The word “pattern” is important in Scripture.
When God reveals how something is to be done, man is not given authority to redesign God’s instructions according to personal preference.
That raises an important question:
IF GOD HAS REVEALED A PATTERN, CAN WE CHANGE THAT PATTERN AND STILL CLAIM TO BE FOLLOWING IT?
GOD GAVE MOSES A PATTERN
When God instructed Moses concerning the tabernacle, He did not simply tell him to build whatever seemed appropriate.
God gave him a pattern.
The writer of Hebrews says:
“…See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.”
(Hebrews 8:5, KJV)
This refers back to God’s instruction to Moses:
“And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.”
(Exodus 25:40, KJV)
Notice:
GOD REVEALED THE PATTERN
↓
MOSES RECEIVED THE PATTERN
↓
MOSES WAS COMMANDED TO FOLLOW THE PATTERN
Moses was not authorized to improve it.
He was not authorized to modernize it.
He was not authorized to substitute something he preferred.
His responsibility was to follow what God had revealed.
NOAH FOLLOWED WHAT GOD COMMANDED
God gave Noah specific instructions concerning the ark.
He told him:
“Make thee an ark of gopher wood…”
(Genesis 6:14, KJV)
After God finished giving Noah His instructions, Scripture says:
“Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”
(Genesis 6:22, KJV)
Notice:
ACCORDING TO ALL THAT GOD COMMANDED HIM.
Noah did not ask:
“Would another kind of wood work just as well?”
He did not ask:
“Could I build the ark differently as long as I am sincere?”
He obeyed what God said.
Hebrews explains:
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house…”
(Hebrews 11:7, KJV)
Noah’s obedience was an expression of his faith.
GOD SPOKE
↓
NOAH BELIEVED
↓
NOAH OBEYED
DAVID LEARNED THAT GOD’S ORDER MATTERS
David desired to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem.
That was a good desire.
But when the ark was first moved, God’s revealed order was not followed.
Later David acknowledged:
“For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.”
(1 Chronicles 15:13, KJV)
Notice those words:
“AFTER THE DUE ORDER.”
Good intentions did not replace God’s revealed order.
Religious enthusiasm did not replace God’s revealed order.
Sincerity did not replace God’s revealed order.
God’s instructions still mattered.
THE NEW TESTAMENT ALSO SPEAKS OF A PATTERN
Paul told Timothy:
“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”
(2 Timothy 1:13, KJV)
Notice:
HOLD FAST
↓
THE FORM
↓
OF SOUND WORDS
Timothy was not told to redesign apostolic teaching for each new generation.
He was told to:
HOLD FAST.
Paul also wrote to the Romans:
“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”
(Romans 6:17, KJV)
Notice the pattern:
A FORM OF DOCTRINE
↓
WAS DELIVERED
↓
THEY OBEYED IT
↓
FROM THE HEART
Christianity contains revealed teaching that is to be believed and obeyed.
THE FIRST CHRISTIANS CONTINUED IN THE APOSTLES’ DOCTRINE
After approximately three thousand people obeyed the gospel on Pentecost, Luke records:
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
(Acts 2:42, KJV)
They did not begin inventing new forms of Christianity.
They:
CONTINUED STEDFASTLY
↓
IN THE APOSTLES’ DOCTRINE
Paul later commanded:
“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”
(2 Thessalonians 2:15, KJV)
Notice:
STAND FAST
and:
HOLD.
The inspired teaching was something to preserve, not redesign.
WE MUST NOT CHANGE THE GOSPEL
Paul warned the churches of Galatia:
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:”
(Galatians 1:6, KJV)
Then:
“Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”
(Galatians 1:7, KJV)
Notice what happens when God’s message is changed:
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
↓
IS ALTERED
↓
IT BECOMES A PERVERSION OF THE GOSPEL
Paul then issued one of the strongest warnings in the New Testament:
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
(Galatians 1:8, KJV)
The gospel belongs to Christ.
Therefore, the gospel is not ours to redesign.
CHRIST HAS ALL AUTHORITY
Jesus said:
“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
(Matthew 28:18, KJV)
The word translated “power” includes the idea of authority.
Paul wrote:
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…”
(Colossians 3:17, KJV)
To act in the name of Christ is to act by His authority.
Therefore, the question is not:
“WHAT DO I PREFER?”
It is not:
“WHAT IS POPULAR?”
It is not:
“WHAT ARE OTHER CHURCHES DOING?”
It is not even:
“WHAT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA?”
The question is:
WHAT HAS CHRIST AUTHORIZED?
If Christ has revealed how sinners are to respond to the gospel, we follow that pattern.
If Christ has revealed how His church is to worship, we follow that pattern.
If Christ has revealed how His church is to be organized, we follow that pattern.
If Christ has revealed the work His church is to do, we follow that pattern.
If Christ has revealed how Christians are to live, we follow that pattern.
THE BIBLICAL PATTERN
GOD REVEALS HIS WILL
↓
MAN HEARS GOD’S WORD
↓
FAITH BELIEVES GOD
↓
FAITH OBEYS WHAT GOD REVEALED
↓
MAN DOES NOT REDESIGN GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS
↓
CHRISTIANS HOLD FAST THE FORM OF SOUND WORDS
2 Timothy 1:13
↓
CHRISTIANS CONTINUE IN THE APOSTLES’ DOCTRINE
Acts 2:42
↓
EVERYTHING IS DONE BY CHRIST’S AUTHORITY
Colossians 3:17
↓
THE PATTERN IS FOLLOWED
THAT IS THE PATTERN.
Culture changes.
Popular opinion changes.
Religious organizations change.
Human traditions change.
But Peter wrote:
“But the word of the Lord endureth for ever…”
(1 Peter 1:25, KJV)
God’s Word does not need to be changed to fit each generation.
Each generation needs to conform itself to God’s Word.
The question is not:
“HOW CAN WE CHANGE CHRISTIANITY TO FIT THE MODERN WORLD?”
The question is:
“HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE WE ARE FOLLOWING WHAT CHRIST REVEALED?”
Don’t accept that conclusion merely because it is written here.
Open your Bible.
Read Genesis 6.
Read Exodus 25.
Read 1 Chronicles 15.
Read Acts 2.
Read Romans 6.
Read Galatians 1.
Read 2 Timothy 1.
Read Hebrews 8.
Read Colossians 3.
Compare Scripture with Scripture.
Then ask:
AM I FOLLOWING THE PATTERN GOD REVEALED, OR HAVE I CHANGED THE PATTERN TO FIT WHAT I PREFER?
“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me…”
(2 Timothy 1:13, KJV)
ALLOW SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE.
The Biblical Pattern
Biblical Studies & Books by Kevin L. Walker
TheBiblicalPattern.com
The Biblical Pattern 