A Study of Authority - 4

Does Silence Give Authority?

The Bible and Silence

• Silence – when God says nothing!

• Does it prohibit or does it give permission?

•Colossians 3:17

The Bible and Silence

•2 Tim. 3:16,17•1 Corinthians 4:6•2 John 9•1 Peter 4:11

The Bible and Silence

•Deut. 12:32•Deut. 4:1-2•Rev. 22:18-19•Deut. 29:29, “The

secret things belong to the Lord”

The Bible and Silence

•Deut. 12:32•Deut. 4:1-2•Rev. 22:18-19•Deut. 29:29, “The

secret things belong to the Lord”

Does God know how to communicate what

He expects?

Example of Silence•Numbers 9• Moses and 2nd Passover. •Num. 9:8, “And Moses

said to them, “Stand still, that I may hear what the LORD will command concerning you.”

Example of Silence

•Leviticus 10:1-2• Nadab and Abihu,

killed for authorizing strange fire.

• Where God gives POSITIVE instruction, everything else is forbidden!

Example of Silence•1 Chronicles 13:7-10

• Ark transported toward Jerusalem by a new cart. Uzzah was killed for trying to steady the ark.

• God had specified HOW the ark was to be transported – Numbers 4:15

Example of Silence•Matthew 15:1-2• Disciples of Jesus

questioned for not washing hands (ceremonially)

• By traditions they made the commands of God of no effectMatt. 15:3

Example of Silence

•Acts 15:1, 5• Men of Judea said

Gentiles had to be circumcised.

• Examining the evidence, no they did not! Vs. 24, “to whom we gave no such commandment”

Example of Silence•Hebrews 7:14• Of the priesthood of

Jesus it is noted, He was of the tribe of Judah, “of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood”

• Consider 2 Chron. 26:16-20 – King Uzziah

Silence today!

• Instrumental music

• Some say, “IT doesn’t say we cannot do it.”

• But God did give POSITIVE instructions Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16

Silence today!

• Baptism - mode• Word means “immerse”• Some argue, “but God

didn’t say we could not sprinkle or pour”

• He didn’t need to! POSITIVE instructions limit how we do it

Silence today!• Baptism – who?• Must be a believer (mature,

accountable

•Acts 2:37, 16:31-33, 8:12, etc.

• To say, “God did not say infants should not be baptized” is invalid. Even arguing for “households” is invalid.

Silence today!

• When we eat the Lord’s Supper

•Acts 20:7• First day of the week

• NOT Thursday, etc. He did not have to say, “no other day”.

Silence today!

• The work of the church

• LIMITED in its scope

• To add to its purpose because God did not say we could not is NOT proper authority!

Silence today!

• Organization of the church

• Local and autonomous; elders are local!

• God is silent to organizations larger than the local church.

Silence is NOT a valid way to establish

authority!

Do NOT gamble with your soul over what God did NOT say!