BIBLICAL AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH
(The Diotrephes Syndrome - An exposition of the "Doctrine of the
Nicolaitines”)
There are some born again believers on this island
who believe and teach: "that the one
and only head and shepherd of the local
church is the God-called and Spirit-filled pastor, just as Jesus Christ is the Head and Chief Shepherd over the
entire church;" (Bible Believers
Baptist Church Constitution).
I believe that those of us Christians who profess
that the King James Bible is our final authority and sole source and guide in
all matters of faith and practice have an obligation to investigate whether a pastor’s
authority is equal to our Lord
Jesus Christ’s Authority in the local church and determine if this is a
sound doctrine and true according to the Holy Scriptures. (John 7:17; 1 Timothy 4:6; 2 Timothy 3:16; Titus 1:9; Titus
2:1, 7:2; 2 Timothy 4:3; Ephesians 4:14)
Proverbs
Acts 17:11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in
that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the
scriptures daily, whether
those things were so.
1
Thessalonians
In order for us to know the truth of this matter we must
first determine:
WHO: Jesus Christ really is.
WHAT: He has done and is doing for us.
WHAT: His relationship is to the believer and to the church.
Since we trust in the complete sufficiency of the Scriptures
we will confine our search to the Holy words of God found in the King James
Bible (A.V.) and believe in and abide by the conclusions reached after
prayerful inquiry and thorough study.
WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?
According
to the Scriptures Jesus Christ is The Creator.
John
Ephesians
3:9 And to make all men see what is the
fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid
in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Colossians
and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or
principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Colossians
The
Scriptures testify that Jesus Christ is our Saviour.
Philippians
2 Timothy
Titus 1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace,
mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Titus
Titus 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ
our Saviour;
The
Scriptures clearly state that Jesus Christ is The First and The Last.
Revelation
1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead,
and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us
from our sins in his own blood,
6 And hath made us kings and priests
unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, he cometh
with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and
all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so,
Amen.
8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation
1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega,
the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto
the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto
Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto
Laodicea.
Revelation
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead;
and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of
death.
The Scriptures demonstrate that at the name of Jesus Christ
every knee shall bow
and every tongue shall confess.
Philippians
11 And
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of God the Father.
The Scriptures say that Jesus Christ shares God’s Glory!
Hebrews
in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory
for ever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners
spake in time past unto the fathers by the
prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,
whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by
whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express
image of his person, and upholding all things by
the word of his power, when he had by himself purged
our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty
on high;
Romans
John
one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made
perfect in one; and that the world may know
that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast
loved me.
24 Father, I will that
they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold
my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation
of the world.
The Scriptures also say that the Lord God will not give His
Glory to another!
Isaiah 48:11 For mine
own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should
my name be polluted? and I will not give my
glory unto another.
Isaiah 42:8 I am the
LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my
praise to graven images.
The Scriptures establish beyond any doubt that there is but
One God and that
Jesus Christ is
The Son of God. He is The Manifestation and Express Image of God! He is God!
Isaiah 46:9 Remember the
former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there
is none like me,
Isaiah 45:21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel
together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who
hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a
Saviour; there is none beside me.
22
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and
there is none else.
Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD,
and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou
hast not known me:
6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and
from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none
else.
Isaiah 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that
time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses.
Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know
not any.
Matthew
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.
1 Timothy
3:16 And without controversy great is
the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the
Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world,
received up into glory.
1 John 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus
Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that
beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the
Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the
Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath
given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him
that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal
life.
In the New Testament the Gospel of
John provides us with an excellent “picture” of who Jesus Christ really is:
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.
2
The same was in the beginning with God.
3
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was
made.
4 In
him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John
John
John
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know
what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh,
and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in
truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that
worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
25 The woman saith unto him, I know
that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us
all things.
26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
John
41 And many more believed because of his own word;
42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard
him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the
world.
John
30 They said therefore unto him, What
sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what
dost thou work?
31
Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread
from heaven to eat.
32
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto
you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true
bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from
heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34
Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
35
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall
never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
36
But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and
believe not.
37
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I
will in no wise cast out.
38 For
I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent
me.
39
And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath
given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John
John
John
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father
that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
55
Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not,
I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
56
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him,
Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto
you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some
other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that entereth in by
the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth;
and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth
them out.
4 And when he putteth forth
his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know
his voice.
5
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not
the voice of strangers.
6
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they
were which he spake unto them.
7
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear
them.
9 I
am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be
saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
John
12
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd,
whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and
fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and
careth not for the sheep.
14
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for
the sheep.
16 And
other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and
they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
17
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take
it again.
18
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it
down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my
Father.
John
36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
37
And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh
with thee.
38
And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
39
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this
world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made
blind.
John
31 Then the Jews took up stones
again to stone him.
32
Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for
which of those works do ye stone me?
33
The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we
stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest
thyself God.
John
37
If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38 But if I do, though ye
believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the
Father is in me, and I in him.
John
26
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
John
13 Ye
call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14
If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash
one another's feet.
15
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not
greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
John 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we
know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am
the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye
should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have
seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord,
shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not
known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the
Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that
beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it
abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I
am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a
branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and
they are burned.
7 If
ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it
shall be done unto you.
8
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my
disciples.
THE
HEAD OF THE CHURCH (Local or
Otherwise)
Matthew
builders
rejected, the same is become the head
of the corner: this is the Lord's
doing,
and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Mark
the
head of the corner:
Luke
builders rejected,
the same is become the head of the
corner?
Acts
the
corner.
1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the
head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Ephesians
things
to the church,
Ephesians
head, even Christ:
Ephesians
church:
and he is the saviour of the body.
Colossians
from
the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Colossians
Colossians
nourishment
ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
1Peter 2:7
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be
disobedient,
the
stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
Can a real Bible
believer honestly believe that a mere man (regardless of his
education, degrees, popularity, or “success”) can take the place of our Lord
Jesus Christ in His church (local or other wise)?
Ezekiel 28:2
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus
saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God,
I sit in the seat of God,
in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man,
and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
3
Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from
thee:
4
With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and
hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:
5 By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:
6
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart
as the heart of God;
To be continued ………………