In the realm of religion, it is essential to understand that Jesus Christ (and Jesus Christ alone!) has ALL authority (Matt. 28:18; Acts 3:22-23). His authority (all of it!) resides in His Word, and on the day of judgment, His Word will be the standard by which all persons will be judged (John 12:48-50; Rev. 20:12). Some may readily agree that Christ has all authority, but can we be sure that His authority resides in the Bible today? Let’s consider this.
First, here’s what we know about the teachings of Christ after He left this earth. Before He died, Jesus told the Father, “I have given to [the apostles] the words which You have given Me…I have given them Your word” (John 17:8, 14). Those words that He gave them would possess His authority, but would these men be able to remember everything that Jesus taught them? Certainly not. No one would have that ability.
So, the night before Jesus died, He spoke with His apostles and shared with them His plan. “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you” (John 14:25). But how would they remember everything? “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you…He will testify of Me” (14:26; 15:26).
In fact, in addition to what He had already taught them, Jesus told His apostles that He had “many things to say to” them, but they were not able to “bear them now” (16:12). So, how would Jesus get this new information to them? It would be in the same manner in which they would be reminded of what He had already taught them. “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (16:13).
Slow down for minute. Put this together. Jesus was getting ready to die, and shortly after that He would be leaving the earth. Jesus entrusted these men with the task of “teaching [mankind] to observe all things” that He had “commanded” (Matt. 28:20). In order to (1) remember everything He already taught them and (2) know other truths they needed to teach, the Holy Spirit was going to come and “guide” them and give them the very words to speak (Mark 13:11). When the Holy Spirit was finished guiding these inspired men, they would have “all truth” (John 16:13)—not some or most it! They would have delivered and man would possess “all truth”!
Christ has all authority. His all authority is in His Word. He gave His all-authoritative Word to His apostles through the Holy Spirit to teach unto mankind. Is that same, all-authoritative Word in the Bible today? Read next week.