RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE AND AUTHORITY

RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE AND AUTHORITY

1. People who have had religious experiences sometimes CLAIM POWER and INFLUENCE; saying that those who have NOT had the experience are NOT 'TRUE BELIEVERS.'

2. "No-one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again."

   • John 3:3

3. St. Paul claims AUTHORITY from a VISION...

   • "Anyone who does not have the spirit of Christ does not belong to him."
     • Corinthians 12

4. BEING 'BORN AGAIN'

   • Many PROTESTANT CHURCHES emphasise being 'BORN AGAIN...'
     • ... especially Charismatic, PENTECOSTAL CHURCHES.
   • William James
     • REJECTS the idea that 'everyone must be born again;' he talks of the 'ONCE-BORN' and the 'TWICE-BORN.'

5. ST. PAUL AND 'SPIRITUAL GIFTS'

   • "I know a man in Christ who, fourteen years ago, was caught up in the third heaven."
   • "I must go on boasting."
     • St. Paul claimed a 'special' relationship with God in being indicative of his authority and therefore his right to be LISTENED TO and REGARDED as a 'HIGHER' FIGURE.
   • St. Paul gives a LIST of spiritual gifts...
     • Wisdom.
       • "To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom..."
     • Healing.
       • "To another a gift of healing..."
     • Prophecy.
       • "... to another there is a message of knowledge by means of the same spirit."
     • Uses the analogy of the BODY - in that, EACH PART is IMPORTANT.
   • "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."

6. THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT

   • "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
     • Galatians 5:22
   • "I warn you that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God."