Bible Thoughts

November 25, 2001

The apostle Paul is teaching those brethren in Galatia the difference in the Law of Moses and the gospel of Christ. He uses an allegory to contrast the two covenants. In his illustration, he is pointing out that Christians are the "children of promise." He concludes by saying, "So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman"(Galatians 4:31). The appeal that he made was, "But what does the scripture say?"

The importance of following and referring to the scripture is evident from this passage. The apostles and other inspired disciples appealed to the authority from God, the Bible. While all of the New Testament books had not been written at this time, they had the Old Testament to use for proof of their message, and, as they were completed, appealed to the books of the New Testament. "What does the scripture say?" is still the proper approach in regard to any teaching, any position, and any practice.

The word "scripture" appears 31 times in 31 verses in the New Testament(KJ). Obviously, the last appeal for authority in religion is the scripture. The final appeal is not to the works of men, the ideas of brethren, the speculations of preachers, or the feelings of others, but to the scripture. All literature, all articles, all sermons, all teachings, and all religious practices and teachings must ultimately be based upon the scriptures. In the absence of scriptural authority, it cannot be taught or practiced by the faithful servants of God. If it is not in THE BOOK, we cannot do it!

When brethren leave the appeal to the scriptures, it becomes evident in their speech, their actions, and their positions. One of the first evidences that one is departing from the faith is in the use of non-Biblical language in their teaching and preaching. Such is true in regard to individuals and to congregations. The language of the world and the language of denominationalism, will never be the language of those who follow the Word of God.

The apostle Peter said, "If any man speaketh, speaking as it were the oracles of God"(I Peter 4:11). The works of man can never replace the book of God. While such may serve a useful purpose, all final appeals must be to the New Testament of Jesus Christ, that is, the scriptures.

When the appeal to the scriptures is replaced by the authorities of men, the following condition will result: "For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food"(Hebrews 5:12).

The Bible speaks many times on love; love of God and love for our fellow man. Christ spoke of “love of God” as the first and great commandment, he spoke of love for our fellow man as “like unto it.” As a concept, love is inseparably intertwined with the workings of the Christian faith. Without Godly love, worship and Godly living becomes meaningless and commonplace. If it is fear of God that moves us from doing wrong then it is the love of Christ that motivates us to do what is right. All too often however, Christians practice love as an intellectual exercise and not as an emotional response. But love is an emotion; at some point in a Christian’s spiritual journey the transition must be made from behavior based on rational understanding to behavior motivated by sincere compassion and concern, i.e. love. Some people err in the so-called “religious community” by teaching a gospel whose primary and only component is love, but others err just as greatly by being biased in the opposing direction. True Biblical Christianity is the harmonious marriage of reason and emotion. Hebrews 8:10 says “…I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts:..”, both components are necessary. An earthly analogy is this: Reason is the car and love is the fuel. Without reason love has no vehicle upon which to work, without love to power it, reason never leaves the driveway. One without the other does us no good in our journey of faith. More importantly though, our love should not be an abstract love or an idealized love.

Our love has a real subject: Christ. Without the love of Christ one will never be motivated to do God’s work. It was the love of Christ, the person, that inflamed his intimate disciples to do the great works that they did and to make the sacrifices that they made. With true love even the most humble of persons will be willing to dare great things and to reach for heights undreamed of, not for their own glory, but for the one they love. As then, even now, it should be the love of Christ that motivates us. But how can we, 2000 years after his life on earth, come to love Christ the same way that his early disciples did? The same way that a wife comes to love her husband. By getting to know him. The gospels were written so that we may know Christ and by knowing him, love him. That is why it is so important that we study the gospels diligently with calm reason and understanding—so that we may come to know our Lord. We come to know Christ not just through the Gospels but also through the lives of his true disciples. For he lives and breathes in all those who fervently follow his word. And by getting to know and love those who truthfully follow Christ we come to know and love Christ ourselves. And loving Christ ourselves we show him and teach him to all who come to know us. Just as Christ intended.-Scott Huston