Are We to Be Constrained by the Scriptures?
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ARE WE TO BE CONSTRAINED BY THE SCRIPTURES?

by H. Stanton See

During the television coverage of the Southern Baptist discussion of the subject of ordaining women pastors during the spring of 2000, a Baptist preacher stated that they "did not feel the need to be constrained by scripture." This raises the question as to whether there is a need to be constrained (to restrain by physical or moral means) by scripture. Let us examine four passages of scripture and see what they have to say on the subject.

The first passage is 2 John 9, "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son." (NKJ) One who does not feel the need to be constrain by scripture certainly will see no need to abide in the doctrine of Christ. He will "go further than what is right and proper". Therefore, he will not have either God the Father or Christ the Son. Only those who feel the need to be constrain by scripture will have both God the Father and Christ the Son.

The second passage is Hebrews 5:9, "And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him," (NKJ). This verse states that Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him; however, those who do not feel constrained by the scriptures feel no need to obey Christ. Thus, Jesus will not save them.

The third passage is Jesus’ statement in John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments." (NKJ). Here Jesus states that those who really love Him are those who obey His commandments. Since those who do not feel the need to be constrained by Scripture do not feel any need to keep the commandments of Jesus, it is obvious that they do not really love Jesus in spite of how much they may claim to love Him.

The fourth passage is the statement of Jesus in John 15:14 "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you." (NKJ). Jesus tells us in this verse who His real friends are. They are those obey His commands (i.e., feel the need to be constrained by the scriptures).

So we see from this four verses that only those who feel the need to be constrained by the scriptures have both the Father and Son, will be saved, really love Christ, and are the real friends of Christ.

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