Ellisville Church of Christ

By What Authority Doest Thou These Things?

“BY WHAT AUTHORITY DOEST THOU THESE THINGS?” Glann M. Lee Introduction: I. Scriptures: A. Matt. 21:23-27. B. Matt. 7:21. C. Col. 3:17. II. The question of the religious leaders and the civil leaders – “By what authority doest thou these things?” A. “The chief priests” – presided over the ecclesiastical court and gave decisions in religious matter. B. “The elders of the people” – presided over the civil court and gave decisions in temporal matters. C. The governors of both “church and state” opposed the Messiah. III. Jesus “turned the tables” on them. A. Jesus asked them: “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” B. Their answer: “We cannot tell.” 1. They were trapped! 2. It was not that they could not tell, but rather, they would not tell lest their hypocrisy be exposed. 3. Jesus answered: “Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.” IV. Our study concerns – “In the name of the Lord”. A. “From heaven, or of men?” B. “By the authority of Christ”. Discussion: I. “FROM HEAVEN, OR OF MEN?” A. Religious authority resides in one of several places. 1. Denominational churches. 2. Ecclesiastical councils of men. 3. One’s own personal conscience. 4. Christ and His word. B. God speaks to us today through His Son. 1. Heb. 1:1-2. 2. Matt. 28:18-20. 3. 1 Cor. 2:12-13 – “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 4. 1 Cor. 14:37 – “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.” C. Matt. 7:21. D. John 12:48. II. “EVANGELISM...IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.” A. Matt. 28:18-20. 1. “Go” is the first part of the great commission. 2. “Go...teach/preach...baptize...teach.” B. Cf. Acts 5:20 – “God, stand and speak in the temple all the words of this life.” 1. Who is to “speak...all the words of this life”? a) Apostles – Acts 5:18. b) Elders – Peter, one of the apostles was an elder. c) Preachers – apostles were preachers. d) Christians. Acts 8:4; 2 Tim. 2:2. 2. Acts 20:20ff III. “BAPTISM...IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.” A. “In the name of the Lord” means by “the authority of the Lord”. B. Matt. 28:18-20. C. Acts 2:38. D. Acts 8:16. E. Acts 10:48. F. Acts 19:5 G. Acts 22:16. G. 1 Cor. 6:11 – “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” H. Your baptism, by whose authority? Men or the Lord? A. Immersion? B. “For the remission of sins”? C. Sprinkling? IV. “EDIFICATION – IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.” A. “...teaching them to observe all things....” B. Acts 5:20. B. Eph. 4:11-15. C. 1 Pet. 2:2. D. 2 Pet. 3:18. V. “WORSHIP – IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.” A. Col. 3:16-17. B. John 4:24; Acts 2:42. C. Singing – Col. 3:16. D. Prayer – 16:23-27. E. Teaching – Matt. 28:18-20. F. Lord’s Supper. 1 Cor. 11:23ff; Acts 20:7. G. Giving. 1 Cor. 16:1-2. VI. “ ALL THINGS – IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS...” A. Col. 3:17 – “...do all in the name of the Lord Jesus...” B. All of a Christian’s life is to be in “the name of the Lord”. C. Mark 9:41 – “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” D. All are to speak the same thing: 1 Cor. 1:10 – “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” E. Time, talent, treasure and thanksgiving – to be in “the<