"Bible Authority, a Closer Look"
Bible authority is a subject today about which there appears to be very little knowledge in general and not much interest. The devil has succeeded it appears in convincing the masses that to be aware and sensitive to the teaching of the Bible and possessing a book, chapter, and verse for all religiously believed and practiced is legalism and to be negatively viewed.
Jesus’ Lordship, however, demands and entails certain matters that require man’s acquiescence and obedience, all the teaching regarding salvation by grace and faith only to the contrary, notwithstanding:
Luke 6: 46; Matthew 28: 18, 7: 21-29; Hebrews 5: 8, 9; I John 5: 3, 2 John 6; Galatians 6: 2, I Corinthians 9: 21, James 1: 25.
I recall a few years ago how the Baptist Church in the South was facing serious division. I met and talked with one of the leading Baptist preachers on the board of some of the "unity meetings" and he explained to me that there was a large element in the Baptist Church who concluded, "How can we respect Jesus’ Lordship and not obey him and does not such show that obedience is required for salvation?" "We acknowledge Jesus as Savior but do not we need to also recognize him as Lord?" they asked. Such almost totally split down the middle one of the largest denominations in America. Believing as these thinking people were, put in jeopardy standard Baptist doctrines such as salvation by faith only, the imputation of Jesus’ personal righteousness, and once saved always saved (life lived is irrelevant to salvation). It is time that people returned to considering what the scriptures teach regarding such pertinent subjects as biblical love and obedience. Consider Jesus:
"21: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 23: Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24: He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me" (John 14).
In view of the biblical concept of "obeying the gospel" and correct doctrine is vital, it behooves us to "handle aright the word of truth" (Rom. 10: 16; 6: 17, 18; 2 Tim. 2: 15). Having Bible authority for all believed and practiced is, therefore, necessary (cp. I Thes. 5: 21, Rom. 12: 2, I Pet. 4: 11). However, the Bible must be intelligently approached and considered. There must be method or system to a rewarding consideration of the teaching of the Bible. One proposed method of arriving at what the Bible teaches is "command," "example," and "inference." (See addendum 1.)
In this age of lawlessness and resentment for and toward authority, even Bible authority, not a few are severely averse to any thought as to Bible authority. One wrote the following:
"Many sincere students of the Word approach the New Testament as if it is a codified, legal document that requires the use of certain rules which, allegedly, lead the "honest" student into the correct understanding of any and all Bible issues. This would be a good idea if the New Covenant was, in fact, a codified, legal document and not "the perfect law of liberty." This would be a g