|
|
What Is Needed In Religion? Respect For God's Authority Introduction:
What is needed in religion today has been a theme we have studied on various
Sundays. We have said what is needed is: Transparency, Intellectual Honesty,
Relevancy, True Compassion, and Godly Zeal. Now we want to talk about respecting
God’s authority. What would you say if I told you I love my wife but don’t
listen to her, don’t think about her or talk with her? Would that sound like a
good relationship to you? That is what many are doing today with God. I)
Parable of the wicked servants, Mark 12.1-9 A)
Background 1.
One of the last parables given by Jesus. 2.
Depending on which Gospel you go by this parable was given before of after the
Scribes and Pharisees questioned Jesus’ authority. B)
The Parable 1.
Master, the owner of the vineyard, goes to a far country after setting up the
vineyard with servants. 2.
At the proper time he sends a servant to bring back some of the fruit. 3.
The servants left in charge rebel, beat the one sent by the master back empty
handed. 4.
A second servant is sent and this time the wicked servants throw stones, treat
him shamefully and sent him back. 5.
A third servant is sent and this one is killed. 6.
He sends his son, expecting them to respect his son, but instead they kill him. 7.
Why did they do this? They rejected the ones sent and the son for the same
reason, they were rejecting the master’s authority, or power. II)
Rejecting God’s Authority A)
Some reject God 1.
Pharaoh asked “who is the Lord that I should obey His voice?” Exodus 5.2 2.
Idolatry rejects the true God and replaces Him with gods that do not exist.
a. Resulting in human sacrifices, temples on high places, unholy
priest, immoral behavior
b. Quoting the word of God had little effect on these people because they
were not recognizing the true God of heaven. B)
Some accepted the true God but not His authority 1.
through either rebellion or neglect
a.
b. Did not keep circumcision, Joshua
5.7 2.
Some accepted part of what God said but not all
a. Nadab and Abihu offered a sacrifice commanded by God but
not in the way God specified, Lev.
10.1-5
b. David moved the Ark of the Covenant on a cart. The ark was
established by God’s word but not the cart,
2 Samuel 6. 3.
Some do things in God’s name but totally without authority. Jeremiah 19.5; 32.35; 44.21 C)
We see all of this today in religion 1.
Some do not recognize God or if they do they do not recognize His authority. 2.
Others talk about God but still do what they want. Debates used to be held on
issues such as instrumental music in worship, role of baptism in conversion,
organization and work of Christ’s church. It would be hard to get anyone to
debate on those issues today. Why? They don’t care what the Bible says. 3.
Many religious groups today do not even claim to be holding to the pattern of
God’s word. 4.
The Restoration Plea is lost on them. Luke
6.46 III)
To Respect God’s Authority We Must A)
Respect Who God Is, Psalm 111.9 1.
He is our creator and sustainer of life. 2.
He is our 3.
He is not our grandfather or buddy. 4.
Without Him we would not exist or have a place to exist. B)
Accept Jesus as God’s Son, Mark 12.10 1.
Jesus is the Son of God, the only begotten 2.
Therefore He has authority over all mankind, Matthew
28.18
a. Can not accept Jesus as Savior unless we accept Him as Lord
b. Just as there is no such thing as partial obedience there is no such
thing as partial acceptance. C)
God’s word 1.
Plain fact is many do not know what the Bible says on almost any subject.
a. Goes back to earlier lesson when we pointed out that they believe one
religion is as good as another and we really can’t understand the Bible
anyway.
b. If such is true then why even bother to have the Bible. 2.
The Bible is God’s word and as such it pertains to us, Eph.
5.17 3.
We are to rightly divide it, 2 Timothy
2.15. 4.
We are to not go beyond what it says, 1
Corinthians 4.6 5.
We are not to add to or subtract from it, Prov.
30.5-6 6.
We are to keep and do it. Conclusion:
While growing up I learned early to respect my Dad. One time I met a young boy
that was doing something he should not have been doing. I asked him, what he was
doing and who told him he could do this? He said his dad told him to do this. In
essence he was using his father’s authority. Later on I found out he was not
telling the truth. I would have never thought to say my Dad told me to do
something when he had not. Yet people are doing that with God. Such shows a
disrespect and disregard for God and His authority. |