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All we need
Because the world has access to the revealed Mind of
God, men must look to the Bible for authority. Men must look to the
New Testament for authority in religion. 2 Timothy 2:15 says,
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who
does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth." That means that to understand the Bible, you must first
learn to "rightly divide" it.
The Bible is divided into two Testaments, the Old
and the New. The Old was given to the Jewish nation when they were
delivered from Egypt
(Deuteronomy 5:1-21).
The Old Testament was
never intended to be the standard of authority for Christians. Paul
said in Romans 3:19, "We know that whatever the law says, it
says to those who are under the law." The law here refers to
the Old Testament. Men and women living today are not under the law
given to Moses -- rather, we live under the law of Christ
(1 Corinthians 9:21).
Jesus said that He has been given all authority
(Matthew 28:18).
This means that whatever you believe and whatever
you do must have the sanction of the law of Christ, which is the New
Testament. Colossians 3:17 says, "And whatever you do in word
or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
the Father through Him." Every doctrine the church teaches and
every project the church does must have Christ's authority. As 1
Peter 4:11 says, "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the
oracles of God." Jesus warned that His words would be the
standard used on judgment day
(John 12:48).
The words of Moses, the words of John the
Baptist, the words of the prophets -- none of them will be used to
judge mankind.
Only the words of Christ revealed in the Bible
will be used! |
