Have A Little Talk With Jesus, 8: Biblical Authority

Q. Would you mind sharing your knowledge of God's word on just how we relate to Jesus during the time we are living? I believe conservative Christians avoid being a cult type "Jesus person" and avoid Him completely except for a closing to prayers. Do we only talk thru Him as our mediator or do we also talk to Him directly? I don't want to ignore Him but I don't want to assume a relationship that is in any way disrespectful. - JWW.
- - answer page #8

Since this is a critical review of our relationship to Jesus in our praying, it is important, I believe, that we review briefly how to determine authority.

There seems to be multiple views of how we pray. On one end of the spectrum there is an emphasis of praying to Jesus. Devotional books of this type seem very popular. The one I’m perusing emphasizes a closer friendship offered to Jesus to that of the Father. On the other end, there are the purists that have adapted their version of the “Lord’s Prayer” which has no mention of Jesus. Would it not be better if not absolutely vital to ascertain what God’s will is in this matter? Jesus proclaimed in the “Sermon on the Mount” that what is really important to us is to do “the will of My Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

God’s Will And The Holy Spirit’s Writings. We only know the Father’s will by the holy Scriptures delivered from the Holy Spirit. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16, KJV-BRG). Some versions emphasize that the “inspiration” means God-breathed. But since the words “Spirit” and “breath” are identical in the Greek, I like Murdock’s version that interprets “inspiration” for us as, “All scripture that was written by the Spirit.”

I propose that the only way to learn God’s Truth on any subjectⁱ is to investigate the revelation of God’s Holy Spirit, who is “the Spirit of Truth.” On His last “day” on earth, Jesus promised to His chosen apostles the Holy Spirit. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you* into all truth” (John 16:13). “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will be your* teacher in all things and will put you* in mind of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26, BBE). *you; i.e., the ones that had heard Jesus on Earth: hence, the apostles.

In Acts 15, we learn that the question of whether obedience to the Law of Moses was necessary for salvation was decided for the church by Spirit-inspired apostles and elders. “But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses” [in order to be saved - 15:1]. And the apostles and eldersⁱⁱ came together for to consider of this matter” (Acts 15:5).

Some Pharisees who were members of the church were the ones pushing Jewish proselytism as prerequisite for the Gentiles. After hearing their disputings, Spirit-inspired men gave specific arguments that resolved the issue once and for all. First, Peter spoke: Gentiles had heard the gospel and believed; God purified their hearts by faith through grace; God confirmed this by giving the witness of the Holy Spirit (vv. 7-11). Next, Paul and Barnabas also declared the Holy Spirit’s witness among Gentiles (v. 12). Finally, James in review confirmed the matter by quoting the OT Spirit-inspired prophecy and then concluded by binding four commands from the Law (vv. 14-20).

Those deciding the issue for the church were the Spirit-inspired apostles and elders.ⁱⁱⁱ The solution was decided not by the wisdom of men but by the Holy Spirit. Neither was it decided by the crowd’s feelings, opinions, or by democratic vote. The result was an inspired letter to churches in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things...” (Acts 15:28, ASV). The Holy Spirit is the arbiter and revealer of God’s Truth as promised by Jesus (John 16:13).

There are three types of arguments for authority used by the Holy Spirit to determine the Lord’s will on the subject:^iv

(1) Special commands given by the Spirit through James (15:13-21). In verse 20, James gives a list of what from Moses was still binding for the “rest of the world” (Matthew 18:18). The omission of any command, e.g., for circumcision, excludes it by a law of silence.^v 1. “We did not tell them to do this.” 2. No mention of circumcision.

(2) The Spirit approved examples. Miraculous signs and wonders among the non-Jewish people was reported by the inspired Paul and Barnabas (15:12). Likewise, inspired Peter gave examples of God accepting the Gentiles as they were by giving them the Holy Spirit’s powers (15:17-11).^vi No Jewish proselytizing that the Pharisees would have expected.

(3) Spirit approved necessary inferences. In closing, James appeals to the OT prophets who, by the way, were also led by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20, 21), “And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written … That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord” (Acts 15:15, 17). Upon this implication, the inspired James makes his “sentence”; i.e., “judicial decree” (Strong’s meaning).

Consequently, all the church were of one mind on the issue after receiving these arguments. This type of unity is what is enjoined by the Spirit: “Now I beseech you, … that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).^vii ^viii Jesus had prayed, “Neither pray I for these alone (apostles), but for them also which shall believe on me through their (apostles) word” (John 17:20).

From this, we can be assured that our question for authorized praying can be decided by considering the Holy Spirit’s Writings by these three arguments.

(1) Command from the Holy Spirit. Imperative, Acts 2:38. (2) Example of such obedience to the Holy Spirit’s command, Acts 2:41. (3) Inference for this specific baptism (in the name of Jesus), Acts 19:1-5.

(1) Command to observe it by the Lord to the apostles. Imperative, Matthew 26:26f. (2) Examples of observance under the apostles’ teachings, Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 10:16. (3) Inference of frequency of observance, Acts 20:1-7.; the apostle waits for the church to come together to observe. This reminds me of the instance of a new denomination being organized in Tampa during the 1950s. The subject of observing the Lord’s Supper was so controversial that the group’s decision was to just ignore it and not observe it. This decision was made in spite of Jesus commanding it. Did they follow the authority or will of Jesus?

C. Is There Any Necessary Conclusion We Can Draw From Approved Actions/Statements?

ii“the mystery of Christ, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (Ephesians 3:5). In lieu of the NT, the apostles transferred the power of the Holy Spirit on assisting ministers (Acts 6).

iii In lieu of the absence of the New Testament, the apostles were Holy Spirit inspired from the beginning (Acts 2) and the elders would have been Spirit- inspired through the hands of the apostles (Acts 6:6-8; 8:18).

iv “COMMANDS or statements to establish the fact in the matter. In verse 12 Paul and Barnabas showed that the miracles and wonders God done among the Gentiles evidenced that God approved of the Gentiles. Therefore, we have given APPROVED EXAMPLES by which divine authority was established to decide the matter. In verse 7-11, Peter tells of the conversion of Cornelius, a Gentile, and thus reaches the NECESSARY CONCLUSION that God had "put no difference between us and them" (verse 9) and therefore it would not be right "to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples"(verse 10). "We shall be saved, even as they". (verse 11). - http://www.wisechurch.com/topic9.html; https://allanturner.com/authority.html; http://www.insearchoftruth.org/articles/authority.html; http://www.bible.ca/d-authority-acts-15-silence.htm; http://www.fryroad.org/_fryroad/BibleStudy/Authority/EstablishingAuthority/tabid/134/Default.aspx.

viWhen the apostle Paul makes vows associated with the Levitical system, he makes it clear in his writings that he has freedom to practice circumcision, etc., to not offend but in order to win the Jews. “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. … To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:19, 22).

vii The Holy Spirit speaks by the mouths of inspired men such as James or Peter or through their writings for us (2 Peter 1:20,21). “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Some versions emphasize that the “inspiration” of that verse means “God-breathed.” But since the words “Spirit” and “breath” are identical in the Greek, I like Murdock’s version that interprets “inspiration” as, “All scripture that was written by the Spirit, is profitable for instruction, and for confutation, and for correction, and for erudition in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16, Murdock).

viiiHoly Spirit used apostles and prophets: “Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (Ephesians 3:5).

Relating To Our Lord #8