Discovery & Non-discovery

Revelation and Discovery

In reference to the fields of knowledge — observation and revelation that was mentioned in the last issue, it is interesting to note that many things were revealed before they were discovered. In some instances, men did not recognize the fact that they had been revealed until after the discovery had been made, but later did realize it. For instance, the Bible speaks of God? “hanging the earth on nothing.” Men used to think that the earth was resting on the back of Atlas and Atlas resting on something else. They just could not conceive of there being a big ball in space without something to hold it up. If we get up on something and turn loose, we fall to the ground. If we throw something up, it comes back to the ground. Where would the earth fall to if it took a notion to fall? Men have discovered that the earth is hanging on nothing. They have been all the way around it, and they know it is not resting on anything. God had told us that a long, long time ago. Many things that we now know by observation were revealed before we observed them. They could have been known from revelation if we had been careful students of the Bible.

Revelation and Non-discovery

Of course, much of what the Bible reveals is that which science cannot touch. We may observe nature and apply logic and common sense to conclude that there is a supreme being. Apart from a revelation, however, we know nothing of this Supreme Being. Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 2:9 and adds in verse 10, “But God has revealed them unto us by his Spirit.” He introduces the “natural man” in verse 14 as being the individual who does not receive the things of the Spirit nor can he understand them because they are foolishness to him. The scientific man, limited by human reason and logic, cannot accept anything that cannot be proven rationally. When writing Ephesians, Paul offers a contrasting view to the natural man in chapter 3. He explains that he received his information by revelation and his readers could understand it when they read what he wrote.

Those who receive the things of the Spirit recognize that there are only two sources of authority – authority from heaven and authority from men (Matthew 21:23-27). Authority from heaven is the teaching from God (Rom. 6:17, 1 Tim. 6:1) revealed in the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17; cf. 2 John 9). Authority from man is the doctrines of men (Matt. 15:9; Col. 2:22).

Jesus has been given all authority (Matt. 28:18). He has the power to command what is right and lawful. Therefore, one who follows Jesus’ will has authority from Jesus (from heaven) for what he does (Col. 3:17) and one who does not act according to Jesus’ commands does not have authority from Jesus but from man.

When speaking of “authority,” we mean the right or permission to act in the name of Christ. No one has the right to do anything in religion without God’s approval and then claim to be doing so in Christ’s name. In Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus gives us a preview of the judgment when many will come to him saying, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and performed many wonderful miracles in your name?” However, he will say unto them, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity.” The word translated, “iniquity” comes from the Greek word anomos which literally means, “no law” or “without law.” To act without law is to act without permission. We should never desire to do a thing so much that we would do it whether we had permission or not and then claim to do so in His name. To do something is His name implies that we do it with his approval.

Not many Christians would affirm that they have any authority, yet some may at times rely on human standards in their teaching and practices. Some rely on their conscience to obey God. Yet, Solomon said, “There is a way that seems right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 16:2,25). Saul lived in a good conscience and did not follow heaven’s will (Acts 23:1; 22:1-5). According to the Scriptures, human beings cannot rely on “human wisdom” or “worldly wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:5; 3:18-23; cf. 1 Cor. 4:6). Others rely on their parents and family tradition. Yet, Paul persecuted the church when living according to his fathers' traditions (Gal.1:13-16). Jesus taught that we must love him more than family (Matt. 10:37). Still, others rely on the Old Testament for their authority today. The old covenant, which was a ministry of death, (2 Cor. 3:1-8) has been replaced with a new covenant (Heb. 7:12; 8:8-9,13; 9:11-17; 1 Ki. 8:9, 21). Paul argues in Galatians 2:21 that if we can be saved by obeying the Mosaic Law, Christ died in vain (Gal. 2:21). Finally, many in this era have an established circle of friends that have a tremendous pull on them and over whom they have some influence. Nearly everyone who is a faithful attendee of a church has this inner circle of contacts. Now, just imagine how difficult it would be to change knowing the consequence of leaving the comforts of that circle. Of course, some of us would never consider such because no issue would be so important to cause us to leave our friends. Yet, we must not rely on the influence of others to dictate to our conscience what we should believe and practice. Why? They are not the standard of authority.

Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14; 19:16). All that we do must be done in his name (Col 3:17). Christ is Head of the church having purchased it with His blood (Eph. 1:22-23;Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). Therefore, Jesus’ will is our authority. We must seek to obey him (Heb. 5:9; 2 Thes. 1:8; 2 John 9) and they who do “not obey the gospel will be punished with everlasting destruction” (2 Th. 1:8-10; cf. Rev. 20:11-15; 21:8).