted the Lord’s supper.  He took bread to represent His body, and the fruit of the vine (grape juice) to represent His blood.  Every week on the first day the local church is to observe the Lord’s supper – Acts 20:7.
• On the first day of the week brethren are to give to the local church as they have been prospered.  NO percentage is specified, except as prospered.  I Cor. 16:1-2
• In Acts 20:7 Paul preached to the local church, and preached until midnight.  We don’t know when he began but it must have been a good sermon.  We need preaching every Sunday, and it can be at other times also.
• Prayer is another part of the church’s service.  To take the Lord’s supper prayer is required, but we can prayers at other times also.
• Singing is another part of the service.  Mph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16 are two good passages on such.  Col 3:16 states we teah and admonish in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  Someone has said,  you do the preaching and let me write the songs, and we’ll see who controls the church the most.

God knew what He was asking in the five acts of worship on the Lord’s Day, Sunday.  We can sing, preach/teach, and pray on any and every day.  On Sunday we also take the Lord’s Supper and give to the work of the church.  In the Old Testament the people of God were to give a tithe of their crops to God (not just of the profit on the crops).  The New Testament teaches each one of us is to give as we may prosper on the first day of the week — I Cor. 16:2.  We are also told, “Every man according as he purposeth in his hear, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor 9:7.
Our subject is BIBLE AUTHORITY.  We have authority for the church to do what it is authorized in the Bible to do.  The church is to assemble (Acts 20:7) on the first day of the week for the Lord’s supper, therefore the church may provide a place to assemble.  The same scripture authorizes preaching by example.  I
Cor 16:2 shows the local church is to have a collection on the first day of the week.  Mt. 26:26-28 shows prayers are essential in the Lord’s supper.  Mph 5:19 and Col 3:16 show the church is to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs teaching and admonishing one another in such songs.
The local church may support its local preacher.   I Cor 9:14.  Local churches may also support preachers in other places — 2 Cor. 1`1:8.  Each local church in the New Testament was independent.  This is wonderful, for if many churches go away from the truth, no independent church is dragged wit it away from truth. The only thing a local church in the Bible ever sent funds to another local church for, was to help the receiving church feed its own needy saints– I Cor 16:1-3.  Some times today, you will hear of churches sending funds to a small local church to help it build a new building to meet in.  In the Bible, churches sent to the preacher, not the church to support its preacher.  (2 Cor. 11:8 as above).
The work and worship of the local church can be summed up briefly.  It is to assemble on the Lord’s day for worship (Lord’s supper – Acts 20:7, to give into the church’s treasury – I Cor 16:2, and it can sing (Eph. 5 19), pray I Thess. 5:17, and have preaching – Acts 20:7).  The church can assemble at any time and any days to worship in song and prayer and have preaching.  Bible classes can also take place when and where the church wants to conduct such.  Individuals ought to study the Bible daily and can get with others to study together any time.  The BIBLE is the most wonderful and the most interesting book in all the world.  Every Christian and the children shoul have a Bible lesson daily.  Just to study even a little will keep you thinking right.
Truth In Love, Vol 6, No. 10, October, 2013