The Doctrines of Discipleship and Authority

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Lesson #14

• The Doctrines of Discipleship and Authority
• The Doctrine of Discipleship:
  • Background:
    • In the early church the name used most frequently for a believer in Jesus Christ was the word, “disciple”. This was before the term “Christian” was first used in Antioch in Acts.11:26.
    • While the term “disciple” does not occur in the Old Testament (with the exception of Isa 8:16), there are other words that describe the concept in the rest of scripture.
    • We find the word, “disciple” used frequently in the Gospels and in the book of Acts.
  • Definitions:
    • The word disciple means = to teach, to train, or to convert to doctrine or principles, to discipline.
    • The word disciple is related to the word discipline which means = education, instruction, communication of rules or knowledge and the regulation of one’s practice and habits.
      • To bring a person into subjection to laws, rules, order, and precepts.
      • To correct, to chastise, to punish when those principles of order are violated.
    • The word discipleship, therefore, means = the condition of being trained as a follower in doctrine and precepts.
  • The root of discipleship:
    • The root of discipleship is based in God’s calling of a person to follow God in the Old Testament and Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
    • This calling has two aspects:
      • =1= God’s call placed on a person’s life.
      • =2= The person’s free will response to follow.
        • Read Lev 26:12
        • In the Old and the New Testaments, man is called to be transformed so as to be like God (Christ).
        • Read (transformed)
        • Read Isa 30:20-21
    • The root of the call to discipleship is also based on the fact that Jesus Christ came to earth as God dwelling in flesh to show us the way. (Emmanuel) (Mat 1:23)
      • Jesus called His disciples to follow him.
        • Read Mat 9:9
        • Read Mar 2:14
        • Read Luk 5:27-28
      • Jesus gave his disciples a command to fulfill.
        • Read Mat 4:19
        • Read Mar 1:17
        • Read Luk 5:10-11
        • Read Joh 15:16
    • Man’s response to God’s call:
      • The response to the call begins with a recognition and belief in the identity of the one that calls you.
        • Read Joh 2:11
        • Read Joh 6:68-69
      • Man’s response must be in obedience.
        • Read Mar 1:18,20
      • Man must count the cost of discipleship before committing himself to it.
        • Read Mat 19:23-30
        • Read Luk 14:25-28
      • Discipleship is to lose one’s old life and to gain a new life in Christ.
        • Read Gal 2:20
  • Walking in the ways of God:
    • In the Old Testament, when Israel was walking in the ways of God, the nation was obediently fulfilling the covenant relationship with God and following God.
      • Read 1Kin 18:21
    • In the New Testament, to follow Jesus is to make a personal commitment of denial:
      • He must deny the value of walking in his old lifestyle of lust.
      • He must deny his own selfish desires by putting them to death (to crucify them).
        • Read Luk 9:23
        • Read Gal 5:16
  • What are the goals of discipleship?
    • For the individual believer in Jesus Christ, the goal is to become like Christ.
      • Read Luk 6:40-47
      • This process brings the believer into an intimate relationship with Christ.
    • Toward others, the goal of discipleship is to become a servant to Jesus Christ by serving others.
      • Read Mar 10:35-45
      • Therefore, discipleship is not self-centered in simply the transformation of an individual life. It has a broader goal. That goal is to be a servant to others.
    • Toward the world, the disciple of Jesus Christ is called to be part of the great commission.
      • Read Mat 28:16-20
      • The believer is to make disciples of others. This involves:
        • Preaching the gospel of salvation.
        • Teaching the truth of the Word of God.
        • Demonstrating how the Christian should live the Christian life.
      • Read 1Cor 11:1
• The Doctrine of Authority:
  • The concept of authority does not appear as a doctrine in the Old Testament, but it is a valid doctrine in the New Testament.
  • The word, authority (exousia), is used in four ways in the New Testament:
    • =1= Authority is the freedom to decide or the right to act without hindrance.
      • God is the supreme authority for there is no authority except that which comes from God.
        • God has the right to make us and mold us into what He desires.

Read Rom 9:21

• • • • • God has the right or authority to establish times and dates.

Read Act 1:7

• • • • • God has the right to choose who will serve Him.

Read 1Cor 9:18

• • • • God delegates this authority to man:
        • Believers through Jesus Christ have the right to become the children of God.

Read Joh 1:12

The person makes the decision to submit to Christ or not by the power that God gives this new believer.

Without this power and authority, the new believer would never be able to break away from his spiritual bondage to Satan.

• • • • • Believers through Jesus Christ have the right to function in freedom with respect to the Law of Moses.

Read 1Cor 8:9

• • • • Without power, authority is without value. A ruler may have authority to rule his country but if he has no power, he will not have his seat of authority very long. Therefore, authority is made effective by legitimate power.
        • Read Act 1:8
        • God delegates authority and power to the believer in Jesus Christ through the operation of the Holy Spirit.
    • =2= Authority is the power, ability, or capability to complete an action.
      • God gave Jesus Christ the authority, power, and ability to forgive sins.
        • Read Mat 9:6-8
      • God gave Jesus Christ the authority, power, and ability to cast out evil spirits.
        • Read Mar 6:7
      • Jesus Christ gave authority, power, and ability to the disciples to trample on snakes and scorpions.
        • Read Luk 10:19
    • =3= Authority that is delegated to another in the form of a license or an authorization.
      • Read Mat 21:23
        • The Pharisees wanted to know by whose authority Jesus did the miracles.
        • Read Joh 10:18
      • Read 2Cor 10:8
      • God gave the apostles the authority, power, and ability to build up the church.
    • =4= Spheres of authority are established by God in which one has the power and ability to function.
      • For example: Human governments are given authority by God to govern the people, but only in the area of civil affairs so as to promote order.
        • Read Rom 13:1-4
      • For example: Satan is permitted a limited sphere of authority beyond which he cannot go. He could not kill Job, but he could inflict him with illness, and he could remove his possessions.
        • Read Col 1:13
      • Jesus Christ is above all realms and spheres of authority.
        • Read Eph 1:21
  • The use of authority in the Christian life:
    • The use of authority in the Christian life indicates a social relationship or agreement between two persons.
      • One person has the position to use his authority and the power to enforce his authority.
      • The other person accepts, not by force, but by conviction that the one in authority has the right to exercise his authority. The subordinate person validates his conviction by obedience to the person with the position and to the rules established by the one in the position of authority.
        • When the believer in Jesus Christ lives by conviction under the authority and in subjection to Jesus Christ, he is blessed by Christ.
        • When the believer in Jesus Christ lives by conviction under Christ’s authority, he learns what it means to be under authority.
        • As he learns what it means to live under authority, he is trained for leadership.
    • The delegation of authority:
      • God has established three spheres of authority in which he delegates authority to individuals:
        • =1= Civil Government

Believers as well as all citizens must submit to governmental authority to gain peace in society.

Read 1Pet 2:13-14

• • • • • =2= The Home

Wives are to submit to the authority of their husbands.

Children are to submit to the authority of their parents.

• • • • • =3= The Church

Believers are to submit to the authority of the pastor.

Believers are to submit to the authority of other church leaders.

In the Old Testament God exercised His authority through prophets, priests, and kings.

In the New Testament the disciples submitted themselves to God through obedience to Jesus Christ.

Believers are to submit to the authority of the Word of God as the final authority.

God exercises His authority over the church through the Word of God that defines truth and doctrine.

Read 2Tim 3:16

• • • • God delegated authority and power to the disciples, starting with Peter.
        • Read Mat 16:18-20
        • Read Acts 1:8
      • That delegated authority and spiritual power is passed down through time to every committed believer in Jesus Christ that lives under the authority of Jesus Christ.
        • Read Joh 14:13-15
        • Read Mar 16:16-18, 20
• Conclusion:
  • There is a key link between discipleship and authority, and for that reason they are included together in this lesson.
    • The believer in Jesus Christ that becomes a committed disciple, submitted to the authority of Christ and His Word, will be given delegated power and authority from God, the Father.
    • Read 1Pet 5:6
  • When the believer in Christ learns to live in humility under authority, God will raise him to positions of authority and give him power to use for the glory of God.