How the Bible Authorizes – By Direct Statement

How The Bible Authorizes
By Direct Statement - By Approved Example - by Necessary Inference

By Direct Statement

At first glance, this may seem to be the simplest of all the ways in which the Bible authorizes. After all, if the Bible says that a thing is so, then it is so, right? Well, it must be acknowledged that not every direct, propositional statement in the Bible is binding upon us today.

One must take into consideration who made the direct statement in question. In John 9:34, Jewish authorities said that a man whom the Lord had healed was born in sin. Their statement may have been quite direct, but that does not mean it was accurate. Ezekiel 18:20 makes it clear that people are not born in sin, but are responsible only for the sins they commit in their lifetimes. Direct statements like those in John 9:34 cannot be used as evidence to teach what the Bible clearly denies.

In order for a direct statement to bear authority, it must come from one who possesses divine authority. In Matthew 17:5, God, the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” This is a simple, declarative statement, which establishes that God wants us listen to what Jesus has to say. Since it came from the Father, Himself, there can be no doubt about the weight of its authority. In Mark 16:16, Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” This is a simple, declarative statement, which establishes that baptism is absolutely essential for the salvation of every soul. Since it came from the Lord, Himself, there can be no doubt about the weight of its authority.

Another source of divine authority is found in the words of those who were inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak and write. In declarative statements made by the apostles and by others who were under the influence of inspiration, we find that there is an abundance of Biblical authority. As the process is described in 2 Peter 1:21, “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” That is why Peter’s declaration about baptism for the remission of sins in Acts 2:38, Philip’s declaration about the confession of faith in Christ in Acts 8:37 and Paul’s declaration about the need for all men to repent in Acts 17:30 are considered to be absolutely authoritative.

This is not an issue that is too complicated for us to understand. When it comes to ascertaining Bible authority, a little common sense goes a long way!

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…” – Mark 16:16

 Lies Men Have Told About The Bible

Common people can’t understand the Bible; they need the clergy to explain it to them. (Mark 12:37b) Only part of the Bible is inspired. (2 Timothy 3:16) The Bible is not complete; we need creeds and confessions of faith to supplement it. (2 Peter 1:3) The Bible is not supposed to be a pattern by which we are meant to live our lives. (2 Timothy 1:13) We will not be judged by the words of the Bible. (John 12:48)

What Does the Bible Say?

When it comes to religion, there is no shortage of opinions on the subject. In our community, there are dozens of denominations, each one teaching and practicing different things about salvation, worship and faithful living. Is every denomination right? How can they all come to different conclusions about what is written in the same Word of God? Is it God’s will that there be so much confusion in religion?

The Bible says that God "is not the author of confusion" (1 Corinthians 14:33), so the problem must lie with man. Much of the confusion in the modern religious world stems from a lack of understanding of how the Bible authorizes. If we are going to preach and practice with the authority of the Lord to back us up, then we must learn to ascertain Bible authority (Colossians 3:17). In the final analysis, it is what the Bible says that matters most of all, for it shall be the Word of the Lord that judges us, in the last day (John 12:48).