The Bible Is The Standard
What is a standard? A standard is that which is set up and established by authority as a criterion or test, or as a source. As pertains to matters which concern the soul, it means the source of right answers to spiritual questions. The most important question facing each person is "What must I do to be saved and stay saved?" Where can man find the right answer to that question? To answer that question is the basic aim of this article
Illustrations of the need for a proper standard:
1) Those who own automobiles must pay taxes. Every person who has a Ford will pay the same tax as every other person who has a Ford. Why is this true? Because all of the tax collectors recognize the same standard: law passed by the legislature to govern such matters.
2) Every person who mails a one pound package to a place one thousand miles away will pay the same amount of postage. Why is this true? Because all of the postal clerks recognize the same standard: the postal laws and regulations. If the clerks in each post office used a different standard, confusion would reign. Men would never accept such confusion in secular matters. Why will they accept such confusion in the most important matter of all: salvation from sin?
Some False Standards Which Men Use To Answer Religious Problems
1) Some people use their feelings as the standard. Many times the question "How do you know that you are saved?" is answered with this reply: "Because I feel good." Feelings have a vital place in true religious life, but one's feelings do not constitute the proper standard to answer religious questions. In Proverbs 16:25 we read, "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." A man can feel as if he is in the right way (the way of life) but all the while be in the wrong way (the way of death).
2) Some people use their conscience as the standard. The function of conscience is to urge one to follow the course which his information leads him to believe is right (read Romans 2:14). One's conscience "bears witness" with his information. Many people feel all that is required to be acceptable before God is to follow one's conscience. Of course, one cannot be acceptable to God without following his conscience (Romans 14:23), but this alone does not mean that one is acceptable before God. Saul lived, "in all good conscience" even while he was persecuting the church (Acts 23:1). This is proof that conscience is not the standard.
3) Some people believe that "visions" are the standard. They believe that an angel or spirit has spoken to them in "a still small voice" and told them what to do to be saved. But Paul pointed out that if an angel's teaching should differ from the true message of the gospel, he would be under the curse of God (Galatians 1:6-9). Men have no information concerning God's will except that found in the Bible.
4) Some people believe that "common sense" is the standard. They believe that one can "figure out" (by rational thought) what to do without any revelation from God. But this is not true (Jeremiah 10:23). This verse shows us that the way of man is not in himself. Men are taught not to lean upon their understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).
5) Some people believe that formal creeds are the standard. Many religious groups publish books setting out the official position of the respective group on various religious questions. For some people, these creedal statements are authoritative. As a result, they care little or nothing for what the Word of God (the Bible) actually teaches. Having such confidence in a group of uninspired men leads them to actually reject the message of God. Galatians 1:6-9 makes clear the error of such a course.
6) Some people feel that religious traditions are the standard. Even though this point is much akin to the preceding one, it merits separate attention. There are those who feel that a given group of their ancestors, being wise and good men, both raised and correctly answered all religious questions which are worthy of note. Rather than studying God's Word (the Bible) itself, such people spend their time in studying the works of men and view them as authoritative. It is a tragic error to regard the works of uninspired men as authoritative - and thus as the standard.
Authority inherently resides in God the Father. It is He who stipulates the conditions which sinners must meet in order to be saved. It is He who sets the point at which men are saved. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given unto the Son, Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18). It is He whom men are to hear (Matthew 17:5). It is He to whom men are to hearken (Acts 3:22; Hebrews 1:1-2).
Christ has delegated authority to His apostles as they were guided by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13; Matthew 18:18). These apostles, along with prophets, have revealed the will of God to man (Ephesians 3:5). These apostles and prophets have written the will of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Ephesians 3:5). This written will is the New Covenant (Hebrews 10:9).
It is, therefore, clear that the Bible is the true standard. The conditions which sinners must meet in order to be saved are the conditions which the Bible sets forth (2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 12:48). No one can be save who does not comply with the conditions set forth therein. All who practice what it does not authorize, sin in so doing (2 John 9-11; Galatians 1:6-9). May every person recognize and submit to the Bible as God's authoritative, all-sufficient rule of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 John 9-11).
By Thomas B. Warren