Bible Authority. We cannot live by faith without it! Necessity of Rules & Laws

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1 We cannot live by faith without it! Necessity of Rules & Laws Our world would be a mess if it were not for rules and laws. Just imagine the chaos that would exist in a city the size of Memphis if there were no traffic laws: If everyone made their own decision about: Which side of the road to drive on When to stop and when not to If a red light means go or stop 1

2 Necessity of Rules & Laws There would be tremendous amounts of damage to automobiles, property and lives Traffic would come to a stand still Even our imperfect laws are necessary to achieve some order so that we may reach our goal of getting to our destination! Necessity of Rules & Laws We recognize the importance of rules and laws in our everyday lives. Even the games we play would be chaos and confusion without rules. In Golf the lowest score wins In Baseball Three Strikes and Your Out In Basketball a Free Throw is worth one point In Football a Touchdown is worth six points You can t bite your opponent in boxing 2

3 Necessity of Rules & Laws If we were to arbitrarily change the rules to these games it would be impossible to play them effectively. We understand this principle when it comes to physical things, why can t we understand it in spiritual things? What we see in the religious world today is everyone going by their own rules. Chaos & Confusion Catechisms Articles of Faith Manuals Statements of Truths Bible As a result everyone does what seems right to them This does not and never has pleased God! 3

4 God has always wanted man to follow His pattern. Jeremiah 10:23 O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Mark 7:7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' (NKJV) Cain followed his own ideas when worshipping God Gen 4:3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 4

5 King Saul tried it his way by offering a sacrifice himself instead of having a priest do it. Samuel told Saul he had done foolishly and it was going to cost him the kingdom. King Uzziah tried to worship God his own way 2Ch 26:3 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. 5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper. 5

6 16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. 17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men: 18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God. 6

7 19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar. 20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him. 21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land 7

8 Nadab and Abihu Leviticus 10:1 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. 2 So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Live by Faith Since man can t direct his own steps when it comes to pleasing God, Those who have tried have failed (Cain, Saul, Uzziah and many others). What are we to do? We are to live by FAITH!!! 8

9 Live by Faith Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. In order to Live by faith everything we do in matters of religion must done by faith Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 9

10 How do I know if the things I am doing in religion are by Faith? In order to be by faith they must be found in the Word of God. Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The answer is simple. Can I find the authority to do the things I am doing in the New Testament. If I cannot find the authority for what I do in the Word of God then it is not by Faith!! Lets Look at some examples: Singing: Why do we sing and not play? Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 10

11 Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. These two verses, as well as others, give us the authority to sing. We can sing by faith!! Where is the authority to play an instrument of music? Some may answer David played the harp Yes he did. They were commanded to use instruments of music in worship under the Law of Moses 11

12 Nu 10:10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God. Where is our Command under the Law of Christ?? Some may read these verses and still think it is OK to have instrumental music in our worship to God. I wonder how they answer the very next verse? Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. The only way we can do things in the name of or by the authority of Jesus today is thru his will revealed in the New Testament 12

13 Everything we say and do in Religion must be by his authority (His Word) Every good that we can do is taught for us to do in the Law of Christ. 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Another Example: Giving: why do we only give on Sunday and not at any other time in the week? 1Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. We can give on the First day of the Week by Faith. Where is the authority to do it on any other day? 13

14 By Faith Another Example: Church Support of Schools, Orphans Homes or any other man made institution. The individual may support them. James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. By Faith Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. let us refers to Paul and other Christians not Paul and other Churches. Where is the Church s authority to do so? 14

15 By Faith? The work of the Church has been specified by God. Edification: It is to edify the saints Preaching and teaching the word Benevolence: Care for needy saints no examples of the Church caring for the people of the world Evangelism: The Church should help spread the Gospel Sending support to Gospel preachers in other areas Are these things By Faith? Fellowship Halls? 1Corinthians 11:34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. Sponsoring Churches? Gymnasiums Softball & Baseball teams sponsored by a church 15

16 Are these things By Faith If we can t find these things in the New Testament they cannot be done by Faith. Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Many of these things have filtered their way into the Lord s Church and God is not pleased As Christians we simply cannot afford to be like the nations around us Conclusion 1Sam 8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 16

17 Conclusion 7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. When we reject God s plan and implement our own ideas in matters of religion. We are doing the same thing the Israelites did We are rejecting God, That He should not reign over us. 17