Biblical Authority (7)

Adhering to the Gospel Message

Mike Johnson

From the Old Testament, it is clear that God intends for the Scriptures to be followed and not deviated from in any way (Deut 4:1-4, 5:32-33; Josh. 1:7; Num. 22:18, 24:13; Pb. 4:26-27, 30:5-6; Lev. 18:4-5).  Consider now the same concept from the New Testament.

Jude (v. 3) told the early Christians they should “. . .  contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” The meaning of the Greek word here means to fight or to contend strenuously in defense of, in this case, “the faith.”  Vine defines it as “to contend about a thing, as a combatant . . . to contend earnestly.” The word “faith” used here, which we must contend earnestly for, is used objectively.  It refers to the system of faith, i.e., the sum of all that we are to obey and believe (note also Acts 6:7, 1 Tim.  4:1, Phil. 1:27).  Thus, we are to firmly stand on God’s Word; we are to defend the truth against attacks from false teachers, and obviously, we are to adhere to it ourselves.  How do we do that?  Do we accomplish this by teaching that people can believe anything they want or add to and take away from God’s Word?  No, we obey Jude 3 by demanding of others and ourselves the necessity of following the New Testament pattern.  We observe it by requiring Bible authority for everything we believe and practice.

In Galatians 1, Paul said he marveled that the Galatians were so “soon removed” unto “another gospel.” He also pointed out that some had troubled them and had “perverted” the gospel of Christ.  Then (v. 8), he warned them, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” The word translated “accursed” (NKJV) is the Greek word “anathema.” It is a word that involves delivering to divine wrath or destruction.  So if the apostles, an angel, or “any man” (v. 9) preached a different gospel, Paul said, “let him be accursed” (or anathema).  There is only one gospel, and we cannot change it.  Authority from God’s Word is essential for any belief or practice—we have no right to pervert the teaching of God’s Word.

Consider another warning found in 2 John 9-11.  These verses say, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.  He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” It is very clear from these verses that we stand condemned if we teach or practice anything contrary to God’s Will.  If we transgress and do not abide in Christ’s doctrine (or teaching), simply put, “we do not have God.” If we do “abide in” the doctrine of Christ, then we do have God.  We also stand condemned if we “greet” a false teacher (“bid him God speed” KJV).  We should not do anything to encourage false teachers or make it seem like we endorse them in any way.  People who teach and practice false doctrine do not abide in the doctrine of Christ, and they do not have God.

Revelation 22:18-19 says, “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”  The writer has a specific reference to the book of Revelation in these two verses.  Would this principle apply only to Revelation?  Can we “add to” or “take away from” other books of the Bible?  We certainly cannot!  If we are not allowed to “add to” or “take away from” one book of the Bible, then obviously we cannot “add to” or “take away from” any book of the Bible, especially in light of the teaching of such passages as Galatians 1:6-10, Jude 3, and 2 John 9.

Consider the following example.  The Bible teaches that the Lord’s Supper consists of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine.  To add potatoes, for instance, as an element of the Lord’s Supper would be wrong as that would be adding to God’s Word; to take away the fruit of the vine from the Lord’s Supper and to have only the unleavened bread would be wrong as that would be taking away from the Scriptures.

How much can we “add to” or “take away from” God’s Word and still be acceptable to God?  Is just a “little” error, OK? 1 Peter 4:11 reveals, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.  If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified . . . .”

The Bible also teaches that the Word of God will be the standard by which Christ will judge us when He returns (Jn. 12:48).  Christ will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:30-31), and we will be judged according to our deeds (2 Cor. 5:10, Rom. 2:6).  The facts should motivate us to abide by the teaching of God’s Word.

Various passages show us that God’s Word must be our authority today.  Therefore, we must have authority for all we believe, teach, and practice — it is imperative to abide in (adhere to) the teaching of God’s Word.