Bible Authority – Lesson 1: Testing All Things by the Word of God

Introduction

We’re beginning a series of lessons on one of the most vital topics in all of Christianity—Bible authority. I don’t know of a better place to start than with a clear reminder of why we believe what we believe and why we practice what we practice. We don’t follow traditions of men. We don’t take church votes. We don’t rely on creeds. We follow the Word of God—and the Word of God alone.

Why? Because we are commanded to. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:21, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." That word “prove” means to test, examine, and discern. That’s not optional. It’s a command.

The Key: A Perfect Standard

If we’re going to test all things, we must have a key—a standard. Just as a teacher makes a test with an answer key, we too must have something infallible to compare all doctrines to. That key is the Bible.

Many religious groups vote on doctrine in conventions and councils. But the Lord’s church doesn’t do that. Why? Because God’s Word is not up for debate. We don’t have the right to change His truth.

In 2 Peter 1:16–21, Peter makes it clear that the Scriptures didn’t originate from men. They came by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” The Greek word for “moved” literally means “carried along.” That’s divine inspiration. That’s why we trust the Bible as our only standard.

Why the Bible?

The Bible is the perfect revelation of God’s will. As Isaiah said:

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please” (Isaiah 55:11).

It accomplishes God's purpose—redemption. It tells us where we came from, why we’re here, and where we’re going. It reveals salvation.

In 1 Corinthians 2:9–13, Paul reminds us that no man could imagine the things God had prepared. But those things were revealed through the Spirit—by inspiration. That’s how we know what God wants. That’s how we know what to believe.

We Cannot Trust Human Sources

Paul warned the Galatians not to follow another gospel—even if preached by an angel (Galatians 1:6–9). The only standard is what has been revealed by the Spirit.

We can’t trust:

• Traditions of men (Matthew 15:8–9)

• Religious conventions and councils

• Our feelings or emotions (Proverbs 14:12)

• Our conscience, unless it’s been trained by the Word of God (Acts 23:1)

Paul persecuted Christians with a clear conscience—but he was wrong (Acts 26:9). Our conscience is only trustworthy if it is aligned with God’s truth.

Our Sole Authority Must Be God’s Word

We must always go back to the Bible. The moment we depart from it—even slightly—we head down the road of error. This is how apostasy begins. Paul warned the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:30: “From among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things.”

From the very beginning, Satan has been trying to add to or take away from God’s Word. We are told explicitly: “Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:6; cf. Revelation 22:18–19).

We Must Know the Difference Between Doctrine and Opinion

How can we distinguish between something that’s binding doctrine and something that’s merely tradition or expedient? We’ll explore that more in coming lessons. But it starts here: If God said it, then it’s law. If man invented it, it’s not.

The question is not what seems right. It’s not what feels right. The only question is: “What has God said?”

Conclusion

We are under a divine command to test all things. Everything we hear, everything we believe, and everything we do must be examined by one standard—the Bible.

We must be people of the Book. We must study it, rightly divide it, and defend it.

Let us stand firm on the truth that:

• The Bible is inspired (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

• The Bible is sufficient

• The Bible is unchanging

• The Bible is our authority

Lesson Outline: Bible Authority – Lesson 1

Title: Testing All Things by the Word of God
Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:21

I. The Command to Test All Things

• 1 Thessalonians 5:21

• God commands us to examine every teaching.

II. The Standard: God's Word

• 2 Peter 1:16–21 – The origin of Scripture

• Isaiah 55:11 – God's Word accomplishes His will

• 1 Corinthians 2:9–13 – The Spirit reveals truth

III. What We Must Reject

• Matthew 15:8–9 – Traditions of men

• Galatians 1:6–9 – Any gospel not revealed by God

• Acts 26:9 – Conscience alone is not safe

• Proverbs 14:12 – Feelings can deceive

IV. Why the Bible Is Our Only Authority

• It is perfect and complete.

• It cannot be added to or taken away from.

• It is inspired by God.

V. Application: Know the Difference Between Doctrine and Tradition

• Learn to test every teaching.

• Use the Bible as your sole authority.

• Be prepared to give a reason for your belief (1 Peter 3:15).

Application for Us Today

In a world full of religious confusion, we must be anchored in the truth of God’s Word. People will ask why we don’t follow certain traditions, why we worship the way we do, or why we believe a certain way. We must be ready to show them—from the Bible.

Everything must go back to the Book.

Let us commit to proving all things. Let us hold fast to what is good. And let us never accept anything that does not come from the mouth of God.