Standing Under the Authority of God’s Word

Christians have been called “the people of the Book.” This is because the Bible takes the central place in the life of the Christian.

• How do Christians know who God is and what he did for us in the person of Jesus Christ? The Bible tells us.
• How do Christians know who we are and how we are to live? The Bible tells us.

The Bible is how Christians come to know God, all that God has done for us, and how we ought to live because of all that God has done for us.

We come to know God’s truth and God’s grace because God’s word – the Bible.

Given the central role of the Bible in the life of the Christian, what should be our relationship to the Bible? What should the Christian’s relationship and posture be toward the Bible?”

A study of the New Testament Church and the early church fathers quickly reveals one of the distinguishing characteristics of the church was the reading of God’s word followed up by the exposition of God’s word.

What made the New Testament Church different than the “Rotary” Club of Jerusalem” or the “Lions” Club of Capernaum was the reading and the proclamation of God’s word. There were, and there are, many groups that do good things in the community. But one of the things that makes the church, the church of Jesus Christ, was and is the reading of God’s word and the exposition of God’s word in our gatherings.

When the people gathered and heard the word of God and the exposition of God’s truth, and when their lives, thoughts, opinions, beliefs, and practices were out of sync with God’s word, they did the craziest thing in the world! They adjusted their thoughts, beliefs, opinions, practices, and lives to match God’s word!!!

Can you believe that?!?!

Isn’t that crazy?

No. That’s Christianity. That’s discipleship.

Whenever Christians read God’s word, God’s word begins reading us. And because we are all sinners, the Bible shows us where we are out of line with God’s truth and God’s grace. Not only will God’s word show us where we are out of sync with God’s grace and truth, but God’s word shows us how to get ourselves aligned with God’s grace and truth.

We are told, “All scriptures is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right” (2 Timothy 3:16 NLT).

You see, it’s when Christians stand under the authority of God’s word that God’s truth and grace begins to be understood.