Are You Doing These Things?
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Transcript of Are You Doing These Things?
When Bible authority is taught, some may argue, “there are many things you do that
aren’t in the Bible”
Church building, song books, communion trays, multiple cups, A/C or heat, Bible classes,
bulletins, tracts, PowerPoint, website, etc.
We also drive in cars and fly in airplanes that aren’t mentioned in the Bible.
“How can you condemn others, when you don’t have Bible authority for what you teach
either?”
It is right to question what is taught. (1 John 4:1)
The Chief Priests and Elders Questioned Jesus
They asked him, “"By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?" Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one thing, which if you tell
Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. "The baptism of John was
from what source, from heaven or from men?" And they began reasoning among
themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Then why did you not believe him?‘ (Matt. 21:23-25)
Authority Either Comes from Two Sources- Heaven or Men
Therefore we must give book, chapter, and Therefore we must give book, chapter, and verse for what we believe, teach, and verse for what we believe, teach, and
practice. practice. (Colossians 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11)(Colossians 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11)
We must abide in the doctrine of Christ or We must abide in the doctrine of Christ or we don’t have God’s approval. we don’t have God’s approval. (2 John (2 John
1:9) 1:9)
If we add to or take away from the word of If we add to or take away from the word of God or preach another gospel we will be God or preach another gospel we will be condemned. condemned. (Rev. 22:18-19; Gal. 1:8-9)(Rev. 22:18-19; Gal. 1:8-9)
Listeners Have a Responsibility to Examine the Scriptures and
Apply ItThe Bereans…. “received the word with
great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
“But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from abstain from
every form of evil.” every form of evil.” ((1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)
So study to show yourselves approved to God. (2 Timothy 2:15)
How to Establish Bible Authority
Direct Command or Statement of God (Matthew 28:18-20)
Divinely Approved Examples (1 Timothy 3:15)
Necessary Inference (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:24)
Since the church is subject to Christ, the Wonsley Dr. church of Christ desires to obey everything the Lord commanded including divinely approved examples.
General Authority includes Expedients
General- “of or pertaining to all persons or things belonging in a category…not limited to one class…not specific.”
(Random House Dict.)
Expedient- “useful for effecting a desired result; suited to the
circumstances or the occasion; advantageous, convenient” (ibid)
It must be lawful before we can call it an expedient. (1 Corinthians 10:23)
Specific Authority Excludes any Substitution
Specific- “having a specific application, bearing or reference…specified,
precise, or particular… concerning specifically with the item or subject named” (Random House
Dictionary) (Examples- Will, deed, or license)
Excludes- “to keep or shut out; bar…to omit from notice or consideration.” (American Heritage Dictionary)
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
God Told Noah-“Make…an ark” (Genesis 6:14)
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
God Told Noah-“Make…an ark” (Genesis 6:14)
The Bible doesn’t The Bible doesn’t tell us how he did tell us how he did it, but it does say it, but it does say that he obeyed that he obeyed God. God. (Genesis
6:22)
Therefore any tool or Therefore any tool or equipment necessary equipment necessary
that would that would advantageous to advantageous to
accomplish the goal accomplish the goal would be permitted by would be permitted by
God. God.
Specific Command Excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)“Make an ark…(Genesis 6:14)
Specific Command Excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)“Make an ark…(Genesis 6:14)
Raft, sailboat, rowboat
Specific Command Excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)“Make an ark…(Genesis 6:14)
Raft, sailboat, rowboat
“…of gopher wood”
Specific Command Excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)“Make an ark…(Genesis 6:14)
Raft, sailboat, rowboat
“…of gopher wood”
Oak, pine, cedar
Specific Command Excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)“Make an ark…(Genesis 6:14)
Raft, sailboat, rowboat
“…of gopher wood”
Oak, pine, cedar
Length- 300 cubits Width- 50 cubits
Height- 30 cubits3 Decks, Door &
Window(Genesis 6:16-17)
Specific Command Excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)“Make an ark…(Genesis 6:14)
Raft, sailboat, rowboat
“…of gopher wood”
Oak, pine, cedar
Length- 300 cubits Width- 50 cubits
Height- 30 cubits3 Decks, Door &
Window(Genesis 6:16-17)
Noah could not decide to change the length, width or height, # of
decks, door, and window or he would
have disobeyed God.
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
Jesus’ Great Commission
“Go” (Matthew 28:19)
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
Jesus’ Great Commission
“Go” (Matthew 28:19)
Jesus did not tell them how they had to go, they just had to go.
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
Jesus’ Great Commission
“Go” (Matthew 28:19)
Jesus did not tell them how they had to go, they just had to go.
Whether you drive, walk or ride (whether in a car, on a bicycle, in an airplane, on a ship, or on an animal), you have obeyed the command to
go.
When you go any of these ways, you are doing what the Lord said even though cars and airplanes weren’t around in the 1st century.
General Authority Excludes Binding One Way over Another
But you cannot bind one way over another or you
would be guilty of binding where God has
not bound. (Matthew 16:19)
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
Jesus’ Great Commission
“Teach” (Matthew 28:19)
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
Jesus’ Great Commission
“Teach” (Matthew 28:19)
Arrangements:Sermon, Bible
classes (saints & children at a
building), group, individual, radio,
TV
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
Jesus’ Great Commission
“Teach” (Matthew 28:19)
Methods: Printed materials
(newspaper, tracts, bulletins,
charts, etc.)Home Bible Study
Website- the internet
CD, DVD, VideotapeOverhead projector
When you use any or all of these arrangements or
methods all you have done is teach with them in order
to obey the Lord’s command.
Specific Authority Excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)“Go preach the gospel”
(Mark 16:15)
Specific Authority Excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)“Go preach the gospel”
(Mark 16:15)
Another gospel (Galatians 1:8-9)
Galatians 1:8-9
“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any
man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to
be accursed!”
Specific Authority Excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)“Go preach the gospel”
(Mark 16:15)
Another gospel (Galatians 1:8-9)Law of Moses
(Acts 15)
Acts 15:1,24
Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the
custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”….
"Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction
have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls”
Specific Authority Excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)“Go preach the gospel”
(Mark 16:15)
Another gospel (Galatians 1:8-9)Law of Moses
(Acts 15)Men’s Traditions,
Creeds, Philosophies
(Colossians 2:8-10)
Colossians 2:8-10
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty
deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than
according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all
rule and authority”
Specific Authority Excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)“Go preach the gospel”
(Mark 16:15)
Men’s Traditions, Creeds,
Philosophies (Colossians 2:8-
10)“He who believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16)
Specific Authority Excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)“Go preach the gospel”
(Mark 16:15)
Men’s Traditions, Creeds,
Philosophies (Colossians 2:8-
10)“He who believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16)
Believing onlyPraying sinner’s
prayer
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
Assemble“not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together as is the habit of some” (Hebrews
10:25)
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
Assemble“not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together as is the habit of some” (Hebrews
10:25)
Place:Private house,
school, riverside, rented hall, own a
building, government facility, etc.
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
Assemble“not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together as is the habit of some” (Hebrews
10:25)
Since we must meet somewhere, we can choose an expedient place to
meet (in an environment conducive to
learn- A/C or heat). (John 4:21,
23)
John 4:21,23
JJesus *said to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in
this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father…
"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such
people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.”
Specific Authority excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)Worship in spirit
(John 4:24)
John 4:24 "God is spirit, and those
who worship Him must worship in spirit and
truth."
Specific Authority excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)Worship in spirit
(John 4:24)
The church gathered together
to engage in spiritual matters.
Specific Authority excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)Worship (John
4:24)(Prayer, Lord’s
Supper, Preaching, Singing, Giving)
(Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Co. 16:2; Co.
3:16)
Acts 2:42
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 20:7
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered
together to break bread, Paul began talking to them,
intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.
1 Corinthians 16:1-2
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the
churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put
aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections
be made when I come.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom
teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to
God.
Specific Authority excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)Prayer
Lord’s Supper Preaching Singing Giving
Not for these purposes:
Specific Authority excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)Prayer
Lord’s Supper Preaching Singing Giving
Entertainment (jokes, choir,
concert)
Specific Authority excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)Prayer
Lord’s Supper Preaching Singing Giving
Entertainment (jokes, choir,
concert) Eating
(Kitchen/Fellowship hall)
Specific Authority excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)Prayer
Lord’s Supper Preaching Singing Giving
Entertainment (jokes, choir,
concert) Eating
(Kitchen/Fellowship hall)
Recreation (Gymnasium/Family
Life Center)
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
SING “Singing and
making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph.
5:19)
Ephesians 5:19
“speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord”
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
SING “Singing and
making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph.
5:19)
Song leader
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
SING “Singing and
making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph.
5:19)
Song leaderSong books
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
SING “Singing and
making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph.
5:19)
Song leaderSong books
Four part harmony
Specific Authority excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)SING
“Singing and making melody in your heart
to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19)
Specific Authority excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)SING
“Singing and making melody in your heart
to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19)
There are 9 passages in the NT that
mention singing in worship but none mention playing.
Specific Authority excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)SING
“Singing and making melody in your heart
to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19)
There are 9 passages in the NT that
mention singing in worship but none mention playing.
Playing on an instrument is not authorized by the Lord because the making melody is specified by the
heart.
Specific Authority excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)SING
“Singing and making melody in your heart
to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19)
There are 9 passages in the NT that
mention singing in worship but none mention playing.
Therefore the specific command
of singing and making melody in your heart would exclude a piano, guitar, drums,
harp, tambourine, etc.
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
Lord’s Supper“First Day of the
Week” (Acts 20:7)
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
Lord’s Supper“First Day of the
Week” (Acts 20:7)
Day or Night, any of 24 hours
Whether you do it Sunday morning,
afternoon, or night you have obeyed the command.
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
Cup- “Fruit of the Vine”
“Do this in remembrance of
Me”(Matthew 26:27-29)
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
Cup- “Fruit of the Vine”
“Do this in remembrance of
Me”(Matthew 26:27-29)
Single or Multiple Containers
Whether you take it with one container or many you would have obeyed the
command to drink the fruit of the vine.
Specific Authority excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)Lord’s Supper
“First Day of the Week” (Acts 20:7)
Specific Authority excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)Lord’s Supper
“First Day of the Week” (Acts 20:7)
Any other day of the week.
Once/month Once or twice a
yearAny other drink
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
Jesus’ Great Commission
“Baptize” (Matthew 28:20)
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
Jesus’ Great Commission
“Baptize” (Matthew 28:20)
Place:Baptistery, Ocean,
River, Lake, Bathtub, Pool, etc.
General Authority includes Expediency
General Command Includes Expediency
Jesus’ Great Commission
“Baptize” (Matthew 28:20)
Place: Baptistery, Ocean, River, Lake, Bathtub,
Pool, etc.
Therefore the church can have a baptistery but it
isn’t the only place you can baptize.
Specific Authority excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)Be Baptized and Wash Away Your
sins“Arise & be
baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the
name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16)
Specific Authority excludes Substitution
Specific Command Excludes substitution
(Not authorized)Be Baptized and Wash Away Your
sins“Arise & be
baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the
name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16)
Being baptized because your sins
were already forgiven or as an
outward sign of an inward grace
ConclusionConclusionWe believe that we have book, chapter, We believe that we have book, chapter,
and verse for what we believe, teach, and verse for what we believe, teach, and practice based on the Bible. and practice based on the Bible. (Col.
3:17)
If we do not, please bring it to our If we do not, please bring it to our attention, and we promise we will study attention, and we promise we will study and change if proven to be wrong from and change if proven to be wrong from
the Scriptures.the Scriptures.
If you realize that your life is not in If you realize that your life is not in accordance with God’s will, please obey accordance with God’s will, please obey
the gospel before it is too late! the gospel before it is too late!
Matthew 7:21-23"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord,
Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of
My Father who is in heaven will enter. "Many will say to Me on that
day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast
out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO
PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.‘”