Where In The Bible Will I Find:

The Word Of God Still Having Authority?

The Word of God, through the prophets of the Old Law and then Jesus and His apostles under the New Law, had authority over the ways of man and is still the authority in religion today.

Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matt. 24:35). The Word of God has always been, "...quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword..." (Heb. 4:12). Having framed the world by His Word, and is now kept in store by the same Word of God (II Peter 3:5-7).

In this great country in which we are privileged to live, during the latter part of the eighteenth century and the early part of the nineteenth century, after the strong dictatorial power of Roman Catholicism had been given the death blow by the Reformers, great men of the Restoration period believed in the authority of God's Word and preached it to a sin-sick and dying world.

Many old stalwart faithful gospel preacher, full of zeal and armed with the truth and authority of God's Word battled the higher echelons of theological scholarship proving to the world that these men with little formal education could hold their own, and even prevail, because they were backed with the authority of God's Word (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16).

The world of that era came to recognize a difference between what they had been hearing from the denominational doctrines of men and the gospel now being preached by the restorers of the church of Christ. Some didn't like the plea to return to the Bible for all authority in religion but the church, faced with slander, sneers and ridicule, grew in strength daily as the members went on their way saying, "We call Bible things by Bible names: We do Bible things in Bible ways."

They refused the denominational terminology that would lend authenticity to unscriptural organization of worship. They deplored the "language of Ashdod" (Neh. 13:24), and often quoted: "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (I Cor. 2:13).

They, like Paul, preached that, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (II Tim. 3:16-17). Believing the Holy Spirit as He said through the apostle Peter, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness..." (II Peter 1:3).

Through believing and teaching His Words the restored church of Christ grew like wild fire, because, "...they that gladly received his word were baptized ... and they continued stedfastly ... Praising God, and having favour with all people. And the, Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:41-47).