Would you turn back to Matthew
chapter 7? This is the concluding statement
of the sermon on the mount. And we're told how the people
responded to this sermon. Verse 28, once again, Matthew
chapter seven, and it came to pass when Jesus had ended these
sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine for he taught
them as one having authority and not as the scribes. I love
that slam. not as the scribes. I've entitled
this message, Not as the Scribes. Now the scribes were the experts. They were the seminary trained
and they believed themselves to be the interpreters of the
law. But when the people heard the
Lord speak, They knew he was not like the scribes. The scribes did not possess this
authority. They're described in length in
Matthew chapter 23. I'm not going to be just preaching
on the scribes. Just this is the introduction,
but just for a couple of minutes, listen, the Lord said regarding
the scribes in Matthew chapter 23, that they say, and do not.
They say. Their religion is all words and
nothing more. He said that they put burdens
on men that they themselves won't touch. They expect out of others
what they would never expect out of themselves. They do what
they do to be seen of men. That's what's important to them,
what men see, not what God sees, but what men see. They love to
hear their name called in the marketplace, Rabbi. Now this
one who spake as one having authority called them hypocrites, children
of hell, blind guides, fools and blind, full of extortion
and excess, whited sepulchers. full of hypocrisy and iniquity,
serpents and a generation of vipers." Now that's strong language,
isn't it? And those are the words of him who spake as one who possessed
authority. Now this is the one time the
teacher is more important than that which is taught. That's where his authority comes
from. The teacher himself is more important
than the thing which is taught. Now, as I said, this is the conclusion
of the Sermon on the Mount. And when the people heard him,
they were astonished at his doctrine. Now try to put yourselves in
their place. A young man, 33 years old, a
young man who seemingly probably wouldn't have a whole lot of
life experiences. He came before them with no formal education,
with no political backing, with no material riches, and he spake
with such confidence and certainty. I mean, the way he begins the
message, blessed are the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom
of heaven. I mean, he just lays it out.
There it is. And he speaks with such confidence and certainty
with regard to what he said. Look in verse 11 of Matthew chapter
five. You'll see why people were astonished
at his doctrine. He said, blessed are you when
men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner
of evil against you falsely for my sake, for my sake. Who's he? He says, rejoice and
be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven. When people
say bad things about you for my sake. For so persecuted they
the prophets, which were before you. Look in verse 17, chapter
five. He announces to these people,
think not that I am come. He came from somewhere, didn't
he? Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets.
I'm not come to destroy, but to fulfill. I'm the one who fulfills
the law. I'm the one who keeps the law. I'm the one without sin. Look in verse 21, chapter five. You've heard that it was said
by them of old time, thou shalt not kill. and whosoever shall
kill shall be in danger of the judgment, but I say unto you,
I say unto you, I'm the one that speaks with authority. What I
say is the absolute truth. Look in verse 27. You've heard
that it was said by them of old time, thou shalt not commit adultery,
but I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after,
he hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Look
in verse 31, it has been said, whosoever shall put away his
wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement. But I say unto
you that whosoever shall put away his wife saving for the
cause of fornication causes her to commit adultery. And whosoever
shall marry her that is divorced committed adultery. I say that.
Look in verse 33. Again, you've heard it being
said by them of old time. Thou shalt not forswear thyself,
but thou shalt perform unto the Lord thine own. But I say unto
you, swear not at all. No religion of personal resolve,
neither by heaven, for it's God's throne, neither by the earth.
It's an I say. Look in verse 38. You've heard
that it's been said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say unto you that you resist not evil. Verse 43. You've heard
that it's been said, thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine
enemy. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that
curse you. Now, do you see the authority?
You've heard it said, but here's what I say. Look in chapter seven. Not everyone that saith to me,
Lord, Lord. Who is this man? What's he talking
about? Not everyone that saith to me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth
the will of my father, which is in heaven, many shall say
to me in that day, Lord, he's saying, I'm the judge. I'm the
one who's going to judge you. He's the same one who can say,
depart from me, ye that work iniquity. I never knew you. Now you look at the authority
with which he spake. Look in verse 24. Therefore whosoever
heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them. And then in verse
26, and everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth
them not. Do you see the authority with
which he speaks? He spake as one having authority
and not as the scribes. If he said it, It's law. I've heard religious people say,
God said it. I believe it. That settles it.
You know, that's blasphemy. God said it and that settles
it, whether you and I believe it or not. Thy word, O Lord,
is settled in the heavens. He spake as one having authority. Now, what does authority mean?
liberty, the right to do as one pleases, the ability or strength
with which one is endued to do his will, the right to exercise
power, the power of one whose will and command must be obeyed,
the one who does not do something because it's right, but it's
right because he does it. Now that is authority. This one who spake as one having
authority said, all power, all authority, same word. All authority
is given unto me in heaven and earth. Now this one, the Lord
Jesus Christ, who spake as one having authority, he has authority.
always has had and always will have all authority. You know what that means? That
means His will is always done. His will cannot not be done.
He has all authority. He demonstrated His authority
when He willed the universe into existence. By Him were all things
created, whether they be things in heaven or things on earth,
all things were created by Him and for Him. He demonstrates
His authority in providence when nothing happens but His will
being done. And how, oh, how most especially
He demonstrates His will in salvation. Listen, if you're saved, it's
because He willed it. Don't you know that so? It's
not because you willed it. It's because He willed it. I think of when Pilate said to
him, speakest thou not to me? Knowest thou not that I have
power to crucify thee, and I have power to release thee? And he
replied, thou couldst have no power at all over me, except
it be given thee from above. He spake as one having authority. Would you turn with me to John
chapter 10? Verse 30, I and my father are
one. No difference between us. Whoever God is, I am. I am one with him. Then the Jews took up stones
again to stone him. Jesus answered them, many good
works have I showed you from my father, for which of these
works do you stone me? The Jews answered him, saying,
For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy, and because
thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Now this is the authority
with which he spoke. He spoke as God. Here's the authority he has.
And the Father speaks to Him. The Father says to the Son, Thy
throne, O God. The Father called Him God. Thy
throne, O God, is forever. A scepter of righteousness is
the scepter of Thy kingdom. He says to the Father, Father,
I will. They whom you've given me be
with me where I am that they may behold my glory for thou
lovest me from the foundation of the world. Can you imagine
saying to God, I will you do this? I will, I will you do. He could, because he's equal
with the father. He spake as one having authority. For by him were all things created
that are in heaven and that are in earth, whether they be thrones
or dominions, principalities or powers, all things were created
by him and for him. And he is before all things and
by him, all things consist. He's fake as one having authority. Now he has the authority of Socrates. Look at Matthew eight, a couple
of scriptures. He demonstrates his authority.
As soon as this statement is made regarding him, he spake
as one having authority and not as the scribes, Matthew chapter
eight, verse one. And when he was come down from
the mountain, great multitudes followed him and behold, there
came a leper and worshiped him saying, Lord, if thou wilt, Thou
canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand
and touched him, saying, I will be thou clean. Look in verse five. And when
Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion,
beseeching him, saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home, sick
of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I'll
come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I'm
not worthy that thou should come under my roof, but speak the
word only and my servant shall be healed. All you got to do
is will it because of your sovereign person. All you got to do is
will it just like the leper said, Lord, if you will, if you will,
you can make me clean. I understand authority. I say
to one man, go and he goes to another man comes, he comes if
you will it. it will take place this is the will of sovereignty
the authority of sovereignty now what what's that mean let
me tell you exactly what it means it means whether or not you're
saved it's up to him that's exactly what it means Your eternal destiny,
my eternal destiny is in His hands. In this thing of salvation,
as in every other matter, you and I have no control. He has all control. And whether or not you're saved,
it's up to Him. Now, one of the biggest lies,
you listen real carefully, one of the biggest lies that's ever
been told is that man has a free will. Your will is controlled
by your nature. And as far as that goes, if you
have a free will, that means you can trump God's will. He
can will something and you can trump it and keep it from happening.
Why, that would make your will sovereign over God's will. That
ain't gonna be. His authority is seen in his
sovereignty. He is in control. Now, that's good news. That's not bad news. That's good
news. The Lord reigneth, let the people
rejoice. Turn with me for a moment to
Luke chapter four. This is a demonstration. This is at the beginning of his
earth, of his public ministry, verse 16. And he came into Nazareth
where he'd been brought, where he'd been brought up. And as
his custom was, Luke four 16. He went into the synagogue on
the Sabbath day and stood up for to read. And there was delivered
unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened
the book, he found the place where it was written. The spirit
of the Lord is upon me. Because he hath anointed me to
preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight
to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach
the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book and he
gave it to the minister and sat down. And the eyes of all them
that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began
to say unto them, this day is this scripture fulfilled in your
ears. I'm the fulfillment of it. And
all bear him witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded
out of his mouth. And they said, is not this Joseph's
son? And he said unto them, you will surely say unto me this
proverb, physician, heal thyself. Whatsoever we've heard done in
Capernaum, do also thou here in thy country. And he said,
verily I say unto you, no prophet is accepted in his own country,
but I tell you of a truth. Many widows were in Israel in
the days of Elijah when the heaven was shut up three years and six
months with great famine was that all the land, but under
none of them was Elijah sent by God, save under Sarepta, a
city of Sidon, under a woman that was a widow. And many lepers
were in Israel in the time of Elisha, the prophet, and none
of them were cleansed, save name in the Syrian. And all they in
the synagogue, when they heard these things, what'd they hear? God passed
all these people by and saved this Gentile. When they heard
these things, they were filled with wrath and rose up and thrust
him out of the city and led him under the brow of the hill, wherein
their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
But he passing through the midst of them went his way. Turn to John 10. Verse 17. Therefore does my father love
me because I lay down my life that I might take it again. No
man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. You see, the
Lord wasn't a victim. You know, he demonstrated that
when they came to arrest him, didn't he? He said, Whom seek
ye? They said, Jesus of Nazareth. He said, I am. And by irresistible
power, they're all knocked backwards. He's letting them know, I'm allowing
you to do this. I'm in control of this entire
situation. He said, no man takes it from
me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power and that's the word
authority. I have authority to lay it down and I have authority
to take it again. This commandment have I received
of my father. I have the authority to lay my
life down and I have the authority to raise myself from the dead.
Now that's unexplainable authority, isn't it? I can't even give an
explanation to that, but what authority he has that he said,
I have authority to lay my life down and I have authority to
raise it up. Look in John 17. Verse one, these words fake Jesus. and lifted
up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come, talking
about his death, glorify thy son, that thy son also may glorify
thee, as thou has given him power, authority over all flesh, that
he should give eternal life to as many as thou has given him. He has authority over all flesh. I love this. I mean, you're in
his hands. And He's going to give eternal
life to everyone the Father gave Him. That's His authority. He
had authority over demons. You know, they couldn't make
a move without His permission. He has authority over demons.
Now turn to John 5. You're in John. Verse 26. Jesus answered them
and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I'm wrong chapter,
sorry. Verse 26, John chapter five,
for as the father hath life in himself, that means the Lord's
independent. You think about how dependent
you are. You, you and I can't even take
our next breath unless he wills it. We're totally dependent on
an absolutely independent God. He has no needs. He says, if
I were hungry, I wouldn't tell you. The cattle upon a thousand
hills are mine. Now, as the father hath life
in himself, utterly independent, so hath he given to the son to
have life in himself and hath given him authority to execute
judgment also, because he is the son of man. Now on the cross,
He executed judgment. My sin that is so real was judged,
condemned, punished, and put away on the cross of Christ. He executed judgment. He made
a way for God to be just. absolutely just. Not just passing
over sin, and yet justify the ungodly, and He is the judge. This is His authority. He can
say to that woman, who was caught in adultery. In the very act,
there was no doubt about her guilt, and the law commanded
her to be stoned. Because he has authority to execute
judgment, he could say to that woman who was guilty, I do not
condemn you. And the reason she wasn't condemned
was because there was nothing there for her to be condemned.
The sin was put away because he executed judgment. And he can also say, depart from
me. Ye that work iniquity, I never
knew you. Now, he is the son of man and
he has all authority. I love that passage of scripture
in Matthew chapter 25, when the son of man shall come in his
glory and all the holy angels with him. Then shall he sit on
the throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all nations. And he shall separate them one
from another as a shepherd divided his sheep from the goats. There
are sheep, his sheep, and there are goats. And he makes that
separation. His authority is such that whether
or not you and I are justified or condemned, it's up to him.
Now he's the judge. Can you imagine a judge saying
to the defendant, you've got a choice. Do you want to be justified
or do you want to be condemned? Oh, I want to be condemned. That
never happened. He declares whether or not you
and I are justified or condemned. And that's the authority he has.
There was a man in the temple. beating on his breast, crying,
God, be merciful to me, the sinner, the worst man to ever live. And you know what the Lord said
regarding that man? He said, I tell you, and it's one of his
sayings, I tell you, this man went down to his house justified,
not guilty. without sin rather than the other. Now that's the authority of the
Lord Jesus Christ. He's been given authority to
execute judgment. Now, turn to John 1. I guess you can figure this out.
I've looked at the passages of scripture where it talks about
His authority or His power. Same word in the original. Look
in John 1, verse 12. But as many as received him,
to them gave he power, authority. Same word. To them gave he power
to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. He gave him the power to be sons
of God. You see, he has the authority
to make you a son of God. a real child, one of his dear
children. And he's got the authority to
enable you to believe, to where when he tells you to believe,
you believe. When he tells you to repent, you repent. He said
to that man with the withered hand, stretch forth thy hand. He couldn't do it, but he did
when the Lord commanded him, because the Lord has all authority. He says to Lazarus, Lazarus,
come forth. He's dead, he can't. He that
was dead came forth. And he has the authority to cause
me and you to do his will. All that he requires of us, he
has the authority to cause us to do. Isn't that wonderful? You know, David said, when thou
sins, seek ye my face. My heart said, thy face, O Lord,
will I seek. You know, if the Lord says to
you, seek my face, you know what you're gonna do? You're gonna
seek his face. Oh, and I'm praying, Lord, say that to me. Lord, say
to me, seek ye my face. And my heart will say, thy face,
O Lord, will I seek. He's the one who causes us to
do his will and keep his commandments. Now this last one, turn to Luke
chapter five. Verse 18. And behold, men brought in a
bed a man which was taken with a palsy. He was paralytic. And they sought means to bring
him in and to lay him before him. And when they could not
find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude,
They went up on the housetop and they broke up the roof in
the house and let that man down through the tiling with his couch
into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith,
those men that brought the Lord in like that, when he saw their
faith, he said, man, to that man that was brought down, man,
thy sins are forgiven. Only God can make a statement
like that. If I say to you, your sins are
forgiven, does that mean they are? No. I don't know how many times I've
actually had people ask me, do you think I'm saved? What difference
does it make what I think? If I think you are, it doesn't
mean you are. And if I think you're not, it doesn't mean you're not. I mean,
we're men, but only God, only God can say, thy sins are forgiven
me. He did what only God can do. Now let's go on reading. Verse 21, and the scribes and
the Pharisees began to reason saying, who is this which speaketh
blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God
alone? That's the truth, isn't it? Only
God can forgive sins. But when Jesus perceived their
thoughts, He answered, hey, that's glorious the way the Lord perceives
your thoughts right now. He knows what you're thinking.
He knows what I'm thinking. He looks into the hearts of men.
But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered and said
unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? What's easier to
say, Thy sins be forgiven thee, and to say, Rise up and walk?
Now, what would it be if a man was paralyzed and brought down
here right in front of everybody? What would be easiest for me
to say? Would it be easiest for me to say, Your sins are forgiven
or rise up and walk? Well, it would be far more difficult
to say, Rise up and walk, wouldn't it? Because I can say your sins
are forgiven, nobody would know whether they are or not. But
if I say, rise up and walk. And so the Lord said, look, I
said that, but now I'm going to say to this paralytic man,
rise up and walk. And that's precisely what he
did. He rose up and walked. And why? That you may know that
the Son of Man hath power upon earth to forgive sins. He said unto the sick of palsy,
I say unto thee, I say unto thee, there's one of that, that's that
authority, isn't it? I say to thee, arise, take up thy bed
and go into thine house. And immediately he rose up before
them and took up that which he lay on and departed to his own
house, glorifying God. Now this, this demonstrates the
authority of Christ as much as anything else. He has the authority
to forgive sins. Now, I want you to think about
the reality of your sins. Most real. David said, my sin
is ever before me. Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ
has the authority, has the power to make all your sins to be forgiven? And I was talking with Len about
this on the way over here. His forgiveness is so different
from our forgiveness. Because when someone sins against
us, we forgive, we better forgive them. We better forgive them,
but we don't forget it. We remember. Should we? No. But do we? Yes. We remember,
but you know when the Lord forgives sins, he forgives sins in a way
that no man can forgive sins. He says their sins and their
iniquities will I remember no more. So that when he has fellowship
with me, he's not going to be thinking, I remember what he
did. I remember what he thought. I remember how he was. The Lord
never says that, never thinks it. Their sins and their iniquities,
well, I remember no more. And I've said, as I've said so
many times, the only way that can be, because God's got a big
memory. God never forgets anything. I
mean, he's God. How can he forget just like something slipped his
mind? The only way he cannot remember is for there to be nothing
there to remember. He put away sin by the sacrifice
of Himself. And now, when God embraces me
in forgiveness, it's not, I know what He's really like. No, I
am one worthy of communion with God. No sin justified in His
sight. He said, I have authority. I
have authority to forgive you of all your sins. Now, in light of this great truth
that he has authority to forgive sins, I know three things that
you and I ought to be doing right now. Here's the first thing. 1 John 1.9 says, if we confess
our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Now, here's the first thing that
I want to do. I want to confess my sins before him, not before
you, not before you. And I don't want you to confess
yours to me, but confess to him. I can't do anything for you,
you can't do anything for me, but He can if we confess our
sins. Now, what does it mean to confess
your sins? Does it mean you got to name them all out? I'm glad
it doesn't mean that because two main reasons. Number one,
most of my sins, I'm sure I don't even know what they are. How
many times have I sinned that I didn't even know I was sinning?
And another thing, there's not enough time in the day to confess
all your sins. I mean, if that's what we were doing, we'd spend
all of our time confessing sins. To confess sins means you agree
with God. You take sides with God against
yourself. You say guilty as charged. You agree with God. So in light
of him who has authority to forgive sins, confess your sins to him
because he's promised if we confess our sins, he's faithful and he's
just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Now here's the second thing I
do. Lord, forgive me of my sins. Aren't we taught to pray that
on a daily basis? Forgive us our transgressions. As we forgive those who trespass
against us, ask the Lord to forgive your sins. First confess, but
I tell you what, if you confess, here's the next thing you do.
Lord, forgive me of this sin I'm confessing. And third, first, I confess. Second, I ask for forgiveness.
And third, I forgive. The Lord taught us to pray, forgive
us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And the Lord said, for if you
forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will forgive
you your trespasses. But if you forgive not men their
trespasses, neither will your heavenly father forgive you your
trespasses. Confess, ask for forgiveness
and forgive. Don't you love the authority
of the Lord Jesus Christ? He spake. as one having authority
and not as scribes. Let's pray together.