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The Foundation, Final Authority
When an argument arises regarding the proper use of a word, we run to a dictionary, and this becomes the deciding factor, foundation, or “final authority” for proper diction and grammar. God left us His Word as the “final authority.” Since we do not think as He, we must “run” to the Scriptures daily, allowing It to be the foundation of our new walk with Him. Proverbs 30:5 informs us, “Every word of God is pure (without error): he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him” (shown by their action). Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4 record, “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” We must live our lives in accordance to the Word of God. Unfortunately, most do not know God’s Word and fool themselves into thinking by the limited knowledge that they have of it, that they will be excused; but Jesus tells us in John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken (from Genesis to Revelation), the same shall judge him in the last day.”
We are sanctified through the truth as we diligently study and apply it to our lives as John 17:17 says, “Sanctify (make holy, purify) them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” Our faith is increased as we read what God has done and can do as Romans 10:17 tells us, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” When Paul preached and taught in his epistles, he spoke the teachings that he was personally taught at the mouth of God. When Jesus preached to the multitude, He surprised them with His “doctrine” (Matthew 7:28; 22:33; Mark 1:22, 27; 4:2; 11:18; 12:38; Luke 4:32), which He Himself said, “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me” (John 7:16). He also went on to say in the next verse (17), “If any man will do his (God’s) will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” What did Jesus teach? He taught the doctrine of God, which was God’s Word.
A quick walk through Psalm 119 shows us that David depended completely upon God’s Word to guide him through his life. Out of 176 verses all but 3 of them refer in some way to God’s Word, statutes, testimonies, commandments, precepts, ways, laws, judgments, word of truth, and ordinances. Such devotion to God’s Word allowed David to make the proper decisions that elevated him to be king over all Israel . Psalm 119:9 tells us, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Have you sought God with your whole heart? The Holy Spirit of God uses God’s Word that we have hid within our hearts to convict us of sin, when temptation comes our way. Unfortunately, after he made it to the top, he began to fall away from his child-like faith that had helped him in his youth. When he began to lust over Bethsheba, he should have been quoting God’s law to quickly remind him of his error. A Christian falls earliest to the snare of Satan who has not heard God’s voice lately. Have you heard from God lately??
When Jesus was tempted for forty days, Jesus only used God’s Word to rebuff Satan’s sly questionings of God’s Word (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10; Luke 4:4, 8, 12). Every time when replying to the devil, Jesus’ answer started with, “It is written…” What would you have said to Satan?? Would you have tried to use philosophy and reasoning with the world’s slyest, smoothest deceiver?? Jude 1:9 records the same thing about Michael’s speech when contending with the devil. “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.” This explains to us what Paul said in II Corinthians 10:5 says, “Casting (to throw down with violence, demolish, destroy) down imaginations (reasoning, computations, questionings), and every high thing (proud, elevated barrier) that exalteth (raises up) itself against the knowledge of God (God’s commands from His Word), and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” How can you use God’s Word to combat the devil, when you do not even know it?
We must use all of our spiritual weapons, for we are fighting a spiritual battle against a powerful enemy. II Corinthians 10:4 shows this, “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds).” I Peter 5:8 describes this battle and how we must fight it, “Be sober (not intoxicated by the world, the flesh, or the devil, but seriously alert in complete obedience), be vigilant (watchful); because your adversary (arch enemy) the devil (false accuser, slanderer), as a roaring lion, walketh about (is occupied with, treads all around), seeking (to plot against life) whom he may devour (gulp, drown, swallow): Whom resist (stand against) stedfast (solid, stable, sure) in the faith (moral conviction, fidelity, credence, complete dependence upon God), knowing that the same afflictions (emotional upsets, affliction, hardship, or pain) are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” Psalm 119:16 says, “I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” Does your lifestyle encourage such delight in God’s Word? Does emulation (copying the pattern) of the world really help you to reach people? Or does it produce numbers that swell the head and ease the conscience that convicts you of your lack of encouraging those to holiness?
In this introduction to the Bible Correspondence Course that we call “Sound Doctrine,” we will answer these three questions: What Is “Sound Doctrine?” Who is it for? What is the result of preaching Sound Doctrine?