MAN’S NEED FOR BIBLE AUTHORITY – No.5
In previous lessons in this series it has been pointed out there has always been a need for man to find and follow Bible authority. The religious people of Jesus’ day knew this. After Jesus cleansed the temple, recorded in Matt.21:12-15, He was challenged by the religious leaders of that day, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority? Matt.21:23. Their question revealed two things. 1. They recognized a need for authority in religion. 2. That such authority must come from someone who has the right to grant it. Jesus answered their question about authority with another question, “The baptism of John – where was it from? From heaven or from men?” His question indicated that there were only two sources of authority by which man could act in religion. It either came from God in heaven, or it came from men. The religious leaders recognized the force of Jesus’ question and His earlier action, and refused to press Him any further. They knew from whence His authority came. His cleansing of the temple had God’s authority behind it. By His questions to them He not only answered their questions, but also reminded them that they needed to respect and seek heaven’s authority before they could act or do anything in religious matters.
So it is today. We have God’s will to mankind revealed to us on the inspired pages of the New Testament. God’s nature has not changed. He still requires man to act religiously only with His authority. This is why we have the New Testament, to tell us what God wants us to know and do. Or as Paul put it, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name (by the authority – t.t.) of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” Col.3:17. In lessons two through four of this series it was pointed out that people, instead of acting with God’s authority, have circumvented this obligation by using men or men’s ideas as their authority for their religious beliefs and practices. If possible review these lessons to see what men use as authority and avoid them. Trying to please God, by doing only what He allows, may not be popular but it is right. The gospel was never designed to please man, but to please God. And if we want to be one that is approved of God we will make sure we handle His word properly 2.Tim.2:15.
In order to be approved of God we must not do anything He has not authorized or permitted. So, where do we go to learn what God authorizes us to do? Where do we find it? We find it on the pages of the New Testament. Jesus, while here on earth chose men called apostles. These apostles walked and talked with Jesus for three years. He sent them out with authority to speak for Him as they worked among their own countrymen, the Jews Matt.10:5-7. Their authority was limited to that which was revealed to them by the Holy Spirit Matt.10:18-19. “For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” Matt.10:20. Their words were binding and anyone refusing to accept and follow them was in fact rejecting Jesus Christ and His Father. He told them, “he who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me” Matt.10:40. We will see that this statement is still true today.
As Jesus finished His work here on earth, He again commissioned His apostles with authority, this time extending it to encompass all mankind. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” Matt.28:19. These men had the responsibility of revealing the completion of God’s plan of redemption by proclaiming it through words, spoken and written, as they were guided by the Holy Spirit Jn.14:25-26; 16:12-14; Acts.1:1-2.
After Jesus returned to heaven, the Holy Spirit came as promised, and the apostles began to proclaim the gospel to mankind. What they preached was known as “the apostles doctrine” and it came from heaven, not men. This “apostles doctrine” was the inspired word of God. When they preached, their words were the word of God 1.Thes.2:13, and what they wrote were the commandments of God “…the things I write are the commandments of the Lord” 1.Cor.14:37. Also 2.Pet.3:1-2 “…you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior.” The inspired men who wrote the New Testament were the only ones given the right to show us what we are authorized to teach and practice religiously and it was once for all delivered to the saints Jude 3. When they finished their work, the revelation of God was completed. There would be no more.
Today, even though we have no living apostles or divinely inspired men among us, we have the words they wrote recorded on the pages of the New Testament. The written word they left for us is just as authoritative as their spoken word, and just as powerful Heb.4:12. They are to be read and kept Phil.4:9; 2.Thes.2:15. Men have been warned through the pages of the New Testament that these inspired words are not to be tampered with by adding to or taking from them, nor are they to be changed to suit our own desires.
Many today in the religious world (brethren included) may not like to be restricted to doing only what the word of God authorizes, to “speak only as the oracles of God” 1.Pet.4:11, but if they want to please God they will “…learn in us not to think beyond what is written…” 1.Cor.4:6. Notice how the apostles reacted when men tried to force them to change “the apostles doctrine.” The Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem tried to stop them from speaking or teaching the things the Holy Spirit directed them to speak. They came “saying, ‘Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!’ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said; ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’” Acts.5:28-29. Wouldn’t it be nice today, if everyone who claimed to serve God would have that attitude of seeking to obey God rather than pleasing man?
We must make sure we have God’s permission (authorization) to act. In this article we have learned the source of God’s authority today. It is the New Testament. Next week we will begin to study how we determine what is authorized or allowed by God.
By Thomas Thornhill via THE BUCKHORN TEACHER Vol.6 October 7, 2007 No.10
Return to the General Articles page
Home / Bible studies / Bible Survey / Special Studies / General Articles / Non-Bible Articles / Sermons / Sermon Outlines / Links / Questions and Answers / What Saith The Scriptures /Daily Devotional / Correspondence Courses / What is the Church of Christ / Book: Christian Growth / Website Policy / E-mail / About Me /