THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST ALONE

There is a quiet power in submitting to Christ alone. When the heart bows before His Word, confusion fades, and light begins to shine again. Through the centuries, voices have multiplied and opinions have divided, yet the gentle call of the Lord still rings clear: “Follow Me.”  His Word is not uncertain. It is living truth, spoken in love, breathed by the Spirit, written that we might know Him and walk in His steps. “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17).

The voice of Christ speaks through Scripture. The Bible is not man’s invention—it is Heaven’s invitation. In its pages, we meet not a system but a Savior, not a creed but a cross. When we cling to His Word, we find freedom, for His truth liberates rather than binds. The early believers were not known by divisions or denominational names, but by their devotion to the Lord and to one another. They were simply disciples—followers of the risen Christ. Their unity flowed not from sameness of opinion, but from oneness of heart.

Faith is born where the Word is heard. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). The message of the gospel still pricks the heart as it did on Pentecost, calling us to repentance and new life. The Spirit moves through the Word to awaken trust, to reveal grace, to draw us near to the Father through the Son. It is a holy summons that demands not debate, but obedience.

Obedience is not the work of pride, but the fruit of love. When we repent, confess, and are baptized into Christ, we are not earning salvation—we are surrendering to it. We are buried with Him, raised with Him, and sealed by His promise (Romans 6:3-4). Every act of obedience is an act of faith—a way of saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

Let us, then, return with humble hearts to the authority of Christ alone. Let us listen before we speak, love before we argue, and serve before we seek to lead. The church shines brightest when it stands upon the Word and bows before the Lord. If we live and love by His Word, our unity will not be forced—it will be found. And in that beautiful oneness, the world will see Jesus.

Bryan Dewayne Dunaway