Every doctrine proposed for faith and practice in religious matters should be tested with the question, "Whence is it, from heaven or from men?" (Matt. 21:25). No doctrine or practice is from heaven which is not authorized in the scriptures. Today as in former days, people give lip service to God while teaching as their doctrine the commandments of men, most of the religious faith and practice of the day is of human origin - it cannot be proved by the scriptures. The scriptures demand that ALL faith and practice be based upon and limited to what is authorized by the Lord Jesus Christ. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...and whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus..." (Col. 3:16,17). A rich indwelling of "the word of Christ" is absolutely essential to acting "in the name (by the authority) of the Lord Jesus."

The "word of Christ" is not limited to the utterances of Christ while he was on earth, in the flesh. The four accounts Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were "Concerning all that Jesus began both to do and teach while he lived in the flesh." But Jesus claimed the teaching of Acts and the twenty-two epistles as coming from Him. These are "the words of Christ" and have the same weight of authority as the synoptics and John. For, before his death, Jesus said, "1 have yet many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth; for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you. All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you" (John 16:12-15). The things written by Holy Spirit-guided men, are the "word of Christ." Paul wrote, "If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord" (I Cor. 14:37). The things which the inspired men wrote were from heaven. They are the word of Christ. Hence, before any person can obey the command to "do all in the name of the Lord," he must know "the word of Christ." Those who "shall receive heavier judgment" must be impressed with their personal responsibility, to "let the word of Christ dwell in (them) richly," before they are qualified to impress the importance of it upon the hearers. Apostasy is bound to come when members are uninformed in the scriptures.

Peter wrote commanding men to limit their speaking to the oracles of God. "If any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11).

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes: that in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written" (I Cor. 4:6). Failure to honor the divine limitations here expressed is widespread. Many things are done in religion which find no sanction in the things which are written. Testing faith and practice by the scriptures has come to be the exception rather than the rule. John warns us, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (I John 4:1 ). One who teaches error is a "false prophet" regardless of any other consideration.

These passages are sufficient to establish that whatever we do, in word or in deed, must be authorized by the scriptures. Whatever is authorized in the New Testament scriptures, either by command, apostolic approved example or necessary inference, is by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Special attention will be given to proving from the scriptures that apostolic approved examples are as binding as expressed commands. The same is true of truth which is necessarily inferred, however, this is not intended to include a discussion of necessary inference but is to be limited to examples. Neither will rules for determining when a New Testament example is binding be discussed at this time. The specific task undertaken is to prove that the scriptures do authorize (bind) by apostolic approved example. We are obligated to "prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (I Thess. 5:21). As for me, personally, I plan to continue to hold fast to apostolic approved examples and necessary inference because I have proved it to my satisfaction and must contend for the faith which is revealed by these means in the scriptures. This is a presentation of the evidence upon which my conviction rests, in the hope of confirming conviction in those who are troubled. The teaching of apostolic approved example is the word of Christ and our words and deeds must conform to the teaching of example; failure here is to rebel against the authority of Christ.

The Scriptures Teach

The proposition that apostolic approved examples have binding force must be proved by the scriptures. This is objective evidence available for everyone; there is nothing subjective about it. Putting it another way, we will be "reasoning from the scriptures." The passages used have been used by this writer as well as many others but in the words of the apostle, Paul, "...to write the same things to you, to me indeed is not irksome, but for you it is safe" (Phil. 3:1). The fact that many promising young Christians along with many older and more mature Christians have been drawn into the "no example binding" maelstrom is discouraging, but we must not grow weary and sheath the sword of the Spirit, but must "fight the good fight of the faith" until the captain of our salvation retires us from service.

The fact that there are incidental matters recorded in the scriptures is generally admitted. 'But this in no way contradicts the scriptures which require that apostolic approved examples be regarded as binding. When it has been shown that the scriptures claim to bind by example, any waving of incidentals to draw attention away from the scriptural claim reflects a bad attitude toward the scriptures. If it is shown to be apostolic tradition, it must not be scorned and ridiculed by referring to it as "Church of Christ tradition." Rather we must hold it fast. "So then, brethren, stand fast, and held the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word or by epistle of ours" (II Thess. 2:15).

Hebrews 13:7-9

"Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yea and forever. Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings..."

The immutability of Jesus (same forever) guarantees the eternal relevancy of the faith of which he is the "author and perfector." The passage commands the reader to consider the manner of life of the ones who spake the word of God, in order to imitate their faith which was reflected in their manner of life. This faith is as static or unchangeable as Jesus Christ, hence, there is no excuse for a Christian to be carried away by divers and strange teachings. The faith of the apostles as expressed byword and demonstrated by actions must be followed.

We are commanded to imitate their faith, and as other passages will be introduced which command imitation, we will define the term right here. The word translated "follow" in the King James Version and "imitate" in the American Standard Version means "mimic," "imitate," according to Young's Analytical Concordance. Vines says "a mimic, an actor."

I Corinthians 4:16,17

"I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church."

Paul sent Timothy to Corinth for the expressed purpose of putting them in remembrance of Paul's ways. This was in order that they could imitate Paul. Paul's ways, which they were to imitate, were the ways which he taught in every church.

"Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise ye that ye remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered them to you."

This passage requires the saints at Corinth to (mimic) imitate Paul as he (mimicked) imitated Christ. Remember that in Hebrews 13:7, the command to remember and imitate are linked; the same is true of 1 Cor. 4:16,17 where the requirements to imitate is expressed and the explanation that the purpose of sending Timothy was to put them in remembrance of his ways and here in 1 Cor. 11:1,2, the same connection is expressed between remembering and imitating. They are called upon to imitate and praised for remembering the apostle, and commanded to hold fast the traditions as delivered to them by him.

Philippians 3:17

"Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample (Pattern)." The word translated "ensample" is translated "pattern" in Berry's Interlinear Greek-English New Testament. Berry also translates this word in Acts 7:44 with the word "model." It is the same Greek word that is translated "pattern" in Hebrews 8: 5. That approved apostolic actions reveals the divine pattern is claimed in this passage. "Adhesion to apostolic models" is here commanded. When we "make all things according to the pattern that was showed" us by the apostles' examples as well as the commands expressed by the apostles, we are making our calling and election sure. Deviation from that pattern has never contributed to the "unity of the Spirit" but has always divided and confused.

Philippians 4:9

"The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you." The things learned and received were things heard from Paul's lips and pen and seen in his example. The Holy Spirit not only bound the things "heard" but also the things "seen" upon Christians.

We do not believe that we have to have an example for everything we do, but we do believe that we must have a command, implication or example for "whatever (we) do in word or deed." "Principle eternal" is revealed through these means and none other."

The things bound by the apostles are bound in heaven (Matt. 16:19). Hence, anything bound by command, apostolic approved example, or necessary inference is from heaven. To reject exclusive observance of the Lord's supper on the first day of the week is to reject heaven's revelation. First day of the week of observance of the Lord's supper is revealed in "the things that are written." To eat it on any other day is without the sanction of either command, example or necessary inference.

Vanguard – Oct, 1975