This is the second of two articles dealing with the subject of establishing Bible authority for all that we say and practice. While the first article examines authority in the Old Testament this article shall look to the New Testament. The importance of such a study cannot be overstated. Many brethren have questions that demand answers. One brother wants to know if his marriage is right before God and another sister desires to know if there is any way for a woman to serve as a deacon in the church. A brother from one local congregation hears that another local church sees no authority for serving the Lord’s Supper twice on Sunday. On and on the questions go. Once again this article will not deal with any one issue or question but will rather remind Christians of their responsibility to establish Bible authority for all that they speak and practice. The Bible, in its entirety, depicts God’s expectation of man’s perfection in holiness. His expectation is the highest of standards for the saint. Those who do not meet the Lord’s expectation shall be eternally doomed. Those who achieve holiness in this life will be eternally rewarded.
Review of Establishing Bible Authority from the Old Testament
A study of the Old Testament leaves an unforgettable impression upon our minds of Jehovah’s will for mankind to establish Biblical authority for all that is practiced. All mankind must understand and keep his place before the awesome power of Jehovah God. Jehovah’s words are absolute truth and never are they subject to man’s change agents (Zechariah 1:5-6; Malachi 3:6). All flesh is to silence their minds of personal conviction, opinions, and conscience and give a fearful ear to Jehovah’s divine will (Habakkuk 2:18-20; Zephaniah 1:7; Zechariah 2:13). We have absolutely no right to invent even one spiritual law or change the minute details of God’s laws (Zechariah 8:16-17). Man is to greatly respect, reverence, and fear the awesome name of Jehovah God (Psalms 119:161). God has given the great responsibility of absolute perfection and holiness to mankind (Leviticus 11:44; Galatians 3:10). The Lord will hold the erring accountable and will unleash His furry, wrath, fierce anger, and indignation against those who take liberties with His divine will (Isaiah 11:4; Lamentations 2:20-22; Amos 4:12-13 etc.). Those who attain unto holiness and perfection will be rewarded with eternal peace (Proverbs 8:20-21). Seeing that so much is at stake the Old Testament people were encouraged to live by the authority of Jehovah God.
The Sovereignty of Jehovah in the New Testament
Once again we must lay the groundwork for establishing Bible Authority. Matthew tells us that there are two sources of authority. First there is the authority of man’s opinions, personal conviction, and conscience and then there is divine authority (Matthew 21:23-25). Man has the foolish tendency to establish his own ways (Matthew 15:7-9). There is; however, a clear distinction between the teachings of Jehovah God and that of man (Matthew 16:17). To move man from looking to self for answers to life’s questions to looking to God’s word we must gain a proper respect and reverence for Jehovah. Too many today are asking, “What gives God the right to determine which way I take in life?”
The Lord is creator of all things and thereby all flesh is to obey his every word (Revelation 14:6-7). One may look to the life of Christ and take note that all aspects of human existence was subject to his will. Jesus exercised authority over the devil (Matthew 4:10), demons (Matthew 4:24; 8:16-17, 30-32 etc.), sin (Matthew 9:2-8), life and death (Matthew 9:23-25; Luke 7:12-16), eyesight (Matthew 9:27-29), animals (Matthew 17:27), plants (Matthew 21:20), sickness, diseases, epileptic, and palsied (Matthew 4:24; 8:5-10, 14-15), heaven, earth, and hell (Acts 13:40-41; 14:15; 17:24). Man’s natural conclusion is that Jesus has authority over all which includes mankind (see Luke 7:2-10; Romans 13:1; 14:11-12). Indeed Jesus is preeminent (Colossians 1:18). The Lord is identified as the potentate, Lord of lords, and King of kings (1 Timothy 6:15-16). Not one person or thing is exempt from his authoritative laws (Ephesians 1:18-22; 3:14-15; 4:6). Jesus is the only means whereby man can be saved (Acts 4:12; 13:38-39). With the preceding scriptures before us we see how futile it is to attempt to guide one’s self through life without God and His divine will for man.
The Standard of Truth as Depicted in the New Testament
The complete sovereignty of the Lord is depicted in the scriptures in that his name is directly associated with the standard of truth (John 14:6-7; Acts 4:7-12; Colossians 1:25-2:3, 8; 1 John 1:1-2; Revelation 19:13-16). The very name of Jesus identifies the standard by which all mankind is measured by (1 Peter 2:21-25). No man may opt out of the subjection that he was brought into this world to be under (John 5:26-28). The Apostle Paul thereby writes, “Whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17). Said parameters of divine direction for man equate to a law (Romans 3:27; 8:20; 2 Corinthians 8:1; Galatians 6:2; Hebrews 8:6-7; James 1:25).
The standard is identified as the “Word of the Lord” (Acts 8:25). This word is thereby of a divine origin (Galatians 1:11-12; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16, 20-21). The “word of the Lord” is absolute truth (Ephesians 1:13) that is not subject to man’s change (Acts 26:14; 1 Peter 1:24-25). Jude refers to truth as, “The faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3). Truth is not a personal faith or a faith of one’s choice as though there were many acceptable faiths. Truth is “The faith.” This faith stands alone as the standard that identifies Jehovah’s assessment of right and wrong (Ephesians 4:4; 5:11-14). No human opinion (John 16:2-4; Acts 26:9; Colossians 2:8, 22), personal conscience (Acts 23:1; 26:9-11), personal conviction (Acts 15:10), personal reasoning (Romans 1:21; 2:1-3; 11:25; 13:11), nationality (Matthew 3:8-9; John 8:31ff; Romans 2:28-29; Galatians 3:27), human traditions (Matthew 15:1-3), personal ignorance (Matthew 22:29; Acts 3:17-19; 17:23, 30), or a popular preacher (Galatians 2:6; 5:10) have any power at all to change the words of absolute truth.
Though men attempt to suppress the truth (Acts 4:17-19; 5:24), change truth to their own human ideas (1 Thessalonians 2:13), or even argue with God about how they made choices in this life (Matthew 25:44) the firm foundation of God will always stand (2 Timothy 2:9, 13, 19). Truth continues to say the same thing year in and year out. The objective of truth is never to make friends, bring personal glory to the speaker, or to tickle the ears of no man (see Matthew 6:1-2; John 12:43; 2 Corinthians 3:1; 10:12; Galatians 1:10; 2:6). Truth is rather concerned with the spiritual health of men’s souls (1 Timothy 1:10; Titus 1:9; 2:1).
The Nature of Man as Revealed in the New Testament
The sovereign position of Jehovah places the identity of the natural order of things upon His divine being (1 Peter 1:15-16). One may naturally expect God’s divine revelation to be an instruction manual on how man may obtain the nature of the divine creator (2 Peter 1:4). Seeing that Jehovah God alone is Lord there is no other to establish the way in which man is to be. Man will naturally seek after this one true God (Acts 17:24-29) rather than seeking other gods or standards of living (Acts 17:28:29). God has thereby created man with the innate ability to understand his natural responsibility to know the acceptable and unacceptable ways of life (Romans 2:14-15; 1 Corinthians 11:14). Those who go against the natural order of creation sin against their created purpose (Romans 1:26-27). To take a direction in life that opposes one’s nature and God’s standard is to act as an animal (2 Peter 2:12; Jude 1:10).
Man’s Responsibility Toward Divine Authority in the New Testament
Our Bibles, the standard of truth, paints pictures of absolute perfection of life as God would have us live. Man is left with the responsibility to fulfill God’s expectation of his created beings (Romans 12:1-2). God demand’s man’s perfection of life and obedience seeing that He is perfect (remember, He is the standard that we must meet). There are at least thirty four New Testament passages that command man’s absolute perfection (see Matthew 5:19, 48; Luke 1:6; 8:14; 11:36; 16:10-11; Ephesians 4:24; 5:1, 27; Philippians 1:10; 2:15; 3:12-15; Colossians 1:28; 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 3:10, 13; 4:7; 5:22-23; 1 Timothy 5:22; 6:13-14; Hebrews 7:11, 18-19, 25; 8:12; 10:1-2, 14; James 2:10; 1 Peter 1:13-16, 22; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 1:6-7; 2:6; 3:3; 4:17). The instructions of God’s divine standard reveal the efficacy of the blood of Jesus Christ whereby man may obtain and maintain this state of perfection (see Hebrews 9:22 and Revelation 1:5; 12:11). The objective of absolute sinless perfection must continue until the day we die (Hebrews 3:6, 14; 10:23, 39; 12:1-2; Revelation 2:7, 10-11; 3:2-3, 15-16; 18:4). Christians are thereby some of the most rugged people. We have stamina, drive, and purpose to obtain and maintain said perfection. When we fail we pick ourselves up and keep pressing forward (Philippians 3:12-14).
Christians also have the responsibility to put all doctrines to the test seeing that God expects our absolute perfection as defined by His name (the standard of truth) (see Matthew 24:4-5; 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-15; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 John 4:1-3, 6; 2 John 1:10; Revelation 2:14-16). Those too naive to observe the possibility of being deceived or swayed from the standard are often those who fall from grace (Galatians 3:1; 5:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Hebrews 2:1; 3:12-13; 4:11; 12:14-16; 13:9; 1 John 2:26; 3:7; 2 John 1:7-8; Jude 1:4-8, 14-16). We know that no matter what man tries to do he will not succeed at changing the efficacy of one law written by God. This being the case it does not stop man from such attempts. False teachers will be prevalent in every generation (Galatians 1:6-7; Ephesians 4:14; Philippians 3:18; 2 Peter 2:1ff).
Christians are to be ready to contend for the faith (Jude 1:3). Christians are to never tolerate erroneous teaching (Revelation 2:20). Christians are to guard the purity of truth and never permit another to pervert it (1 Timothy 1:3-4; 6:3, 12, 20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13-14). Christians are to identify and name the erring teachers and their erring doctrines (1 Timothy 1:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:16-18; 3:8; 4:14-15; 3 John 1:9; Revelation 2:6, 15, 20). Let the Christian stand the post of truth (Ephesians 5:11; 6:14; Colossians 2:4-5). Wage war against human reason and the tendency to permit personal opinions and convictions stand in the way of truth (2 Corinthians 10:3-7, 12). Stand in silence and listen to the word of the Lord rather than one’s opinions or personal ideas (Matthew 17:5-8; Acts 3:22-23). The Apostle Peter said, “If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man ministers, ministering as of the strength which God supplies: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11 see also 2 Corinthians 2:17).
Man’s Attitude Toward Divine Authority in the New Testament
The Lord is the standard that we are to meet (Romans 8:28-30). The faithful child of God will know his or her place before Jehovah and seek to humbly serve him (Matthew 15:21-28; Acts 8:24). Such a one will “honor” Jehovah is all areas of life (1 Timothy 1:17; 6:15-16). The saint of God is thereby identified with the characteristic of “godliness” (i.e., exhibiting reverence, respect, and profound awe) (see 1 Timothy 6:6). All teachings or practices that illustrate disrespect toward his holy name are to be viewed as filthiness and wickedness (James 1:21). The Christian’s attitude toward sin is abhorrence (Romans 12:9) and to, ”Hate even the garment spotted by the flesh” (Jude 1:22-23). Righteous indignation will take the place of deception and tolerance toward erring practices and doctrines in the mind of the faithful (Acts 7:51ff; 8:20-21; 13:8-10; 16:37; Ephesians 4:26; Revelation 2:6). Only the daring despise and show disrespect for the authorized standard of truth (2 Peter 2:1, 10).
When establishing Bible authority for any practice such a one will demand book, chapter, and verse (Matthew 4:4-10; 19:4; 21:13; 8:17; 10:34). The saint of God will be on guard against permitting their personal convictions or opinions lead them to binding where God has not bound and loosing where God has not loosed (see Matthew 16:19; Luke 13:10-17; Galatians 5:6; 6:15; Colossians 4:11). Such a humble disposition will never be angry with a brother who tries to point up error in their lives (Galatians 4:16). This godly man or woman is never “grieved” by performing the Lord’s commands (1 John 5:3).
Man’s Approach Toward Divine Authority in the New Testament
The Christian’s right approach to divine authority is knowing that it is God’s standard alone that saves (Matthew 1:21; John 6:68-69; 10:7-18; Colossians 2:16). Our approach to God’s divine standard is a confident spirit of knowing that we can understand all that God has delivered for us to be perfected (Ephesians 1:17-18; 3:3-4, 18-19; 5:17). I am to endure all things rather than drinking the wine of Satan (i.e., persecution, worldliness, and false teachers) (Hebrews 3:12-13; 10:32-39; 1 John 2:16-17; Revelation 14:9-10, 19-20). The spirit of antichrist is alive and well today as it was during the days of the apostles. The approach of antichrist is to deny the authoritative words of Jesus Christ and thereby establish their own opinions, convictions, and things of their personal conscience (1 John 2:18, 22-23; 4:3). Said men set themselves up as gods in that they deliver law that supersedes Jehovah’s sovereign laws (2 Thessalonians 2:4). The approach; however, of the saint of God is to identify sin as “lawlessness” (1 John 3:4), “unrighteousness” (1 John 5:17), and a trespass against God that causes one to be viewed as spiritually dead (Colossians 2:13). The battle for the souls of men rages on until the day when the Lord Jesus shall come to judge the world (Revelation 16:16; 17:14; 19:19; 20:7ff).
The Consequences of Godliness or Rebellion against the Authoritative Word of God
God has appointed a day in which all who ever lived upon the earth shall be judged for their attitude and approach toward God’s divine standard (Acts 17:31; 1 Peter 4:17-18). The just and unjust who have died shall be raised from the dead to stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Acts 24:15). The standard itself shall be that which man is measured by (John 12:48; Romans 2:5-11). Each of us will reap what we have sown upon the earth (Galatians 6:7-9).
The consequences for rebellion against the authorized words of Jehovah God is that such a one will be cast into the eternal fires of hell (Matthew 7:22-23; 13:39-43, 49-50; 25:31-46; Luke 13:27-29; John 12:48-50; Acts 3:23; Revelation 20:10ff). Hell will be a place where God’s fierce wrath will be unleashed upon the wicked (Colossians 3:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Not one rebellious man or woman will escape God’s wrath (Hebrews 2:3; 9:27; 10:26-31; 12:25).
The rewards for a faithful life of reverence and respect for Jehovah’s sovereign will is an eternal home of glory and peace (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:9; 2 Peter 1:11; 2:9, 17; 3:7, 10-13; 1 John 5:13; Revelation chapters 21 and 22). Much is at stake in the lives of man. We all have one shot at life. The direction we choose will determine our eternal abode.
The Importance of Establishing Bible Authority for all that we Say and Do
After laying the groundwork for Bible Authority we are left to say that it is no wander that Paul wrote, “Whatsoever you do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17). Seeing that God demands that I measure up to his standard of being I most certainly want to say and do all things as God would. We do not want to be as the foolish who participate in an activity and afterwards wander if it was the right thing to do (see Proverbs 20:25). How then does the Christian go about establishing Bible authority for all that is said and done? Let us note seven components of authority that have been revealed in both the Old and New Testaments.
First, to know if an event is right or wrong we may look for direct statements or commands in the word of God regarding the subject (for examples of such statements see 1 Corinthians 5:4-5; 9:14; Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:18-19; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15; 3:10; Hebrews 13:17; James 2:9; 5:12; 1 Peter 2:13-17; 3:1; 3 John 1:11 and so on). Sometimes these commands will be stated explicitly as the case of 1 Corinthians 5:4-5 and sometimes the commandment may be given in a general fashion (see Matthew 28:18-20). General commands leave the Christian with the liberty to perform the will of God with an expedient (i.e., an aid or help to achieve the command) (John 16:7; 1 Corinthians 6:12). Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” (Matthew 28:19). The Christian is left with the liberty to use an automobile, airplane, bicycle and so forth as an expedient to get this command accomplished. Our church buildings, song books, pitch pipes, and trays on the Lord’s table are all expedients that help us achieve God’s given commands.
Secondly, if there are no direct commands to direct us in answering our question we may examine the authoritative examples of Jesus and the apostles (see the following passages – John 13:12-17; 1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1; 14:37; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:7; 1 Peter 2:21-22). If we find the Lord Jesus or the apostles commending or condemning the questioned practice we will know what we are to do.
Thirdly, if there are no explicit commands or examples to look to regarding our question then we may find a necessary inference to answer our question. The New Testament delivers many divine principles through implication. Jesus inferred that guilt is established in the Matthew 18:17 passage. Luke infers that the Christians assembled to partake of the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week at Acts 20:7. The apostle Paul infers that man is under a law to follow at Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:1-2; 4:1-4; 5:6. Paul infers that this law can be handled incorrectly at 1 Timothy 1:8.
Finally, when we find the authorized will of God through direct command, example, or inference we must accept the answer. Many have been guilty of saying, “Well, God didn’t say we could not do that.” Let us learn that an important principle of establishing Bible authority for all that we do and say is God’s silence. When God delivers His divine will through command, example, or inference we must be content with the command and not look to some sort of loop hole out. When God commands all other options are made null and void (see Acts 8:20-21; Hebrews 7:12-17).
Remember, God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). Answers to all your spiritual questions of life will be found by the diligent. The apostle Paul wrote, “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
