How Do We Determine What Is Authorized?
Sometimes people ask, "How do we established Bible authority?" In my judgment,
that is the wrong question. It is not in the hands of human beings to establish authority
in religion. All authority resides in God. Our duty is to determine what God has
authorized by the teaching of his word. Authority is not established by human wisdom
and ingenuity. God has spoken.
Mankind has been required to act by divine authority during each period of human
history. This was true during patriarchy, Judaism, and the age of the gospel. During
patriarchy God gave Noah a pattern for building the ark. (Genesis 6:14-16) God
told Noah the kind of wood to use in making the ark. He also told him the dimensions
of the ark. Notice Moses' language in describing God's instructions to Noah, "And
this is how you shall make it..." (verse 15) The phrase implies that there was a
pattern! Noah understood that God's directions constituted a pattern because Moses
told us, "Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him; so he did."
(Gen. 6:22; 7:5, 16; NASB-77) God gave Noah a pattern and Noah built according
to the instructions that Yahweh gave. Noah built the ark by divine authority.
The Israelites were to respect the authority of God during Judaism. God spoke
to them through Moses and the prophets. They were not to add to nor take from any
thing that God has prescribed. God's will was to remain intact. Moses said to the
people of Israel, "You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor
take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh you God which
I command you." (Deut. 4:2) He also said, "Whatever I command you, you shall be
careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it." (Deut. 12:32) The fact
that Yahweh through Moses told them not to "add to nor take away" from his word
clearly shows that there was a pattern, and the pattern was not to be altered!
Yahweh put Nadab and Abihu to death because they offered "unauthorized" fire.
(Lev. 10:1-3) They failed to respect God's pattern. (Lev. 6:12-13; 16:12)
The same is true during the age of the gospel. The gospel is not to be changed
in any way. (Gal. 1:6-9) We are not to go beyond what has been written. ( 1 Cor.
4:6) We are to remain within the teaching of Christ. (2 Jno. 9-11) When a person
speaks, he is to speak as the very words of God. (1 Pet. 4:11) When he does so,
he "retains the standard of sound words." (2 Tim. 1:13; NASB) The ESV says,
"follow the pattern of sound words." The ASV says, "Hold the pattern of sound
words." The preceding information shows that we must be certain that we carefully
examine the sacred scriptures in order to know what God has and has not
authorized. Therefore we ask, "How do we determine what God has authorized?"
The issue of whether or not physical circumcision was binding in this age
was one of the burning issues during the days of the apostles. "And certain ones
of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, stood up saying, 'It is necessary to
circumcise them, and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.' " (Acts 15:1,5)
The apostles and elders came to the forefront and debated this issue with the
Judaizers. The issue was not decided on the basis of human emotions, tradition,
family religion, or academic credentials. The apostles appealed to the authority
of God.
Peter stood up and said, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made
a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the
gospel and believe." (Acts 15:7) He used himself as an example approved by God,
of one who preached to the Gentiles. But, he did not preach that the Gentiles had
to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses. So, by an approved account of
action we learn that circumcision was not commanded of the Gentiles.
Peter also makes the following direct statement, "And God, who knows the
heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he also did to us;
and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith."
(Acts 15:8-9) Friends, please notice, that "God knows the heart...bore them
witness...giving them the Holy Spirit...made no distinction...cleansing their hearts
by faith." And he did all that without commanding the Gentiles to be circumcised.
So, by a direct statement we learn that circumcision was not commanded of the
Gentiles.
After Peter appealed to an approved account of action and a direct statement,
he concluded in this way, "Now therefore, why do you put God to the test by
placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we
have been able to bear?" (Acts 15:10) Peter implies that since God has not
indicated that the Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses by
an approved account of action nor by a direct statement, then physical
circumcision is not a part of the gospel! His conclusion is, "But we believe that we
will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will." (Acts 15:11)
The same means by which the issue of physical circumcision was discussed
and settled is the means by which one determines the authority for any religious
issue at any time, any place, and before any group. In short, God authorizes by
means of approved accounts of action, direct statements, and implication. This
is illustrated throughout the New Testament.
R. Daly
Copyright 2011
