Tag: authority

  • Do YOU affirm this TRUTH? – Affirm/Deny

    Do YOU affirm this TRUTH? – Affirm/Deny

    Do you affirm or deny what the Bible says? Can you affirm ALL or just some Scripture? Take this overview of a quiz from those theologians who do.

    “Therefore, everyone who confesses Me before people, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.

    But whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”

    Gospel of Matthew 10:32-22 NASB20 – the Words of the Lord Christ Jesus

    Will you Affirm this DOCTRINE? Your identity in GOD, my witness of the Gospel, our witness as Christians proclaiming Jesus Christ to the world as our Lord may come down to this TRUTH! THAT one DOCTRINE we BELIEVE and will AFFIRM as TRUTH is our witness of God’s Truth.

    OR Do we DENY this DOCTRINE to the world while we sheepishly call Christ, “Lord, Lord?”

    Please note that the AFFIRM & DENY images in this post are NOT linked; however if you want to READ the full text of the Chicago Statement, click on it to view ALL doctrines mentioned.

    Do I DENY THIS DOCTRINE? (or DO I AFFIRM IT?)

    What is the pretext for Jesus stating categorically that HE will turn away some who claim Him?

    “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

    Gospel of Matthew 7:13-15 NASB Teaching of Jesus Christ

    Take this 21st century challenge to your personal confessions of faith:

    If an authority of the world arrested you with an indictment that you are a Christian and brought into court, would they find enough evidence to convict you?

    ‘LORD, LORD, I’m a Christian, aren’t I?

    Do you really believe that? doctrine - a line in the sand [picture of Jesus kneeling down to draw a line with his finger

    Do you swear to tell the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth, so help you God?


    Learn more: Chicago Statement on Bible Inerrancy [1986]

    In spite of our diversity we have one great thing in common. We hold to the absolute authority, integrity and full inerrancy of God’s Word…

    James M. Boyce to Chicago summit participants, Oct. 26, 1978, International Council on Biblical Inerrancy
    For more info and detail click secure link to 12-page pdf linked above. MORE source material linked below from one of the theologian contributors of ICBI. 
    
    Once again I thank God for the ongoing faith and witness of Ligonier Ministries and acknowledge Stephen Nichols for his witness in R.C. SPROUL - A life, which has been integral in my series on Doctrine including excerpts in this final post of the current series. - Roger@talkofJESUS.com 

    Preface

    We cannot possibly cover all of the important doctrines included in this unified 1978 statement or two subsequent councils in 1982 & 1986 by leading international theologians. Therefore I will cite just some of the original six issues and abridge sixteen later articles, briefly condensing some of the five introductory points of the original Chicago Statement.

    [Bold & italic emphasis of the original are my own.] – RH


    Holy Scripture is God’s witness to Himself.. [with] infallible divine authority.. The Holy Spirit, Scripture’s divine Author, both authenticates it to us.. and opens our minds to understand its meaning. Being wholly and verbally God-given, Scripture is without error or fault in an all its teaching..

    Sola Scriptura ! written on a blackboard (Latin for ''only scripture'

    5. The authority of Scripture is inescapably impaired if this total divine inerrancy is in any way limited or disregarded, or made relative to a view of truth contrary to the Bible’s own: and such lapses bring serious loss to both the individual and the Church.

    Articles of AFFIRMATION & DENIAL

    These ARTICLES encompass several interrelated DOCTRINES, i.e. Only Scripture, the Trinity, etc. The original document is laid out with an affirmation & denial for EACH ARTICLE.

    We can only highlight a handful of these important DOCTRINES today. Again, click the full pdf version above for MORE. - RH

    Do you believe THAT?

    a few ARTICLES to Affirm

    (which these internationally recognized theologians all affirmed.) [Summit III – 1986]

    • What do YOU believe in EACH article?
      • Do you also believe EACH point?
        • AFFIRM it or DENY it. (Keep score {out of 5})
    BELOW: Five of the Sixteen articles covering several Doctrines,
      - first, 5 Affirmations
      - followed by 5 Denials associated to the same 5 articles.
    • Article I: The Living God – WE AFFIRM
      • We affirm that the one true and living God is the creator and sustainer of all things.
      • We affirm that this God can be known through His revelation of Himself in His inerrant written Word.
      • We affirm that this one God exists eternally in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each of whom is fully God.
      • We affirm that this living, acting, speaking God entered into history through the Son Jesus Christ to bring salvation to the human race.
      • We affirm that the revealed character and will of God are the foundation of all morality.
    Consider and choose AFFIRM or DENY. These buttons are NOT linked since this is NOT A POLL. Only God will see your answers as you tell the whole Truth here.
    • Article IV. The Church and its Mission – WE AFFIRM
      • [Abridged] We affirm that the inspiration of the Holy Spirit gives the Bible its canonical authority, and the role of the church was and is to recognize and affirm this authority.
      • We affirm that identifying marks of local churches are faithful confession and proclamation of the Word of God, and responsible administration of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
      • We affirm that churches are subject to the Word of Christ in their order as in their doctrine.
      • We affirm that the unity and clarity of Scripture encourage us to seek to resolve doctrinal differences among Christians, and so to manifest the oneness of the church in Christ.
    • Article IX: The State Under God – WE AFFIRM
      • [Abridged] We affirm that God established civil government as an instrument of His common grace, to restrain sin, to maintain order, and to promote civil justice and general well-being.
      • We affirm that it is the duty of Christian people to pray for civil authorities and to obey them, except when such obedience would involve the violation of God’s moral law or neglect the God-ordained responsibilities of Christian witness.
      • We affirm that Christ’s rule of the church through His Word must not be confused with the power He grants to civil governments; such confusion will compromise the purity of the gospel and will violate the conscience of individuals.
      • We affirm that when families or churches neglect their biblically defined duties, thus jeopardizing the wellbeing of their members, the state may rightfully intervene.
    • Article X: Law and Justice – WE AFFIRM
      • [Abridged]

    We affirm that the Scriptures are the only infallible record of unchanging moral principles basic to a sound jurisprudence and an adequate philosophy of human rights.

    ICBI AFFIRMATION Article X – 12/13/1986
    • Article XVI: Stewardship of the Environment WE AFFIRM
      • {Abridged] We affirm that mankind’s dominion over the earth imposes a responsibility to protect and tend its life and resources.
      • We affirm that Christians should embrace responsible scientific investigation and its application in technology.

    How many (of these 5) did YOU AFFIRM?


    a few ARTICLES to Deny

    (which these internationally recognized theologians also DENY in support of their affirmations of same article)

    DON'T MISS THESE. Secure LINK to the Original document. The original denials followed their affirmations of each DOCTRINE. We will limit these to the same Articles which they affirmed we addressed above.

    Do you support these five DENIALS of other DOCTRINES?

    Go ahead, KEEP SCORE.


    • Article I: The Living God – WE DENY
      • We deny that the human language of Scripture is inadequate to inform us who God is or what He is like.
      • We deny that the doctrine of the Trinity is a contradiction or is based upon an unacceptable ontology.
      • We deny that the notion of God should be accommodated to modern thought which has no place for the concepts of sin and salvation.
    • Article IV. The Church and its Mission – WE DENY
      • We deny that the church can grant canonical authority to Scripture.
        • {Issue of authority of the church since the Protestant Reformation – RH}
      • We deny that the church is constituted by the will and traditions of men.
        • {that is, the will and any traditions contrary to Scripture. – RH}
      • We deny that the church can bind the conscience apart from the Word of God.
      • We deny that the church can free itself from the authority of the written Word of God and still exercise valid discipline in Christ’s name.
      • We deny that the church can accommodate itself to the demands of a particular culture if those demands conflict with scriptural revelation, or if they restrain the liberty of Christian conscience.
      • We deny that differing cultural situations invalidate the biblical principle of male-female equality or the biblical requirements for their roles in the church.
    • Article IX: The State Under God – WE DENY
      • [Abridged] We deny that the state has the right to usurp authority of other God-given spheres of life, especially in the church and in the family.
      • We deny that the Kingdom of God can be established by the coercive power of civil governments.
        • {i.e. a ‘State Religion’ as is common with false religions mandating obedience to their false sect}
      • We deny that God’s providential establishment of a particular government confers special blessing, apart from the government’s just and faithful execution of its duties.
      • We deny the Kingdom of God can be established by the power of civil governments.
    • Article X: Law and Justice – WE DENY
      • [Abridged] We deny that legal positivism, or any other humanistic philosophy of law, is able to satisfy the need for absolute standards of law and justice.
      • We deny that any political, economic, or social order is free from the deadly consequences of original sin or capable of offering a utopian solution or substitute for the perfect society which Christ alone will establish at His Second Coming.
    • Article XVI: Stewardship of the Environment WE DENY
      • [Abridged] We deny that the cosmos is valueless apart from mankind.
      • We deny that Christians should embrace the countercultural repudiation of science or the mistaken belief that science is the hope of mankind.
      • We deny that a materialistic world view can provide an adequate basis for recognizing environmental values.
    Do you really believe that? Can you affirm that ONLY Scripture Sola Scriptura is the inspired word of the Lord God?

    What DOCTRINES DO YOU really believe?

    Summary

    The International Council on Biblical Inerrancy was founded in 1977, with a planned life-span of ten years. Its goal, under God, was to seek by means of scholarly writing and teaching to restore the ebbing confidence of Christian people in the total trustworthiness of the Scriptures.

    THE CHICAGO STATEMENT ON BIBLICAL APPLICATION Introduction

    ON A SCALE OF 1-10, How many of the 5 AFFIRMATIONS & DENIALS DO YOU really believe?

    • ALL?
      • Like these leading theologians you were able to draw a line in the shifting sand of contemporary ‘christianity.’
    • 0-9?
      • Do you really believe THAT movable DOCTRINE built on a foundation of 21st c. ‘christian‘ conscience?
      • Perhaps the Lord now draws you away from the WIDE gate without AFFIRMATION to the Rock of Scripture.
      • Why not look back to the Source, the BIBLE and Word of God upon which we stand firmly?

    You may find one additional statement from the ICBI’s third council helpful to your ongoing perspective on DOCTRINE as a Christian. [Again, I’ve added BOLDING for emphasis. – RH]

    The task to which Summit III addressed itself is to apply the teaching of a trusted Bible to some of the most confused areas of modern life. This task could not in principle be tackled by Western secular society itself; for our secular society insists on judging itself, not by the revelation of the Creator that the Bible sets forth, but by evolutionary, permissive, materialistic, hedonistic, and this-worldly yardsticks for thought.

    Looking back to the 1978 ICBI invitation

    I close by sharing the conclusion of the ICBI invitation with which I began earlier and finally with Scripture.

    the absolute authority, integrity and full inerrancy of God’s Word, and we want to present the case for this conviction and win others to it by the grace of God. Indeed, we are convinced that the health of the church depends on it.

    James M. Boyce to Chicago summit participants, Oct. 26, 1978, International Council on Biblical Inerrancy
    Do you really believe that? doctrine - a line in the sand [picture of Jesus kneeling down to draw a line with his finger

    The Second Letter of the Apostle Paul to Timothy

    Christian Standard Bible

    Chapter 4:

    I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom:

    Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

    2 Timothy 4:1-2 CSB

    For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.

    But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

    2 Timothy 4:3-5 CSB

    May our Lord Christ Jesus draw you by the Holy Spirit of God to this charge of Scripture and truth in your daily life, teaching of others and witness by His grace.

    Won't you comment [below] and share your conversation of the Gospel which you have received here today in my post on Doctrine? - I thank you, beloved brother or sister in our Lord, in advance. - Roger
  • ONLY SCRIPTURE: The Highest Authority of GOD!

    ONLY SCRIPTURE: The Highest Authority of GOD!

    What is perhaps the most divisive issue of the ages? THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE! – ONLY Scripture.

    And GOD SAID..!

    Who said, God said this or that?

    Must we consult the authority of a man? Dare we follow such a teacher? How can I know IF God really said it and where can I find the TRUTH of what I must do?

    “It is written: ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”

    Gospel of Matthew 4:4b +Response of the Messiah (Christ) Jesus to satan.

    EVERY written WORD! Trouble is (and was) that MOST could not read OR would not read what is written.

    So our dilemma becomes faith in the authority of a man reciting AND teaching the WORD OF GOD; that is, SCRIPTURE.

    “Assemble the people, the men, the women, the children, and the stranger who is in your town, so that they may hear and learn H3925 [לָמַד ] and fear the LORD your God, and be careful to follow all the words of this Law And their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live on the land..

    Deuteronomy 31:12-13a NASB20 – The teaching of Moses

    Our Lord Jesus Christ raises a crucial question of interpretation by even the highest of religious authorities who study Scripture.

    Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God?

    Gospel of Mark 12:24 NASB20

    Do we trust that a man interprets the TRUTH of SCRIPTURE from what is written?

    Could it be that YOU do NOT understand the Scriptures? (Do you overlook the power of God in what YOU have misinterpreted from Scripture?)

    ‘Words [logos egō, λόγος ἐγώ – gk] of Mine’

    “You shall therefore take these words of mine to heart and to soul; and you shall tie them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets on your forehead. – Moses

    “And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. – Jesus Parable of the wise and foolish builder

    Deuteronomy 11:18; Matthew 7:26 NASB20

    Christ Jesus taught His Apostles to build a foundation of the church grounded in Scripture. These disciples of the Teacher recorded in writing the truth of Jesus’ authority.

    And it happened when Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

    Gospels of Matthew [7:28-29 NASB20] and Luke

    After His resurrection Scripture records:

    And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

    Matthew 28:18 NASB20 – authority

    The Apostle John even begins his Gospel by connecting the Written Word {logos} with a Higher Authority of Christ Jesus, Son of Man, the Only Son of God!

    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    Gospel of John 1:1 – logos theos – THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE
    Sola Scriptura ! written on a blackboard (Latin for ''only scripture'

    ONLY SCRIPTURE

    Along with so many others, I am grateful to God for the teaching ministry of our beloved brother R. C. Sproul and his ongoing work through Ligonier Ministries, without whom this witness of Doctrine would not have been possible. RH
    
    Source: R. C. SPROUL - A life 
    by STEPHEN J. NICHOLS
    (whose 5 Minutes in Church History I also recommend highly)

    γραφή – graphēa thing written

    What happens when authoritative men (Shepherds of God’s flock), fail to reiterate SCRIPTURE accurately or teach God’s Holy Word of TRUTH fully?

    Jesus IS the Higher Authority who challenged the Scribes and other Shepherds of Israel for this very reason. A remnant of the LORD’s leaders recognized their Messiah from the written word of Scripture. The flocks of the lost sheep of Israel heard the Higher Authority of Jesus and followed Him.

    Christ’s resurrection of the true word of God became veiled once more by errant teachings of the Church. As in the days of Ezra the written word of Scripture would be forgotten and men once more had to trust the teachings of religious leaders for centuries. Scripture would once again be discovered by the lost sheep of Christ’s flock with the good news of the printing press.

    Then the faithful of the flock protested. The saints of the Church read Scripture for their own understanding through the Holy Spirit as given to them.

    The Westminster Confession of Faith (1647)

    by Westminster Divines

    https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/westminster-confession-faith/

    IV. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man, or Church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.(i)

    (i) II Pet. 1:19, 21; II Tim. 3:16; I John 5:9; I Thess. 2:13.

    VI. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men.(m)

    (m) II Tim. 3:15, 16, 17; Gal. 1:8, 9; II Thess. 2:2.

    The Apostle Paul’s Second Letter of instruction to Timothy

    and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus

    2 Timothy 3:15

    All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.

    2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB20

    The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself

    IX. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself: and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.(y)

    (y) II Pet. 1:20, 21; Acts 15:15, 16.

    X. The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined; and in whose sentence we are to rest; can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture.(z)

    (z) Matt. 22:29, 31; Eph. 2:20 with Acts 28:25.

    Scripture is therefore the perfect and only standard of spiritual truth, revealing infallibly all that we must believe in order to be saved and all that we must do in order to glorify God. That—no more, no less—is what sola Scriptura means. – John MacArthur

    “The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men.” —Westminster Confession of Faith

    This excerpt is taken from John MacArthur’s contribution in Sola Scriptura: The Protestant Position on the Bible.

    Sola ScripturaOnly Scripture

    Only Scripture. So what must I do?

    Since WE trust the absolute truth of God in ‘what is written,’ and acknowledge that Jesus Christ IS God, we must trust the very Word of God — in writing — and revealed through the Holy Spirit ONLY in SCRIPTURE.

    AND the interpretation of Scripture?

    • Can a group of learned Christian leaders provide the ONLY interpretation of the word of God?
    • Will one High Shepherd of the Church give the ONLY valid application of ‘what is written’ in the Bible?
    • And might the Holy Spirit reveal any unseen truth of the Lord Jesus Christ which will overturn ‘what is written’ in Holy Scripture?

    According to Christ Jesus and Holy Scripture, CERTAINLY NOT!

    For this reason we must pay much closer attention to the things that have been heard, so that we do not drift away from it..

    God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, and by various works of power and by distributions of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

    Hebrews 2:1 NASB20 READ Heb. 1-4

    Who can say what God really said?

    Can you? May I?

    Leaders of men appointed by God certainly must know better than we how to interpret Scripture (perhaps).

    Will encyclical instruction of a Pope or clerical council confirm any new TRUTH of Scripture? Does a mere man enter a place of mystery to contradict what Scripture has already said? Has some new Prophet come along who claimed to unveil ‘what God said?’

    OR

    Does SCRIPTURE ALONE interpret Scripture?

    “The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

    But this He said in reference to the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive..

    Gospel of John 7:38039a NASB – Promise of the Christ, Jesus.

    And born again believers will receive the Holy Spirit to interpret Scripture. According to Christ Jesus the HOLY SPIRIT will interpret Scripture to ‘those who believe.’

    Therefore, once more the Doctrine of Scripture, in order to teach the HIGHEST Authority of God leaves no other choice for one in Christ.

    SOLA SCRIPTURA & the Reformation

    Do you recognize my DOCTRINE of the BIBLE topic today as Sola Scriptura, one of the Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation? I cannot address the remaining crucial doctrines of the church today, but I will introduce them here.

    Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation

    "Sola" is Latin meaning "alone" or "only" and the corresponding phrases are:
    1. Perhaps first in importance is: Sola Fide, by faith alone
    2. Sola Scriptura, by Scripture alone
    3. Solus Christus, through Christ alone
    4. Sola Gratia, by grace alone
    5. Soli Deo Gloria, glory to God alone

    THE Church AND Scripture

    chalkboard - written Sola Scriptura! Only Scripture

    Doctrine of the BIBLE

    The BIBLE IS HOLY – Spoken by God, Written by Men and confirmed by the Holy Spirit.

    SCRIPTURE ONLY interprets Scripture.

    The line in the sand delineates two choices:

    • SCRIPTURE OR the Authority of the Church
    • Scripture AND an AUTHORITY of the church.

    NOT any earthly ‘authority‘ AND Scripture

    IN the 15th and 16th centuries, Ulrich Zwingli, Martin Luther, Thomas Cranmer, John Calvin and many other faithful saints of the Church sought to reform Roman catholic [καθολικός katholikos ‘universal’] worship and traditions which had become corrupted over the centuries.

    As Good News from Gutenberg’s printing press [c. A.D.1440] spread throughout Europe and the world, many saints of the Church could read the BIBLE. The Protestant Reformers, who had hoped to renew the faith of the ‘catholic’ Church, consequently drew their line in the sand on the side of SCRIPTURE ALONE and stood their ground.

    Corrupted ‘christian’ churches of recent centuries (Protestant by denomination, but not by DOCTRINE) preach many heresies directly opposed to the ‘written Word of God’ in Scripture.

    Conclusion: Only Scripture conveys God’s Highest Authority

    The BIBLE IS HOLY! The LORD GOD IS HOLY! God speaks. “It is written..”

    Only Scripture – Sola Scriptura, as the Protestant reformers reminded, can assure an accommodating 21st century ‘christian‘ church which struggles to go in to all the world without a Doctrine of the Bible.

    No other authority will convince perishing flesh of God’s great mercy on mankind for those who love and worship Him by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. For many false teachers and false prophets do mislead the faithful away from God’s word.

    The early Creeds of the Church and Confessions of faith all confirm this from Scripture, but only Scripture through the Holy Spirit can reveal God’s will for those who believe.

    Only Scripture speaks the very Word of God through the Holy Spirit directly into the hearts of those who the Lord chooses. Believers, Christians – Bible believing Christians who confess Christ crucified, buried, risen in the body and ascended into heaven.

    IT IS WRITTEN.. in SCRIPTURE

    WE have it on THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY: The Bible speaks God’s word through the men who authored its Holy Books.

    For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty...

    And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

    20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

    Excerpt from the Second Letter of the Apostle Peter to the Church

    THE BIBLE IS HOLY – ONLY Scripture – The Highest Authority of GOD!

    Let the Christian with ears to hear hear the word of the LORD.
    Will a fellow saint say, AMEN?

  • The Last Word on Authority – Jesus Son of God

    The Last Word on Authority – Jesus Son of God

    John 19:

    Yesus facing Pilate

    Previously, Pilate had questioned Jesus apart from the crowds and asked if He is a king. Now, after having had Jesus scourged 39 times and coming out to the barely controlled crowds of Jerusalem, Pilate will question this ‘man’ a second time in his judge’s chambers within the palace.

    What has prompted Pilate’s new interrogation of Jesus?

    1. This ‘man’ kept silent during all 39 lashes, confessing no crimes to receive some mercy from the whip.
    2. When Rome’s Prefect had asked why Jesus should be crucified, the Jews answered Pilate, ‘.. because he made himself the Son of God.’

    Pilate may have also been a religious man, though as we pointed out previously the Romans had many gods.

    Could this man Jesus be one of them?

    In a private appeal

    Pilate said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to Him, “Are you not speaking to me?

    Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?”

    John 19:10b Pilate’s claim of authority to ‘the man’ Jesus

    Roman Authority

    Before we hear Jesus breaking the silence of Roman interrogation, let’s consider briefly an earlier encounter of Jesus in Galilee with a Roman officer.

    This healing by Jesus not only illustrates an absolute no questions asked authority of Roman Legions, but by his own high position, Pilate might have heard from this Roman leader who helped build a synagogue in Capernaum.

    Matthew 8:

    When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him..

    Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”

    And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

    The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.

    For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me.

    And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

    When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

    Judean Authority

    Make no mistake about the authority of Rome’s governor Pontius Pilate. Rome revoked the kingdom of Herod Archelaus of Judah just two years after he failed to govern as Rome expected. They renamed the new Roman province Judea and placed a Roman Prefect in charge.

    Pilate governs with political authority similar to Antipas in Galilee to the north. Jesus of Nazareth is technically a subject of Herod Antipas. Pilate, however, may have heard of Jesus from a fellow Roman legion in the region of Galilee.

    Authority – Pilate’s understanding

    Pilate said to Him, .. Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?”

    ἐξουσία, the Greek word for authority simply means, power. I am in charge. I can do whatever I please.

    It could mean, I have influence and the privilege of judging you. In Pilate’s case, authority means: the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed). And specifically, the power of judicial decisions and authority to manage domestic affairs.

    And Jesus remains silent, Pilate must have thought? Silent even when scourged 39 times and questioned by the Prefect with authority to sentence the ‘Man’ to a Cross?

    Finally the Lord answers the authority of the governor in charge of this high Judean court.

    The Authority of Christ

    Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over Me at all, if it had not been given to you from above..

    John 19:11a NASB

    Don’t miss this: Jesus in essence refers to a higher authority (from above).

    Pilate is a religious man with many gods. Rome acknowledges these higher authorities as had Greece. These are gods defined as: the leading and more powerful among created beings superior to man, spiritual potentates (that is, kings and Caesars).

    Again, perhaps Pilate has heard the buzz of the crowds witnessing Jesus healing the sick and even raising the dead. Romans kept close to the everyday happenings in Judea. Had he perhaps heard about the Galilean legion’s servant who Jesus healed?

    Some dilemma, that a human judge should judge a god!

    12 As a result of this, Pilate made efforts to release Him..

    A Greater Sin

    Perhaps, in a sense, Pilate considers or acknowledges the Higher Authority of Jesus. To some extent Jesus’ answer actually exonerates Pilate, but convicts another.

    Listen to the second part of the Lord’s answer to Pilate:

    Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over Me at all, if it had not been given to you from above; for this reason the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.”

    John 19:11 NASB

    A greater sin than Pontius Pilate? For Christ-followers remember by our creeds the the Lord Jesus “was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate?”

    Yet Jesus says that one who handed Him over to Pilate has the greater sin.

    Does the Lord mean to say that Pilate’s sin is forgivable? Perhaps.

    We assume here that Jesus refers to Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him to the Jews, is the one with the greater sin.

    • Have you ever considered that Annas or Caiaphas are truly the ones who handed Jesus over to the gentiles?
    • These High Priests of the Jews handed Jesus over to Pilate for crucifixion.
    • Annas, Caiaphas and other Jewish officials of the Sanhedrin, who betray their own Messiah, have greater sins than Pilate!

    Had you have not known of the Highest Authority of Jesus until now, you may be forgiven for not knowing. But now that you know Jesus, you must accept Christ or oppose God Almighty.

    Who will rule over you now?

    Opposition to Authority

    12 As a result of this, Pilate made efforts to release Him; but the Jews shouted, saying,

    “If you release this Man, you are not a friend of Caesar;

    everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar!”

    Pilate their Governor rules over those in the crowds and as Judea’s Governor. He appoints their religious authorities (who have consistently incited the crowds against the Authority of their Messiah) and outranks every member of the Sanhedrin in all civil matters.

    But the Jewish authorities cite a technical argument, not a religious reason – a political reason for Pilate to condemn their messianic opponent.

    • Jesus claims to be a king.
    • Caesar, a king and a god to the Romans also commands their loyalty.

    Will Pilate actually oppose the authority of Caesar by releasing a Man who makes claim as a king of the Jew?

    Of course, the Governor cannot allow the crowds to think that. Now he must sentence the Man. Rome’s judge returns Jesus to the public court of crowd justice.

    13 Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement—but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.

    From the hour of Jesus’ betrayal by Judas under cover of darkness in Gethsemane until now, these trials, interrogations and cruel punishments have all been completed by morning’s end.

    14 Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour..

    The Jewish Authorities Prevail

    No one likes to see the opposition win — not you, not me — and not even Pilate.

    But in fact, here it would seem that evil prevails. Evil destroys its opponent in the agenda of those religious leaders who have stoked the hatred of the crowds.

    So they shouted, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” - John19:15 - collage of Jesus and Pilate with first and 21st century crowds

    Then he told the Jews, “Here is your king!” They shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?”

    The chief priests answered,

    We have no king but Caesar.

    John 19:15b KJV

    16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. KJV

    Who are ‘they’ who crucify Christ?

    We will explore the verdict, which would seem to suggest that the majority rules.

    Who crucified the Man of God, Christ Jesus? This we must ask NEXT as we follow Christ with His Cross to the skull where criminals hang from a tree.

    To be continued...

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