In Acts 13:10, Paul condemns Elymas the sorcerer for opposing the gospel and says, “You enemy of all righteousness, will you not stop making crooked the straight ways of the Lord?” (NASB). This rebuke highlights a critical truth: God has established “right ways” for His people to follow, revealed in His word. As followers of Christ, we must seek to honor these ways, adhering to the authority of scripture in all matters of faith and practice.
The New Testament reveals God’s will on a variety of topics, from how faith is produced to the proper practice of baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and church organization. Let us examine these “right ways of the Lord” as revealed in scripture.
The Authority of Scripture
The right way to establish authority for religious matters is through the teachings of scripture. Jesus instructs His disciples, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB). Authority in faith and practice comes from the commands, examples, and necessary inferences of scripture—not human traditions or innovations.
Paul warns against adding to God’s word, writing, “Do not go beyond what is written” (1 Corinthians 4:6, NASB). When scripture is silent on an issue, we cannot assume permission. We must follow what God has revealed and avoid deviating from His instructions.
Producing Faith the Right Way
Faith is produced by hearing the word of God, not through direct operations of the Holy Spirit. Romans 10:17 states, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (NASB). The gospel message is sufficient to produce faith in the hearts of those who hear and believe. Efforts to replace or supplement this method with emotional experiences or mystical practices are contrary to scripture.
Baptism: The Right Way
The right way of the Lord concerning baptism is immersion in water for the remission of sins, following repentance. Mark 16:16 declares, “The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved, but the one who has not believed will be condemned” (NASB). This is consistent with Peter’s teaching on the Day of Pentecost: “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38, NASB).
Sprinkling or pouring water instead of immersion is not authorized in scripture. The Greek word for “baptize” means “to immerse,” and all scriptural examples align with this practice. Romans 6:4 explains, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life” (NASB). This burial and resurrection imagery necessitates immersion.
The Lord’s Supper: A Weekly Observance
The right way of the Lord concerning the Lord’s Supper is for Christians to partake of the bread and fruit of the vine on the first day of the week, in memory of Christ’s death. Jesus instituted this practice, saying, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19, NASB). The early church followed this pattern, as seen in Acts 20:7: “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them” (NASB).
To substitute other elements, observe the Supper on a different day, or neglect its weekly observance is to deviate from the right way of the Lord. Paul emphasizes the sacred nature of this act, writing, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26, NASB).
Church Organization: Local Leadership
The right way of the Lord concerning church organization is for congregations to be led by local elders, with Christ as the head of the church. Paul writes, “He is also the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18, NASB), and elders are appointed to oversee local congregations (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5).
Efforts to centralize authority, create hierarchical structures, or establish governing bodies beyond the local church contradict scripture. Peter instructs elders, “Shepherd the flock of God among you” (1 Peter 5:2, NASB), emphasizing local responsibility. Attempts to “organize” churches on a state, national, or global level undermine the sufficiency of God’s design for His church.
Preaching the Gospel: The Church’s Responsibility
The right way of the Lord concerning evangelism is for each congregation to carry out this work to the best of its ability. Paul commends the church in Philippi for their partnership in spreading the gospel (Philippians 1:5), showing that local churches are responsible for supporting evangelism.
The establishment of external organizations or societies to carry out evangelism is not authorized in scripture. The wisdom of God is demonstrated in the sufficiency of the church itself to fulfill this mission. Adding human institutions to God’s plan reflects a lack of trust in His design.
Benevolence: Congregational Action
The right way of the Lord concerning benevolence is for the church to identify and meet the needs of its members through the selection of deacons and the raising of funds. Acts 6 describes how the apostles instructed the church to choose men to oversee the distribution of food to widows. Similarly, Paul writes, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you are to do as well” (1 Corinthians 16:1, NASB).
The creation of benevolent societies or asylums to carry out the church’s work is not authorized in scripture. These human institutions detract from the all-sufficiency of the church and the wisdom of God’s plan.
Conclusion: Following the Right Ways of the Lord
Paul’s rebuke of Elymas in Acts 13:10 reminds us of the danger of perverting God’s ways. As Christians, we are called to uphold the right ways of the Lord, following His word in all matters. This requires careful study, humility, and a willingness to submit to God’s authority.
As the early church declared, “We believe we are following the right ways of the Lord.” This commitment to scriptural authority remains vital today. Let us seek to honor God by adhering to His revealed will, confident in the sufficiency of His word to guide us in every aspect of faith and practice.
The Simple Gospel 