Authority +
James W. Boyd
There is not anything in service to God for which we do not need His authority. Peter said that God has “given all things that pertain to life and godliness.” I wish all of my brethren believed that. The denominational world never has believed it.
If ever there was a time when Christians need to say what we believe and why we believe it, this is the day. I say this not with a tone of despair, but with justified and genuine concern, and even more as a challenge, that it is strange that among people who have been a part of efforts to restore the faith revealed in the New Testament, that we need some straight talk about Biblical authority, the necessity for it, and its nature.
Denominations have never accepted the Bible as authority as the Bible demands. At best, they have accepted the Bible alongside their creeds, disciplines, manuals, edicts of councils, conferences, prayer books, feelings, human traditions, later day revelations, etc. But it is increasingly apparent that a renewed emphasis for the need of Biblical authority exists among brethren. Too many have adopted too much of the denominational attitude and outlook toward religious authority.
Denominations have never accepted the Bible as authority as the Bible demands. At best, they have accepted the Bible alongside their creeds, disciplines, manuals, edicts of councils, conferences, prayer books, feelings, human traditions, later day revelations, etc. But it is increasingly apparent that a renewed emphasis for the need of Biblical authority exists among brethren. Too many have adopted too much of the denominational attitude and outlook toward religious authority.
What if I should come before you to preach, but I put the Bible aside? What could I say? Would I even have a place to start or a place to go with any lesson worthy of the identification of a Gospel sermon? Would there be any authoritative basis for anything I could preach?
But this is what the religious world has done and in the place of the Bible there is a drumbeat of worthless theologies, philosophies, human opinions, politics, social reform, and as often as not, propaganda that is anti-Bible even though it is called preaching the Bible; and, coming from the mouths of those egotists who profess themselves to be superior in everything.
While many brethren are unwilling to go that far, just yet, there is too much of what I note among brethren that consists of “how to” pep talks, religious fiction, testimonials, and a page from the emotion-stirring “holy rollers.” We have been setting the Bible aside, not all at once, but bit by bit. We have acted, in too many instances, like the Bible is a loose-leaf notebook and we are removing pages one by one.
Some have even declared Genesis one through eleven to be a myth, the flood possibly nothing more than a local flood, even distorting the plan of salvation as if it was “grace alone.”
One of the areas where some brethren are guilty of departing from Biblical authority is in the work of the church. Some years ago some arose to deny work(s) that the Bible does not authorize, but now more and more we see churches involved in activities such as recreation, physical exercise classes, entertainment, social events, ball games, gymnasiums, secular education, until one cannot tell the difference between the Lord’s church and the denominations with their perverted attitudes toward the church.
Many others have, for all practical purposes, silenced any teaching regarding dancing, social drinking, immodest dress, smoking, etc. because too many of the members are guilty, and preachers and elders prefer to please the people.
False doctrines are taught on marriage, divorce, and remarriage, such as is taught in colleges, promoted in workshops, and in written materials. A few continue, but most “disregard what the Bible teaches and think it acceptable to present themselves as if they are of the drug, rock-and-roll sub-culture.
Who is not aware of the contentions over the direct operation of the Holy Spirit many have adopted? Yes, bit by bit, even some who claim to be New Testament Christians are tearing out verse after verse, page after page, of the Word of God.
I ask where is the real difference between tearing up the Bible bit by bit, and throwing it away abruptly altogether? In fact, the only difference might be, the former is more deceptive and subtle, but both efforts accomplish the same disastrous results. One is blatant, and easily detected. The other is sly, gradual, and goes without notice unless one is very attentive.
But this is what the religious world has done and in the place of the Bible there is a drumbeat of worthless theologies, philosophies, human opinions, politics, social reform, and as often as not, propaganda that is anti-Bible even though it is called preaching the Bible; and, coming from the mouths of those egotists who profess themselves to be superior in everything.
While many brethren are unwilling to go that far, just yet, there is too much of what I note among brethren that consists of “how to” pep talks, religious fiction, testimonials, and a page from the emotion-stirring “holy rollers.” We have been setting the Bible aside, not all at once, but bit by bit. We have acted, in too many instances, like the Bible is a loose-leaf notebook and we are removing pages one by one.
Some have even declared Genesis one through eleven to be a myth, the flood possibly nothing more than a local flood, even distorting the plan of salvation as if it was “grace alone.”
One of the areas where some brethren are guilty of departing from Biblical authority is in the work of the church. Some years ago some arose to deny work(s) that the Bible does not authorize, but now more and more we see churches involved in activities such as recreation, physical exercise classes, entertainment, social events, ball games, gymnasiums, secular education, until one cannot tell the difference between the Lord’s church and the denominations with their perverted attitudes toward the church.
Many others have, for all practical purposes, silenced any teaching regarding dancing, social drinking, immodest dress, smoking, etc. because too many of the members are guilty, and preachers and elders prefer to please the people.
False doctrines are taught on marriage, divorce, and remarriage, such as is taught in colleges, promoted in workshops, and in written materials. A few continue, but most “disregard what the Bible teaches and think it acceptable to present themselves as if they are of the drug, rock-and-roll sub-culture.
Who is not aware of the contentions over the direct operation of the Holy Spirit many have adopted? Yes, bit by bit, even some who claim to be New Testament Christians are tearing out verse after verse, page after page, of the Word of God.
I ask where is the real difference between tearing up the Bible bit by bit, and throwing it away abruptly altogether? In fact, the only difference might be, the former is more deceptive and subtle, but both efforts accomplish the same disastrous results. One is blatant, and easily detected. The other is sly, gradual, and goes without notice unless one is very attentive.
The most pressing issue facing those who believe the Bible today is the vicious attack of Liberalism and Modernism. Even now we are hearing some of our “scholars” in Bible departments talking about how the threat of liberalism has passed, and now the area of danger is what these liberal professors call “the reactionary right wing.” This is to remove attention from their own sordid digression and departure from the truth.
We have to make a choice to either respect the Bible as the Word of God and the all-sufficient authority of it, or launch into a “do your own thing” imitation of the failures of denominationalism. Some are already promoting the latter even as they deny they are doing it. The very nature of the Bible demands you take it all, or nothing. The Bible is not a religious supermarket where you can take what you want and leave out what you do not want.
Unless we are so proud, egotistical, blind, naïve, and digressive, we cannot deny the existence of the digressive attitudes and activities that have invaded the Lord’s people in recent decades, primarily through the avenue of the Bible departments of the colleges, the sophisticated and know-it-all professors, the compromising administrations, the ecumenical lectureships, the literature of compromise often promoted for the sake of making money but used in Bible classes, and the continued willingness of those who say they are faithful but who keep using, promoting, and endorsing the very people who are leading the church away from the Bible.
Toleration of this liberal trend will sweep away much of the Lord’s church, if not in our day (and we believe in our day), surely in the generation that follows because it is designed and intended to “up date, make relevant, change, revise, alter, restructure” the church for modern times.
We have to make a choice to either respect the Bible as the Word of God and the all-sufficient authority of it, or launch into a “do your own thing” imitation of the failures of denominationalism. Some are already promoting the latter even as they deny they are doing it. The very nature of the Bible demands you take it all, or nothing. The Bible is not a religious supermarket where you can take what you want and leave out what you do not want.
Unless we are so proud, egotistical, blind, naïve, and digressive, we cannot deny the existence of the digressive attitudes and activities that have invaded the Lord’s people in recent decades, primarily through the avenue of the Bible departments of the colleges, the sophisticated and know-it-all professors, the compromising administrations, the ecumenical lectureships, the literature of compromise often promoted for the sake of making money but used in Bible classes, and the continued willingness of those who say they are faithful but who keep using, promoting, and endorsing the very people who are leading the church away from the Bible.
Toleration of this liberal trend will sweep away much of the Lord’s church, if not in our day (and we believe in our day), surely in the generation that follows because it is designed and intended to “up date, make relevant, change, revise, alter, restructure” the church for modern times.
All we know and believe is on the basis of evidence, and that evidence is in Scripture. God has spoken and revealed His Will. The Bible is that revelation. When any person gets to the point that “thus saith the Lord” is not the standard, and when he thinks there is no necessity for Biblical authority, then nothing is left.
When any people become more concerned with reactions, what denominational people may think, how popular and prosperous something may be, then the way of apostasy is already paved and greased. To many today, in a cowardly and sinister pretense of piety, prefer “peace” at the sacrifice of truth.
Many times, and we have seen it, what ought to be the first and dominant consideration in matters pertaining to the church and the truth, is neglected altogether in favor of assuring acceptance and favor among certain ones, often among the “big names,” the wealthy, socially elite, and worldly minded, numbers-conscious promoters.
Time and again, instead of seeking Biblical authority for what is said or done, we hear the statement, “I don’t see anything wrong with this or that.” Just because somebody may not see any harm in something does not mean that God’s authority is supporting it. Our question should be, “What does the Bible teach?” When we respect the Bible as divine authority, this is what we will be asking.
There are commandments from God that rest entirely upon His authority for which we may not see the reason behind it. It may not be something that appeases our senses of ethics or morality.
But it is commanded of us, and because of the sovereignty of God we are accountable to obey. When God speaks, man is to hear and heed. We must have the attitude of Samuel when he said, “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:9). We cannot know what God desires unless we hear His Word. When we are not following His directions, we are going the wrong way. Man’s ways are never superior to His.
When any people become more concerned with reactions, what denominational people may think, how popular and prosperous something may be, then the way of apostasy is already paved and greased. To many today, in a cowardly and sinister pretense of piety, prefer “peace” at the sacrifice of truth.
Many times, and we have seen it, what ought to be the first and dominant consideration in matters pertaining to the church and the truth, is neglected altogether in favor of assuring acceptance and favor among certain ones, often among the “big names,” the wealthy, socially elite, and worldly minded, numbers-conscious promoters.
Time and again, instead of seeking Biblical authority for what is said or done, we hear the statement, “I don’t see anything wrong with this or that.” Just because somebody may not see any harm in something does not mean that God’s authority is supporting it. Our question should be, “What does the Bible teach?” When we respect the Bible as divine authority, this is what we will be asking.
There are commandments from God that rest entirely upon His authority for which we may not see the reason behind it. It may not be something that appeases our senses of ethics or morality.
But it is commanded of us, and because of the sovereignty of God we are accountable to obey. When God speaks, man is to hear and heed. We must have the attitude of Samuel when he said, “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:9). We cannot know what God desires unless we hear His Word. When we are not following His directions, we are going the wrong way. Man’s ways are never superior to His.
Jesus said, “All authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18). He not only possesses all authority, He is authority. What He taught is that which the Holy Spirit reminded the Lord’s apostles (John 14, 15, 16). What they taught was the will of the Lord. What they taught is now embodied in the all-sufficient, authoritative, inerrant, verbally inspired, infallible Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
We want to turn our attention to the nature of the authority of the Bible which will occupy the rest of this lesson and the second part as well. We approach our study in full realization that the acceptance of the Scriptures is to accept Christ, and to reject the Scriptures is to reject Christ. The authority of Christ is the Bible.
We want to turn our attention to the nature of the authority of the Bible which will occupy the rest of this lesson and the second part as well. We approach our study in full realization that the acceptance of the Scriptures is to accept Christ, and to reject the Scriptures is to reject Christ. The authority of Christ is the Bible.
God’s authority is SUPREME authority. In Ephesians 1:20-23, Paul was writing of what God had done, “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
Again, Colossians 1:18, “And he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead: that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Our Lord is this authority because He is Deity, and as Deity in the flesh, He lived a sinless life. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 1:22). His authority is the religious “supreme court.” One can appeal no higher. There is no other.
There was a time for Israel when the law that God gave through Moses was the authority. But that law has served its purpose, been fulfilled, and taken out of the way (Matt. 5:17-18; Gal. 3:23-25; Col. 2:14). No man can set aside God’s law except Deity. The Lord Jesus accomplished what that law was designed to introduce. “The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
Jesus said, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). “I can of mine own self do nothing; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30).
There is no council, pope, conference, convention, lectureship, preacher, editor, so-called scholar, school Bible department, perverted Bible, civil government, eldership, social organization, fraternal order, or any such thing that can alter, surpass, overshadow, revise, or in any way change the authority of Jesus Christ.
Again, Colossians 1:18, “And he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead: that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Our Lord is this authority because He is Deity, and as Deity in the flesh, He lived a sinless life. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 1:22). His authority is the religious “supreme court.” One can appeal no higher. There is no other.
There was a time for Israel when the law that God gave through Moses was the authority. But that law has served its purpose, been fulfilled, and taken out of the way (Matt. 5:17-18; Gal. 3:23-25; Col. 2:14). No man can set aside God’s law except Deity. The Lord Jesus accomplished what that law was designed to introduce. “The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
Jesus said, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). “I can of mine own self do nothing; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30).
There is no council, pope, conference, convention, lectureship, preacher, editor, so-called scholar, school Bible department, perverted Bible, civil government, eldership, social organization, fraternal order, or any such thing that can alter, surpass, overshadow, revise, or in any way change the authority of Jesus Christ.
God’s authority is SUFFICIENT. It is not partial nor incomplete. None can say, “Here is something we can do in service to God for which we need no divine authority.” One of the reasons there have been so many innovations, digressions, and introductions of false ideas into “Christianity” is because some have thought the authority of Christ was lacking in some way and they have supplied what they think the Lord overlooked. How many times have men engaged in something for which there was no Biblical authority and then cried, “Where does the Bible forbid it?” That is not the right question.
When we do what we do “in the name of” Christ, as we are taught to do (Col. 3:17), we must ask, “Where does the Bible authorize it?” Doing something on the basis that the Bible does not specifically forbid it is to assert the insufficiency of the authority of Christ.
On this mistaken notion many brethren have gone into the playground church business, secular education, entertainment, use of mechanical instruments, and anything else somebody might want. There is not anything in service to God for which we do not need His authority. Peter said that God has “given all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). I wish all of my brethren believed that. The denominational world never has believed it.
When we do what we do “in the name of” Christ, as we are taught to do (Col. 3:17), we must ask, “Where does the Bible authorize it?” Doing something on the basis that the Bible does not specifically forbid it is to assert the insufficiency of the authority of Christ.
On this mistaken notion many brethren have gone into the playground church business, secular education, entertainment, use of mechanical instruments, and anything else somebody might want. There is not anything in service to God for which we do not need His authority. Peter said that God has “given all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). I wish all of my brethren believed that. The denominational world never has believed it.
God’s authority is UNIVERSAL. His Gospel is to be preached to every creature in all the world (Mark 16:15; Matt. 28:19). The faith of Christ is not a family religion as was the Patriarchal system. Nor is it a national religion as was Judaism. Regardless of where people may dwell, those of every nation that fear Him and do His will are acceptable (Acts 10:34-35).
What some of our own people need to learn is that the Gospel that saves the poor, also saves the rich. The Gospel that saves the young, saves the old. This concept of making the Gospel relevant to the ghetto, or adapting it to the nuclear scientists, or making it fit the singles group, or this divorced group, or this youth group, or this senior citizens group, is to miss one of the important characteristics of the authority of Christ. The truth is just as binding on this generation as the past generation, or the next generation. “The word of the Lord endureth forever” (1 Peter 1:25).
There is no Gospel for the north and a Gospel for the south. There is no truth while at home and something different away from home on vacation. There is not one truth for one nation and another truth for a different nation. What the Lord teaches me, He teaches you. Some of our “learned” brethren need to learn that basic fundamental.
While there are passages directed toward women, some toward men, some toward the young, toward parents, preachers, elders, sinners, saints, His authority, His truth, His saving plan does not vary from place to place. It is universal in scope.
2720 S Chancery St.
McMinnville, TN 37110
What some of our own people need to learn is that the Gospel that saves the poor, also saves the rich. The Gospel that saves the young, saves the old. This concept of making the Gospel relevant to the ghetto, or adapting it to the nuclear scientists, or making it fit the singles group, or this divorced group, or this youth group, or this senior citizens group, is to miss one of the important characteristics of the authority of Christ. The truth is just as binding on this generation as the past generation, or the next generation. “The word of the Lord endureth forever” (1 Peter 1:25).
There is no Gospel for the north and a Gospel for the south. There is no truth while at home and something different away from home on vacation. There is not one truth for one nation and another truth for a different nation. What the Lord teaches me, He teaches you. Some of our “learned” brethren need to learn that basic fundamental.
While there are passages directed toward women, some toward men, some toward the young, toward parents, preachers, elders, sinners, saints, His authority, His truth, His saving plan does not vary from place to place. It is universal in scope.
2720 S Chancery St.
McMinnville, TN 37110
posted by HP | 4:14 AM
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