"Hear Ye Him"
In the book of Matthew, chapter 17, is found an account of the transfiguration of Jesus before Peter, James, and John. Verses 2-3 say "And (Jesus) was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him." Peter, after the manner of men, was greatly impressed with what he saw and presumptuously said, ". . . Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias." (verse 4.) Notice, however, that the building of three tabernacles was not God's will in the matter. In fact, God did not even allow Peter to finish his statement for verse 5 says, "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." It was not God's plan or intention that anyone should be honored on a plane with his beloved Son because in Jesus the Christ is vested the end and the fullness of all his blessings toward man. (Ephesians 1:3-5 and 22-23; Colossians 1:18-19; I Peter 1:18-21.) God has exalted Christ above everyone and everything. Paul wrote, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11.) Realizing this fact one should feel the great impact of God's command, "hear ye him."
While God's statement is simple, direct, and easily understood, still there is an inference made by it, the consideration of which is very important, and particularly so in view of the confused state of the religious world.
Christ, The Figure Of Authority
Since Christ is the fullness of God's plan, and men are commanded to hear him, it necessarily follows that his word is authoritative. By his resurrection from the dead Christ is declared to be the son of God with power. (Romans 1:4.) It was after his resurrection that Christ came again to his disciples "and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28:18.)
Notice carefully that Christ has all power! The word "all" is absolutely inclusive and means that since all power or authority in religious matters is in Christ that there is not one thing that men may believe or practice outside the framework of the teaching of his word. God, said, "hear ye him." This being the case, why try to serve God through the manuals, disciplines, catechisms, and doctrines of men? The men who have written such have no authority because all authority is in Christ. The sincerity, good intentions, or great reputation of those who have helped write formalized creeds does not alter the fact their writings are still human in origin, and that the only creed men are commanded to recognize is the word of Jesus Christ the divine son of God. It matters not whether it be the Methodist Discipline, the Baptist Manual, the Roman Catholic Catechism, the Augsburg Confession, the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Book of Common Prayer, the Book of Mormon, etc., etc., such do not bear or glorify the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and exist without his authority. Some have attempted to justify the existence of the human creeds named above on the grounds that "they only contain Bible teaching," but if this be true then why is it that these creeds in many points contradict each other? The Bible is not contradictory in its teaching, the claims of the unlearned to the contrary notwithstanding. And why is it that following such a creed produces followers peculiar to the tenets of that creed (Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, etc.) rather than simply producing Christians as following Christ's word does ? (Acts 11:25-26.) Such creeds are an obvious attempt of those responsible for them to inject into religion their own peculiar likes and dislikes to the exclusion of recognition of the authority of Christ. God did not say, "hear ye Martin Luther," or this or that denominational conference or synod, or the pope, but he did say of Jesus Christ, "hear ye him."
In Matthew 28:18, Christ said, "... all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." He exercised that power by commanding his apostles to teach his word to all men. Verses 19-20, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you . . ." By inspiration of the Holy Ghost the apostles preached to the world the gospel or good news of Christ's death on the cross and sacrifice for the sins of men, his burial, and resurrection from the grave and conquest over death by which those in him have assurance of eternal life. (I Corinthians 15:1-4.) In Acts 2:36-42 is an account of the first time the gospel was preached. Peter told these people that Jesus whom they had crucified was Lord and Christ (verse 36), and they obviously believed it because they asked what to do to escape their sin. (verse 37.) In verse 38 Peter answered that they should "... repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins "
Verse 41 says "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized," and verse 47 makes it clear that the Lord added those who were saved by obedience to the gospel to the church.
These people accepted the authority of Christ by believing and obeying his gospel. When they obeyed the gospel their sins were remitted, they were saved and added to the church. They had not followed the teachings of men, but the teachings of Christ through his apostles. Therefore being followers of Christ they were called Christians. (Acts 11:26, I Peter 4:16.) Those who received the blessings of God were those, who with the faithful of all ages, hear the Father's command with regard to the Son to "hear ye him."