Jesus is the source of truth. The Church did not authenticate the mission of Jesus or His message. I don't think the Jewish priests and scribes were gladly verifying Jesus' claims and teachings.
So, how were His teachings authenticated and confirmed as from God?
1. Jesus did not expect people to believe Him without the confirmation of miracles.
"If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true" (John 5:31)
So, Jesus is saying that if all He has going for Him is just what He says about Himself then He is an impostor.
2. Jesus said that the miracles that He performed by the power of God, authenticated His message.
"But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me" (John 5:36)
3. "Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me" (John 10:25)
4. Jesus even tells us not to believe Him unless He does the works of His Father (God).
"If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him" (John 10:37-38)
5. "If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father" (John 15:24)
6. "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:" (Act 2:22)
7. "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him" (Act 10:38)
Scripture affirms (and Jesus affirms) that any message that comes from God through man must bear verification and show authentication from the Holy Spirit.
The Apostles and other New Testament prophets were teachers of truth and the same miraculous manifestations of the Holy Spirit authenticated their ministry and message. They were authenticated by God (the Holy Spirit) and not by man. I'll show some scriptures pertaining to the Apostles, later.
The Church is not the source of God's message of truth, but rather the product of God's Truth.
Axehead
So, how were His teachings authenticated and confirmed as from God?
1. Jesus did not expect people to believe Him without the confirmation of miracles.
"If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true" (John 5:31)
So, Jesus is saying that if all He has going for Him is just what He says about Himself then He is an impostor.
2. Jesus said that the miracles that He performed by the power of God, authenticated His message.
"But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me" (John 5:36)
3. "Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me" (John 10:25)
4. Jesus even tells us not to believe Him unless He does the works of His Father (God).
"If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him" (John 10:37-38)
5. "If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father" (John 15:24)
6. "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:" (Act 2:22)
7. "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him" (Act 10:38)
Scripture affirms (and Jesus affirms) that any message that comes from God through man must bear verification and show authentication from the Holy Spirit.
The Apostles and other New Testament prophets were teachers of truth and the same miraculous manifestations of the Holy Spirit authenticated their ministry and message. They were authenticated by God (the Holy Spirit) and not by man. I'll show some scriptures pertaining to the Apostles, later.
The Church is not the source of God's message of truth, but rather the product of God's Truth.
Axehead