A.The Ultimate Authority
As Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, Lord and King of all creation (see Creation III), God alone is the source and ground of authority for the church. Yet our knowledge of God must be a knowledge from God, for only as He reveals Himself can He be known to His people.
In revelation God discloses Himself to human beings and shares His will with them. This divine speaking reached a remarkable expression in the prophets who shared God’s mind with His people (Heb. 1:1; see Revelation/Inspiration IV. D).
Even so, the supreme expression of God’s self-revelation is Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God (John 1:1–3, 14; 1 Tim. 3:16), at once the locus and the content of divine revelation (John 1:18; 3:31). In Him, as Saviour and Lord, divine revelation and authority find focus and finality.
In brief, the Word of God who holds authority over Christians and the church is known first and foremost as a person, Jesus Christ, who came to reveal the Father and proclaim the gospel of salvation. He also chose a handful of apostles so that His word and testimony might be faithfully proclaimed and interpreted after His death (Mark 3:13, 14).
They were not merely witnesses to the crucified and risen Christ, but also commissioned and empowered by Him (Matt. 28:18–20; Acts 2:1–4; Rom. 1:1; Acts 13:2–4; 22:21) to preach the gospel (Acts 14:7, 21; 16:10; 1 Peter 1:12) and to share Christ with Jews and Gentiles (Acts 17:3; Rom. 10:17; 16:25; 1 Cor. 1:23; 2:2; 2 Cor. 1:19; etc.).
They were the strongest authoritative human voices among the churches.http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftn1 http://www.christianforums.com/#_ftnref1
Dederen, R. (2001, c2000). Vol. 12: Handbook of Seventh-Day Adventist Theology (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; Commentary Reference Series (559). Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association.(to be continued)
As Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, Lord and King of all creation (see Creation III), God alone is the source and ground of authority for the church. Yet our knowledge of God must be a knowledge from God, for only as He reveals Himself can He be known to His people.
In revelation God discloses Himself to human beings and shares His will with them. This divine speaking reached a remarkable expression in the prophets who shared God’s mind with His people (Heb. 1:1; see Revelation/Inspiration IV. D).
Even so, the supreme expression of God’s self-revelation is Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God (John 1:1–3, 14; 1 Tim. 3:16), at once the locus and the content of divine revelation (John 1:18; 3:31). In Him, as Saviour and Lord, divine revelation and authority find focus and finality.
In brief, the Word of God who holds authority over Christians and the church is known first and foremost as a person, Jesus Christ, who came to reveal the Father and proclaim the gospel of salvation. He also chose a handful of apostles so that His word and testimony might be faithfully proclaimed and interpreted after His death (Mark 3:13, 14).
They were not merely witnesses to the crucified and risen Christ, but also commissioned and empowered by Him (Matt. 28:18–20; Acts 2:1–4; Rom. 1:1; Acts 13:2–4; 22:21) to preach the gospel (Acts 14:7, 21; 16:10; 1 Peter 1:12) and to share Christ with Jews and Gentiles (Acts 17:3; Rom. 10:17; 16:25; 1 Cor. 1:23; 2:2; 2 Cor. 1:19; etc.).
They were the strongest authoritative human voices among the churches.
Dederen, R. (2001, c2000). Vol. 12: Handbook of Seventh-Day Adventist Theology (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; Commentary Reference Series (559). Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association.(to be continued)