It Doesn’t Say

‘Thou Shalt Not’

Positive Authority

• Test all things• Whatever you do• God’s authority revealed by:•Command (direct statement)•Apostolic approved examples•Necessary inferences

(or conclusions)

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1 Ths 5:21 Col 3:17

Silence does not Give Authority to Act

1 Ths 5:21 Col 3:17

• Silence is not consent• Silence of the Scriptures

constrains us to abide in what is revealed

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Bible silence does not give divine consent for human action

• Secret things belong to God, Deut 29:29•Inspired Scripture contains all we need,

2 Tim 3:16-17•Do not go beyond what is written, 1 Cor 4:6

•Full affirmation and line of demarcation, 2 John 9

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Bible silence does not give divine consent for human action• Do not add to God’s revelation, Deut

4:1-2; 12:32; Prov 30:5-6; Rev 22:18•We do not have the power and right

to correctly do so•We do not have the knowledge or wisdom

to properly do so (Job 42:2-6)

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Justification by “Silence”

Often means God has already said what He wants but man is

not content with it and wants to add something else!

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Not Justified by “Silence” •Nadab and Abihu, Lev 10:1-3 (9:16, 21, 24)•Saul and Amalekites, 1 Sam 15:18-23•Moving the ark, 1 Chrn 13:7-10•How? 1 Chrn 13:12•The “proper order”, 1 Chrn 15:13-15, 26 (Num 4:15; 7:9)

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Not Justified by “Silence” •King Uzziah burning incense, 2 Chrn 26:

16-20•“It is not for you”, 26:18 (Num 3:10)•“You have trespassed!”•Silence of Moses about priests from

Judah, Heb 7:12-14

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Not Justified by “Silence” •Circumcising Gentiles for salvation, Acts 15:5, 24•God said: “No distinction”, Acts 10:28, 34-35•Plan of salvation: No additions or subtractions allowed by God

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God’s Approval Comes from the Positive Authority of Scripture•“What does the Scripture say?” Rom 4:3; Isa 8:20•Examine all things, 1 Ths 5:21•Use the objective standard of truth that

God has spoken

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God’s Approval Comes from the Positive Authority of Scripture•The standard of revealed truth:•Apostolic tradition, 2 Ths 2:15•Apostolic commands, 2 Ths 3:4•Pattern of sound words, 2 Tim 1:13•Learned in Holy Scriptures, 2 Tim 3:14-17•The doctrine of Christ, 2 John 9

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When God Specifies We Cannot Plead “God Didn’t Say Not To”

•Music in Worship, Eph 5:19•Sing + Play = Beyond Christ’s authority

•Action of Baptism, Rom 6:4•Immerse + Pour = Beyond Christ’s authority

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When God Specifies We Cannot Plead “God Didn’t Say Not To”

•Subject of Baptism, Mark 16:16•Believer + Infant = Beyond Christ’s authority

•When to eat Lord’s Supper, Acts 20:7•First day + Thurs = Beyond Christ’s authority

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When God Specifies We Cannot Plead “God Didn’t Say Not To”

•Where to eat Supper, 1 Cor 11:18,20,33•Congregation + Small groups = Beyond Christ’s authority

•Work of the local church, Eph 4:11-12•Spiritual food + Physical food = Beyond Christ’s authority

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When God Specifies We Cannot Plead “God Didn’t Say Not To”

•Organization of local church, Acts 14:23•Local + Sponsoring church = Beyond Christ’s authority

•Cause for divorce & remarriage, Matt 19:9•Fornication + Desertion = Beyond Christ’s authority

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Positive Authority

• Reverence demands that we listen to God and obey Him, 1 Sam 3:10• Silence as authority elevates human wisdom above God’s commands, Mark 7:9-13

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1 Ths 5:21 Col 3:17