The matter of silence in Bible authority is just as important as the matter of God’s voice. What God says will not matter if we do not respect his silence equally. As many religious errors result from abusing God’s silence as result from disregarding his voice.
These simple statements deserve much elaboration and this edition of “Solid Food” will be occupied with their consideration. What does God’s silence on any given question imply? What Does Silence Mean? Before the Protestant reformation, John Wycliff was a very influential reformer of the apostate church. Among his followers was Bohemian John Huss (1373-1415), who, earlier than Luther, opposed the papal sale of indulgences and use of armed force. Huss’s own followers, though, were deeply divided into two camps. One group known as the “Utraquists” forbade only those practices specifically condemned by the Bible, thus tolerating anything without explicit condemnation. The other group, known as the “Taborites,” rejected all practices for which express warrant in the Bible could not be found, thus rejecting transubstantiation, the worship of saints, prayers for the dead, indulgences, priestly confession, dancing, and other such amusements. In a war that broke out between the two factions, the Taborites were defeated in 1434 and almost swept away. The Taborites, however, had been on the right track, regarding the importance of the silence of God’s word. But when Martin Luther came along and made forceful objections to papal tradition, he validated by his influence the idea that the silence of the scriptures on any given matter was implicit authorization. Luther, reacting to the extreme conclusions of his more radical disciples, declared that “what is not contrary to Scripture is for Scripture and Scripture for it.” The application of this principle was that anything which was not expressly prohibited in the Bible was therefore implicitly authorized. That influence continues to be felt today in most every Protestant denomination. There was a third reformer, however, who stands out: Huldreich Zwingli, the foremost leader of the Protestant Reformation in Switzerland, was born January 1, 1484, seven weeks after the birth of Martin Luther. While a student at the University of Basel (1502-06), an instructor impressed upon his mind the sole authority of the Scriptures. Zwingli’s approach to Bible authority was far narrower than Luther’s; he believed that authority existed only for that which clear authorization could be identified in the scriptures. As a result, he rejected the papacy, mass, intercession by the dead, monasticism, purgatory, clergy celibacy, relics, images and instrumental music. Luther and Zwingli agreed on many points, but the silence of the scriptures in authority was not one of them; to Zwingli the will of God as set forth in the Bible, and conformity to it, was the ideal of religion, while Luther tended more toward emotionalism and subjectivism. Some of Zwingli’s followers did not believe even he went far enough in applying the principle of the silence of the scriptures. They began to doubt also infant baptism and started practicing full immersion as they saw in the scriptures. Their views spread and they became known as “Anabaptists,” or “rebaptizers.” They also supported a common observance of the Lord’s Supper and congregational autonomy, in deference to the silence of the scriptures concerning the usual practices of their day. Two Viewpoints Thus two viewpoints emerged through the reformation, with one of them continuing to this day to define denominationalism, while the other caused people to tend toward restoration instead. The first perspective on scriptural silence, held by Luther and modern Calvinists, is that silence is implicit authority. The second perspective, held by Zwingli and later by Campbell, Stone, et al., is that scriptural silence is no authority at all. But what do the scriptures say? Six Scriptural Considerations Silence is the Absence of Authority Hebrews 7:13-14 states “For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe, Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.” In discussing Christ’s priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek, the Hebrew writer concedes that under the law of Moses, Jesus could never be a priest, for the Old Testament only expressly authorizes descendants of Levi to serve in that office. Verse 14 is then an argument from the silence of the scriptures that authority was absent and liberty extinct. Moses spoke nothing concerning a priest from Judah; thus it was unauthorized and impossible. Today, people demand to see an explicit condemnation of any act to which we object and yet the Hebrews were satisfied that God’s silence was the lack of authority. “The New Testament doesn’t say not to,” they contend, extending this weak authority only so far as their opinions and imaginations take them. When a school teacher today tells a student he may be excused to go to the restroom, his silence regarding a trip to the cafeteria, pay phone and parking lot is not considered authority to do all those things, but is considered to be the lack of authority and grounds for punishment on the basis of presumption. Is a school teacher then higher authority than almighty God; is His silence not worthy respect instead of presumption? Pious Intent is No Excuse Concerning David’s presumption to build God’s temple, 2 Samuel 7:7 reports God’s reply: “Have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel … saying ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'”. David’s intention was to build God a temple, and his plans were noble, but misguided and presumptuous. God’s reply is an appeal to silence: “When I have ever spoken a word” regarding this project? Folks today will defend their projects and intentions against accusations they are unauthorized by boasting of their good intentions and even results. You cannot object to church sponsored orphanages, old folks’ homes or colleges without hearing this refrain. The trouble is, good intentions have never been a substitute for Bible authority and God’s silence on any matter is an invitation to abstain, not presume. Worship Innovations Unwanted When the priests, Nadab and Abihu offered profane fire before God in Leviticus 10:1-3, they were punished and killed for their presumption. What made their fire “profane”? It was worship “which he had not commanded them.” All these priests wanted to do was offer God something different; perhaps they were weary of the same old worship and figured that God must be as well. God, however, did not want their worship innovations, for man’s creativity was not evidence of growing piety, but shrinking reverence for God’s explicit revelation and his thundering silence. The innovation of New Testament worship: emotionalism through testimonies and dimming of lights, instruments in music and applause, etc. is supported today as evidence of a filling with the spirit and a deeper feeling of love and praise for God. Yet, Nadab and Abihu would testify that God has no desire for man to improve upon the divine pattern and that approaching him with such innovations is regarding him as unholy. Speak What You Read, Not What You Feel The apostle Peter wrote, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). If we limit ourselves to speaking only as God’s recorded oracles reveal, we will eliminate much of what passes for religion today. Everything that intrudes upon God’s silence will be done away with and only those things with firm foundation in book, chapter and verse will remain. Instead of standing on thin ice or shifting sand, we will be founded upon a rock of certainty. We must learn to speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where the Bible is silent. No Creed But Christ Revelation 22:18-19 warns against adding to or taking away from God’s revelation to John. The creeds of men are designed to clarify the supposed confusion of God’s word and improve upon his communication to us. Like the traditions of the Jewish elders and opinions of the scribes and Pharisees, however, they erect a wall of doctrinal disunity that is not easily shattered, a wall which God did not build. The creeds encode their own forms of “Corban,” loopholes and justifications for dismissing the weightier parts of the law, when found inconvenient or impolitic (Matt. 15:1-9, 23:23-24). To invade God’s silence and speak in its place one’s opinions is to invite a dismissal from the book of Life. Today, Christians are pressured to bring the Bible up to date by removing any reference to gender roles and condemnation of homosexuality and fornication. God’s word, however, abides forever and is only tampered with at man’s risk. Don’t Cross That Line John warns against giving aid and comfort to the enemies of the cross as he addresses the elect lady in 2 John 9-11. We must learn to abide in the doctrine of Christ‹to live there and never travel beyond it. As for those whose wanderings take them beyond Christ’s doctrine, we should have no fellowship with them, but rather expose them (cf. Eph. 5:11 and 2 Tim. 2:17-18). Not abiding in Christ’s doctrine is going beyond it: going beyond what is revealed to that which is not and asserting that one can take advantage of God’s silence to authorize anything not specifically condemned. The principle is clear: going beyond what we can read is sinful; God’s silence is golden and must be revered and not broken. Conclusion It is clear how your interpretation of God’s silence will commit you to many things. These six passages, and no doubt many more, establish the fact that God’s silence is golden and is not wide-open authority, but implicit prevention. Paul Clements
Years ago, Gospel Preacher L.E. Wishum wrote an article entitled, “Shall We Be Circumcised, Build an Ark or Be Baptized?” In the article, brother Wishum presented the idea that we must learn to rightly divide the Bible, understanding that we do not live in the Patriarchal Age, and neither are we under the Jewish Law. The things God commanded during those two dispensations are not applicable to us today. So, where do we turn for authority for what we do in religion? It is not to the church itself. The church cannot determine doctrines and practices for the members. Neither are we guided by traditions, whether written or unwritten. Men or women who claim to have received a revelation cannot be the authority when what they have espoused is contrary to the Bible. Such additional “revelation” or “inspiration” would contradict the truth that the sacred writings are all we need, able to furnish us completely unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:14-17). The Word of God does not leave us to wonder. We are subject to the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. The Christian Age began with the death of Christ and will continue until the end of time. The first four books of the New Testament record the preparation for the coming of the Christian dispensation. The Book of Acts tells of the beginning of this age, the Gospel being preached, the church being established and the saved being added to the church by the Lord, based on their obedience. The remainder of the New Testament gives instruction to the church of our Lord. Religious authority rests in or with God (Psalm 90:1-2). Because He created all things, He would have the authority over all things (Hebrews 3:4). Because He is “the Almighty God,” He has authority over mankind (Genesis 17:1). This authority God gave to His Son, Jesus Christ (John 17:1-2; Matthew 28:18). Jesus is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Jesus spoke for God (John 8:26-29; Hebrews 1:1-2). As God said from heaven, “This is my beloved son… hear ye him” (Matthew 17:5). The apostles were instructed to teach men “…to observe all things” that Jesus had commanded (Matthew 28:20). All we do must be by the authority of Jesus (Colossians 3:17). Jesus gave the apostles words He received from God (John 17:8, 14). He had told the apostles He would soon depart this earth but that He would send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to bring to their remembrance all that He had said, and that the Holy Spirit would guide them (the apostles) into all truth (John 14:26; 16:13). Since the words written by the sacred writers of the New Testament were inspired by the Holy Spirit (deity), then it implies the authority of God (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:10-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). It also means we need nothing more or less than God’s Word, the Bible, to guide us in all things Henry S. Ficklin
Mt. Sterling, Kentucky (INTRODUCTION: Henry S. Ficklin (1883-1974) delivered this lesson over the radio in Athens, Ala., on April 1, 1962. It is still needed in Athens, Nashville, and everywhere else-though it is what some call “legalistic” and “dogmatic.” Ron Halbrook, 3536 Dickerson Rd., Nashville, TN. 37207.) After the lapse of almost a year, I am again able to speak to you of the radio audience. Through the goodness of God I am permitted to preach here “The Unsearchable Riches of Christ.” The speakers on this radio program, which has been conducted for a number of years, for the glory of God, for the up-building of the true church, and for your edification, would like to know how much good you, their invisible audience, are obtaining from these sermons. It is a bit different to speak to a radio audience from speaking with your audience at the church building. For on the radio we cannot be rewarded by seeing the lively expressions on your faces as you listen, and we cannot hear you say “Amen.” But there are other ways by which these radio speakers may know how much good you are receiving from these sermons. You may write and say that you were helped, and you can show it by being a more faithful Christian. And your speakers over the radio hope that there are some secret changes that you are making, that you are changed within, that you love the truth more, that burdens have been lifted from your hearts, and that you have a joy and peace in your soul that you have never known before. And if you some of you – should write in and tell them that you have learned the way of salvation from these lessons and that you want someone to come to you, that you might obey the Gospel, your speakers will rejoice to hear this from you. During this broadcast, and after it is over, too, I want us to be thinking about “Counterfeit Religion.” My text is Exodus the 7th chapter, verses 10, 11 and 12; “And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did as Jehovah had commanded; and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called for the wise-men and the sorcerers; and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents; but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.” From this text, I have derived my subject; “Counterfeit Religion.” There is great danger for us in Counterfeit Religion, as there always has been. I. Our Age Abounds in Counterfeits. We have false faces. We sometimes buy boxes of stationery, thinking we have bought a bargain, but find that, half-way down, there is a false bottom, and see that we have only about half as much as we think we have. Some years ago I went to preach at a new congregation in the mountains of Kentucky. On the outside there was a siding that was an imitation of brick. It was not brick, but it looked like brick. I hate for a congregation to pretend that it has something which it does not have. Let us not have any pretense on the inside and let us not begin pretending before we get into the building. And, some years ago, in Paris, Kentucky, officers discovered a factory for counterfeit money. This started me to studying about the counterfeit in religion. II. The Devil has Been In The Counterfeit Business From The Beginning. 1. He started it in Egypt, when God’s people were in bondage. God knew that Pharaoh would resist the will of God to bring his people out of Egypt, because of the hardness of his heart. So, the Lord empowered Aaron and Moses to work miracles before him when Pharaoh should say: “Show a wonder for you.” (Exodus 7:8) This came to pass when they went in before Pharaoh. And Aaron did as the Lord commanded-he cast down his rod and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh called for the sorcerers, the magicians, and they cast down every man his rod and it became a serpent. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods, just as every counterfeit will finally be exposed. 2. The devil produced a big counterfeit when Israel vis divided. The account of this substitute religion is found in 1 Kings 12:25-32. The Northern ten tribes had pulled away from Judah and Benjamin, and had made Jereboam king. Jereboam was a shrewd religious politician, one of the first that the people of God ever had to deal with. He saw that he had to institute a false religion to keep Israel divided. This is the account given in 1 Kings 12:26-32: “And Jereboam said in his heart: Now will the kingdom return to the house of David; if this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem, then will the heart of this people return unto their Lord, even unto Rehoboam, king of Judah; and they will kill me, and return unto Rehoboam king of Judah. Whereupon the king took counsel and made two calves of gold; and he said unto them it is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem, behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And he set the one at Bethel, and the other put he at Dan. And this thing became a sin; for the people went to worship before the one, even at Dan. And he made houses of the high places and he made priests from among all the people, that were not of the sons of Levi. And Jereboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he went up unto the altar; so did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made; and he placed at Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made.” III. Here we have a complete system of substitute, counterfeit religion. Here are false places of worship, Bethel and Dan, instead of Jerusalem; idols, calves of gold, instead of the invisible God; false priests, instead of those from Levi; false feasts on the eighth month, instead of on the seventh month, as the Lord had directed. (Lev. 23:39) Jereboam imitates the true worship, but he perverts it. He gives them gods that they can see. He makes it easier, for he tells them “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem.” Now, how far was it? It was just about twelve miles farther to Jerusalem from Bethel. But that was “too much,” too far for a backslider to go. We ourselves have heard that argument of the devil. You may live ten miles from where a faithful congregation worships. Satan will say to you: “That is too far for you to go. There is a denomination meeting just a mile from you; that is more convenient, stop there.” That argument, I am sorry to say, has often been the cause of many weak Christians going to places of worship that were not Scriptural. But mere convenience has no weight at all with Christians who have convictions. A sincere Christian would rather walk, or crawl, to the right place of worship, than to go in style to one that is wrong. And you who uphold the truth, let me urge that we never use an argument like that to get some one to come to the right .place of worship. Let us never use low motives. King Jereboam knew, too, that people want some kind of religion, even if it is the wrong kind. He knew, besides this, that people, many of them, want to see some form. This accounts for the many images of the saints and of Mary. They worshiped Jehovah under the form of the golden calves. The devil wants us to have a worship that resembles the true worship, some, if only slightly-one that seems right. But all false religion will bring heartache in the end. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12) IV. The Devil, It Seems, Has a Substitute For Almost Everything That God Does. Some time back it came as a distinct shock to me that there would be false Christs, even, for our Lord says “For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (Matt. 24:24) And the closer we get to the end, the more the false in religion will come out. The devil, of course, knows that the Christian religion is true and divine. That is why he imitates it and not a pagan religion. You never saw a counterfeit infidel, and no one today is counterfeiting Confederate (worthless) money. V. Let Us Notice Some of the Many Substitutes that the Devil is Putting Into Circulation: First, let us notice the living beings (persons) which he puts forward. 1. There are false angels. “Even Satan fashioneth himself into an, angel of light. It is no great thing, therefore if his ministers fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness.” (2 Cor. 11:14, 15) Besides this, the devil has angels, for Hell is prepared for the “Devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41) 2. There are the false spirits. So real and so dangerous are these false spirits that the apostle John warns us against them: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the spirit of the anti-christ, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now is in the world already.” (1 John 4:1-3) The Thessalonians were warned by the apostle not to be misled about the immediate second coming of Christ, for he writes to them, “to the end that ye be not shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle, as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand.” (2 Thess. 2:2) 3. There are false prophets. Our Lord said that “false prophets” would arise (Matthew 24:24), and he told. his disciples to “beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing.” (Matt. 7:15) And the apostle John in 1 Jno. 4:1 said that they had already appeared. 4. There are false shepherds, or preachers or teachers. The apostle Peter in his second epistle writes that, as there were false prophets of old “among you, also there shall be false teachers.” (2 Peter 2:1) Christ gives the marks of such teachers, shepherds: such a one is a “hireling and careth not for the sheep.” (John 10:13) Such preachers are man-pleasers. They follow: they do not lead. They go with the tide of worldliness that is engulfing us today. 5. There are false apostles. They were in Paul’s day, for he writes: “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:13) And we have them today. Any church that claims to have apostles today is either itself misled, or is trying to mislead you and me, for an apostle must have seen Christ. When an apostle was to be chosen “to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell,” the apostle Peter said that he must be chosen “of the men therefore that have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto the day that he was received up from us, of these must one become a witness with us of his resurrection.” (Acts 1:21, 22) When Paul was asserting his undoubted claims to be an apostle, he writes to the Corinthians, “. . . am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus my Lord?” (1 Cor. 9:1) Any man who claims to be an apostle today is a “false apostle,” to use Paul’s own inspired words. 6. There are false Christs – counterfeit Christs. It is a shocking thing that anyone could claim to be Christ. But our Savior foretold that men would do that, “. . . for there shall arise false Christs.” (Matt. 24:24) Nothing will stop ungodly men from their false claims. But we must not accept them. 7. Then, there is the most familiar counterfeit of all-the false Christian-the hypocrite. He wants to have the name of being a Christian, without bearing his cross, and without living the Christian life. 8. The Devil Can Give Us, Too, The false church the false institution. The Lord has pictured for us the true church, made up of saved people, a divine holy institution, “. . . a holy temple in the Lord.” (Ephesians 2:21) But Satan has many substitutes to offer. He can give you a proud church, like Laodicea. He can give you a worldly church, with profane elders and deacons. He can give you a denomination that sprinkles babies and has a human creed and a human name. He can give you Babylon itself with its images, its worship of Mary, its “. . golden cup full of abominations.” (Revelation 17:4) Satan will offer you even a Christless church-the Unitarian church that denies the divinity of Christ. 9. There Are Counterfeit Ordinances, Too. a. There is the true Lord’s Supper, with its impressive simplicity, a spiritual feast, But Satan takes it and turns it into “The Mass,” with its unscriptural ritual, withholding the cup from the congregation, and having the priest drink that, of which Jesus plainly said: “Drink ye all of it.” (Matthew 26:27) b. The Lord gave us the One Baptism. It is the burial of a repentant believer. He is buried in the water, as Jesus was. He is baptized for remission of sins. But a paedo-baptist preacher, will take a little baby and will sprinkle water, or even rose petals on it. What a mockery! 10. There Is The Counterfeit Conversion. To be converted is something very deep, very sincere, my friends. It means that you and I have been born again. The apostle writes: “Wherefore, if any man is in Christ he is a New Creature; the old things are passed away; behold they have become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17) But you can do it a much easier way, if you accept the devil’s counterfeit. You can merely go through the form, and not really be changed; you can let it be all outward. Or, you can sit in the seat, and just hold up your hand. A President of the United States, not wishing to come as any other sinner, was enrolled without formality. 11. There is the counterfeit worship-It is simple, heart-searching, and soul-feeding, if done as God directs, with nothing material or carnal, such as a mechanical instrument, and no choir. But Satan can make it more attractive for you, if you are without spirituality. He can make it stiff, cold, proud, with no kneeling, and no note of victory. 12. There is the counterfeit Sanctification. True sanctification is deeply sincere and spiritual. But Satan can induce you to have the kind that merely has the groans, and the pious phrases. You can have a bragging religion, like the Pharisee in the temple. Even Love, the purest and most heavenly of all our affections, can be made counterfeit. The apostle Paul urges: “Let love be without hypocrisy.” (Rom. 12:9) And the apostle John urges, too: “My little children, let us not love, the purest and most heavenly of all our affections, can be made counterfeit. The apostle Paul urges: “Let love be without hypocrisy.” (Rom. 12:9) And the apostle John urges, too: “My little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18) We can just say that we love Christ, while not keeping his commandments. That is counterfeit. 13. There are the counterfeit sacred books. God gave us the Bible. It is inspired, holy, complete, infallible, altogether heavenly. But Satan has seen to it that we have counterfeit sacred books. Mrs. Eddy’s Science and Health, and Joseph Smith’s Book of Mormon. Do not accept these, my friends. And, if we do not watch, Satan will take even our virtues and turn them into something wrong-something counterfeit. I may think that I have firmness-surely a noble trait of Christian character-and my firmness may become stubbornness. I may think I have patience. That is good, but patience ceases to be a virtue when I tolerate evil or false doctrine, or perverted and vain worship. God wants me to be zealous and earnest. But Satan can get me to be fanatical, instead and destroy my influence. So my love may get to be just soft. An English author warns against extremes by saying: “What goodness can there be in the world without moderation, whether in the use of God’s gifts or in our own disposition and courage? Without this justice is no other than cruel rigor, mercy unjust remissness, pleasure brutish sensuality, love frenzy, anger fury, sorrow desperate mopishness, joy distempered wildness, knowledge saucy curiosity, piety superstition, care wracking distraction, courage mad rashness.” (Synonyms Discriminated, page 23) So, let us watch our virtues, and not allow Satan to pervert even them. 14. There Is the False Unity. Scriptural unity is found in (Jn. 17:21, but the devil offers the World Council of Churches; Communism; Buddhism-all forms of error. 15. The False Centralization. Israel had it (i.e., divinely approved central authority, RH) under the Judges, Apostolic congregations were under Christ. My friends and brethren, let this be one of our mottoes: “Nothing but the truth.” God has given us the true religion-it is Christianity. Its doctrine is pure, sound. It is not human, but divine. Its worship is simple and divinely given; such will feed the soul. We can know that we are right, if we follow God’s way, given us in the New Testament. Human substitutes are vain, showy, carnal, attractive to the flesh, and give you an easy religion. But, if you follow them you will be bitterly disappointed in the end. Conclusion The true Church is still in the world today. For the prophet Daniel prophesied, “And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people but it shall break in pieces and consume all those kingdoms and it shall stand forever.” (Dan. 2:44) Our Lord himself promised: “Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18) So, there has always since then been a true church and there is today, and always will be. If you are not in it, any of you who are my listeners, let me urge you with all the strength I have to find it and belong to it, and give up all false doctrine and false and vain worship and be sure about your salvation. You that are members of the one body, I urge you to keep the church pure. You cannot watch too closely; you just can not stand too firmly for the faith. We are in great danger. The spirit of the age is modernism, luxury, ease, compromise. The apostle wrote the Corinthians: “But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and purity that is toward Christ.” (2 Cor. 11:3) From almost every college in existence young preachers are coming out with worldly ideas, and they mislead the churches very often. The true church is a glorious church. You could gild a lily or a rose far more easily than you could improve on the true church. The true doctrine is God’s thoughts. The gospel teaching will really save you, it will give you blessed assurance. You can know that you are right. As the apostle wrote to Timothy: “Hold the pattern of sound words.” (2 Tim. 1:13) “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord Is laid for your faith in his excellent word What more can he say than to you he has said You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled? “Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed I, I am thy God and will still give thee aid I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand Upheld by my righteous, Omnipotent, hand. “The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose I’ll never, no never desert to its foes That soul, tho’ all Hell shall endeavor to shake I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.” The churches of Christ do not now, nor have they ever used mechanical music in worship to God. Christ did not command it, no apostle ever sanctioned it, no New Testament writer ever authorized it, and no apostolic church ever practiced it. We have no authority for it. Col 3:17shows that all we do must be done by the authority of Christ
IT HAS BEEN ATTESTED (PROVEN) BY MIRACLES, SIGNS, & WONDERS
“For this reason [Jesus healed man at Pool of Bethesda -verses 1-15] the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.’ Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life’” (John 5:16-24 NKJV). “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31 NKJV). IT HAS BEEN ATTESTED (PROVEN) BY GOD THE FATHER: THE TRANSFIGURATION “Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’ — not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!’” (Luke 9:28-35 NKJV) “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV). (Mike Hurst) |
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