The Bible – Our MOSOP (2)
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles3) There are those who hold that “dreams” or “visions” constitute an objective “standard” which should be recognized. When asked why they are convinced that they are Christians, some people give such answers as the following:
“Several years ago I awakened in the middle of the night and saw an angel standing in the doorway of my bedroom, and the angel spoke to me and said, You are a child of God.” In Galations 1:6-9, Paul makes it clear that even if an angel were to preach any doctrine other than what Paul (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit – 2 Peter 1:20-21) had preached, that angel would be anathema (accursed). Dreams and visions are simply not the true objective religious standard. One cannot depend on dreams, visions, or “still small voices in the night” to give God’s answer to religious questions.
4) Some people believe that “common sense” is the objective religious “standard”. They hold to the idea that one can just “figure out by rational thought” what to do without any revelation from God. But this simply is not the case. The prophet Jeremiah makes it clear that “the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man that walketh to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). The Proverb writer makes it clear that men are not to lean on their “own understanding,” but are to trust in the Lord with “all their hearts” (Proverbs 3:5-6). We trust in the Lord by trusting in the inspired revelation which He has given. This is done by recognizing and submitting to the true objective “standard” (the Bible) which God has given to man (James 2:24-26; Gal. 5:6; John 14:15).
5) Some people believe that formal “creeds” are the objective religious “standard”. Many religious groups publish books setting out the “official” positions of the respective group on various religious questions. For some people these creedal statements constitute the objective authoritative “standard”. By such people, these creedal statements are regarded as the “revelation of God”. Galations 1:6-9 makes clear that such a view is a false one.
Conclusion
Brethren and friends, the Bible (God’s MOSOP) claims to be the true objective religious “standard.” It claims to be the source of “right answers” to our religious questions. The conditions with which sinners must comply in order to be saved are the conditions which the Bible (God’s authoritative MOSOP) sets forth (2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 12:48). No one can be saved if he or she does not comply with the conditions of pardon set forth in God’s MOSOP (Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:8-10, 17; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:1-6; Gal. 3:26-29; 1 Peter 3:21; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
After becoming a child of God (Romans 8:14-17; Gal. 3:26-29), we must “faithfully” adhere to God’s MOSOP. Only in faithfully adhering to God’s MOSOP (the Bible), will we receive the heavenly reward (Colossians 1:5; 1 Peter 1:3-4; Rev. 2:10).
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The Bible – Our MOSOP (1)