A common argument in religion sounds like this:
“Where does the Bible say we cannot do it?”
That question may seem reasonable.
But is that the biblical standard for determining what Christians are authorized to believe and practice?
Or should we ask:
WHERE DOES GOD AUTHORIZE IT?
GOD HAS WARNED AGAINST ADDING TO HIS WORD
Under the Law, Moses told Israel:
“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it…”
(Deuteronomy 4:2, KJV)
Notice both sides:
DO NOT ADD
↓
DO NOT TAKE AWAY
Why?
Moses continued:
“…that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”
God’s commands were not invitations for Israel to redesign His instructions.
They were to obey what He revealed.
GOD REPEATED THE PRINCIPLE
Moses later said:
“What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”
(Deuteronomy 12:32, KJV)
Again:
WHAT GOD COMMANDS
↓
OBSERVE IT
↓
DO NOT ADD
↓
DO NOT DIMINISH
This principle appears repeatedly in Scripture.
Proverbs says:
“Every word of God is pure…”
(Proverbs 30:5, KJV)
Then:
“Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
(Proverbs 30:6, KJV)
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
Because adding something to God’s instructions changes what God instructed.
Suppose someone receives a prescription that says:
TAKE ONE TABLET.
Would the instruction authorize him to add three other medications merely because the instructions did not specifically say:
“Do not add these three medications”?
No.
The instruction tells him what to take.
Likewise, when God specifies what He desires, faith follows what He has revealed.
NOAH FOLLOWED GOD’S PATTERN
God told Noah exactly how the ark was to be constructed.
He specified:
“Make thee an ark of gopher wood…”
(Genesis 6:14, KJV)
What if Noah had said:
“God never specifically said I cannot use another kind of wood”?
Would that have respected God’s instruction?
Scripture instead tells us:
“Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”
(Genesis 6:22, KJV)
Notice:
GOD COMMANDED
↓
NOAH DID
↓
ACCORDING TO ALL GOD COMMANDED
That is faith.
Hebrews confirms:
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark…”
(Hebrews 11:7, KJV)
Noah’s faith followed God’s instructions.
CHRISTIANS MUST ACT BY CHRIST’S AUTHORITY
Paul wrote:
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…”
(Colossians 3:17, KJV)
That establishes the New Testament question.
Not:
WHERE DOES CHRIST SPECIFICALLY FORBID THIS?
But:
WHERE IS CHRIST’S AUTHORITY FOR THIS?
Jesus possesses:
“…All power…in heaven and in earth.”
(Matthew 28:18, KJV)
Therefore, He determines what His church is authorized to teach and practice.
WE MUST ABIDE IN CHRIST’S DOCTRINE
John wrote:
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God…”
(2 John 9, KJV)
To transgress is to go beyond.
The safe place is not beyond Christ’s teaching.
It is:
IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST.
THIS CHANGES THE QUESTION
Instead of asking:
“WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY WE CANNOT USE THIS IN WORSHIP?”
Ask:
“WHERE DID CHRIST AUTHORIZE IT?”
Instead of:
“WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY WE CANNOT ORGANIZE THE CHURCH THIS WAY?”
Ask:
“WHAT ORGANIZATION DID CHRIST REVEAL?”
Instead of:
“WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY WE CANNOT TEACH THIS PLAN OF SALVATION?”
Ask:
“WHAT PLAN DID CHRIST AND HIS APOSTLES TEACH?”
Instead of:
“WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT?”
Ask:
“WHERE IS THE AUTHORITY FOR IT?”
Those are very different approaches to Scripture.
THE BIBLICAL PATTERN
GOD SPEAKS
↓
GOD REVEALS HIS WILL
↓
FAITH HEARS
↓
FAITH BELIEVES
↓
FAITH OBEYS WHAT GOD REVEALED
↓
FAITH DOES NOT ADD ITS OWN ALTERNATIVES
Noah did:
“according to all that God commanded him.”
(Genesis 6:22, KJV)
That should be our desire as well.
DO WHAT GOD AUTHORIZED.
NOT MORE.
NOT LESS.
DO NOT ADD.
DO NOT TAKE AWAY.
FOLLOW THE PATTERN.
This principle reaches the final pages of Scripture.
John wrote:
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:”
(Revelation 22:18, KJV)
And:
“And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life…”
(Revelation 22:19, KJV)
God’s Word deserves reverence.
Don’t accept that conclusion merely because it is written here.
Open your Bible.
Read Deuteronomy 4.
Read Deuteronomy 12.
Read Genesis 6.
Read Proverbs 30.
Read Colossians 3.
Read 2 John.
Then examine the things you believe and practice religiously.
Instead of asking:
“WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY I CANNOT?”
Ask the biblical question:
“WHERE HAS GOD AUTHORIZED IT?”
“Every word of God is pure…”
(Proverbs 30:5, KJV)
ALLOW SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE.
The Biblical Pattern
Biblical Studies & Books by Kevin L. Walker
TheBiblicalPattern.com
The Biblical Pattern 