DOES THE SILENCE OF THE SCRIPTURES GRANT PERMISSION OR SET LIMITS?

Intro.

1.  Col. 3:17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17 - We must have Christ’s authority for all we do.  A failure to have Bible authority for all things we do has caused division among churches of Christ. Lesson to be learned from OT (Rom. 15:4).

  a.  Num. 4:1-6, 15; 7:9 - Kohathites to bare the ark on their shoulders.

  b.  1 Chron. 13:1-8 - The ark of the covenant had remained in the house of Abinadab for 20 yrs. after returned from Philistines (1 Sam. 7:1). Now, David proposes to bring it up to Jerusalem.

2.  13:9-14 - Death of Uzza showed God’s displeasure over something. What displeased God? [Error - 2 Sam. 6:7]

  a.  Moving the ark? Why? (13:3) Who? (13:4) How? (13:7)

  b.  David’s attitude of heart? (13:8)

  c.  Uzza’s good intention? (13:9)

3.  15:2, 11-15 - Because they did not follow God’s pattern for transporting the ark! When they did "as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord" 15:15)....succeeded! (15:26)

4.  Illus. of adding to God’s word (Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:6; Rev. 22:18). Put another way, disrespect for the silence of the scriptures! Silence of the scriptures is not license...silence restrains!

5.  Study God’s silence & His judgments against adding to His word, then see that adding to God’s silence is "going beyond the doctrine of Christ."

I.  GOD’S SILENCE: MAN’S DISRESPECT & GOD’S JUDGMENTS.

  A.  Nadab & Abihu - Lev. 8:36; 9:2-4; 10:1-2.

    1.  Animals had been commanded & offered "as the Lord had commanded Moses" (Lev. 8:36; 9:2-24).

    2.  10:1 - Strange (foreign, profane) fire - Not commanded.

    3.  God’s judgment: Death (10:2).

  B.  King Saul - 1 Sam. 15:3, 9, 13-15, 22-23.

    1.  v. 3, 9 - The command & the disobedience.

    2.  v. 13-15 - The explanation (rationalization).

    3.  God’s judgment: Disobedience / Rebellion (v. 10, 22-23).

  C.  Jeroboam - 1 Kgs. 12:26-33; Hosea 8:4-7.

    1.  12:28 - The incentive.

    2.  Changed:

      a.  Object (v. 28): Calves -- God.

      b.  Place (v. 29): Bethel/Dan -- Jerusalem.

      c.  Priesthood (v. 31): All tribes -- Levi.

      d.  Feast day (v. 32): Month later -- Tabernacles.

    3.  God’s judgment: Sin (v. 30; Hosea 8:4-7).

  D.  Judaizers - Acts 15:1, 24; Gal. 2:5.

    1.  15:1 - Circumcision + gospel = Salvation (15:5).

    2.  15:24 - No commandment given - Acting alone.

    3.  God’s judgment: Subverting souls / bondage (15:24; Gal. 2:5).

  E.  Priestly Tribe Of The Law Of Moses - Heb. 7:12-14.

    1.  If OT law still in force, Jesus is not a priest. (Heb. 8:4)

    2.  Silence restricted the priesthood to Levi only!

    3.  God’s judgment: Only Levi.

II.  ADDING TO GOD’S SILENCE IS GOING BEYOND HIS DOCTRINE & AUTHORITY - Col. 3:17; 2 Tim. 1:13; 2 Jno. 9.

-(False reasoning: "It doesn’t say ‘not to’, so we are at liberty to do it"!!)

  A.  Music In Worship (Eph. 5:19).

-Sing + Play = Beyond Christ’s authority!-

  B.  Mode Of Baptism (Rom. 6:4).

-Immerse + Sprinkle = Beyond Christ’s authority!-

  C.  Subject Of Baptism (Mk. 16:16).

-Believer + Proxy = Beyond Christ’s authority!-

  D.  New Birth (Jno. 3:5; Eph. 5:26).

-Water & H. S. + Tongue-Speaking = Beyond Christ’s authority!-

  E.  Divorce & Remarriage (Matt. 19:9).

-Fornication + desertion = Beyond Christ’s authority!-

  F.  Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7).

-1st day + Thursday = Beyond Christ’s authority!

-More examples of adding to silence of God’s word......

Conclusion

1.  The silence of God’s word is respected when we abide in the doctrine of Christ & do not add to its teachings.

2.  2 Jno. 9 - Our salvation & fellowship with God hangs in the balance!