It is Settled!

A series of lessons from the Bible

by Howell Lasseter

Of Heaven or of Men?  (Part 1)

Jesus asked this question: “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” (Matthew 21:23-27). Today, the question remains valid. In considering religious teachings, we, too, ask: “Is that  teaching from heaven, or of men?” Let’s read the entire incident from Matthew 25: “And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people come unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, why did ye not then believe him? But if we say, Of men, we fear the people, for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and said, we cannot tell. And he said unto them, neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.”

There is no other place in the entire world to which we can go to find the answer to the question, “What must I do to be saved?”, than to God’s Word. Because Noah found grace in God’s sight, God gave him instructions by which Noah and his family could be saved from the worldwide flood (Genesis 6:5-22). The  question can be considered: Did Noah’s instructions come from heaven, or from men? Noah knew the correct answer to the question, and Genesis 6:22 tells us, “Thus did Noah, according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” In our world, there are many confusing, conflicting religious teachings and practices. The question under discussion becomes even more vital. Don’t assume the teachings you hear from preachers, televangelists, radio speakers, or that you read on a printed page, are from heaven. Go to the only place in which we can be sure the truth is found - God’s Word! Be a questioner. Ask the question Jesus asked, (Is this teaching) “from heaven, or of men?”  If the teaching or practice is not found in God’s Word, you’ll know it’s not from heaven!