"THE COURT OF LAST APPEAL."
An influential religious journal asks the question, “What is the court of last appeal in matters of religion?” and then replies: “To this question three answers have been given. The answer of Rome is, The Roman Church; the answer of Protestantism is, The Scriptures; the answer of those who have recently taken to themselves the name of Liberal Christians is, The individual himself.” Laying aside all religions excepting the Christian religion as unworthy of serious consideration, the question is, What is the court of last appeal in matters pertaining to the Christian religion? In answer to this question, we have only to ask, To what court did Christ appeal as the ground of faith and action? His testimony is that the Word of God is truth, and through that Word men are to be sanctified. John 17:17. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matt. 4:4. To the Jews He said: “Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me; for He wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?” John 5:46, 47. To the doubting disciples, after His resurrection, He said: “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken; . . . and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Luke 24:25-27. “Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures.” Verse 45. This was a plain indication that the Scriptures were to constitute the standard of the Christian religion. And the Apostle Paul recognized this fact in his ministry. He commended the people of Berea because, when they had heard his preaching, “they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11. The preaching of the Gospel was the preaching of the Word, and these people searched the Scriptures to see whether Paul had taught them the true doctrine. For this the apostle commended them, thus acknowledging that the Scriptures were “the court of last appeal in matters of religion;” that is concerning the religion that he taught. Paul further sustains this principle in his instruction to Timothy, hence to all ministers of Christ, when he gives this charge: “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; preach the Word; . . . for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth [the Scriptures], and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Tim. 4:1-4. But some who will concede the argument of scriptural authority to a certain extent, hinge the question of last appeal on interpretation. Here again Rome comes in with a claim for the authority of “the church” as the only true interpreter; and the “liberal” Christian presents his claim to individual interpretation. We concede the right of the individual to interpret for himself, but that does not make his interpretation true; and it is only the truth that will stand the judgment test. The Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation; they are all given by inspiration of God, and are all profitable for doctrine and instruction in righteousness, to the extent that the man of God is thereby thoroughly furnished (2 Tim. 3:15-17); but they can not be privately interpreted (2 Peter 1:20) in a manner profitable for spiritual instruction. What, then, is the court of last appeal in this regard? When Christ was about to leave the earth, He promised to send the Holy Spirit to be a Comforter of His people, the Spirit of truth to guide into all truth. John 14:15-17, 26; 15:26; 16:12-15. The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1 Cor. 2:10-13. It is natural, however, for the natural man to be wedded to the idea of being himself “the court of last appeal in matters of religion,” for the natural man naturally thinks more highly of himself than he ought to think, and it is impossible for him to lift himself out of that condition. The natural man is prone to deem himself “liberal,” and to think it bondage to adhere closely to the Word of God. His idea of a liberal religion is a religion that suits his own natural inclination. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Therefore only those who make the Scriptures of truth “the court of last appeal,” and acknowledge the Spirit of truth as the only infallible guide to an understanding of the Word, can possibly know the things of God. This is made very clear by the Author and Finisher of our faith, and in all matters pertaining to the truth, we are to hear Him. Deut. 18:15; Matt. 17:5; Acts 3:22.