THE SILENCE OF THE
SCRIPTURES
(WHEN SILENCE SPEAKS
LOUDLY)
-Introduction
-Quick review of
previous lessons:
-God’s
patterns - God has established patterns for order and cohesiveness.
They are
authoritative and binding. We
must conform to them.
-God’s
pattern for N.T. worship.
-Lord’s Supper - when instituted, when to partake, emblems, purpose,
etc.
-Crucifixion - reminder of how much Jesus suffered for us
-Singing - Sing to God and to one another. God has specified singing.
Therefore, all
other options are eliminated.
-catalog example
-Singing is an issue of authority.
-In this morning’s
lesson, we’ll consider the silence of the scriptures. I think we’ll see
that the
silence of the
scriptures speaks loudly and helps us to determined what is and isn’t
authorized.
-Let’s begin by looking
in the book of Hebrews.
-Remember
the overall theme of Hebrews – Jesus and the Gospel are superior,
preeminent to
Moses and
the Law. There are a number of ways the writer of Hebrews demonstrates
this,
including appeals to silence.
-Hebrew
Examples
-Heb 7:11-17
-vs 14 –
“of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood”
-What is
the point? Since nothing was said of those from the tribe of Judah
serving as priests,
they were
unauthorized to do so.
-Deut 17:9,
18; 18:1; Num 1:50-51
-The
point: We know from the standpoint of silence, that not even Jesus
could have served as
a priest under the Law. Therefore, there
had to be a change of Law (Heb 7:12)
because Jesus is our High Priest (Heb
4:14). Silence speaks loudly.
-Heb 1:1-5
-In this passage,
the focus is on showing that Jesus is higher than the angels. To do so,
the
writer appeals to silence.
-vs 5 – “For unto which of the angels said he at any
time…” – The point is…He didn’t.
-This was only said in regards to Jesus. (Ps
2:6-7, Acts 13:33, Heb 5:5)
-Jesus is higher than the angels because God never
said this to an angel – silence.
-Again, silence speaks loudly.
-Nadab
and Abihu
-Perhaps one of the
best known accounts of silence speaking loudly is Lev 10 - Nadab &
Abihu.
-vs 1 – “which God
commanded them not”
-NAS –
“which He had not commanded them”
-God had
specified the manner and method in which offerings were to be made to
Him.
-He said
nothing about the manner in which Nadab and Abihu made their offering.
Therefore,
it was
unauthorized.
-NIV – “and they offered unauthorized fire”
-Note the results. It
was unauthorized and therefore unacceptable to God.
-Rom 15:4 - And again,
silence speaks loudly.
-Silence
– Permissive or Prohibitive?
-Col 3:17
-Some say that silence
authorizes us to make our own determinations – permissive.
-I think these previous
passages show that the silence restricted that authority – prohibitive.
-However, there are
instances in which silence is permissive:
-Heb 10:25,
Acts 20:7 – We are to gather together but it is not specified where – a
building,
a house, a barn….? – permissive
-Acts 20:7
specifies the day of the week when we are to worship but not the time.
-Eph 5:19,
Col 3:16 – We are to sing. With songbooks? Songs we have memorized?
All
four stanzas or just the
1st, 2nd and last?
-I hope we can see the
difference. When God specifies one thing and is silent toward all else,
that
silence is prohibitive.
-“Thou are my Son…” (Heb 1:5) was specifically
spoken to Jesus.
-The role of priests was specified to the
Levites, not those of Judah.
-The specific instructions for offerings were
given. Nadab and Abihu didn’t follow them.
-What if Heb 10:25
said, “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together at the
church
building at 10:00 a.m. where you sing out of songbooks”?
We would then have some more
specific instructions and all other silence would be
prohibitive.
-Singing
-Eph 5:19, Col 3:16
-Here God specifies that we are to sing with “melody in
[our] hearts to the Lord”.
-So, where is there any authority given for the use of
mechanical instruments in worship?
-There is not a verse in the New Testament scriptures
which authorizes New Testament
Christians to use mechanical instruments in worship
here on Earth.
-God has specified “singing”. Therefore, the
NT silence is prohibitive.
-Therefore, based upon the pattern set form in the
scriptures in regards to silence, we can know
wholeheartedly that the use of mechanical instruments
in worship is unauthorized and therefore
unacceptable.
-Summary and Invitation
-Col 3:17
-Deut 4:2, Prov 30:5-6, Rev 22:18-19
-We must strive to abide by that which God has
authorized.
-Hopefully, this lesson has helped you to realize the
very important role of silence.
-Indeed, silence speaks loudly.
-Just think of all the different forms of
worship being taught and practiced around the world.
-So much of what is done under the label of
worship is in violation of the principle of silence.
-God has specified what He wants.
Any additions violate the silence of the scriptures.
-And, think about how many different teachings there are
in terms of the plan of salvation.
-Let’s see what God’s word specifies:
-Believe (John 8:24, John 3:16), Confess (Matt
10:32, Rom 10:9-10), Repent (Acts 2:38,
Luke 13:3,5), Be Baptized (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38,
Acts 22:16, Gal 3:26-29)
-We are then to walk in newness of life (Rom
6:4) putting off the old ways of sin and putting
on the new ways of obedience to God’s word
(Eph 4:22-24).
-Is that what you have done and/or continue to do?
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