by Jon Burnett
As Christians we are told we receive the promised Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:14). So where do we receive our faith? We have not seen Jesus so how may we believe in him? John tells us that his gospel was written for this purpose, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31). Our faith comes through hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17), and if faith saves us, we must know God�s word!
But God's word is not merely ABLE to grant us salvation through faith, but is PERFECTLY DESIGNED for this. Paul told Timothy that, "All Scripture is breathed out by God� and thoroughly equips us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16 & 17). Perhaps the most poetic of such passages is in the words of Peter: "His divine power has granted to us ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness, through the KNOWLEDGE of him who called us to his own glory and excellence" (2 Peter 1:3). So why do we continue to search for authority in confessions of faith, church and family traditions, creed books, and manuals, when we have God's word?
If the Bible is the word of God, and therefore the law guiding Christians today, would it be acceptable to change it? In Deuteronomy 4:2 Moses warns the Israelites not to add to or take away from the word that he brought to them. John reiterates this when he says in Revelation 22:18 & 19 that those who add to the book will suffer the fate of Hell, and those who take away from it would lose their share in the tree of life and in the holy city.
To reaffirm these already clear statements we see many examples of God's people disregarding his word and receiving punishment. In the case of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1 & 2), they offered UNAUTHORIZED incense to God and were consumed by fire from heaven. You see that with the Bible, we don't need a passage saying what not to do but rather, we need to ask ourselves in whose name (or in other words, by whose authority) we are acting (Colossians 3:17). Later we're told that, "Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God" (2 Jn 9). And most importantly, "only the one who does the will of my Father who is heaven" will enter into the kingdom (Matt 7:21). It is only by God�s word that we understand his will!
With that said, we must also understand that only a portion of the Bible is binding on Christian actions today. As addressed previously, God speaks through his Son, Christ (Hebrews 1:1 & 2), to whom all authority has been given (Matt 28:18), and whose word will judge us all on the last day (Jn 12:48).
Two laws are presented to man in the Bible: the Old Testament of Moses and the New Testament of Christ. John 1:17 says, "For the law was given through Moses; but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." Christ mediated his new law, which came into effect after his death on the cross (Heb 9:15-17). Christ's new covenant is much more excellent, better mediated, and carries a better promise (Heb 8:6 & 7). Christ's new covenant made obsolete the old (Heb 8:13). Because of this freedom from the old law, we are to serve "in the new life of the Spirit" (Rom 7:6).
As Christians we must understand that God�s word has been delivered to us as our source of faith in Christ. God�s word is perfect and needs no amendment by an established clergy today, but should be handled honorably as written. We should not seek out loopholes in the Bible to squeeze in a new innovation to our lives and worship as Christians, but rather search eagerly for the religious authority we have to do such things. It is only by the New Testament that we have hope of obtaining salvation through obedience to God�s commandments. If we truly want salvation, peace, unity, and strength we must turn back to the Bible as God's perfect and complete guide. Only in God�s word can we attain such things and truly fulfill our duty to God and man.