AP

By James Jeffery

Fundamentals of the Faith (Part I)

What is Your Ultimate Authority?

Why do you believe what you believe?

This is one of the most important questions you can ask yourself.

Upon reflection, our beliefs are shaped by a variety of different factors: the society we were brought up in, our family background, our culture, and even our personality. However, all of these things change.

Societies change, cultures change, people change, families change, and even we change. Therefore, we must ground our beliefs in something that is fixed and immovable. There is only one thing that offers this: the truth.

The Authority of our Beliefs

For some people, life experience is the ultimate authority. They make decisions based on previous experiences and what makes most sense of them. In other words, emotions are in the driver’s seat of their heart. “I feel, therefore I am.”

For others, reason is the ultimate authority. They have concluded that logic is supreme. Therefore, they tell others that their life is guided not by emotions, but by their reasoning. “I think, therefore I am.”

Still, others hold tradition as the final authority. They follow the traditions of family, or the traditions of a church. This forms the basis for the way they live their life. “I was told, therefore I am.”

There is nothing inherently wrong with life experience, reason, or tradition. However, problems arise when we use any one of them as our ultimate authority. This is because they are not consistent. Therefore, they are incapable of being our ultimate anchor. Therefore, we must ground our lives a more secure foundation.

The only thing that doesn’t change is the Word of God.  The Word of God is always true, always stable, and always reliable.   

The Unchanging Word of God

In 2 Timothy 3:16, we are told that ‘All Scripture is breathed out by God…’ In other words, when you read the Bible, you are reading the very words of God. Isn’t that amazing?

B.B. Warfield (1851-1921) once said:

“The Bible is the Word of God in such a way that when the Bible speaks, God speaks.”

When you open the Bible, you have the honour of listening to the voice of the God who made you. What greater privilege is there than this?

Because God has spoken to us through the Bible, we don’t need to keep looking for a miracle, or waiting for a vision. God has already revealed Himself to us through Jesus Christ. The way we come to know Jesus Christ is through the Word of God.

Will You Listen to God’s Voice?

Have you ever taken the time to read the Bible? If not, why not start today? Start with the Gospel of Mark. Pray that God would open the eyes of your heart, and that He would show you the Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Those of us who are Christians need to be regularly reminded that Scripture is the authority. Our emotions can easily lead us astray. Church leaders will fail us. Our reason often reveals that it is fallen. Therefore, we would do well to remember that God’s Word never changes.

As the prophet Isaiah said:

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

Do you believe this?

Closing Prayer

Dear Father,

Thank you for revealing Yourself through Your Word. Holy Spirit, give us the desire to read the Bible, and grant us the ability to understand it. As we read, show us the glory of Jesus Christ.

In His Name we pray,

Amen.