Religious Authority
• Many religious groups exist and claim to
recognize the authority of God.
• Other religious groups exist that recognize the
authority of their forefathers.
• Others recognize the authority of their idols.
• And still others recognize authority from their
god who they said revealed a message to
them.
Religious Authority
If we are to serve the God of creation then we
must be able to distinguish between real
authority and false authority.
Religious Authority
1. Religion of fathers:
Eastern religions practice a form of this; ancestor
worship.
• Gal. 1:14 – Paul advanced in the traditions of his
fathers
• 1 Peter 1:17-19 – aimlessness comes from traditions
of fathers
• Acts 7:51-52 – their fathers persecuted the
prophets
• Mark 7:5-13 – traditions of elders and fathers
make the commands of God of no effect
Religious Authority
2. Man’s conscience:
• Judges 17:6; 21:25 - In those days there was no king in
Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
• Prov. 16:25 – There is a way that seems right to a
man, But its end is the way of death.
• Jer. 10:23 – O Lord, I know the way of man is not in
himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own
steps.
Religious Authority
2. Man’s conscience:
• Acts 23:1 – Paul thought he was right in God’s
eyes
• Gal. 1:13 – Paul was an exemplary Jew and
persecuted the church
• Acts 26:9-11 – Paul was honest and sincere in
all of his efforts
Religious Authority
3. Majority decision:
• Ex. 23:2 – the crowd can be headed to do evil
• Matt. 7:13-14 – the wide, crowded road leads
to destruction
• 1 Kings 18:19-40 – the majority may not have
the truth
Rom. 8:31 – If God is for us, who can be
against us
Religious Authority
4. Creeds of men:
• 1 Cor. 2:5 – faith should not be in the wisdom
of men
• Gal. 1:6-8 – the Gospel of Christ has been
perverted by the teaching of men
• 2 Tim. 2:17-18 – the doctrine that the
resurrection is already past
• 3 John 9-11 – the creed of Diotrephes
• Acts 19:21-41 – the creeds of idolatry
Religious Authority
5. The Word of God:
• Matt. 17:5 – God said, “Hear Him”
• 2 Peter 1:19-21 – the word is confirmed by the
Spirit, not of private interpretation, and not
of man
• 2 Tim. 3:16-17 – it is profitable for doctrine,
reproof, correction and instruction in
righteousness that man may be complete for
every good work
Religious Authority
5. The Word of God:
• Acts 20:32 – we are built up by the word of
His grace
• Rom. 1:16 – it is the power of salvation
• Rev. 22:18-19 – it is unalterable
• John 12:48 – we will be judged according to it
What authority should we follow?
What authority should we teach?
What authority should we recognize?
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Religion of fathers
Man’s conscience
Majority decision
Creeds of men
The Word of God