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  • I Peter 4:11- All emphasize the necessity of having authority for all we do in the service of God.
    • This is true for the congregation and for the individual Christian.
  • Bible authority comes to use in one of four ways:
    • Statement of fact (Mark 16:16
    • Command (I Corinthians 11:24-25
    • Example (Acts 20:7
    • Necessary inference (Genesis 12:10
  • Bible authority comes to us in one of two forms:
    • General:
      • Build ark
      • Sing, as relates to parts, i.e., bass, tenor, etc.
      • Pray
    • Specific
      • Gopher wood
      • Sing, as relates to kind of music: vocal
      • Unto God
  • General authority allows for choice of specifics
    • Local church to support preacher (I Corinthians 9:14
      • Has choice as to what preacher it supports.
    • Local church to assemble to worship (I Corinthians 11:20
      • Has choice as to where.
  • Specific authority allows no choice.
    • Gopher wood
    • Preach the gospel (Mark 16:15
    • Sing
    • Get funds for church work (I Corinthians 16:1-2
  • Aids are allowed, but no additions are allowed.
    • Container for bread and fruit fo the vine, but no other elements
    • Song books, pitch pipe, PowerPoint, but no other kind of music
    • Radio, TV preaching, but no other collective
  • Authorized work for a local church
    • Assemble for worship (Colossiand 3:16; Acts 2:42
    • Support the preaching of the gospel
      • To edify the saved (Acts 20:28
      • To save the lost (Philippians 4:15-16
    • Relieve the needy saints who are unavoidably destitute
      • Not to relieve them if they bring destitution on by choice (II Thessalonians 3:10
    • Discipline under certain circumstances (I Corinthians 5:1-5
  • The individual Christian must respect Bible authority. He must do with zeal what is authorized and refuse to do what is not.

For further study, see also:

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  • I Peter 2:7-8. Peter here applies this directly to Jesus.
  • I Peter 2:9 - What God chose was a class of people who obeyed Him. He did not choose particular individuals to be saved as Calvinists teach.
  • I Peter 2:12. This verse is talking about people who had slandered the Christians re-examining their faith because they witnessed the good deeds of the Christians and then glorifying God in the day they received salvation.

For further study, see also:

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  • Genesis 3:15 - Jesus was born of a virgin, was persecuted and put to death. He destroyed the works of the devil in making it possible for sins to be forgiven. Jesus destroyed the power of the devil through the cross and the whole plan of salvation.
  • Prophecies - Christ’s coming
    • Genesis 12:1-3
      • How can we know that “thy seed” refers to Christ? The Holy Spirit told us (Galatians 3:16.
    • Isaiah 28:16
    • Isaiah 40:9-11- God would come with a strong hand and rule like a shepherd.
      • I Peter 5:4 shows that this refers to Jesus.
    • Isaiah 59:20- The Redeemer would come to Zion.
      • Romans 11:26 shows this refers to Christ.
    • Deuteronomy 18:15-18- God would raise up a prophet like Moses from among the Israelites. He would speak all that God commanded. Those who would not hear would be destroyed from among the people.
      • Acts 2:22-24 shows this refers to Christ.

For further study, see also:

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  • The saved relationship is viewed in several different ways in the New Testament. Each figure emphasizes the headship of Christ and the subjection of the saved.
    • Acts 2:47
    • John 3:5
    • I Corinthians 12:13
    • Galatians 5:4
    • Ephesians 2:21
    • John 10:4
  • Christ is:
    • Head of the church (Ephesians 1:22
    • King of the kingdom (Acts 2:36
    • Head of the body (Colossians 1:18
    • Son over the house (Hebrews 3:6
    • High Priest in the temple (Hebrews 3:1
    • Shepherd of the sheepfold (John 10:14
  • There is one:
    • Kingdom
    • Body
    • House
    • Temple
    • Sheepfold
    • How many churches?
  • The same ones who:
    • Are citizens in the kingdom
    • Are members of the body
  • You are not:
    • In the kingdom unless you have been born (John 3:5.
    • I Corinthians 12:13
  • Each is depicting the saved relationship
    • Therefore one gets into the church the same way he gets into the kingdom or into the house or into the temple or into the sheepfold or into the body.
    • Once cannot be saved unless he is in the one body.
    • The only way one can get into the body is to be baptized into it (I Corinthians 12:13.
    • Therefore one is baptized into the saved relationship.

For further study, see also:

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  • The Lord adds people to the universal church when He saves them.
    • Matthew 16:18 - Jesus promises to build His church.
    • Mark 9:1 - The church would come in the lifetime of these people.
    • Luke 24:45-49 - The apostles would be clothed with power.
    • Acts 1:7-8
    • Acts 2 - For the first time in the history of man, the full gospel is preached to man.
    • I Corinthians 12:13 - There is only one body of Christ.
  • Saved people join together as local churches (although human mistakes occur)
    • Acts 9:26 - Paul rejected by disciples immediately after his conversion
    • I Corinthians 5:1-2 - Examples of mistakes of fellowship in local churches.
  • Let’s not let local church membership overshadow the saved relationship (universal church membership).
    • Colossians 1:2 - Those who are saved are described as having a relationship with God - not as being members of some local group.
    • We must be careful not to adopt the denominational idea that salvation comes through a local church.

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.


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