Day 14 – Why Should the Bible be our Final Authority?
~John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Jesus spoke the words in today’s text. He made it very clear that it was by His words that would pass judgment on man kind. Those who reject Him and do not receive His words will be judged according to His words. (John 1:1) Since mankind will be judged according to what is in the Scriptures, then it must be our final authority in all matters.
When we break the law of the land by speeding, we will be judged by a paragraph and section in the book of statutes for that jurisdiction. The ticket issued lists the section of the code of law that has been broken. I imagine Judgment Day to be the same. The books will be opened and man will be judged according to the Bible book, chapter and verse which has been broken.
God’s words have been present amongst mankind for thousands of years. God’s words were initially entrusted to the Jews and then to the Christians.
~Romans 3:1-2 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit [is there] of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
Man’s argument is that the Bible was written by man. But God knew this would be an argument and He included the Scriptures to refute them.
~2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.
One of the Holy Ghost’s tasks was to record God’s words in a book by working through men. The mention of God commanding to write things “in a book” occurs 12 times throughout the Scriptures. His words are important and are not only to be used to judge us when we die, but also to help us while we are living.
~2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture {is} given by inspiration of God, and {is} profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
We are to apply God’s words to our everyday lives in order to become more Christ-like in our walk. It is the word of God that cleanses us and it should be our plumb line in our decision making. (Psalm 119:9) I’ve been told by religious people who do not believe that the Bible is our final authority that I am interpreting my way. However, God’s word contained Scripture to refute them:
~2 Peter 1:20-21 (20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake {as they were} moved by the Holy Ghost.
It amazes me that the religious crowd can adopt their church’s traditions as their final authority but yet they cannot read 2 Peter 1:20-21 in context. These verses are not difficult to understand. The fact of the matter is that those who do not hold the Bible as their final authority are those who are afraid of what it contains. The exhortations in Scriptures put man-made laws and religious works in the light in which they should be viewed – evil and from the devil. Man-made religion does not want its followers to read the Bible because they will receive God’s words and HE will expose religious heresies!
~Hebrews 4:12 (12) For the word of God {is} quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and {is} a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
God promises us that none of His words will return empty and fruitless. There is power in His words and they have the power to draw one to salvation despite of man-made religion. (Romans 1:16)
~Isaiah 55:10-11 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: (11) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper {in the thing} whereto I sent it.
As well, those who do not believe in the Bible as their final authority also do not want their followers to search the Scriptures because their false doctrine will be exposed. The Scriptures lead us to see our sin (the Ten Commandments) and they also lead us to salvation.
~John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
The Bible says that we must be born again, plain and simple. Not born again at birth (John 3) but born again to a new life. When one says they are born again after their physical birth when then they are baptized, they are ignorant of the word of God. God says that we must repent and have faith. (Acts 20:21) A baby cannot repent of its sins and have faith. This is the corruptible seed of false doctrine which results in religion that does not hold the Scriptures as their final authority.
~1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
David knew the importance of God’s words. He realized that there was nothing that could refute what God had spoken. God’s words are forever settled.
~Psalms 33:8-11 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was [done]; he commanded, and it stood fast. 10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. 11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
~1 Peter 1:24-25 For all flesh {is} as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (25) But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
~Psalms 18:30 {As for} God, his way {is} perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he {is} a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Nothing will supersede the word of God: not government’s laws, not man’s laws, not your church’s traditions, not your parents’ religion … nothing! God’s words are eternal and will be what is used to judge all mankind. I don’t know about you, but if I am going to be judged by something, I would want to know what it was. I keep the laws of my State because I know most of the laws. However, I will still be judged and held accountable for those laws which I don’t know. For example, it is against the law in my State for someone to spit on the sidewalk. Just because I didn’t know about it when I spit on the sidewalk, does not mean that I am exempt from that law. Absolutely not! I am accountable because I am a citizen of that State.
We will be held accountable according to the words of God written in our final authority, the Scriptures. You can’t hide your head in the sand and say you didn’t know. It won’t matter because God gives everyone an opportunity (especially today when there’s a Bible in every household) to know His word.
~Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Leave a Reply