The world hastens to its destiny as time fleets to its conclusion, and men continue to draw farther and farther from God and His will. On every hand there are those clamoring for unity. But the unity desired by the majority is not based on the wisdom or on the dictates of God. This unity is a unity in error and is worse than no unity at all. If unity is to amount to anything it must be based upon the will of God and not the wisdom of man (1 Cor. 1:20-21; Jer. 4:22).

Man, from the beginning, has needed to concede that an appeal to human wisdom was to expel the authority of God from his mind (1 Cor. 1:19; 2:5-6; 3:19-20; Isa. 20:14). The greatest need of the human race today, as in every age, is a retreat to God's word. Only the word of God can direct to salvation (1 Cor. 3:9-14; 1:20-21). Men, however, draw progressively away from God. They leave Bible precept, reject approved and authorized apostolic examples, and bypass logical implications and inferences for human wisdom and desires. Some attempt to justify as "expedients" things that are not "expedient" at all. Expedients must facilitate that commanded or exemplified. Expedients are only a means to an end. Therefore, things of human origin, things of purely human desire, are not expedients at all. In this way, many set aside God's Divine will for human wisdom, and in reality, are rejecting Divine authority (Jas. 3:15).

We need one basis of authority upon which to base our faith and upon which to unify if we are to please God (Amos 3:3). This is possible only by an appeal to the one rule authorized by God, for only God has the right to command, direct and enforce obedience (Isa. 28:14-22; Amos 2:4-5; Ph. 2:2; 1 Cor. 1:10; Phil. 1:27). In things religious, all authority inheres in God.

Source of Rightful Authority

What is the authority of God for man today? Can we know His will for us? Probably every one of us has wondered in time past. It would be no more difficult to know God's will for us today than to know the true God himself, for to truly know God is to know and to be obedient to His will (1 Jno. 2:3).

Let us consider the descending order of authority. The true God, who is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient, has given Christ all authority and power. Thus did he demonstrate to the apostles, saying, "hear ye him" (Mt. 17:3-5). Jesus assumed this power when he declared, "All power (authority, ASV) is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Mt. 28:18).

Jesus was made to be the head of his spiritual body, the church (Eph. 1:22-23). The head of the physical body controls and directs the body. Even so, Jesus controls and directs his body, the church. In this position of authority, Christ delegated authority to his apostles to speak for God (Mt. 18:18; Acts 16:4). God spoke through the apostles by way of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 2:9-10). This was put into writing and delivered to man by the authority of God (Tit. 1:3; 1 Thess. 2:4).

Just as the Old Testament scriptures were inspired of God, so also are the New Testament scriptures inspired of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17). They are, therefore, perfect, and able to make us perfect. With the passing of the apostles from this life, the word, and it alone, is the authority of God in religion (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Pet. 4:11).

Keeping in mind that the scriptures are inspired of God, remember the words of Jesus, "In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men" (Mt. 15:9). This rule still applies, for the apostles warned that men were to hold forth the word of life (Phil. 2:16) and not be removed from it (Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Jn. 9-11).

Let us now and always "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). "Holding forth the word of life" (Phil. 2:16), let us proclaim the gospel, the authority, the unifying "power of God unto salvation," to everyone who will believe (Rom. 1:16). "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw night to you" (Jas. 4:8).

Truth Magazine VIII: 10, pp. 7- 8 July 1964