LET ME AT THIS TIME GIVE YOU MY DEFINITION OF THE WORD "AUTHORITY". AUTHORITY, ONE THAT HAS THE POWER TO GIVE A COMMAND, DEMAND OBEDIENCE, AND PUNISH THE TRANSGRESSOR. NOW I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO MEDITATE ON THIS QUESTION. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE AUTHORITY UNDER CHRIST? TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT, MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE POPE, THE BISHOP OF ROME, IS THE AUTHORITY UNDER CHRIST. THEY BELIEVE THAT WHEN HE SITS IN HIS CHAIR AS PASTOR, AND TEACHER, HE IS INFALLIBLE, IN CAPABLE OF ERROR, IN THINGS PERTAINING TO FAITH, AND MORALS. SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE MEN OF THEIR CHURCH DENOMINATION ARE THE AUTHORITY UNDER CHRIST, WHEN THEY MEET IN AN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL. BUT AS FOR ME, I BELIEVE THAT THE BIBLE, THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD, IS THE AUTHORITY UNDER CHRIST. I BELIEVE THAT GOD, BY THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, GIVES COMMANDS, DEMANDS OBEDIENCE, AND PUNISHES THE TRANSGRESSORS. CHRIST JESUS WHEN HE WAS TEMPTED OF THE DEVIL SAID THESE WORDS.

Mt:4:1: Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Mt:4:2: And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

Mt:4:3: And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Mt:4:4: But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

BELOVED, IT WAS NOT NECESSARY FOR ME TO CLIMB MOUNT SINAI WITH MOSES' AND SEE GOD GIVE HIM THE LAW, TO BELIEVE THAT THE LAW OF MOSES' IS THE WORD OF GOD. FOR I, BY FAITH, BELIEVE HIS REPORT. IT WAS NOT NECESSARY FOR ME TO GO INTO ARABIA WITH THE APOSTLE PAUL, AND SEE THE LORD GOD GIVE HIM THE EPISTLES THAT HE RECORDED IN THE BIBLE, FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE EPISTLES OF APOSTLE PAUL ARE THE WORDS OF GOD. FOR BY FAITH I BELIEVE HIS REPORT. GOD INSPIRED THE APOSTLE PAUL TO RECORD THESE WORDS.

1Cor:14:37: If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

THE BIBLE, THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD, IS ACTUALLY TWO WILLS, TWO TESTAMENTS. ACCORDING TO THE LAW, IF A MAN MAKES TWO WILLS, AND THEN DIES; IT IS ONLY THE LAST WILL, AND TESTAMENT THAT IS VALID. THEREFORE, SINCE THE DEATH OF CHRIST JESUS, THE NEW TESTAMENT IS IN FORCE. FOR A TESTAMENT TO BE IN FORCE THERE MUST BE THE DEATH OF THE TESTATOR.

Heb:9:13: For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

Heb:9:14: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Heb:9:15: And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Heb:9:16: For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

Heb:9:17: For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

WHEN DID THE FIRST TESTAMENT, THE OLD TESTAMENT LOSE IT'S POWER, AS FOR AS SALVATION IS CONCERNED? THE LAW OF MOSES' AND THE PROPHETS, WERE UNTIL JOHN THE BAPTIST CAME PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS. SINCE THAT TIME THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS PREACHED, AND MEN ARE PRESSED INTO IT.

Lk:16:16: The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. (KJV)

SAINTS OF GOD, WE AS CHILDREN OF GOD, ARE TO SHAPE OUR LIVES ACCORDING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. YOU MAY ASK, IF WE ARE TO SHAPE OUR LIVES BY THE NEW TESTAMENT WHY WAS THE OLD TESTAMENT RECORDED? THE OLD TESTAMENT WAS OUR SCHOOL MASTER, TO BRING US TO CHRIST. BUT SINCE CHRIST IS COME WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE SCHOOLMASTER.

Gal:3:22: But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Gal:3:23: But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Gal:3:24: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal:3:25: But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Gal:3:26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

HOLY CHILDREN, ACCORDING TO MY COMPUTER CONCORDANCE THE WORD FAITH IS ONLY RECORDED TWO TIMES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. FOR MEN UNDER THE LAW THAT GOD GAVE TO MOSES' WERE NOT SAVED BY FAITH, THEY WERE SAVED BY WORKS. BY KEEPING THE LAW. BUT THE LAW HAD TO BE KEPT TO THE LETTER. AND IF A MAN TRANSGRESSED ONE LAW, HE WAS GUILTY OF ALL.

Rom:7:6: But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Jms:2:10: For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

IF A PERSON UNDER THE LAW TRANSGRESSED THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD HE WENT UNDER THE CURSE, OR A SENTENCE OF CONDEMNATION BECAUSE OF THIS LAW.

Dt:27:26: Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen. (KJV)

LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT, UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES' GOD COMMANDED THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL TO PAY A TAX OF 10% OF THEIR INCOME TO THE LEVITICAL TRIBE FOR THEIR SUPPORT. IF A PERSON WAS ONE PENNY SHORT ON THEIR TAX PAYMENT, OR ONE GRAIN OF CORN SHORT, OR ONE LAMB SHORT, THEY WENT UNDER THE CURSE. AT ONE TIME ALL ISRAEL WENT UNDER THE CURSE, OR A SENTENCE OF CONDEMNATION BECAUSE OF THE TITHING LAWS. IN THESE VERSES OF SCRIPTURE GOD IS SPEAKING TO ISRAEL AND HE SAYS THESE WORDS.

Mal:3:8: Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Mal:3:9: Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

SAINTS OF GOD, IS THE LAW OF MOSES' IN EFFECT TODAY? YES, IT IS IN THE WORLD, AND BY THAT LAW NO FLESH SHALL BE ACQUITTED OF SIN. BUT WE, THE CHILDREN OF GOD, THAT HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED IN TO CHRIST ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE.

Rom:6:1: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Rom:6:2: God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Rom:6:3: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Rom:6:4: Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Rom:6:5: For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Rom:6:6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Rom:6:7: For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Rom:6:8: Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Rom:6:9: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

Rom:6:10: For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Rom:6:11: Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom:6:12: Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Rom:6:13: Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Rom:6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

ARE WE UNDER THE TITHING TAX? NO THE TITHING LAWS WERE NOT BROUGHT OVER INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT FOR KINGS DO NOT TAX THEIR OWN CHILDREN.

Mt:17:24: And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

Mt:17:25: He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

Mt:17:26: Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

Mt:17:27: Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. (KJV)

ARE THERE PEOPLE THAT SHAPE THEIR LIVES BY THE OLD TESTAMENT? YES MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE USE THE OLD TESTAMENT AS THE AUTHORITY UNDER GOD. THE APOSTLE PAUL RECORDED THESE WORDS CONCERNING THOSE THAT TRY TO BE RIGHTEOUS IN THE EYES OF GOD BUY KEEPING THE LAW.

Rom:10:1: Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

Rom:10:2: For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

Rom:10:3: For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Rom:10:4: For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Rom:10:5: For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Rom:10:6: But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

Rom:10:7: Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

Rom:10:8: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Rom:10:9: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Rom:10:10: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

CHILDREN OF LIGHT, A PERSON WILL REACT TO THINGS BY WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS THE AUTHORITY UNDER CHRIST. FOR EXAMPLE, THOSE MEN THAT SHAPE THEIR LIVES BY THE OLD TESTAMENT BELIEVE CERTAIN ANIMALS, BIRDS, FISH AND CREEPING THINGS, TO BE UNCLEAN BECAUSE OF THE ORIGINAL SIN OF ADAM. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I SPEAK OF.

Lv:11:1: And the Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,

Lv:11:2: Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.

Lv:11:3: Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

Lv:11:4: Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

Lv:11:5: And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

Lv:11:6: And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

Lv:11:7: And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.

Lv:11:8: Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.

Lv:11:9: These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

Lv:11:10: And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:

Lv:11:11: They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.

CHRISTIAN BRETHREN, THOSE PEOPLE THAT SHAPE THEIR LIVES BY THE OLD TESTAMENT WILL NOT EAT PORK, NOR RABBIT, NOR SQUIRREL, NEITHER WILL THEY EAT SUCH THINGS AS CATFISH, NOR CRAB, AND MANY OTHER THINGS. BUT WE AS CHRISTIANS EAT THESE THINGS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS CLEANSED THEM.

Acts:10:9: On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

Acts:10:10: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

Acts:10:11: And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

Acts:10:12: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

Acts:10:13: And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

Acts:10:14: But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

Acts:10:15: And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

BELOVED OF GOD, UNDER THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS. OUR FOOD IS CLEANSED BY THE WORD OF GOD, AND PRAYER. JESUS CHRIST IS THE WORD OF GOD. THEREFORE WHEN WE BLESS OUR FOOD, IT IS MY BELIEVE THAT CHRIST CLEANSES OUR FOOD.

1Tm:4:1: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

1Tm:4:2: Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

1Tm:4:3: Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

1Tm:4:4: For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

1Tm:4:5: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

1Tm:4:6: If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.