God’s Authority –
Bible Authority (part 1)

Religions today that call themselves Christian basically view God’s authority today in one of three ways.
1. God delegates authority through church leadership for example through Peter and an unbroken chain of
successors and the Bible.
2. God expresses His authority through ongoing visions, dreams, and revelations and the Bible.
3. God expresses His authority completely and only through His perfectly inspired and preserved word called the
Bible.
Let us now consider each of the three ideas expressed above.
Firstly there is the claim that Jesus in Matthew 16:13-20 authorizes Peter to head up the church for Him.  Peter makes
the confession that “Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God.”  None of the other apostles made this astounding
observation.  Jesus acknowledges that Peter is blessed because God the Father in a special way did allow Peter to
come to this understanding.  A study of the text from the Greek helps us to understand that “Peter” (PETROS
masculine) and “this rock” (PETRA feminine) are not one in the same thing.  
Peter/petros speaks of a detached stone or boulder, or a stone that might be thrown or easily moved.  Rock/petra
denotes a mass of rock, as distinct from a similar word petros.  In the study of language with one term being
masculine and the other being feminine it is to be observed that grammatically they cannot refer to one another.  
They are distinct from one another.
To the one who does not follow the teachings of a self-proclaimed religious establishment a question then must be
asked.  If the rock/petra does not refer to Peter/petros; What does the rock/petra make reference to?
Jesus himself may be the rock one should think of as the foundation of the church Christ says He will build.  
(Continued on page 2)
(Continued from page 1) “For other foundation (ROCK) can anyone (including Peter) lay than that which is laid, which
is JESUS CHRIST. (1 Corinthians 3:11).  
Another equally true thought is found if one stays within the context of Matthew 16:13-20.  Observe how Jesus is
astounded at the insight and correctness of Peter’s confession as contrasted to the confessions of the other
apostles.  The confession (the fact) that “Jesus is the Christ (Messiah/Anointed One) The Son of The Living God” is
the foundation idea for everyone who calls themselves a Christian.  See the importance of this confession as the
eunuch of Acts 8:37 makes the confession of his faith before he is baptized and added to the church Christ said He
would build.  The eunuch said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Today Christ’s church is spoken of as being the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15).  The church Christ
established does not change its pillars or foundations from generation.  The church remains steadfast, immovable,
and always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58).  The church has no apologies to make for mistakes of
alleged inspiration of other generations that now allegedly inspired leaders understand to clearly be error.  Why can’t
people see that down the road people will be apologizing maybe for birth control or priests marrying or some other
issue?  
Let us realize that the Spirit has made known to us that somewhere after the first century that some will depart from
THE faith.  These departers were at one point in their lives part of the faith.  These give themselves over to deceiving
spirits and doctrines from demons.  These will outright lie and be hypocritical and will have a totally closed (un-
objective) mind.  Evidences of this will be seen that they will forbid some to marry and they will at times forbid the
eating of certain foods (1 Timothy 4:1-3).  Paul in Acts 20:30 remind us that sadly it is possible for brethren in Christ
to rise up, and speak perverse things to draw away the disciples of Christ so that they might have their own following.
Secondly let us consider whether God’s revelation is presently incomplete and therefore we need an ongoing
revelation mindset where we might look for latter day revelations, dreams, and visions.  Let us firstly remind ourselves
that the church Christ established is founded upon the Holy Sprit inspired apostles and prophets (Eph. 2:20)  We are
further told that the revealed message of the New Testament which formerly was not made known (a mystery) has
now been revealed by the Holy Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets (Eph. 3:4-5).  
Today many sincere individuals have allegedly received special revelations from God regarding His will.  In the
Roman Catholic Church there are multitudes who will testify of visions of Mary and other supernatural events.  There
are also to a lesser degree visions and revelations of Muhammad (Islam), Joseph Smith (Mormons), Ellen G. White
(Seventh Day Adventist), Charles T. Russell (Jehovah’s Witnesses), Sun Mung Moon (Unification Church), Jim Jones
(People’s Temple), and David Koresh (Branch Davidians).  Now, who believes all of these had a valid revelation from
the one true living God?  Hopefully no one.  Christians know, “… God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as
in ALL THE CHURCHES of the saints.” (1 Cor. 14:33).  Well if God is not the source of all this confusion, who is?  
There is only one spiritual source left, the Devil!  We know the devil is a deceiver (Gen. 3:13).  That always has been
Satan’s ministry.  He wants God to look bad and he wants God’s people to be deceived.  Satan is a liar and the father
of all lies (John 8:44).  
SEE: God’s Authority – Bible Authority (