Day 99-9/7/2016

E. The Principle of Faith

Faith also requires that we do what pleases God.

Hebrews 11:6 - Without faith it is impossible to please God.

2 Corinthians 5:7 — We walk by faith, not by sight. Faith involves a way of “walking” (living); it must be demonstrated in action. [Cf. Galatians 2:20; 5:6; James 2:14-26; Hebrews chapter 11.]

Proper faith must be based on God’s word.

Romans 10:17 — Faith comes by hearing God’s word.

Some people think that, as long as they believe in God and claim to trust Him, He will accept what they do, whether or not it is in the Bible.

One man said He trusted God, so he was sure God would accept what he was about to do. When asked if he could find in the Bible where God approved the act, he said no, but he still felt sure God would accept it. What he was about to do

was to commit suicide!

To follow man-made doctrines is to put our faith in man, instead of God.

Proverbs 3:5,6 — Trust in the Lord and don’t lean on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. True faith will teach us to do only what the Lord reveals.

Proverbs 28:26 – He who trusts in his own heart is a fool. To do what we think is right, even though it is not revealed in the Bible, is to trust in our own hearts and lean on our own understanding, rather than allowing God to direct us.

It is impossible to practice anything by faith if it cannot be found in the Bible.

People who practice things they cannot find in the Bible, do not really trust in God.

Instead they trust in the wisdom of the people who invented those practices.

To truly walk by faith requires us to restrict ourselves to doing only what God has revealed.

[Hosea 10:13]

F. The Principle of Authority

The Lordship of God requires us to do everything according to His authority.

Colossians 3:17 — All we do, in word or deed, should be done in Jesus’ name. To act in Jesus’ name is to follow His authority (Acts 4:7-10).

But we have seen that Jesus’ authority for today is completely revealed in the Bible. Practices not included in Bible teaching, therefore, cannot be done in Jesus’ name.

To do things that differ from what God said is to fail to follow His authority.

Galatians 1:6-9 — Any man is accursed if he preaches a gospel different from what inspired men taught in the first century.

That gospel completely reveals all good works God wants us to do.

If a practice is not included in the gospel, then, for us to say it is acceptable, would be to preach a different gospel.

1 Timothy 1:3 – Instead of justifying doctrines that differ from the gospel, we must charge men to “teach no other doctrine.” [Titus 2:14]

2 John 9 — Whoever goes beyond and does not abide in Jesus’ teaching, does not have God.

To have God we must abide in Jesus’ teaching. But all Jesus’ teaching is revealed in the New Testament.

So to practice things we cannot find in Jesus’ teaching would be to separate ourselves from Him.

When we study a practice, we should not ask, “Where does God say not to do this?”, but rather “Where does God’s word authorize this act?”

Although the Bible does expressly forbid some acts,

God never intended for His word to specifically itemize all the things He does not want us to do.

Had He done that,

the Bible would have been so huge we could never digest it.

Instead, God tells us what He does want us to do.

Then He tells us that other things are unacceptable.

Jeremiah 7:23,24 – God accused His people of not obeying what He said, but walking in their own counsels and the imagination (stubbornness – ASV) of our own hearts.

To be God’s people,

we must obey His voice and walk in the ways He has commanded.

Then it will be well with us.

When we practice that which we cannot find in God’s word, we walk in the counsel of our own hearts.

We fail to honor God as our owner,

we fail to honor Jesus as head of the church,

we fail to truly love and trust God,

we fail to worship God in truth, and

we fail to respect the wisdom and authority of God.

When an act cannot be found included in God’s will for us, then God’s true people will refuse to participate in it.

They will practice only what they find authorized in God’s word.

[Revelation 22:18,19; Cf. Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; 1 Peter 4:11; 1 Corinthians 4:6; Romans 10:1-3; Colossians 2:8,22; Jeremiah 9:14; 11:8; 18:12; 16:12; 13:10; 3:17; 23:16,17,21,26,32; 14:14; Deuteronomy 29:19; 

Numbers 24:13; Hebrews 13:9]