The next question that we will look at, that people have concerning the New Testament church, is—what is the role of the Scriptures within the church? It is vitally necessary that we understand the New Testament church, because there are so many different confl icting ideas concerning the church, and the Scriptures are the only thing that can fi x this problem.

Paul stated, “But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). Paul wrote to Timothy so he could help others know how to behave themselves in the church. Timothy then was to teach other faithful men what Paul had taught him. “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:1-2).

Studying the Scriptures is how Timothy and the men he would teach were to instruct other men to be faithful. “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to fi nd out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). This is exactly how the Scriptures continue to instruct us thousands of years after the apostles’ deaths. We still need to be teaching the apostles’ doctrine today, the same as they did on the Day of Pentecost. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). This is done by allowing the Scriptures to be profitable and guide everything we do, because they were designed by God to make us complete and thoroughly furnish us to every good work. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

Only the Scriptures give us everything that pertains to life and godliness. “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:2-4).

Only through obedience to the Scriptures can we do everything, in word or deed, in the name of the Lord. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:16). The role of the Scriptures is to give us everything we need to go to heaven and spend eternity with God. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). Therefore, it is never to be subtracted from or added to, ever. “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18-19).

If we are doing anything in the church that is not written in the Scriptures and approved of by God by direct command, implication, or example, then we will be cursed, because this is the purpose of the Scriptures, and we need to learn not to go beyond what is written (Gal. 1:6-9; 1 Cor. 4:6).

Just something to consider.