Authority: God's Commands
Bible study on Authority: Commands.

Deut. 4:2; 1 Tim. 4:11

God's commands are in His word; His word cannot be changed (cf. Rev. 22:18-19).

God has spoken through Jesus (Heb. 1:1-2). Jesus commissioned the apostles (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16).

The apostles were ambassadors for Christ; God spoke through them (2 Cor. 5:20). God gave commands through the apostles (1 Cor. 14:37; 2 Pet. 3:2).

God commands all men to repent (Acts 17:30). No one is excused from obeying God.

We keep God's commandments because we love Him (1 Jn. 5:3).

We learn about keeping God's commandments in the Old Testament (Rom. 15:4; cf. 1 Cor. 10:6, 11).

Gen. 6:14-23

Noah and the ark illustrate God's two types of commands - specific and unspecific.

Specific aspects of the command: ark, gopherwood, rooms, cover inside and outside with pitch (Gen. 6:14); length, width, height (Gen. 6:15); window finished to a cubit, door in the side, three decks (Gen. 6:16); take food for people and animals (Gen. 6:21).

Unspecific aspects of the command: make, size of rooms, formula to produce the pitch (Gen. 6:14); the exact size of the window, which side the door was to go in, the height between decks (Gen. 6:16); what kind and how much food (Gen. 6:21).

Noah had to: employ the specifics of God's command, make lawful choices (i.e., employ lawful expediencies) to fulfill the unspecific aspects of God's command, and obey by faith (Heb. 11:7).

Gen. 22:1-19

God's test of Abraham illustrates God's two types of commands - specific and unspecific.

Specific aspects of the command: son, Isaac, Moriah, burnt offering, a mountain told him by God (Gen. 22:2).

Unspecific aspects of the command: take, go, offer (Gen. 22:2).

Abraham had to: employ the specifics of God's command, make lawful choices (i.e., employ lawful expediencies) to fulfill the unspecific aspects of God's command, and obey by faith (Heb. 11:17-20).