“DISAGREEMENTS: THE SOURCE”

Some hold to the idea that we cannot understand the truth, but that is not what the Bible declares. How fair would GOD be to place our salvation upon “what is written” and then give us a written revelation, knowing that we could not understand it? The apostle Paul declared by inspiration, “when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4; see also Eph. 5:17; 2 Tim. 2:7).

If the Bible cannot be understood, only one of two reasons would explain why. Either God does not want us to understand it (cf. 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Tim. 2:3-4), or He is not able to make the word understandable. Yet, the Bible says that we can “know” truth (cf. Psa. 119:60; 117:1-2; Prov. 23:23; John 1:17; 2 Thess. 2:10-12).

There can be only one correct understanding of GOD’s will. There is a rule of logic that says two things cannot differ on the same subject and both be right. We can agree on what is written. Disagreement arises on the Bible’s silence. Note these examples:

1. Exod. 3:1-3. We can agree that it was a burning bush. The Bible doesn’t reveal the kind of bush.

2. John 3:1-2. We can agree that Nicodemus came to Christ by night. The Bible doesn’t reveal why.

3. John 8:1-8. We can agree that Jesus wrote on the ground. The Bible doesn’t reveal what He wrote.

4. 2 Cor. 12:7-10. We can agree that Paul had a thorn in the flesh. The Bible doesn’t reveal what it was.

Faith and opinion are not the same thing. It is that which is written that produces saving faith, and which is the standard and foundation for unity. 

“AUTHORITY: IN WHAT IS STATED”

 I have often thought that if we applied what we use in everyday language to the scriptures, we would have much less trouble. We recognize that ‘saying what a thing is, eliminates saying what it is not’. It is understood that “the authority” is in the statement of “what is said”; not in “the silence of what is not said”.

A few examples:

1. In Cooking ~ When a recipe calls for 4 eggs, must it state, “this does not mean 1,000 eggs”?

2. In a Wedding Invitation ~ When the date and time are listed, such as Thursday, September 21, 7:30 p.m., must it also state, “this does not mean to come at 2:00 or at 9:00 p.m., or on Saturday, or on the 23^rd”?

3. In Advertising Our Assembly times ~ When we list the time of Bible study at 9:00 and the assembly at 10:00, must we explain that we do not meet at 7:30 for Bible study and 11:15 for the assembly?

4. In Giving My Telephone Number ~ When I give my telephone number to someone, must I say, “Now you must dial it in the order that I give it, and be sure you do not invert the order”?

5. In Ordering Shoes...?

6. In Naming a Child...?

7. In Buying a Car...?

Perhaps these are sufficient to see that we live, work, worship, and buy by ‘the thing stated, not by what isn’t stated’. The answer to all the above items is, of course, “no”. The reason is so simple. Authority is in the stated; the written.

Remember, God's power and the source of our faith is God's word (Rom. 1:16; 10:17). 

Understanding the phrase "FILLED WITH"

Peter and John were arrested for preaching the resurrection (Acts 4:1-2). They were threatened not to teach in the name of Jesus anymore (Acts 4:18). They then assembled with the disciples and offered prayer to God, seeking strength to continue preaching with all boldness (Acts 4:23-30). Luke records at this point, “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all FILLED WITH the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).

A little further in the history of the first-century church, we read that Ananias and Sapphira lied about selling a possession and giving all of the proceeds to the apostles (Acts 5:1-2). Peter asked, “Ananias, why has Satan FILLED your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?” (Acts 5:3).

First, let us observe that being FILLED WITH the Holy Spirit leads one to speak the word of God, truth (cf. John 17:17). Being FILLED WITH Satan leads one to speak lies.

Second, a person may either be FILLED WITH the Holy Spirit or Satan, but not both. We cannot live in righteousness and sin at the same time. We cannot serve God and mammon (Matt. 6:24).

Third, the Holy Spirit FILLS us in the same way Satan FILLS us. If the Holy Spirit FILLS us directly and guides us in our thoughts, then so does Satan. If Satan FILLS us directly, then we are not accountable for our actions. It would mean Ananias suffered consequences for something over which he had no control. The fact is, the devil and the Spirit fill us in the same way: their influence over us. When we listen to the Spirit’s revelation, God’s word, He FILLS us, guides us (Eph. 5:18; Col. 3:16). When we heed the temptations of Satan, he FILLS us, guides us (cf. Gen. 3:1-6). It is as simple as that.

We have a choice to follow the Spirit or the devil. When we listen to the Holy Spirit, we are righteous children of God (1 John 3:7). When we listen to Satan, we are unrighteous children of the devil (1 John 3:10). Both are striving to persuade us; it is our decision as to which one we will allow to FILL us.

“AND I WAS AFRAID”

It is an awful hour when we must lie about our actions. When we fear questions that address the truth of our actions and cannot face those who desire our spiritual well-being, then we have passed the point Cain was at in Gen. 4:7. Adam and Eve “knew they were naked” (Gen. 3:7) when they disobeyed God. Likewise, when we disobey God, our eyes are opened. But what we see does not cause us joy; rather, it causes shame and fear...as with Adam and Eve.

When we disobey, we gain knowledge, but this knowledge does not cause us to rejoice; only to hang our heads in shame. We aren’t drawn near to God. We do as Adam: attempt in vain to hide from God (Gen. 3:10). How did Adam learn of his nakedness? Satan only spoke a lie. We read, “Each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed…when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin” (James 1:14-15). Who allows lust to conceive?

Adam blamed Eve...Eve blamed Satan...Three things to remember: God’s words were transgressed. God’s words were perverted. However, Satan’s words were obeyed. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Rom. 6:16).

When confronted with our sin, we ought not blame someone else, as Adam & Eve, but rather do as the Romans did: “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Rom. 6:17-18).

“THE WORD OF OUR GOD SHALL STAND FOREVER” - Isa. 40:8

 Harold Turner observed that just about any Bible doctrine or concept can be completely devastated, insofar as any practical value is concerned, with a "what if". The following exchange, while not actual, makes a valid point set forth in Prov. 26:4-5, as to the proper response to a ‘what if-er’, regardless of motive. “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.”

Found—ancient document detailing the following exchange:

Joshua: “God requires holiness from His people. He requires us to offer sacrifices in the place He chose to put His name to atone for our sins.”

Nameless Israelite: “Sacrifices cannot be necessary. What if a man is on his way to offer a sacrifice and a tree falls on him and kills him?”

Joshua’s reply: “God requires holiness from His people. He requires us to offer sacrifices in the place He chose to put His name to atone for our sins.”

 

Found—modern document detailing the following exchange:

Peter: “God requires repentance and baptism for remission of sins.”

Nameless believer: “Repentance cannot be necessary. What if a man is contemplating repentance and a tree falls on him and kills him?”

Peter’s reply: “God requires repentance and baptism for remission of sins.”

Nameless believer: “Baptism cannot be necessary. What if a man is on his way to be baptized and a tree falls on him and kills him?”

Peter’s reply: “God requires repentance and baptism for remission of sins.”

 

“If thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.” ~ Ezekiel 3:19

LEARNING FROM THE DENOMINATIONS"

Moses wrote, “Yahweh your God will cut off before you the nations you are about to invade and dispossess. But when you have driven them out and settled in their land, and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.’ You must not worship Yahweh your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things Yahweh hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods. See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.” (Deut. 12:29-32
). Those words constitute a powerful principle that emerges through both Old and New Testaments!

Do not do as the false religions do; obey God. “You must not worship Yahweh your God in their way.”

Yet, many of God’s people become so enamored with denominations and their gimmicks that they feel compelled to “learn from the sects!”

A multitude of erroneous practices have been picked from the denominational world. Things that seem to be good, practical, and beneficial, but they have no authorization from God’s word. Things such as choirs to sing for the assembly, seeking to draw large crowds with gimmicks, appealing to the physical man by the social gospel and carnal appeals, mixing politics and religion by providing a forum for politicians, mechanical instruments of music in worship, mid-week congregational collections to finance the work of the congregation, building expensive facilities for worship while neglecting opportunities to support men to preach the saving gospel of Christ, and snatching the power of the pure word by preaching a pleasant, soft message that does not honor God have all been learned from the denominations. It’s time to “unlearn” those things and get back to the book!

Ironically, there are some things that we can learn from the denominations.

We learn that we cannot follow God’s word and human tradition! The Jews could not do it, and neither can we. Jesus said, “You nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.” (Matt. 15:6). Whenever God’s word is set aside, in order to satisfy the human will and man-made practice, the result is disaster. Substituting sprinkling and pouring for immersion is a human tradition. (Col. 2:12). Giving and receiving religious titles of distinction is a human tradition. (Matt. 23:7-11).

We learn from denominations that you cannot save souls by preaching a social gospel. For generations, they have used carnal enticements such as bar-b-que dinners, fish fries, ball teams, and the like to draw large crowds. The crowds became thin when the bar-b-que ran out, the fish got cold, and the ball teams lost!

The one thing that never runs out, never becomes cold, and never loses is the gospel. Draw souls by the preaching of the gospel and let it do its work. (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:17-18, 21; 2 Tim. 4:1-2).

“BLAMELESS: SINLESS, or OBEDIENT?”

Does God command that which is impossible? Can we be sinless? Can we be obedient? Notice from Gen. 17:1-2, what God COMMANDED of Abraham: “…I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect.  And I will make my covenant between me and thee...”.

Notice that the command to “be blameless” was the CONDITION upon which the covenant rested. It was the 'foundation' upon which the blessings would come. The condition of “be blameless” has characterized EVERY covenant offered to man by God. Was obedience possible from Abraham? Whatever definition is put forth for ‘blameless’, one thing ought not change....IT WAS A COMMAND given to Abraham. Being a command......IT WAS “DO-ABLE”!

The significance of being a command provides us with the evidence as to what ‘blameless’ both cannot mean, as well as what it MUST mean. ‘Blameless’ cannot mean 'sinless' (remember Rom. 3:23); it must therefore mean 'obedient'. Obedience is possible because of God’s grace/mercy, but still, obedience is commanded! However, grace/mercy are not commands, but promises from God. A promise cannot be obeyed; a command, however, can be. In connection with obedience, there is a command to repent, and it is this that God commands of ALL (Acts 17:30-31).

By this, we understand another aspect of God's grace/mercy; the long-suffering of God (cf. 2 Peter 3:9). God'
s long-suffering demonstrates His desire for man to repent (turn from) his sins and become obedient (submit to) His Son. In turning from sinful living to a submissive life of obedience, each does as God commanded of Abraham: “walk before me AND BE BLAMELESS”. 

This was what God purposed for man. In this, we understand the teaching of the apostle Paul in Eph. 2:8-10: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”