The Ultimate Authority

By Ray Burkholder

March 1, 2024

I used to unquestioningly believe whatever I was told. A few years back, there became a point in my life where some things I had been taught did not make sense. Just like politics, we heard it this way, then we heard it another way also, so which way was correct? Some things that were said in church left me wondering, is that true? What is truth? Where do I find out what the truth is? I concluded that the Bible is the ultimate truth because it was given to us by God, and He is our creator. He is Lord of lords, King of kings!

I started to read and study to see if things were so. What I found was shocking because what I had been taught my whole life did not agree with what the Bible clearly taught. What a letdown! I was devastated! I had to make a choice. Was I going to believe what man told me or what God told me in the Bible?

The Bible says, "God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). It also says, "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (1 Corinthians 2:5)

The Bible tells us that ALL Humans are wicked, sinful, liars, etc. Why do we so easily put our trust in humans instead of God? Throughout my life, I can remember hearing, “Read the Bible, but not too much.” Only the devil or one of his people would say something like that.

If a person thinks he won’t know he is saved until he gets to heaven, it is going to be too late for him! How sad! The Bible says, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" (Romans 8:16). This is how a person knows that they are “saved.” When someone doesn’t know they are saved, it is because they are not saved. Only saved people go to heaven. Unsaved people do not go to heaven. They go to hell!

In the same chapter, the Bible says, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you (when saved). Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (unsaved)” (Romans 8:9). Now, I must ask, do you have the Spirit of God inside of you? I hope you do!

What about the teaching, “We must never boast that we are saved”?

When we are saved, we do not boast about it because we know we are unworthy and deserve hell. We are saved because of what Jesus did, not what we did or do.  Once a person trusts/believes what Jesus Christ did on the cross, He imputes His righteousness to our account. That is what saves us. It's not what we do…because then we could boast! "Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:9). It's NOT because of any works we do, because then we could boast! We must understand that!

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness......" (Romans 10:10).

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians 1:13).

This is exactly what happens when someone believes unto salvation. God saves and seals them at that moment. Have you believed? I hope and pray that you have. If not, please do so today!

To say that there is no such thing as knowing you are saved is incorrect. The Bible clearly teaches it! Therefore, we must believe it! "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). God’s will is for all men to be saved. The word saved is a Biblical word whether we like it or not. It's not just a common expression that is used today.

After salvation, does a person still sin? Yes, absolutely! Read Romans chapter 7. The apostle Paul (the apostle for us Gentiles) still had trouble doing things he didn’t want to do. "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not" (Romans 7:18)

When a person becomes saved, God separates his body from his soul and spirit. "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ" (Colossians 2:11). Our soul and spirit can no longer sin, but our body (flesh) does. This is why we get a new body when we go to heaven. Sin will not be in heaven.

We use the expression, “so-and-so got saved last night.” Some think it would be better to say, “So-and-so made a start to serve God last night.” No, it would not be better because “a start to serve God” is not Biblical; becoming saved is. See, it doesn’t matter what you or I think. What matters is what God has said.

Another often-heard phrase is, “Only the judgment will reveal who is saved.” "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). There is more than one judgment in the Bible.

When a person is saved while he is still here on earth, God places him into the body of Christ at that moment (1 Cor 12:13), which means he is also translated. "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Colossians 1:13). While still on earth, a saved person is already in the kingdom. The only thing a saved person will be judged for is for rewards (1 Cor 3). His judgment will be for the good deeds he has done for the Lord, not for salvation, but for the good works he did AFTER salvation. The great white throne judgment in Revelation 20 is for unbelievers (unsaved people), who will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone. Saved people will already be in heaven before this judgment.

If you were to die today and God would ask you, Why should I let you in?” what would your answer be?

Would it be:

Þ Because I did good works?

Þ Because I was water baptized?

Þ Because I went to church?

Þ Because I did my best?

Þ Because I was a member of the Amish church?

Þ Because I drove a horse and buggy?

You get the idea. There are many more responses that a person could give, but there is one thing in common: the word “I.” Using the word “I” is boastful, making all of these answers wrong! We are saved by grace through faith, putting our trust in what Jesus Christ did on the cross. He died, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Only by placing our complete trust in what Jesus Christ did makes us righteous. We can do nothing to save ourselves.

"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference" (Romans 3:22). A person must have this righteousness, and if they don’t, they are not going to heaven.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5)

"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:3).

The only way possible to go to heaven is to have Jesus Christ's righteousness! Please become saved today before it is too late! Again, if a person dies and is still unsaved, according to the Bible he will go straight to hell.

Are you willing to chance this – to wait until you die and then realize it's too late? Remember the story in Luke 16 when the rich man was in hell begging Abraham to send someone back to tell his five brothers? It was too late!

"(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation)" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

The Bible says now is the day of salvation, not when you die!

All of this was written with a concern for souls! Eternity is forever.

WE MUST GET IT RIGHT!

 

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