| South Bumby Church of Christ |
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Establishing Bible Authority |
Copyright (c) 1986, Robert F. Harkrider
The New Testament constitutes the will of Christ, positively,
perfectly, and finally revealed to man (2 Tim. 3:16-17). All that
it authorizes is taught in its pages, and the sum total of its
teaching on any subject is Heaven's Will on that theme. To add or
subtract, change or pervert is to disrespect Heaven's authority
(2 John 1:9). We therefore must be concerned with the methods of
determining what is authorized by the New Testament. The
questions of Matt. 21:23-27 should be asked of every religious
practice.
I. HOW TO ESTABLISH THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST.
A. The Doctrine Of Christ Was Taught By The Apostles And
Practiced By The Disciples.
1. Often people have the idea that unless a command was
specifically stated by Christ Himself then we have no
right to be dogmatic in regard to it.
2. However, all the commands of Christ were not
specifically written, for some must be learned through
observing what the apostles taught (Acts 20:35).
a. Christ Commanded (Matt. 28:18-20) — "All" authority
with Him; apostles were to teach what He had
commanded.
b. (What the) Apostles Taught (Matt. 18:18) — They did
not teach their own doctrine, but Christ's
(I Cor. 14:37).
c. (And the) Disciples Observed (Phil. 4:9) — Heaven's
Will is exemplified in the inspired history of the
N.T. church .
B. Three Ways Of Establishing Scriptural Authority
(Illustrated In The Lord's Supper).
1. PRECEPT (Expressed Statement)
a. By this is meant a direct, positive command
expressly stated.
b. (Observance)—"This do in remembrance of me,"
Luke 22:19;1 Cor. 11:23-24.
2. EXAMPLE (Approved By Apostles, I Cor. 11:1,23;
Phil. 4:9; 1 Cor. 4:17; 2 Thess. 3:6-10).
a. The practice of the N.T. church under apostolic
guidance is authoritative.
b. (Day Of Observance) — "And upon the first day of the
week...," Acts 20:7.
3. NECESSARY INFERENCE (Inescapable Conclusion)
a. When a command is neither expressly stated nor
specifically exemplified, it may be determined by a
logical deduction. The word "necessary" should be
emphasized, for things that are only "probable" or
"likely" cannot be binding.
b. (Frequency Of Observance) — "The first day of the
week...," Acts 20:7.
(1) Compare:
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy,"
Exo. 20:8.
"The first day of the week...to break bread,"
Acts 20:7.
(2) If "the Sabbath day" means every Sabbath as
regularly as it comes, why should not "the first
day" mean every "first day" as often as it
comes?
II. SOME THINGS MAY BE AUTHORIZED THOUGH NOT SPECIFICALLY STATED.
A. We Must Understand The Difference Between Specific And
Generic Authority.
1. Specific Authority — the kind of authority wherein an
act is commanded and the method or means of obeying the
command is expressly specified. Therefore specific
authority excludes human choice because any method or
means of carrying out the command, other than what is
specified, becomes an addition.
2. Generic Authority — the kind of authority wherein an
act is commanded but the method or means of obeying the
command is not expressly specified. Therefore generic
authority includes authority for AIDS (expediencies)
which are for the sole purpose of executing the command.
These must fall within the class, kind, or order of the
precept, example, or necessary inference of the command
itself.
B. We Must Understand The Difference Between Aids And
Additions.
1. Aids do not alter or change God's command because they
fall within the same class or kind of the things
commanded. These are authorized (made permissible)
though not specifically commanded (therefore not
essential).
2. Additions make a change in that which is commanded, for
they fall within a different class or kind of that which
is commanded. These are wrong even though they may not
be specifically condemned (2 John 1:9).
III. ILLUSTRATIONS OF GENERIC AND SPECIFIC AUTHORITY WITH
AIDS vs. ADDITIONS
A. Noah Was Commanded To Build An Ark (Gen. 6:14). Had God
simply told him to build of wood, he would have had choice
as to the kind of wood. However, God specified "gopher
wood," thus all others kinds were excluded. The tools were
not specified with which to prepare the wood, thus they
were authorized as aids to obey the command.
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à
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PRECEPT |
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GENERIC |
AIDS |
SPECIFIC |
ADDITIONS |
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1. Build Ark |
Tools Necessary To Prepare Wood |
"Gopher Wood" Gen. 6:14 |
Oak,Spruce,Gum,Pine (Another kind of wood) |
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2 Lord's Supper |
Hour of the Day |
"First Day" |
Monday, Thursday (Another Day of Week) |
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Containers |
"Unleavened Bread" "Fruit of the Vine" |
Cookies, Coke |
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Place — Building Lights, Pews, Heat |
"Do This In Remembrance" |
Making A Feast |
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3. Baptism |
Baptistery, Pool, River |
Immersion; "Buried" Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12 |
Sprinkling, Pouring (Another Kind of Action) |
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4. Make Melody |
Song Books, Lights |
Playing An Instrument (Another Kind of Music) |
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5. Elders |
Local Business Meetings |
"Feed Flock Among You " I Pet. 5:2-3 |
Councils,Conventions Sponsoring Churches (Another Kind of Organizational Arrangement) |
B. Christ Commanded Observance Of A Memorial Supper,
1 Cor. 11:23-27
1. "The first day of the week" is specified thus excluding
every other day. However, the specific hour is not
stated, thus any hour within the first day is
permissible.
2. "Unleavened bread" and "the fruit of the vine" were the
elements used thus excluding all other emblems. However,
the number of containers is not specified, only that
they drink the cup" (contents),
1 Cor. 11:25-26. Individual communion cups are an aid
within the general command to drink the cup."
3. A building is authorized as an aid to obey the command
to "assemble" for worship (Heb. 10:25) and to "break
bread" (Acts 20:7). It serves as an aid for a local
church to teach the gospel and edify its members
(1 Tim. 3:15; Matt. 28:18-20).
However, since the church is not responsible for
recreation and social pleasures, the church has no
authority to build recreational facilities and kitchens.
These change the kind of endeavor for which the church
is designed (1 Pet. 2:5), and therefore become additions
rather than aids, because they obligate the church in
activities that are the responsibility of the home
(1 Cor. 11:22,34).
C. Christ Commanded Believers To Be Baptized. A baptistery,
creek, or river may be used to fulfill this command
(Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12), but to sprinkle is to do another
kind of action and is therefore excluded as an addition.
D. The Lord Specified "Singing" In His Command To Praise God
With Music (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). Books, lights, song
leaders, etc. are aids to help us sing, but none of these
are a different type or kind of music. Instrumental music,
however, is an addition to singing, for it makes another
kind of music.
E. God Has Ordained Congregational Form Of Government
(Acts 14:23). To unite the church under earthly
headquarters or centralize any of the work of several
churches under "brotherhood oversight by a sponsoring
church" is to rebel against God's pattern, for it would be
forming another kind of organizational arrangement. Elders
are to oversee the work "among them" (1 Pet. 5:2;
Acts 20:28), thus limited to local autonomy.