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A QUESTION OF

AUTHORITYPart 6

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A QUESTION OF AUTHORITY THE TWO COVENANTS

The next important question is: what part or parts of the Bible can used to direct our

lives today?

1. We will need to understand the two major covenants (testaments), and which writings of the

Bible fall under each one.2. We will also have to make a distinction

between the plan of salvation and the moral principles which are characteristic of God's

people in all times.

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A QUESTION OF AUTHORITYEXPLANATION OF THE TWO TESTAMENTS

/ COVENANTS.

A. A testament or covenant is a statement of the will of the one who makes it.

1. The covenant must contain specific information about the parties involved, the

requirements and obligations of each party, and the results which can be expected from

keeping or not keeping it.

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2. In both the Old and New Testaments God

specified the terms and imposed His will upon those to be included in

the covenant or excluded.

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A QUESTION OF AUTHORITYEXPLANATION OF THE TWO TESTAMENTS / COVENANTS.

3. Man can decide for himself whether or not he will accept the terms of the

covenant and abide by them. But man cannot change any part of the covenant.

a. If one accepts the covenant and submits to its requirements, he has fellowship with

God, and can expect to receive all the blessings and benefits specified in the

covenant.

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b. If one rejects the covenant, he loses all blessings and

benefits of it.c. If one departs from the

covenant he once accepted, he forfeits all blessings and

benefits previously enjoyed. Ezekiel 18:21-24, Hebrews 6:1-8

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A QUESTION OF AUTHORITY

EXPLANATION OF THE TWO TESTAMENTS / COVENANTS.

B. We recognise and refer to two major testaments or covenants of God with man,

and they are significantly different.1. By "Old Testament" we refer to God's

arrangement with the Jews.a. It is called the Law (of Moses and the

prophets). John 1:17; 7:23, Matthew 5:17, etc.

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b. It is summarised in the ten commandments.

Exodus 34:27-28, 1 King 8-9 and 21, Jeremiah 31:31-34.

It contains the plan of salvation, the activities of worship, and the

laws regulating social relationships, etc, for the Jewish

people Read Leviticus.

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A QUESTION OF AUTHORITY

EXPLANATION OF THE TWO TESTAMENTS / COVENANTS.

2. By "New Testament" we mean God's arrangement or

agreement with the whole world through Jesus Christ.

It is a greater and better covenant than the Old Testament. Hebrews 8

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a.Better law. Hebrews 7:12, 19, 24;

b.Better sacrifice (provision for removal of sin). Hebrews 8:7-8, 9:23, 10:1-14;

c.Better Mediator. Hebrews 8:1-6; d. Better priesthood

Hebrews 7:11; 20-28;, and 4:l4-l6e. Better promises and better hope. Hebrews 8-6; 6:13-20

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A QUESTION OF AUTHORITYEXPLANATION OF THE TWO TESTAMENTS / COVENANTS.

f. The old was temporary, but the new is permanent and final.

Hebrews 9:10; 8:13; 13:20;g. The old was limited to the nation of

Israel, the Jews. But the new is universal. All persons in the world are included in the

offer God makes under the New Testament. Romans 1:16-17;

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h. There is greater punishment for neglect

and abuse or disobedience under the

New Testament Hebrews 2:1-4; 10:26-29

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The New Testament contains the plan of

salvation, the activities of worship, and the laws

regulating social relationships, etc, for CHRISTIANS Today

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A QUESTION OF AUTHORITYEXPLANATION OF THE TWO TESTAMENTS

/ COVENANTS.

C. Two or more contradictory or mutually exclusive covenants cannot be in force at

the same time for the same people Hebrews 8:13; 10:8-10

1. Note that the Old Testament law was fulfilled. Matthew 5:17; Luke 24:44:, then

abolished (Ephesians 2:15), blotted out ...nailed to the cross Colossians 2:14;

and taken away Hebrews 10:9

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2. We are bound to God by the New Covenant /Testament, and our lives must conform to the commandments of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 1:1-2, Matthew 17-,5 and 28-18-20, John 12:48; 1 Corinthians 9-21, Hebrews 5:9;

2 Corinthians 3:6 and 5:19-20

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3. Nothing is to be gained by being faithful to a law that is no longer in force,

or by expecting the fulfillment of promises that have been fulfilled

and /or withdrawn.

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A QUESTION OF AUTHORITYEXPLANATION OF THE TWO TESTAMENTS

/ COVENANTS.

D. Which writings are New Testament and which are Old Testament?

1. No doubt about the books of what is called the Old Testament division of our Bible -- Genesis to Malachi. They were written by and applied to people under the old covenant that God made

with the Jews.

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2. There is no doubt about Acts to Revelation in what we call the New

Testament division of our Bible. They were written by and applied to people under the new covenant of God with

the world through Christ.

3. But what about the four "gospels” Matthew, Mark, Luke and John?

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A QUESTION OF AUTHORITYEXPLANATION OF THE TWO TESTAMENTS / COVENANTS.

a. The old Testament or Covenant was still in effect during the lifetime of Jesus Christ, and

continued actually until the day of Pentecost after the death and

resurrection of Jesus. Acts l-2

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b. The best way to classify these books is to call them "transitional" -- they help to

bridge the gap between Old Testament and New Testament.

(1) They reflect the period during which the old law was still in effect, but was

being phased out. (2) Preparation was being made for the

new law – and many references are made to certain aspects of the coming church or

kingdom of Jesus Christ.

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I. We have observed the different kinds of authority, the chain of

authority, the different ways the Bible authorises, and the way we

must respect His authority.

2. We have observed the major divisions of the Bible and the need to "rightly divide the word of God"

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A. Respect for biblical authority must be pre-eminent in all our

lives.B. Respect for biblical authority must be pre-eminent in all the

church.

3. Jesus simply and beautifully said, "If ye love me, keep my

commandments."

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A QUESTION OF AUTHORITY

EXPLANATION OF THE TWO TESTAMENTS / COVENANTS.

IF WE ARE UNDER GODS NEW COVENANT TODAY

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT DOES THAT

INVOLVE?

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We need to ask what does the New Testament

reveal about MAN'S relationship with GOD

and what do WE need to do with regard to that

relationship

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A QUESTION OF AUTHORITY SUMMARY

The New Testament is the Guide for Christians today

Excluded Sources of AuthorityDoctrines and practices of

the Old Testament.Words of religious leaders.

Creeds of men.Voice of an Angel

Desires of the congregation.The elders of the local church.

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Biblical Authority

From God

JESUS IS ALIVE !

Through Jesus

Through the apostles

To the writings of New Testament