Bible Thoughts June 20, 1999
"By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave
thee this authority?" (Luke 20:2).
The chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the Jews challenged the Lord as to his right to teach the people and preach in the temple. The Lord used a proper method to answer their question: he proposed a question to them. Jesus wanted to know if the baptism of John was from heaven or from men. Their answer was "they knew not." This was an attempt on their part to avoid being challenged by the Lord with the logical question, "Why did ye not believe him?" Pleading ignorance, they avoided answering the Lord. Had their hearts been right in a search for truth, they could listen to the Lord, view the miracles he performed, and look at the examples he set before them and been persuaded that the authority of Christ was divine in nature.
In order to please Jehovah, men must seek authority from the will of Christ for all that is taught and practiced in religion. The apostle Paul stated such in Colossians 3:17, "And 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." To perform or act in the name of Christ, one must have the authority to do so from Christ or inspired men. The world is filled with deeds and beliefs that men believe are approved of God, but cannot be found in the New Testament of Jesus Christ. Man's authority(and approval) is not sufficient when it comes to pleasing the God that created each of us.
As one seeks the approval of Christ, and the authority to act, a search is made of the Law of Christ to find what was commanded by the Lord as well as the examples that were left for us in the New Testament. The precepts were the direct commands; the actions and decisions were approved examples left for us to respect and follow; and, there were conclusions(necessary inferences) that were reached from the commands and examples.
The action of baptism will serve to illustrate the above. Please note:
1. Direct command: "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins..."(Acts 2:38). What Peter and the apostles preached on Pentecost applied to every alien sinner. If one is to be free of sin Christ commanded through this message that one must be baptized.
2. Example: On Pentecost, "They then that received his word were baptized; and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls"(Acts 2:41). These three thousand examples proved that the gospel that Peter preached was to be obeyed.
3. Necessary inference: No other conclusion can be reached than these people were buried in water(immersed) in order to obtain remission of sins. The word "baptism" means immersion and always has in the original language of the New Testament. Further evidence of the necessary conclusion that baptism and immersion are exactly the same is from Acts 8:38-39 when the Ethiopian Eunuch came "up out of the water" after obeying the Lord. You cannot come up out of something you have not been in--that is anecessary inference(conclusion).
A proper understanding of the scriptures comes from the willingness to accept the commands that are contained therein, the examples left by the early church(inspired men) and the recognition of conclusions that cannot be interpreted otherwise.
The denominational world exists because of a lack of understanding of the principles of correct Bible study. Over the years, there have even been brethren that ignored commands, examples, and necessary inferences. This happened when those who became the "Christian church" approved missionary societies and, later, instrumental music. Neither of those practices are authorized by the Law of Christ. The ignoring of basic principles of the word of God led to a full-fledged denomination. In the recent past(since World War II), many brethren(churches) have fallen into the trap that produced the "Christian church." Many of the practices of some "churches of Christ" have no Bible authority. What is being preached and followed cannot be shown to have a direct command, apostolic example, or necessary inference to justify what is practiced.
There are other extremes, as well, in which brethren have gone beyond the teachings of the scriptures to bind restrictive practices in certain areas upon local churches. From single containers in the Lord's Supper to binding artificial coverings on women during worship to opposing individual Bible classes to whatever may suit someone's fancy, these teachers of false doctrine also ignore theproper approach to establishing Bible authority.
The infallibly safe way for every Christian and for every congregation is to establish a scriptural right to every teaching and practice. The Word of God is the disciples only creed, only manual, only discipline--it is the sole means of finding what God expects of His people since Pentecost. It will not be popular with the world; it may not be popular with some brethren--but the world and the brethren do not decide what is right--only God does that. When we resolve to follow only what is revealed in the word of God and place our trust in such, we can someday stand in the presence of God with the confidence that we always sought "book, chapter and verse" for every teaching and practice. May such an attitude always be true of each disciple of Christ.