0939, Acceptance of Authority

Episode Title: Acceptance of Authority—Faith That Bows to God’s LawEpisode SummaryW. D. Frazee studies the science of faith, showing that true faith does not bypass God’s law or delegated authority, but comes to Calvary by way of Sinai and receives Christ’s forgiveness and power for obedience.Show Notes / Description“I will teach you the good and the right way.”With Samuel’s words in 1 Samuel 12:23, Pastor W. D. Frazee opens this 1963 study on faith, obedience, and the acceptance of authority. The “good way,” he explains, is the path walked by those described in Revelation 14:12—those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.Frazee begins by calling faith a divine science. Quoting Education, he stresses that everyone who wants to make his lifework a success must understand the prayer of faith. But this faith is not mere religious language or the simple claim, “I believe.” True faith believes God fully—including the conditions attached to His promises. To claim the promise while ignoring the conditions is not faith but presumption.From Galatians 3:24, the sermon moves to the law as the schoolmaster that brings the sinner to Christ. Frazee warns against the idea that one can skip the schoolmaster, run to Calvary, and use the cross as a substitute for obedience. The law reveals sin, condemns the sinner, and points the soul to the only Saviour. At the cross, Christ does not abolish the authority of the law; He vindicates it by dying under its penalty and then brings believers back into harmony with it.The message develops several major lessons:The science of faith — faith is believing God in a way that meets the conditions of His promises.The danger of presumption — saying “I believe” while refusing obedience is not faith.The law as schoolmaster — the sinner comes to Christ through the convicting work of God’s law.The cross and the law — Calvary does not release the believer from obedience; it reveals the authority of the law and provides both pardon and power.The First Commandment and divine authority — “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” settles the basic question of God’s right to rule.The Fifth Commandment and human authority — “Honor thy father and thy mother” is the foundation of delegated human authority, including parents, ministers, rulers, teachers, and supervisors.Two kinds of disobedience — open defiance and quiet evasion, illustrated by Christ’s parable of the two sons.Faith as acceptance of authority — the repentant soul comes to Calvary not to be excused in rebellion, but to be changed into a loyal, obedient child of God.The sermon closes with a direct appeal: will we accept Christ’s authority in heaven and earth? Will we look to Calvary, not as permission for disobedience, but as the great power that brings us back to prompt, true obedience?Key Scriptures1 Samuel 12:23Revelation 14:12Hebrews 11:6John 3:16Acts 16:31Galatians 3:24Matthew 1:211 John 3:4Exodus 20:3Exodus 20:12Romans 13:1Psalm 40:8Matthew 21:28–32Key ThemesThe good and right wayThe faith of Jesus in the final generationThe prayer of faith as a divine scienceFaith versus presumptionGod’s promises and their conditionsThe law as schoolmaster to bring us to ChristJustification by faith and the convicting work of the lawThe atonement and the binding claims of the moral lawCalvary as the vindication, not abolition, of God’s lawThe acceptance of divine and delegated authorityThe First Commandment as the basis of divine authorityThe Fifth Commandment as the basis of human authorityOpen rebellion and evasive disobedienceThe cross as the way back to loyal obedienceCompanion ReferencesEllen G. White, Education (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1903), 253, 257.Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1911), 209.Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, Book 1 (Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1958), 229.Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1890), 308.Memorable Line“Faith means coming to Calvary by way of Sinai.”AboutTo My Dear Friends brings the timeless messages of Pastor W. D. Frazee to a new generation of listeners. Visit WDFsermons.org for the full sermon library.