[Biblemat] The Messenger Vol 003 Iss 028

Sat Aug 9 21:10:41 CDT 2008

      T

he Messenger 2008

Published Weekly by Main Street Church of Christ

306 West Main Street, Newbern, TN 38059   731-627-3514

Bulletin Editor: T. Sean Sullivan

VOLUME 003::ISSUE 028:: August 10, 2008  

ARTICLE ONE:  Why We Do What We Do #3

ARTICLE TWO:  Why We Do What We Do #4

Article One: Why We Do What We Do #3

Introduction:

In Matthew 21:23 the Chief Priests and the Elders confronted          Jesus with a question. A very important question, "By what authority are you doing these things." That question was valid then and it stands valid today. By what authority do you do these things? 

Who authorized us to sing? To pray? To partake of the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine? By what authority do we meet together? Could you give a clear and concise answer to those questions? All of us need to know why we do the things we do and we need to be ready to give a defense of them (1 Peter 3:15). 

God has authorized certain practices for us and we must do only as He has authorized (1 Peter 4:11 "oracles" = authoritative words). The authoritative words of God are the collection known to us as the Bible (Hebrews 1:1-2). Our fully functional pattern of worship and practice is set for us in the New Testament scriptures. It is within the New Testament that we look for scriptural authority-God's authority. Let's consider, in this session, the subject of Generic and Specific Authority.

All Authority Is Either Generic or Specific:

Those two categories provide direction as to the "how", "when", "what" or "why" of the activities we are authorized to do. Generic authority INCLUDES "any" thing, method, or means of execution that falls within the authorized practice. An example of Generic authority is found in Matthew 28:19-20 when Jesus told us to "go".  On the other hand, specific authority EXCLUDES "every" thing, method, or means of execution, which is not specifically directed in the authority for the practice. A basic example of specific authority is found in Genesis 6:14) "Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch." "Gopherwood" Excludes all other types of wood. Why? Because God authorized specifically "gopherwood".  Noah had no authority to use any other kind. 

We must be careful with our points of authority. If we are at liberty to choose we must not bind our choices. If we are specifically told we must not attempt to enact different choices. 

Generic Authority in Practice:    

We have certain activities, which we are authorized to do. We are not given specific direction on how to carry out some of our activities. We have the liberty to use our own discretion in carrying out the authorized activity. We must not bind one certain way but rather see that anyway that the matter is accomplished can be right. Examples: We are authorized to gather together as disciples of Christ. Command: Hebrews 10:24-25; Example: Acts 20:7; Necessary Conclusion: Matthew 18:20. Within that authority we are not told where to gather together. We could meet together in a house, in a rented facility, a place we own, in a park-wherever we can gather together in a manner that allows for worship and service. One is not more right than any other. 

This is this authority by which we have procured this building: with its air conditioning (both hot and cold), the pews and their comfortable padding, even lights and carpets as well as all the other amenities that allows us to comfortably fulfill the authorized action of "gathering together". All these "amenities" enable us to fulfill the requirements of "gathering". With these things we are not doing more than gathering: they are not in addition to gathering, they facilitate gathering. 

Preaching and Teaching is another example of generic authority. We have authority: 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15. None of those passages specify how many people to preach to or how few to preach to. They do not speak of whether it is public or private teaching. We must use our own discretion to determine to whom we preach and how many we teach. 

Prayer is another example to consider. We have authority to pray: Matthew 6:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 and Acts 8:24. We are not told to sit, stand, or kneel while we pray.  We are not told how often to pray-just never to quit praying. We cannot bind one posture or a specific number of prayers per day. 

Specific Authority in Practice:    

We have certain activities, which we are authorized to do. Among those activities are those which we are given specific direction how to carry out. We must not attempt to implement liberties in those specific areas. When God reveals that it must be done a certain way we have no right to make even the smallest of changes. 

We have an example in preaching and teaching. We are authorized: 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15. Within the reveal authority for teaching and preaching we have no room for teaching or preaching anything other than the word of God. 

Also again we will look at prayer. We have authority to pray: Matthew 6:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 and Acts 8:24. We are told to pray to God the Father, in Jesus' name (John 16:23). We have no authority for praying to Jesus or the Holy Spirit. 

            One more example of specific authority is the collection. Scriptural Authority (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9). We are specifically told the Lord's treasury is to be used for the saints; we have no authority to use it on anyone else. 

Conclusion: 

1 Peter 4:11 declares, "Let him speak as the (authoritative words) of God". If everything we practice is found to be authorized by the word of God we will be able to confidently give an account for what we have done in this life when we stand in Judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10). In some cases God has given us the liberty to use our own discretion. Other cases God is very specific-we must rightly divide God's word in order to know which is which (2 Timothy 2:15). There are passages that instruct us in the generics of salvation: Like Acts 16:31 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved". The specifics of that belief are not detailed for us here. However there are more detailed passages that teach us what is required to claim "belief" and find salvation. In Acts 2:38 Peter specifically instructs, "Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins". To know what is required for salvation we must consider all information that has been revealed and is recorded for us in the word. ~tss     

Article Two:  Why We Do What We Do #4

In Matthew 21:23 the Chief Priests and the Elders confronted Jesus with a very important question, "By what authority are You doing these things." That question was valid then and it stands valid today. By what authority do you do these things? Who authorized us to sing, to pray, to partake of the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, or by what authority do we meet together? Could you give a clear and concise answer to the points of that question? 

All of us need to know why we do the things we do. And we need to be ready to give a defense of them (1 Peter 3:15). God has authorized certain practices for us and we must do only as He has authorized (oracles = authoritative words 1 Peter 4:11). Where are the words of God- they have been given (Hebrews 1:1-2).  As Christians we recognize a fully functional pattern of worship and practice has been set for us in the scriptures-specifically the New Testament scriptures. We then look of God's authority-scriptural authority. Let's consider authority that we have for our practices of worship.

Authority for Our Practices

 We are gathered here in order to please God.  We are seeking a home in Heaven and we know that we must do God's will in this life in order find that home (Matthew 7:21-23). In the word of God we have everything we need to teach the true doctrine-the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9). We are equipped to reprove-judge--to recognize and warn that one is in the wrong (Gal. 1:6-8).

We are able to offer correction, showing the way of truth (John 14:6). We know what God considers as right (John 14:15) and we have all the tools that allow us to do every good work (James 1:17-25). 

Scriptural Authority For The Things We Do.

A.         Assembling

1.   Precept:          Heb. 10:25 "Do not forsake the assembling.."

2.   Approved Example:     Acts 20:7 "Disciples came together to break bread"

3.   Conclusion:     Matt. 18:20 "Where two or three are gathered in My name."           

B.         Preaching and Teaching.

1.   Precept:

a.         2 Tim. 4:1-5 "Preach the word."

b.         Matt. 28:19 "Teaching them to observe all things."

c.         Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the gospel"

2.   Approved Example:

a.         Acts 2:22-38 Peter's sermon.

b.         Acts 8:5 "Down to Samaria and preached Christ to them."

c.         Acts 20:7 "Continued his message until midnight"

3.   Conclusion: 1 Tim. 4:16 "And those that hear you."

C.        Prayer:

1.   Precept: 

a.         Matt. 6:9-11 "In this manner, therefore, pray."

b.         1 Thess. 5:17-18 "Pray without ceasing."

2.   Approved Example:

a.         Paul throughout his epistles was consistent in prayer.

b.         Acts 8:24 "Pray to the Lord for me." (prayers regarding each other)

3.   Conclusion:

a.         1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your cares upon Him."

D.        Lord's Supper:

1.   Precept:          1 Cor. 11:23-26 Command of Christ instituted in Matt. 26:26

2.   Approved Example:     When-Acts 20:7 "The first day of the week"

3.   Necessary Conclusion:          How Often-Acts 20:7 "The first day of the week" We know each week has a first day so therefore we do this every week on the first day.

a.   Parallel: The Sabbath . "Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy" in the O.T. They kept the Sabbath holy every week.

E.         Laying by in Store (Collection)

1.   Precept:

a.   (1 Cor 16:1-2) "As I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also.

b.   (2 Cor 9:6-9) " Let every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.

F.         Singing:

1.   Precept: 

a.         Eph. 5:19 "speak to one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs"

b.   Col. 3:16 " In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Singing with grace in your hearts.

Scriptural Authority in Light of 2 Timothy 2:15
We must study the context and know exactly what has been revealed. As an example consider the Lord's Supper in Matthew 26:26-29. Face value is that we need to partake a grape juice product and some sort of bread. Upon further study we learn that both of these items were "unleavened". Verse 17 says it was the first day the Feast of Unleavened Bread. No leavening or leavened products were allowed in the houses (Chametz: anything leavened or fermented). Therefore the juice had to be fresh grape juice and the bread was unleavened bread. 

Another example that many refuse to see is that of the closer study of singing. Further study of the passages related to singing in the New Testament reveals the use of mechanical instruments is unauthorized. Both Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 give us the same list: Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. 

One of the main arguments that are used to support the use of instruments is the word Psalms The original is psallo, it means: A set piece of music. I.e. A sacred ode (accompanied with the voice or harp or other instrument; a "psalm". (Strong's Definition) So why doesn't this authorize instruments? 

The word "psallo" does not contain direction of instrument but is dependent upon the context from which it is used to prescribe the instrument. Like our word "dig" if I just say, "dig."  You do not know what to dig with. I must give further direction in the context. Use this shovel to dig. The context in these passages ascribes the "voice" and the "heart" as the instruments. If this word "psallo" authorized instruments then we, by nature of the passage in Eph. 5:19, would have to supply each one here with an organ. Ephesians 5:19 "To one another" would have to enforce that each one would play and instrument. (135 members therefore 135 organs)

The Bible Commands To:

Sing To God (Romans 15:9)

Speak in Song (Ephesians 5:19)

Make melody in your heart  teach in song (Colossians 3:16)

Admonish in song (Colossians 3:16)

Sing with the spirit (1 Corinthians 14:15)

Sing with understanding (1 Corinthians 14:15)

Praise God (Hebrews 2:12)

Give thanks (Hebrews 13:15)

Sing psalms (James 5:13)

Conclusion: 

We are here to do God's will. He has supplied the directions we must study and follow them. Some things are very apparent others require a little deeper look. All authority is clear and understandable (1 Cor. 14:33). God has authorized one pan of salvation. See the chart below to discover God's way of salvation ~tss 

If you are enjoying The Messenger and you know someone else who would like to receive it. Please forward it to them or send me their email address and I will add it to the list.   

Sean

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080809/4ce5a8a4/attachment-0001.html 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 2886 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080809/4ce5a8a4/attachment-0001.jpe 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/gif
Size: 9535 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080809/4ce5a8a4/attachment-0001.gif 