RESPECTING THE SILENCE OF THE SCRIPTURES

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RESPECTING THE SILENCE OF THE SCRIPTURES

• 1 Peter 411

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1 PETER 411

• If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles
  of God.
• The oracles of God refers to Gods inspired
  word (Acts 738 Romans 32 Hebrews 512).
• When we preach we are to preach Gods word.
• We must speak ONLY His word and remain silent
  where He has not spoken.
• We must speak where the Bible speaks and remain
  silent where the Bible is silent.

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TWO VIEWS OF SILENCE

• SILENCE GIVES CONSENT
• What is not specifically forbidden in the Bible
  is permitted.
• SILENCE PROHIBITS
• We are only permitted to do what God authorizes
  in His word.
• Direct statement
• Approved example
• Implication
• Expediency

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SILENCE GIVES CONSENT

• BELIEVE IN NO OTHER REALM.
• Principle of the Hamburger and Onion.
• Specifying Ketchup Mustard excludes everything
  else.
• Hamburger comes back with onion on it.
• You didnt say not to put onion on it.
• When you SPECIFIED what you wanted, that EXCLUDED
  everything else.

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SAME PRINCIPLE IS TRUEOF GODS WORD

• When God specifies what we are to do and how we
  are to do it, that EXCLUDES everything else.
• No long list of what He doesnt want us to do
  needed.
• When God specifies, He excludes.

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NOAH AND THE ARK

• Gen 614 - "Make yourself an ark of gopher wood
  make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and
  outside with pitch.
• No long list needed of kinds of woods not to use.
• When God specified gopher wood, that excluded
  every other kind of wood.

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EXPEDIENCY

• In every command God has given to man, there is
  an area of expediency in carrying that command
  out.
• Things to remember about expediency.
• We cannot change or add to what is commanded.
• We can only do what is in harmony with Bible
  teaching.

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THE COMMAND TO SING

• God specifies singing (Acts 1625 Romans 159 1
  Corinthians 1415 Ephesians 519 Colossians
  316 Hebrews 212 James 513).
• We may chose whatever tools are necessary to
  carrying out this command.
• Song books Pitch pipe.
• Still just singing.
• N.T. is silent about mechanical instruments of
  music.

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THE COMMAND TO SING

• Instruments are not an aid or expedient, they are
  an addition.
• They change what we are doing.
• They add another KIND of music that the N.T. is
  silent about.
• Song books pitch pipes are aids.
• They do not add to or change what we are doing.
• We are still just singing.

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COLOSSIANS 317

• And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in
  the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
  the Father through Him.
• Whatever Gk. pas (all) anything
  everything.
• you Christians.
• do bring to pass accomplish.
• in word what you teach.
• in deed what you practice.
• do all - the whole anything and everything.

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in the name of the Lord Jesus

• Acts 47-10 By what power, or by what name,
  have you done this?" (v.7)
• or indicates that power equals name.
• Matthew 2818 same word as power translated
  authority.
• by what authority, or by what name, have you
  done this?
• in the name of equals by the authority of.

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JESUS AUTHORITYIS HIS WORD

• Everything we teach or practice must be done by
  the authority of the New Testament.
• If we can't find an item authorized in the New
  Testament, then we can not do it and please God.

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2 JOHN 9-11

• Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the
  doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who
  abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the
  Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and
  does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him
  into your house nor greet him for he who greets
  him shares in his evil deeds.

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2 JOHN 9-11

• Transgresses
• one who "goes aside" or "goes beyond.
• doctrine of Christ
• teaching of Christ or Christs teaching.
• Jesus word is the boundary line.
• We must not cross the boundary and go beyond
  Jesus word.
• If we do that which Jesus word does not
  authorize we have crossed the boundary we are
  no longer in Gods fellowship.

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ACTS 1524

• Since we have heard that some who went out from
  us have troubled you with words, unsettling your
  souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep
  the law" to whom we gave no such commandment
• The apostles were SILENT gave no such
  commandment.
• Thus wrong to teach it.
• When the Bible is silent about any practice or
  teaching we must respect its silence.

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WE MUST RESPECT THE SILENCE OF THE SCRIPTURES

• Prescription for penicillin.
• Take to pharmacist.
• Everyone understands that by specifying
  penicillin, all other drugs are excluded.
• Pharmacist has no authority to add to it or
  change it.
• No long list of things excluded needed.
• Pharmacist can use whatever tools are necessary
  to fill the prescription.
• When God authorizes something in His word, that
  excludes everything else.

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PLAN OF SALVATION

• Hear the gospel (Romans 1017).
• Believe the gospel (Mark 1616).
• Repent of sin (Acts 238).
• Confession of faith (Romans 109-10).
• Be baptized (Mark 1616 Acts 238).
• Live a faithful Christian life (Revelation 210).
• Repent, confess sin, pray (Acts 822 1 Jn. 19).