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Seeking The Old Paths #3 Introduction. A. Without Bible authority, the identity of God's people on earth is lost. And if our identity is lost, our hope for a home in heaven is in vain. B. It used to be that preachers were constantly referring to God's word in their lessons. In questioning some practice, brethren would ask for "Book, Chapter and Verse." C. That was before the term "dialogue" became so popular. Error was often exposed or challenged openly. Such was what Isaiah did in Isa. 8:20, when he said, "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." I. Where Does The Bible Say Not To? A. The most common question asked whenever God has not
spoken or authorized a particular thing is the "Why
can't we?" question.
1. The basic error is presumptiveness and disrespect for
truth.
2. The nature of this desire is that if we can do the
thing not mentioned in the Bible, then we can do not
only the few things God has mentioned, but also the
thousands of things He has not mentioned.
B. But we need to ask ourselves what is God's answer to the
meaning of His silence. Therefore, let us go to the
Bible and ask Him.
II. Old Testament Examples A. Israel at the Red Sea (Ex. 14:10-14)
1. The question at this time was, "Why can't we go back
to Egypt?"
2. But Moses told the people to "Stand still, and see the
salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for
you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you
shall see again no more forever."
3. But they had to wait until God was ready.
4. Finally the Lord said to move.
B. Israel at the first post-exodus Passover (Num. 9:1-4).
1. The first Passover was observed in much haste. This is
the first leisurely observance of the Passover.
2. God had already given instruction about the person who
was unclean because of contact with a dead body
(Num. 5:1-4).
3. Yet the people said, "Why can't we offer at the
appointed time? Does this mean we can't observe the
Passover?"
4. Moses told them to "wait" for God's answer.
5. Therefore the question might rightly be asked, "How
long do we wait?"
a. Until God gives the answer, even if it means wait-
ing until the Day of Judgment before He answers.
b. The wait also implies don't presume on the answer.
c. It means, "No you may not do it!"
(1).Children often ask Parents if they may do this
or that. The parent says, "We'll see."
(2).The child understands they are not allowed to
do the thing until the parent gives the go
ahead.
6. In this case the answer comes in verses 10-12.
C. Israel at the plains of Moab before entering Canaan
(Deut. 28-30).
1. The children of Israel knew the revealed word of God
(Deut. 29:29), and they knew they would be blessed if
they were obedient to His word.
2. The Lord had told Israel, "Whatever I command you, be
careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor
take away from it" (Deut. 12:32). Also see Deut. 4:2.
3. Yet once again they ask, "Why can't we go back?"
III.New Testament Examples. A. The restoration movement was noted for its slogan, "Where
the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we
are silent."
1. Thomas Campbell first said this in 1808.
2. But in 1659, Edward Stillingfleet, had made the
statement, "For the church to require more than
Christ Himself did, or make conditions of communion
more than our Savior did for discipleship, is wholly
unwarranted."
3. Andrew Monro, a Scottish book salesman at that meet-
ing in 1808 understood and said, "Mr. Campbell, if we
adopt that as a basis, then there is an end to infant
baptism."
4. Silence does not authorize any action. Only God's
revealed word does that.
B. That, dear friend, is the whole point of Heb 7:14 ("For
it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which
tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.")
1. He didn't need to specifically forbid Judah from the
priesthood, because Levi had already been appointed.
2. Korah and his friend learned this lesson the hard way
in Numbers 16.
C. The fact there is no instruction does not give us the
right to speak (Acts 15:24).
1. Some from Jerusalem were teaching parts of the Old
Law had to be kept in order for Gentile Christians to
be satisfactory in God's sight.
2. The church at Antioch sent brethren to Jerusalem to
inquire concerning this matter.
3. The reply went back, "Since we have heard that some
who went out from us ... to whom we gave no such
commandment."
a. Notice the phrase, "to whom we gave no such
commandment."
b. The Greek word "diastello" (commandment) is trans-
lated instruction in the ASV.
c. The NIV translates the passage, "We have heard
that some went out from among us without our
authorization."
4. Since no instruction had been given, the teachers had
no right to speak. Silence does not authorize; it
prohibits!
Conclusion: A. If we have no direct statement (command), or approved apostolic example, or a necessarily implied conclusion, we have no business doing something. B. If you have been practicing things or advocating things just because the Bible "doesn't say we can't," you need to turn from those sinful practices and come to God in obedience to His "revealed" word. |