Respecting Biblical Authority

James writes that if we will draw near to God, He will draw near to us (4:8). Jesus makes a similar statement recorded by John (14:23) saying if a person will obey His commands, He and the Father will make their home with that individual. This should be a paramount desire for the children of God, to be near Him, to have Him close at hand, ""living with us"" if you will. That kind of attitude is as Jesus stated an indication of our love for our heavenly Father. If we love Him we want Him to be near us and we want to be near to Him.

However, within the context of both scriptures the prerequisite of that nearness is the proper attitude toward God's authority. James instructs his readers to resist the devil, repent of sins, and submit to God, Jesus told His disciples to keep His commands. Most generally people don't want to hear about authority and our responsibility towards it. Sadly some Christians would rather be lifted up in their Bible study than told they need to submit to authority, follow a pattern, or act in the name of Jesus. Some decry studying Bible authority by saying they are past it or no longer need it.

We should be more aware of what happens when there is a lack of teaching on God's authority. Every apostasy, from Israel to Corinth to the divisions in America in the 19th and 20th centuries can be laid at the feet of that same attitude: a lack of respect for authority. There will be no unity of the Spirit until Christians are willing to respect God's authority, submit to it, and teach it fervently - even when many are so negative about it. Yet the reality of respecting God's authority is that it is very positive. As our text suggest when we are willing to submit to God, He will draw near to us because:

SUBMITTING TO GOD'S AUTHORITY MAKE US LIKE GOD

Paul told the Corinthians that His gospel wasn't the results of human wisdom but was revealed to him by God, through the Spirit (1 Cor. 2). What we have then is the declaration of the person of God in His revelation. When we submit to His instructions we then can be ""partakers of the divine nature"" (2 Peter 1:4). The whole of Bible instruction is to show sinful man how to become like his Heavenly Father (Matt. 5:45a,48). The transformation of conversion is to form the sinner into the image of Jesus (Rom. 8:29; 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:8). Jesus is the manifestation of the Father (Heb. 1:3) so when we become a Christian we begin that transforming process. The seed of God's word has germinated in our hearts, giving us life (1 Peter 1:23) and as we continue to allow God's word to be the directing force of our life we take on more of the divine qualities. As He is righteous we become righteous (1 John 3:7), as God is Holy so we become Holy (John 17:17; Eph. 5:26). God is compassionate, loving, forgiving, and pure. All of these qualities are ours only and in as much as we obey the commands He has given.

SUBMITTING TO GOD MAKES GOD LIKE US

Not only should Christians want to be like their Heavenly Father, they should desire to please Him in all they do. The Hebrew writer qualified pleasing God with belief and diligent obedience (Heb. 11:6). While God loves the world and wants nothing but good for His creation His favor is extended to only a few: those who obey Him.

So many in the world seek God and seem to have a desire to have Him notice them. They are doing so many things ""in the name of Jesus,"" from rodeoing to stripping. But the truth of the matter is that God is pleased only with those who are willing to come to Him (Matt. 7:21-23). Our prayers, our music, our worship all must be accomplished in the manner and for the reason God has commanded. We must organize local congregations and accomplish only the work God has commanded the church to do. But the authority of God doesn't stop there. ""The pattern of sound words"" doesn't simply apply to the worship, work or organization of the church. It applies to every aspect of our living. God has authority over what we say, what we think, how we act at work or at home. God's authority governs the kinds of clothes we wear and other social responsibilities. God instructs us how to live under government and how we should act and react with the people around us. Every part of our life is under the rule of God. When and only when we submit to those instructions do we find favor in His eyes and can receive the blessings reserved for His children (1 Peter 3:12; Prov. 11:27, 12:2; Ps. 84:11).

There should be a militant attitude in each of us about God's authority and our responsibility toward it. We must not waver from it to the right or to the left. We must be diligent in teaching it to our children and teaching them the necessity and importance of submitting completely to God's word. Otherwise our children will be plagued with apostasy and division. ""Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: The Lord knows those who are His, and, Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity"" (2 Tim. 2:19).

Buddy preaches for the Paluxy Road church in Granbury, Texas.