When we live are basic lives from day to day, we recognize authority and laws without even thinking about them. We know that the state sets a speed limit on the highways and we understand that the government doesn’t allow murder or theft. We also know that to find out what the federal or state government allows or disallows we have to go to the statutes. We understand and accept man’s authority with great ease.
However, when it comes to our Creator’s authority, we often try to rationalize, pick and choose, and deny the laws and commands of God so that we may do as we choose. Satan will tempt us and slowly get us to deny Christ’s laws and confuse things so that we will do as we please rather than as God commands. The evangelist, Timothy was warned of this in the early church…
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
I recently had a local evangelist tell me that writings of the New Testament were merely letters that applied to the people of the time and they weren’t valid in establishing any type of authority because the subject matter wasn’t applicable anymore such as eating of meats, woman wearing gold apparel, etc. He stated,
“There is no law code or legal pleadings in the New Testament. What you have is historical narrative (story) and situational personal letters.”
We are sliding down a slippery slope when we dismiss the authority of God and use the excuse that if the examples in the Scriptures don’t seem relevant then we will disregard them. If that be the case, why even read the Bible? God has always revealed what is needed for us to act appropriately and He is NOT the author of confusion.
1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
In the next few blogs, I will be going through a step by step process in examining authority and how we should, with reverence, approach God’s word. The New Testament is not like the old law in which every minor detail is given in how to worship God and behave. Rather, we are to have the right attitude and desire to obey God and his commandment with what His Spirit has revealed to us through the Word.
Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Just as Jesus told His disciples, if we love truly love Him, we will keep His commandments. So we will study the New Testament and learn what his commandments are rather than making them up ourselves as many do today.
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1 comment:
It is all true and If we have the right attitude we will draw toward the good and withdrawal from the bad. Without people supporting it and practicing it bad stuff will die and fall away. Let us not be on any dead and dying branch as it falls away.
About wearing gold. . . Does it depends on the amount and the setting where it is worn as much as the attitude of the beautiful one wearing it? A person wearing gold could say, “I have every thing I need and then some” if you are among the poor that might not be such a good thing but if you are having dinner with wealthy friends it could say, “don’t worry about me and my family our bank account is overflowing and spilling out of the ears and around our necks”. If someone is trying to bring attention to themselves with gold they might not get the attention they are looking for and if someone puts on rags when they don’t have to that might be just as bad.
The bible was written for our learning and instruction it is good and it is from God given for our encouragement, it is full of wisdom it is for our correction etc.. Some might misuse it or mishandle it but that is no reason to discard such priceless gems as the books of the bible. We should handle and divide the work of God with more respect and reverence than the most valuable crown jewels and that I know is the truth.
I look toward the future and your next blog.
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