Lesson 1
Authority in Religion
Thanks for your interest in learning about God's plan of salvation, and we commend you for your interest in the things pertaining to God. You may view this lesson on line or print it on your printer. The answers to the questions are available via e-mail (see the link at the end of this lesson).
Let's begin with a little exercise that makes a very important point about how we study the Bible.
How long do you think this line is?
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I know that it may look different on different monitors, but take a guess. Don't get out your ruler just yet. Make a guess.
Now, get out your ruler and measure the line if you want to. For sake of illustration, let's say that you guessed the line was 3 inches. Then you get out your ruler and measure it, and you find that the line is two and eleven sixteenths inches long. How do you know the line is two and eleven sixteenths inches long? Because the ruler says so, and we all agree that the ruler is our standard of measurement. If that's what the ruler says, then that's what it is?
Now what would you think if, after you had shown me the measurement according to the ruler, I still said the line was three inches long? You would probably think that I was being stubborn, crazy, or something else. Why? Because the ruler settles the matter. Maybe I was sincere in guessing the line was three inches long, but that does not make my guess correct. The ruler is the standard, and I am obligated to accept what the standard says and change my opinion if need be.
Well, the same kind of thing is true of the Bible when it comes to answering our questions about God and salvation. The Bible is the standard. We appeal to the standard to resolve conflicts and set matters straight. We all agree that the answer that comes from the standard settles the matter. So if we have a question about things pertaining to our salvation, the Bible provides us with the authoritative answer. If someone still persists in holding a different view, he is arguing against the standard we all use. If we ignore the standard there will be no way to tell what is the truth about anything. If we all ignore the ruler, no one can know how long something is. And if we ignore the Bible, no one will know the answers to our inquiries about God. All we would have are blind opinions.
If you agree to let the Bible be the standard for determining the truth in matters of religion, you may continue. There is little use in continuing, however, if the Bible is not going to be the only standard of truth.
Lesson 1
Read the passages and then answer the questions based on what you read. You can look the passages up in your own Bible (preferred), or click on each one to read them from the New American Standard Bible (updated edition).
1.Read Matthew 28:18.
Who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth?
Does this leave room for any other authority? YES or NO
2. Read Hebrews 1:1-2.
Has God spoken to us through Christ? YES or NO
3. Read John 12:48.
Will the words of Christ judge us at the last day? YES or NO
4. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:2 and 2 Peter 3:2.
By whose authority did the apostles teach and command others?
5. Read Galatians 1:11-12.
From whom did Paul receive the gospel he preached?
6. Read 1 Corinthians 14:37 and Ephesians 3:3-4.
Did Paul commit to writing the things that were revealed to Him by Christ? YES or NO
Did what Paul wrote have the authority of Christ behind it? YES or NO
Is it possible to understand the things Paul wrote, which were revealed to him? YES or NO
7. Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Based on this verse, can we say that we need anything other than the Scriptures to guide us spiritually? YES or NO
8. Read 2 John 9 and Galatians 1:6-10.
Can we go beyond, or otherwise change, the doctrine of Christ (the gospel)? YES or NO
Is conscience a safe guide to truth? YES or NO
10. Read Matthew 7:13-14.
Is simply following the majority the way to get to heaven? YES or NO
11. Read Galatians 1:13-14.
Is following family religious traditions the way to get to heaven? YES or NO
Summary and Conclusion to Lesson 1
Jesus is our sole authority in religion today, and he has spoken through his apostles. These apostles recorded Christ's will in the New Testament, and we must not go beyond it.
- CHRIST (Matthew 28:18)
- APOSTLES (1 Thessalonians 4:2; 2 Peter 3:2)
- WROTE (Ephesians 3:3-4; 1 Corinthians 14:37)
- READ and UNDERSTAND (Ephesians 3:3-4)
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Scriptures for Lesson 1
from the New American Standard Bible (updated edition).
Matthew 28:18 -- And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."
Hebrews 1:1-2 -- God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
John 12:48 -- "He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day." [look in the context in your Bible and see who was speaking]
1 Thessalonians 4:2 -- For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. [who wrote this? see the first verse of 1 Thessalonians in your Bible to find out]
2 Peter 3:2 -- that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
Galatians 1:11-12 -- For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 14:37 -- If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment. [who wrote this? see 1 Corinthians 1: in your Bible to find out]
Ephesians 3:3-4 -- that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. [who wrote this? turn in your Bible to Ephesians 1:1 in your Bible to find out]
2 Timothy 3:16-17 -- All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
2 John 9 -- Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.
Galatians 1:6-10 -- I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Acts 23:1 -- Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, "Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day."
Acts 26:9 -- "So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth." [look in the context in your Bible and see who was speaking; compare what he said here with what he said in the verse above]
Matthew 7:13-14 -- Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. [look in the context in your Bible and see who said this]
Galatians 1:13-14 -- For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.
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