The Proper Source of Authority

by Heath Rogers

“Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?’” (Matt. 21:23).

The chief priests and elders who confronted Jesus were asking legitimate questions. Jesus needed authority for the things He did in the temple, and this authority had to come from the proper source.

In last week’s article, we considered some improper sources of authority that people use regarding their religious beliefs and practices: themselves, traditions, creeds of men, what the preacher says, the results accomplished, and the Old Testament. In this article, we will consider the proper source for authority in religious matters.

Notice our Lord’s response to the questions asked by the chief priests and enders. “But Jesus answered and said to them, ‘I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John - where was it from? From heaven or from men?’” (Matt. 21:24-25a).

According to Jesus, authority in religious matters can only come from one of two possible sources: from heaven (God) or from men. The reasoning of the chief priests and elders shows they properly understood that authority in religious matters must come from God and not from men.

God has all authority. He has the right to take action, give commands, and enforce obedience. This authority or power belongs to God by right of creation (Rom. 9:20-21).

God has given all authority to Jesus. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth’” (Matt. 28:18). If Jesus has all authority, that means we are to listen to Him, not to ourselves, creeds, or traditions. God spoke to His people in the Old Testament through the prophets, but He speaks to us today through His Son (Heb. 1:1-2).

Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles into all truth. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 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. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:12-14). Read these verses again and notice the chain of authority. Jesus has been given all authority. The Holy Spirit would take the words of Jesus and declare them to the apostles. Therefore, the words of the apostles were the authoritative message of Jesus.

The apostles and other men inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote the New Testament. The New Testament is our source for authority in religion today. When we appeal to the New Testament Scriptures as authority for the things we believe, teach, and practice, we are not appealing to men but to heaven.

In our next article, we will consider how we can properly interpret or understand the New Testament to be authorizing something.

“How Am I Doing Lord?”

by Jeff Curtis

Leviticus presents in type a multifaceted view of Christ. He is our High Priest. He is also the sacrifice which is prefigured in the different offerings instructed in the book of Leviticus. Each offering in Leviticus has three parts: (1) the offerer; the Israelite; (2) the priest; the mediator and participant with his brethren; and (3) the offering.

Five different sacrifices are presented in Leviticus. Christ can be seen in His manifold roles in these sacrifices.

He is the offerer (Heb. 5:5-9). Christ came to do the will of God as a man. He is the Priest (Heb.7:24-25). These sacrifices show us how He acts as our mediator. Christ stands as an official and qualifying capacity, after the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 7:11), and He lives to make intercession for His people. His Offering (Jn. 1:29). We see the work and character of Christ in the actual sacrifice. In the blood sacrifices, the whole concept of using different animals and birds without defect was the idea of the innocent being killed for the guilty. Jesus as the Lamb (Jn. 1:29) was that innocent, sinless One (without defect) who was killed for the guilty party, man (Matt.20:28; Rom. 3:9-23).

The significance (Lev.1:2-14). The burnt offerings were the most common of the sacrifices. The burnt offerings had a history in the generation of the patriarchs such as Noah (Gen. 8:20) and Abraham (Gen. 22:1-14). Leviticus indicates that no day was to pass in the tabernacle without one of these offerings being made (Lev. 6:9-12).

The Cost. (Lev.1:2-14). God recognized some social and economic differences among the Israelites by allowing each one to participate in the sacrifices at their economic level. Each Israelite, however, had to meet strict requirements whose underlying principles taught them some needed lessons.

The Participant (Lev.1:4-6). In this sacrifice, more than any other, the worshiper was heavily involved in making the sacrifice himself. No comment is made in the text as to the significance of the worshiper in doing all of this. But, the one lesson we should draw from studying his participation in the sacrifice is that God always demanded that worship be an act of participation, not a passive one.

The Whole Offering (Lev.1:8-13). The last characteristic about this offering is that the whole animal was consumed in the fire. Not only was the burnt offering the most common sacrifice, in the it was done daily; but it was to burn to the extent that the sacrifice be reduced to ash. Then the ash was to be carried out the next morning by the priest.

Jesus Christ, the Anti-type. The focus of Jesus in this offering – while it suggest the ideas of blood, innocence, and a life offered – is more centered on His wholeness. We need, “⁵ Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.
⁶ In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.
⁷ Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— in the volume of the book it is written of Me— to do Your will, O God.’”⁸ Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), ⁹ 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” (Heb. 10:5-10).

Conclusion. Are we offering God our wholeness? Paul told the Christians in Rome: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Rom. 12:1).