BY WHAT AUTHORITY

 

When Jesus was asked by the chief priests and scribes, "... by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?" (Luke 20:2), he answered with a question of His own. He asked, "The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?" (Luke 20:4). Of course, they would not answer this question because they were unwilling to accept the consequences of either answer. However, the question raised is a good question and one which must be answered in regards to the things we believe and practice. Can you give the right answer for what you believe?

 

I believe that one must believe and be baptized to be saved. Why do I believe this? I believe such because of what Jesus said in Mark 16:16. There are those who say baptism is unnecessary to salvation. Why do they believe that? Can they find scriptural authority for their belief or is it based on their own ideas and/or feelings?

 

I believe we should partake of the Lord's Supper upon the first day of the week. Why? Because of the example of the early disciples as recorded in Acts 20:7.

 

 

There are those who say we can partake of the Lord's Supper on any

       day of the week or maybe once a month or once a year, etc. Why do they believe this? It

       surely is not because of what  the scriptures teach. Again, it must be based on personal

       ideas or feelings.

I believe that a person can be honest in his belief and think he is pleasing God and have a good conscience and yet be wrong.  Why do I believe this? Because we have an example of such in the apostle Paul prior to his conversion. (See Acts 26:9; 23:1 and 1 Tim. 1:15). There are those who teach that one can be saved just so long as he is honest in his belief and practice. Why do they believe so? Again, I note that the word of God offers no support for such a belief.

 

I believe that a child of God must take heed lest he fall? Why do I believe this? Because this is the very warning Paul gave to the Corinthians in 1 Cor. 10:12. There are those who believe that once one has become a child of God he cannot fall. Why do they believe and so teach? It is from man and not from God. They cannot find such teaching in God's word.

 

I believe that once a person has become a child of God and does sin that he must

      repent and pray to God for forgiveness. Why do I believe this? This is what Peter told such a  

     one to do in Acts 8:22.  There are some who say they believe that if a child of God sins and

     then dies before he learns that what he did was a sin or before he repents God will still save  

     that one. Why would one believe this? Is it because of what the Bible says? If so, where does

     the word of God teach such?

 

I hope we can see the importance of the question which serves as the title of this article.

We need to be content in speaking only what the Bible says. Even if I were to think or wish that God may make exceptions to what He has said in His word I still have no right or any basis for telling anyone anything but what the Bible says. If you are outside of Christ and believe that Jesus is the Christ then you need to repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38). If you have been baptized and have again sinned you need to repent and pray to God for forgiveness (Acts 8:22). No one has the right to tell you anything other than this and we have no basis of hope if we fail to so obey. Our faith and trust must be in Christ and not in our own ideas and opinions.

James Hahn