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Seeking the Old Paths Introduction: A. Through Jeremiah the Lord commanded an apostate people to, "stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it," (Jer. 6:16). Only by walk- ing in the old paths would God's people find His blessing once again. B. Is it not time for spiritual Israel to heed this counsel? It is always a matter of wisdom (and duty) to take our bearings from the map of inspiration in order to ascertain as to whether we are on the right course. C. Jeremiah's statement focuses attention upon Divine authority. Through out all Bible history this one true principle is repeatedly emphasized: Man can please God and enjoy heavens approval ONLY in faithful obedience. I. The Key To Unity. A. Divine Authority.
1. 1 Jn. 1:6-7 tells us by walking in truth we are united
with God.
2. And it is that same basis (truth) upon which brethren
enjoy unity.
B. Jesus prayed His disciples would be unified, just as He
and the Father were (Jn. 17:20-21).
1. This is accomplished by understanding principles alike.
2. So it is unquestionably the unauthorized paths of human
invention which destroy fellowship, both with God and
with brethren (Matt. 15:9; Amos 3:3).
C. To be "in Christ" takes more than a sign in front of a
meeting place.
1. In Eph. 5:24, Paul describes Christ's church as on
"subject to Christ...in everything."
2. This is reasonable since Eph. 1:22 has already stated,
"God gave Him to be head over ALL things to the
church."
3. Most are familiar with this principle, yet many do not
practice it.
II. The Need For Authority. A. Standards keep everyone on the same track.
1. National Bureau of Standards, Atomic and Cesium
clocks, Dictionaries, etc.
2. All of these set standards so everyone understands
alike.
3. What if I say a line is 3 inches long and another says
it is 7.6 centimeters? Would you understand it to be
the same length without looking up the standard?
B. Standards provide a common basis and understanding for
man's social good.
C. God provides guidance for man's spiritual good in the
form of law, precepts and commandment, because man is not
capable of charting his own course.
1. "O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it
is not in man who walks to direct his own steps."
(Jer 10:23)
2. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end
is the way of death." (Prov 16:25)
D. Jesus Christ has ALL authority.
1. "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All auth-
ority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."
(Matt 28:18)
2. "While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud
overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of
the cloud, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased. Hear Him.'"(Matt 17:5)
3. Paul expresses the completeness of Christ's authority
in Col. 3:17.
4. Those who disrespect or rebel against His authority
must meet God's wrath.
a. "But in accordance with your hardness and your
impenitent heart you are treasuring up for your-
self wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of
the righteous judgment of God, who "will render to
each one according to his deeds": eternal life to
those who by patient continuance in doing good seek
for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who
are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but
obey unrighteousness-- indignation and wrath,
tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who
does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;
but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works
what is good, to the Jew first and also to the
Greek. For there is no partiality with God."
(Rom 2:5-11)
b. "and to give you who are troubled rest with us when
the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His
mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on
those who do not know God, and on those who do not
obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These
shall be punished with everlasting destruction from
the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His
power," (2 Thess. 1:7-9).
III.The New Testament Is Christ's Will As Taught By The Apostles. A. There are some who say all we need are the words of Jesus.
1. They are right, but in the sense they mean.
a. Jesus always taught the truth,
b. but He didn't teach ALL the truth during His
personal ministry.
2. Therefore we need the things taught by the apostles of
Jesus also.
B. The apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit after Jesus
ascension into heaven (Jn. 16:7-14; Jn. 14:26).
C. The word of God was given to them (Jn. 17:8-14).
D. They were given the keys to the kingdom (Matt. 16:9;
18:18).
1. The key was a symbol of authority (Isa. 22:22, speaking
of Christ).
2. According to Jewish usage, binding meant to forbid it.
To loose meant to permit or allow.
3. Some have therefore decided the apostles had authority
to make law.
a. This is not true.
b. They were only carrying out heavens decisions; not
heaven ratifying their decision.
4. Matt. 16:19 translated literally would read, "Whatso-
ever you shall bind on earth, shall have been being
bound in heaven and whatsoever you shall loose on
earth, shall have been being loose in heaven."
5. This gives the idea they were only authorizing things
heaven had already authorized.
IV. The Bible Only Teaches In Three Ways. A. Direct Command or Precept.
1. "You shall not murder," (Ex. 20:13; Rom. 13:9)
2. "Repent and be baptized," (Acts 2:38)
B. Approved Example.
1. There are some examples not approved by God.
a. Peter's conduct in Gal. 2:11
b. 1 Cor. 5:1-13
2. That's why we say it must be approved.
C. Necessary Inference or Implication or Conclusion.
1. Something that is not expressly stated or specifically
exemplified, yet it is necessarily implied or inferred
by the clear import and meaning of the language used
(couldn't miss the point).
2. In Acts 8:38, we draw the conclusion it was Phillip
doing the baptizing, not the eunuch.
3. But not all inferences or conclusions are necessary.
a. Some infer infant baptism from the household
baptisms of Acts 16:15 and 16:33.
(1). This is not a necessary conclusion, but a
forced one.
(2). There are many household without infants.
b. Some read of "love feasts" in Jude 12 and infer
kitchens and banquet facilities.
V. The Methods Are Illustrated In The Lord's Supper. A. There is no single command that gives all the details of
the Lord's Supper and its observance on the first day of
the week. Therefore we must study everything God has to
say on the subject, because Psa. 119:160 tells us the
"entirety of Your word it truth."
B. Paul states in 1 Cor. 11:24-25, the COMMAND of Jesus when
He instituted the Supper in Matt. 26, "This do ... in
remembrance of Me."
C. By APPROVED EXAMPLE in Acts 20:7, we are shown the first
day of the week is the appointed time to carry out the
command.
1. Apostolic examples indicate a pattern for us to follow.
2. "Brethren, join in following my example, and note those
who so walk, as you have us for a pattern." (Phil 3:17)
3. "The things which you learned and received and heard and
saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with
you." (Phil 4:9)
D. The frequency of the observance may be obtained from
NECESSARY INFERENCE.
1. The Israelites understood the command, "Remember the
Sabbath day..." (Ex. 20:8) to mean every Sabbath day.
2. If the observance is to be yearly the month and the
date would have to be given.
a. The day of Atonement was observed on the 10th day
of the 7th month.
b. We observe Independence Day on the 4th day of July.
3. If the observance is to be monthly, the day of the
month must be given.
a. "... at the beginning of your months, you shall
blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and
over the sacrifices of your peace offerings ..."
(Num 10:10)
Conclusion: A. If we are to remain pleasing to God, we must observe the authority of Jesus Christ and not that of man. B. The next lesson will deal with the nature of authority. |