-=|Authority in Morality|=-

INTRODUCTION

 1. Christians today are confronted with many conflicting views of morality...

   a. People have different opinions concerning what is right and wrong

   b. What once was generally accepted as good and true is now challenged

   c. Governments are redefining the concept of marriage

   d. Businesses often operate with ethics that sanction lying, stealing

 2. How does one know what is right and wrong in areas of morality...?

   a. Everyone has a sense of right and wrong

   b. But the standard of right and wrong often differs

 

[The answer for the Christian is simple.  But before we consider it, let's first
review...]

 

I. WHAT MANY ACCEPT AS AUTHORITY IN MORALITY

 

   A. THEIR FEELINGS...

      1. "If it feels good, it must be right"

      2. The Bible warns against trusting in "feelings"

         a. Pr 14:12 states: "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its
end is the way of death." -

         b. Pr 28:26 states: "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool..." -

         c. Jer 10:23  the prophet states: "I know, Lord, that our lives are not
our own. We are not able to plan our own course” -

 

-- Many people have destroyed themselves by following their feelings --

 

   B. THEIR CONSCIENCE...

      1. "Let your conscience be your guide"

      2. But one's conscience is not always reliable

         a. Paul had served God with a good conscience throughout his life in Ac
23:1  Paul states: “Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began: Brothers, I
have always lived before God with a clear conscience!”

         b. Even at a time when he was persecuting Christians! - cf. Ac 26:9-11
Paul states: “Indeed; I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the
name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the
saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests;
and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 And I
punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and
being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign
cities.

 

      -- Our conscience is like a clock, which works properly only if set
properly --

 

   C. THEIR FRIENDS...

      1. "Everyone else is doing it"

      2. But consider the words of Jesus, in describing the end of the majority
- Mt 7:13-14 Jesus states: You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow
gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose
that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult,
and only a few ever find it.

      3. If you followed the majority...

         a. In Noah's day, you would have perished in the flood

         b. In Joshua's day, you would have perished in the wilderness

    

-- Following the majority can be like lemmings running over a cliff --

 

   D. THEIR MINISTERS...

      1. "The preacher (priest, rabbi, etc.) says it is okay"

      2. They reason that surely these "men of God" could not lead them astray

      3. Yet notice the warnings given by Jesus, Paul and Peter

         a. Religious leaders can be "blind leaders of the blind" - Mt 15:10-14
Jesus answers stating the following: 10 Then Jesus called to the crowd to come
and hear. “Listen,” he said, “and try to understand. 11 It’s not what goes into
your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your
mouth.”

12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you realize you offended the
Pharisees by what you just said?”

13 Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be
uprooted, 14 so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one
blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.”

         b. They can be "ministers of Satan" - 2Co 11:12-15 Paul stated:  “But I
will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are
looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours. 13 These
people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as
apostles of Christ. 14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as
an angel of light. 15 So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise
themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment
their wicked deeds deserve.

         c. There will be false teachers with destructive ways, in  2Pe 3:1-3
Peter declares: “This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of
them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory.
2 I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord
and Savior commanded through your apostles.

3 Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will
come, mocking the truth and following their own desires”

 

      -- Following the wrong minister can lead to corruption --

 

[It is clear that what many people accept as authority in morality should not be
a guide for Christians.  So let's now consider what should be...]

 

II. THE CHRISTIAN'S AUTHORITY IN MORALITY

 

   A. JESUS HAS ALL AUTHORITY...

      1. In heaven and on earth, in Mt 28:18 Jesus Declares to his deciples: “I
have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.19 Therefore, go and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the
Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I
have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of
the age.”

      2. In all areas, including sexual morals and behavior, in Ep 4:17-24 The
apostle teaches what he learn from Jesus: With the Lord’s authority I say this:
Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their
minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they
have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no
sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind
of impurity.

20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about
Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old
sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and
deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put
on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

 

      3. He will one day judge all mankind, in Ac 17:30-31 The apostle talks
about the end of times stating: “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these
things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of
their sins and turn to him. 31 For he has set a day for judging the world with
justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by
raising him from the dead.”

    

     4. And the standard of judgment will be His words, in Jn 12:48 Jesus
declares: 48 But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of
judgment by the truth I have spoken.

    

 -- Jesus is the ultimate standard of authority in morality

 

   B. JESUS DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO HIS APOSTLES...

      1. To receive them is to receive Him, look at Mt 10:40; and Jn 13:20 where
Jesus declares:

 

40 “Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the
Father who sent me.

 

20 I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and
anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”

      2. They were sent as "ambassadors" for Christ, look at 2Co 5:20 Paul
declares to the Corinthians:

 

20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak
for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

    

      3. To ensure reliability, Jesus promised them the Holy Spirit as stated in
Jn 14:26:

 

26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy
Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have
told you.

      4. The Spirit would guide the apostles into all truth, look at Jn
16:12-13, Jesus tells the apostoles:

 

12 “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 13 When
the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak
on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the
future.

 

      5. Thus the apostles proclaimed "the whole counsel of God", Paul declares
in his last visit to Troas in Ac 20:27:

 

27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.

 

      6. Christians were to accept the apostles' words as truth, look at 1Co
14:37:

 

37 If you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize
that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself.

 

      -- The apostles' doctrine is the Christians' standard of authority look at
(Ac 2:42)

 

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to
fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to
prayer.

 

   C. THEIR AUTHORITY PERTAINS TO AREAS OF MORALITY...

      1. Look as Paul solemnly charged the church in Thessalonica in a Plea for
Purity in 1Th 4:1-8

         a. Addressing sexual immorality

         b. And marital faithfulness

Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to
live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way
already, and we encourage you to do so even more. 2 For you remember what we
taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then
each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— 5 not in
lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6 Never harm
or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord
avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 7 God has called
us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live
by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives
his Holy Spirit to you.

 

      2. As he likewise wrote to the church in Ephesus - Ep 4:17-32

         a. Addressing lewdness, greediness, and deceitful lusts

         b. And lying, anger, stealing, foul language

 

17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for
they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander
far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened
their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful
pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about
Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old
sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and
deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put
on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all
parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”*
Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a
foothold to the devil.

28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard
work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive
language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be
an encouragement to those who hear them.

30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember,
he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day
of redemption.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as
all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

 

      -- Morality is an integral part of "the truth" that is in Jesus --

 

CONCLUSION

 

1. Many people go through life confused about morality...

   a. They constantly wonder:  "Is this right or wrong for me?"

   b. They stumble their way through life, making wrong choices with terrible
consequences

2. The Christian need not be confused about morality...

   a. The truth is in Jesus

   b. God has given us "all things that pertain to live and godliness" If you
are looking for truth as it pertains to morality, then let Jesus and His
apostles be your guide.  As Jesus said on Jn 14:6

 

"I am the way, the truth, and the life”