BIBLE AUTHORITY (5 of 8)
Roger Campbell

In our last article about authority we discussed and emphasized that Jesus Christ has been given all authority in religious affairs (Mt 28:18). The Bible says that in the Christian age God has "spoken unto us by His Son" (Heb 1:1-2). Christ is our King and has given us a law, which is called "the new Testament" (1 Cor 11:25) and "law of Christ" (Gal 6 :2). How does Christ rule over His kingdom, in other words, act as head over His church? Through His teachings, which are recorded in the New Testament.

On the night that Jesus was betrayed, He promised His apostles that after He returned to the Father He would send the Holy Spirit to guide and help them. Jesus said, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you (apostles, RDC) all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (Jn 14:26). What did Jesus mean by "all things?" All things that belong to the "truth." Jesus told the apostles, "When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth" (Jn 16:13). The Father sent the Holy Spirit in the name of Christ to guide the apostles into all truth, that they might know what to speak and write.

The apostle Paul declared that God's mystery or plan for saving Jew and Gentile through Christ was "revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" (Eph 3:5). Where did that plan come from? The Father. How did mankind learn this message? It was revealed by the Holy Spirit in the name of Christ to the apostles and New Testament prophets. They received that message from the Spirit and then revealed it to men by preaching and writing the New Testament. Paul said, "The things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. ... And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him..." ( Cor 14:37; 2 Th 3:14). What conclusions should we make from these verses?

First, what is written in the New Testament are the commandments of the Lord.

Second, the message taught by the apostles and prophets is binding on men, in other words, it must be obeyed. Since the teachings of the New Testament are the commandments of the Lord, when we obey and follow the New Testament, we are really obeying and following Jesus. Jesus gave us His message through the Holy Spirit, who revealed all truth to mankind through the apostles and prophets.

What message should we teach to others? "Speak as the oracles of God" (1 Pt 4:11). "Preach the word" (2 Tm 4:2). "Preach the gospel to every creature" (Mk 16:15). The word of God, specifically the New Testament, is our standard! THAT is the message that God wants us to follow and teach. The Bible says, "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor 5:7). How do we obtain faith and walk by it? "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom 10:17). Since faith comes from God's word, the Bible, in order truly to walk by faith we must live and teach according to the teaching of the Bible, for it is our ONLY authority!

God calls and speaks to men ONLY through the gospel (2 Th 2:14). Let us remember that the gospel is God's UNIVERSAL standard (Mk 16:15) that NEVER CHANGES (1 Pt 1:23-25).

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