03/14/2026
“Are We a Bible-Based Church or a Christ-Led Church?”
Living Waters Tabernacle of Exeter
March 13, 2026
Recently, several people have asked an important question: should we describe ourselves as a Bible-based Church, or should we call ourselves a Christ-led Church? Some may assume that these are two different ideas; however, they are inseparable. A Christ-led Church must be a Bible-based Church. Jesus Christ is not separate from the Word of God.
This question matters because a subtle but dangerous movement has been growing on social media and even among some Churches here in the Central Valley. Some are claiming that the Bible lacks authority because it was written by man. They argue that we should follow Jesus, but not be bound to Scripture. That idea may sound spiritual on the surface, but it collapses under Biblical truth. Scripture itself tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16 that, all scripture is “God breathed” and profitable for doctrine, correction, and training in righteousness. In other words, the Bible is not merely man's opinion about God. It is God's revealed truth delivered through human vessels.
The Bible was indeed written by men, but it was authored by God. The Lord chose prophets, apostles, kings, shepherds, and even fishermen to record His truth. The Apostle Peter explained that holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. This means that scripture is both divinely inspired and faithfully transmitted. The New Testament reveals that Jesus himself stands behind the authority of Scripture. John 1 declares that, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus is the eternal Word. He was not created, He was there in the beginning, one with the Father, active in creation, divine in nature, and sovereign over all things. This is same Christ who fulfilled prophecy, became flesh, and dwelt among us. Therefore, when we speak of the written Word, we are not speaking of something detached from Christ. We are speaking of revelation that comes from the One who is the Word.
Jesus consistently affirmed the authority of scripture during his earthly ministry. He quoted Moses, the Psalms, and the prophets as truth. He used Scripture to resist Satan in the wilderness. He fulfilled prophecy down to the smallest detail. Christ did not treat the Bible as optional, symbolic, or outdated. He treated Scripture as the very Word of God. If we claim to be Christ-led, then we must also honor what Christ honored. This is why historic Christian doctrine of Sola Scriptura remains so important. Sola Scriptura, a foundational principle of the reformation, teaches that Scripture alone is the Church's final written authority for faith and practice. This does not mean tradition, preaching, or church leadership have no value. It means that all of those must be tested by the Bible. Christ leads His church, and He does so in perfect agreement with the Word He has given.
Some today try to divide Jesus from the Bible. This is false Doctrine. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father with all authority in Heaven and on Earth. He governs His Church through the ministry of the Holy Spirit and through the truth of His written Word. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit never contradict one another. The Spirit will never lead a church away from the Scripture He inspired. Theologians have identified over 63,779 cross references that connect, explain, and confirm 66 books, over 40 authors, spanning 1500 years of internal consistency forming an incredible cohesive narrative.
The accuracy of the Bible has been demonstrated repeatedly. It's manuscripts have been preserved in remarkable abundance. It's prophecies have been fulfilled with astonishing precision. Most importantly, Scripture continues to transform lives, convict hearts, expose sin, reveal salvation, and point Humanity to Jesus Christ. So, are we a Bible-based Church or a Christ-led Church? The answer is yes! We are Christ led because we are Bible-based, and we are Bible-based because Christ is the Author, the Authority, and the Fulfillment of Scripture. A church that abandons the authority of the Bible cannot honestly claim to follow Christ, because Christ has already spoken.
