Bible Authority (part 2): "How the Bible Authorizes"
This post is a continuation of an ongoing series discussing "Bible Authority", you might want to consider reading Part 1 before you proceed:
"How the Bible Authorizes"
Within the realm of Bible authority is the necessity of following what God has said, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). Paul clearly stated that doing something “…in the name of the Lord…” is doing it by the authority of Jesus (Acts 4:7-18). In this same statement concerning authority, Paul implied there are consequences to not following what God has said. Jesus proclaimed:
With consequences of not adhering to the authority of God’s Word being so severe, it would be of necessity for one to know how the Bible authorizes. The authority of God’s Word is established three different ways. These three different ways can be demonstrated in the observance of the Lord’s Supper. When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, He gave a direct command as to “what” should be eaten:
When the apostle Paul met with the church at Ephesus, he established an approved example as to when the Lord’s Supper is to be eaten, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread…” (Acts 20:7). The same statement implies how often the Lord’s Supper was to be eaten. Since the disciples met upon the first day of the week to partake of the Lord’s Supper, the implication is they met every first day of the week seeing how every week has a first day.