1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,300 I want to talk on the subject that I have on the screen and 2 00:00:03,300 --> 00:00:06,200 it's a question. When is a new testament, 3 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,700 example? Binding, I think that everybody 4 00:00:09,700 --> 00:00:13,400 can say reasonably. So there's a lot of examples 5 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:17,200 that are found in the New Testament and sometimes people 6 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,300 would say this, that if we want to bind one aspect or one 7 00:00:20,300 --> 00:00:24,200 example that's found in the New Testament to the church today, 8 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:28,000 then we must bind all other examples even the things that 9 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,300 don't apply. We want to talk about the idea 10 00:00:31,300 --> 00:00:35,300 of an example, being binding and what are the rules for that? 11 00:00:35,300 --> 00:00:38,800 First of all, let's just notice. As we know how we get Bible 12 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,500 Authority, we get Bible Authority by a command. 13 00:00:42,900 --> 00:00:46,900 We get Bible Authority By An approved example, by a positive 14 00:00:46,900 --> 00:00:51,300 statement and also by inference or implication. 15 00:00:51,900 --> 00:00:55,500 And anytime that we are talking about, any aspect of this about 16 00:00:55,500 --> 00:00:58,800 Bible Authority, we are talking on the subject of 17 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,900 interpretation. And or a fancy word that's often 18 00:01:01,900 --> 00:01:06,100 called hermeneutics. This study of interpreting the 19 00:01:06,100 --> 00:01:08,900 word of God. So we understand we cannot just 20 00:01:08,900 --> 00:01:12,000 do anything that we want to do or we don't want to preach 21 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,100 anything that we want to preach or practice anything that we 22 00:01:15,100 --> 00:01:18,500 would like to practice. We must follow how the Bible 23 00:01:18,500 --> 00:01:22,600 commands us gives us example. A positive statement, or 24 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,700 inference or implication. But here's the question. 25 00:01:28,100 --> 00:01:29,900 I think everybody would understand. 26 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:35,000 That if something is as an example in the New Testament, 27 00:01:35,500 --> 00:01:38,600 and we're talking about the New Testament Church, if the New 28 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:43,200 Testament Church practice a particular thing or did a 29 00:01:43,208 --> 00:01:48,000 particular thing on any subject, and it is supported by Apostolic 30 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,100 Authority. I think anyone of Faith would 31 00:01:51,100 --> 00:01:53,200 say that that's got to be binding today. 32 00:01:53,300 --> 00:01:57,900 Absolutely, it has Apostolic Authority behind it and so we 33 00:01:57,900 --> 00:02:01,800 would look at the very same idea and we would say that applies 34 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:06,500 today to us under the same, or similar circumstances. 35 00:02:06,700 --> 00:02:10,400 Another thing I'd like to say what if there are two or more 36 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:16,600 examples of doing one thing, if we find two or more examples of 37 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,200 doing something, or practicing something in the New Testament, 38 00:02:20,500 --> 00:02:25,100 then we are given the freedom based upon expediency to choose, 39 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,500 which one would be expedient for us to do. 40 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:33,400 And may, I just say this about being expedient, expedient is 41 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:37,100 something that is commanded and we have the ability or we have 42 00:02:37,100 --> 00:02:41,400 the freedom to expedite that in a certain way, that's what 43 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,200 expedient means. For example, we have seen Today. 44 00:02:45,900 --> 00:02:51,500 And we had a songbook, the songbook expedites the process 45 00:02:51,500 --> 00:02:53,700 of singing, We're commanded the sing. 46 00:02:53,700 --> 00:02:57,400 Therefore the songbook is an expedient, a Bible expedient. 47 00:02:57,700 --> 00:03:02,000 So if there are two or more examples in the New Testament of 48 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,100 doing one specific thing, then we would be given the freedom to 49 00:03:06,300 --> 00:03:09,900 expedite that in either one of those choices. 50 00:03:10,500 --> 00:03:12,800 All right, what about this though? 51 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,500 What if there's only one example, and one method of doing 52 00:03:17,500 --> 00:03:21,600 something in the New Testament, is that one example, exclusive 53 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,000 of all other methods or all other practices. 54 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:29,100 Now, note, also, we want to notice some things that are 55 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,900 which examples are binding today in our life. 56 00:03:33,700 --> 00:03:37,000 Well, first of all, there's a difference between an example 57 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:41,500 that's binding. and examples that were given in the New 58 00:03:41,500 --> 00:03:46,700 Testament that were a general principle or general teaching, 59 00:03:48,100 --> 00:03:52,000 Based upon the example of using a current, which would be 60 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:56,900 ancient for us custom. Like, for example, what about 61 00:03:56,900 --> 00:04:00,500 that foot washing? You know, sometimes people say 62 00:04:01,100 --> 00:04:02,500 well you know what? If you want to talk about the 63 00:04:02,500 --> 00:04:04,800 Lord's Supper every Lord's day, we better bring back foot 64 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,400 washing more on that. At the end of The Lesson. 65 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,100 By the way, I'm going to talk about some of these but what 66 00:04:10,100 --> 00:04:13,600 about foot-washing is that binding today or was foot 67 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:15,100 washing? And When Jesus washed the 68 00:04:15,108 --> 00:04:18,899 disciples feet, for example, he used a custom that happened of 69 00:04:18,899 --> 00:04:22,400 old times that applied to them, and he taught a general 70 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,300 principle. That's why that's example, 71 00:04:25,300 --> 00:04:28,000 perhaps that wouldn't apply today specifically. 72 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:31,900 Let's go further. Or what about a holy kiss in 73 00:04:31,900 --> 00:04:34,800 Romans 16:16. Paul said, salute one another, 74 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:39,400 with an holy kiss the Churches of Christ salute you does that 75 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:42,700 mean that we have to kiss everybody on the cheek today or 76 00:04:42,700 --> 00:04:46,300 was that a custom that existed back then and the principal was 77 00:04:46,300 --> 00:04:50,000 something else or the lesson learned was General and 78 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,800 something else. Does that apply today or was 79 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:56,600 that a custom of old? What about speaking in tongues? 80 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,800 We have examples of people in the New Testament that spoke in 81 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:03,300 tongues, we have examples of those that had miraculous 82 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:09,000 spiritual gifts, their examples. Do they apply or were they 83 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,100 exclusive to one particular time? 84 00:05:11,900 --> 00:05:14,600 And finally, what about the Lord's Supper? 85 00:05:15,700 --> 00:05:19,100 What makes the Lord's Supper that we do every Lord's day and 86 00:05:19,100 --> 00:05:22,200 we're going to do today and just a few minutes, what makes the 87 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:24,300 Lord's Supper different from foot-washing? 88 00:05:24,300 --> 00:05:27,400 Holy kissing? And speaking in tongues, I'll 89 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:30,800 just tell you this. I've heard people say, well, if 90 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,400 we're going to have the Lord's Supper, we have to have foot 91 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:35,700 washing to. That's the specific thing that 92 00:05:35,700 --> 00:05:38,100 I'd like to talk about. And by the way, in this lesson 93 00:05:38,100 --> 00:05:40,300 today, we're going to reference to things. 94 00:05:40,300 --> 00:05:43,700 It's very, very, very important. It is, it is the basis of what 95 00:05:43,700 --> 00:05:46,300 we believe. And I'm going to talk about two 96 00:05:46,300 --> 00:05:49,200 things repeatedly and apply different rules to these two 97 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,700 things throughout this lesson. And the two things are going to 98 00:05:51,700 --> 00:05:54,700 be. This one is baptism and the 99 00:05:54,700 --> 00:05:58,600 other is the Lord's supper will reference them several times as 100 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:02,700 we move through. So here's the question, can the 101 00:06:02,700 --> 00:06:05,200 New Testament bind upon God's people? 102 00:06:05,500 --> 00:06:09,400 A practice, or a method to the exclusion of all others? 103 00:06:10,100 --> 00:06:17,300 Only, by example, All right, and if so how is that exclusiveness 104 00:06:17,300 --> 00:06:19,500 to be determined? I want to submit to you, there 105 00:06:19,500 --> 00:06:23,600 are six rules, there are six rules that we can apply to the 106 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:27,000 example to find out if it's something that is binding on us 107 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,900 today. Rule number one is the rule of 108 00:06:30,900 --> 00:06:34,800 uniformity. The application of this rule is 109 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:39,000 I'm going to use conversion, for example, and uniformity, is this 110 00:06:39,500 --> 00:06:43,700 uniformity is when you take all the examples of the same, Finger 111 00:06:43,700 --> 00:06:47,800 the same act, the same fact, all the examples. 112 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:52,500 Do all of them, are they all inclusive and are they all in 113 00:06:52,500 --> 00:06:57,300 uniformity with each other? Give you an example in every 114 00:06:57,300 --> 00:07:01,500 case of conversion, going all the way back to Acts chapter 2 115 00:07:01,500 --> 00:07:03,400 on the day of Pentecost, every time. 116 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:07,900 Okay. Acts chapter 2 was the first 117 00:07:07,900 --> 00:07:09,600 time. The gospel was preached with the 118 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:13,900 opportunity to respond to it and in Acts chapter 2. 119 00:07:13,900 --> 00:07:16,500 Beginning from that time. Every conversion in the New 120 00:07:16,500 --> 00:07:20,900 Testament was by the preaching teaching and learning of the 121 00:07:20,900 --> 00:07:27,300 word of God every time So we say this, if every single time that 122 00:07:27,300 --> 00:07:30,800 that's somebody was converted, the Jesus Christ, it was based 123 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:34,200 upon preaching teaching and learning of the word of God. 124 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:38,000 Then we must say by uniformity that if somebody is going to be 125 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:42,600 saved or converted, it is by the preaching teaching and learning 126 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:46,600 of the word of God as the law or the rule of uniformity. 127 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:50,700 What else? Every conversion in the New 128 00:07:50,700 --> 00:07:54,500 Testament. Also, When the word of God was 129 00:07:54,500 --> 00:08:00,200 preached every single time. It produced Faith every time, 130 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:05,200 you know, the Bible talks about faith I was in a discussion that 131 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,200 long ago was someone and we're talking about things that you 132 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:10,300 cannot know things. We can't know. 133 00:08:11,100 --> 00:08:12,800 And you've heard me say this before. 134 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:15,700 I've been saying it a lot lately and you know really the older I 135 00:08:15,707 --> 00:08:17,700 get the more I say I'm going to keep saying it. 136 00:08:18,500 --> 00:08:21,300 I think people of Faith need to be okay with what you can't 137 00:08:21,300 --> 00:08:24,500 explain and I think people of Faith ought to be those that 138 00:08:24,500 --> 00:08:26,400 understand. Maybe I don't have an 139 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:28,100 explanation for it and I don't really care. 140 00:08:28,100 --> 00:08:31,600 Faith kicks in. It's like one time I sat down 141 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,700 with some young people And they said, how do we know when we 142 00:08:34,700 --> 00:08:36,600 talk to our friends? Because, by the way, people are 143 00:08:36,608 --> 00:08:39,100 smarter today. And when we sit down with our 144 00:08:39,100 --> 00:08:41,700 friends, how can we prove to them? 145 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:45,300 That God, created everything. I said in the beginning, God 146 00:08:45,300 --> 00:08:47,600 created the heavens and the Earth and he said, but how do 147 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:49,900 you really know? I said in the beginning, God 148 00:08:49,900 --> 00:08:52,100 created the heavens and the Earth all but she got to give me 149 00:08:52,100 --> 00:08:54,000 something else. You got to give me some proof, 150 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,500 got it in the beginning, God created the heavens and the 151 00:08:56,500 --> 00:09:00,400 Earth. That's where faith kicks in. 152 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:07,700 So Christians are people of faith. and we believe it, as 153 00:09:07,700 --> 00:09:11,100 fact, And the Bible says, without faith. 154 00:09:11,100 --> 00:09:15,700 It is impossible to please God, for he, that cometh unto God 155 00:09:15,700 --> 00:09:18,900 must believe that he is, and that he is, a rewarder of them 156 00:09:18,900 --> 00:09:23,300 that diligently seek Him. The Bible says this too, so then 157 00:09:23,300 --> 00:09:27,200 faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. 158 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:33,500 So anyone by the way that is saved will not do so or be. 159 00:09:33,500 --> 00:09:38,000 So because they had some kind of experience somewhere and they 160 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:39,800 were moved somewhere. And then they knew that there 161 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:43,900 were saying no every case in the New Testament, what they do. 162 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:48,000 They heard and were taught the word of God and that produced 163 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:51,200 Faith but there's more There's more. 164 00:09:52,500 --> 00:09:56,700 When Faith was produced. It prompted a response. 165 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:02,000 You know, sometimes. We understand things and we do 166 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:06,300 understand things by faith. But remember this faith is 167 00:10:06,300 --> 00:10:09,300 always for the purpose of prompting, a response. 168 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:14,000 So, by the rule of uniformity, when the word of God was 169 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:16,800 produced or preached, It produced faith. 170 00:10:16,900 --> 00:10:20,700 And it led to a response. And in every case they were all 171 00:10:20,700 --> 00:10:23,000 baptized everyone of them without delay. 172 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:29,000 So, we must say, by way of the rule of uniformity, that if 173 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:32,500 you're not, baptized, you can't be saved. 174 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:37,100 By the rule of uniformity. Give you some examples, though. 175 00:10:38,500 --> 00:10:42,300 You know, when Saul of Tarsus was on the Damascus Road, Saul 176 00:10:42,300 --> 00:10:44,400 of Tarsus had a great experience. 177 00:10:44,500 --> 00:10:47,200 It was a light shine round about him and it blinded him. 178 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:49,300 He understood. That was Jesus. 179 00:10:49,300 --> 00:10:51,000 He said, who are you? He said, I am Jesus whom you 180 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,100 persecute. It's hard for you to kick 181 00:10:53,100 --> 00:10:55,300 against the Pricks. The King James says, or the 182 00:10:55,300 --> 00:10:57,200 goads. In other translations. 183 00:10:57,500 --> 00:10:59,800 It's hard for you to do that. He's blinded. 184 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:03,100 He goes in Damascus. Oh, he was obviously repentant. 185 00:11:03,100 --> 00:11:05,400 He prays for three days. Can't praise sins away though. 186 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:07,800 Could not do it. And by the way, if he Couldn't 187 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:10,400 pray his sins away in 3 days. How do people think today? 188 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:12,700 They can pray their sins away in one or two sentences. 189 00:11:13,300 --> 00:11:15,300 How you gonna do that? Three days. 190 00:11:15,300 --> 00:11:17,400 Big experience. What happened though? 191 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:20,400 When ananias walked in? He told him what he must do, he 192 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:22,900 told him the word, he told him what he must do. 193 00:11:22,900 --> 00:11:26,300 He said, and saw, what are you waiting for arise and be 194 00:11:26,300 --> 00:11:30,000 baptized and wash away? Your sins, calling on the name 195 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,100 of the Lord. What else, when the word of God 196 00:11:33,100 --> 00:11:36,300 was taught to an Ethiopian man, It produced Faith. 197 00:11:36,300 --> 00:11:39,500 He said, I believe that Jesus Jesus Christ is the Son of God 198 00:11:39,500 --> 00:11:43,000 but then he said it says they stopped dentist in their tracks. 199 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:46,000 They got out of the Chariot. They went down into the water 200 00:11:46,300 --> 00:11:50,800 and he baptized him. What about the Philippian? 201 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:56,100 Jailer same thing. Same thing, they took him the 202 00:11:56,100 --> 00:11:59,500 same hour of the night and washed their stripes and they 203 00:11:59,500 --> 00:12:02,400 were baptized. He had all his straightway. 204 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:06,600 So by the rule of uniformity with conversion, it has to begin 205 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,300 with the word of God. Every time it has to produce 206 00:12:09,300 --> 00:12:12,700 faith in an individual, every time you are baptized without 207 00:12:12,700 --> 00:12:17,700 delay for the remission of sins. All cases all examples in the 208 00:12:17,708 --> 00:12:19,100 New Testament. Okay? 209 00:12:19,700 --> 00:12:22,800 So let's talk about the Lord's Supper, for just a minute, The 210 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,400 fact that the Lord's Supper was observed by the early church on 211 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:28,300 the first day of the week is extremely significant. 212 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:34,800 That is the day that the Lord's Supper is to be partaken of And 213 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:38,800 if the Lord's Supper its writ is given to us, by example, on the 214 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:43,200 first day of the week, then it's also exclusive to the point that 215 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:47,500 any other day is not required. Any other day, is not allowed, 216 00:12:47,900 --> 00:12:51,200 it can't be observed. And the reason for that we don't 217 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:55,100 have precept, we don't have example and we don't have 218 00:12:55,100 --> 00:12:57,800 inference as to observe it any other day. 219 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:01,100 Therefore all things are all other days are excluded. 220 00:13:01,100 --> 00:13:03,100 I will get back to the Lord's Supper in a minute though. 221 00:13:04,700 --> 00:13:07,400 I'm just following the rules of uniformity. 222 00:13:08,100 --> 00:13:11,200 What else? How about church cooperation? 223 00:13:12,100 --> 00:13:15,200 What's that mean? When we talk about church 224 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:19,400 cooperation, we are talking about the use that a 225 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:24,500 congregation has in using the money that is in their Treasury 226 00:13:24,500 --> 00:13:29,200 and it's often times referred to in a general sense as Church 227 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:33,500 cooperation. Now, there were many churches or 228 00:13:33,500 --> 00:13:38,100 when many churches, for example, today would support a preacher 229 00:13:38,100 --> 00:13:43,000 somewhere every single time by the rule of uniformity, the 230 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:46,200 money was sent. It directly to the need every 231 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:50,500 time. We have Filipino preachers that 232 00:13:50,500 --> 00:13:52,000 we support. We have an African preacher that 233 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:55,000 we support. We support a man in Hawaii. 234 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,100 The money is sent directly to them. 235 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,500 It is sent directly to them sometimes in the hands of a 236 00:14:01,508 --> 00:14:05,200 messenger which is scriptural, but it sent directly to them. 237 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:09,100 Notice what Paul says, do in 2nd Corinthians, chapter 11 verse 8, 238 00:14:09,100 --> 00:14:12,700 he said I robbed other churches taking wages from them to 239 00:14:12,700 --> 00:14:18,100 minister to you now. Rob doesn't mean steal What it 240 00:14:18,100 --> 00:14:22,600 means is he took or received, what he was saying is to 241 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:27,800 Corinth, I took wages from other congregations so that I could 242 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:31,500 Minister unto you, that is a Bible passage that supports that 243 00:14:31,500 --> 00:14:34,900 you can be doing the work of an evangelist in one area and have 244 00:14:34,900 --> 00:14:39,400 a congregation in another area. Financially supporting you that 245 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:42,300 is scriptural. What else notice? 246 00:14:42,300 --> 00:14:47,200 What Paul said in Philippians 4, beginning in verse 15 now you Is 247 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,200 know. Also that in the beginning of 248 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:53,700 the Gospel I departed from Macedonia no church shared with 249 00:14:53,700 --> 00:14:57,100 me concerning giving and receiving but you only for even 250 00:14:57,100 --> 00:15:00,100 in thessalonica you sent Aid once and again for my 251 00:15:00,100 --> 00:15:03,400 Necessities. Not that I seek the gift but I 252 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:06,000 seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 253 00:15:06,100 --> 00:15:10,600 Indeed, I have all in abound, I am full having received from 254 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:13,900 epaphroditus. The thing sent from you a sweet, 255 00:15:13,900 --> 00:15:16,800 smelling, Aroma, an acceptable sacrifice. 256 00:15:17,100 --> 00:15:22,500 Well, pleasing to God. So writing to those at Philippi, 257 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:26,300 he talks about those where he speaks about the fact that they 258 00:15:26,300 --> 00:15:31,900 sent Aid to him directly from the hands of epaphroditus, a 259 00:15:31,900 --> 00:15:34,400 messenger. All right, I got to say this. 260 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:40,000 They lived in primitive times. Okay, Village of primitive 261 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:43,300 times. This is really important because 262 00:15:43,300 --> 00:15:48,100 sometimes people say this, But we live in modern times, so the 263 00:15:48,100 --> 00:15:53,100 pattern cannot be duplicated. What can be duplicated is 264 00:15:53,100 --> 00:15:56,400 congregational money going directly? 265 00:15:56,400 --> 00:16:00,600 That's the source going directly to the destination being the 266 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:04,200 preacher itself or the need that can be duplicatable. 267 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:08,400 Now we don't need a man to hand-deliver it across the 268 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:12,300 country or get on a boat or in the Primitive means of 269 00:16:12,300 --> 00:16:14,200 transportation. They had back then either 270 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:17,800 walking riding an animal or getting on a boat somewhere. 271 00:16:18,500 --> 00:16:20,500 We could put it in the mail we can wire the money. 272 00:16:20,500 --> 00:16:24,400 We can do other aspects of it. My point is this the Bible 273 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:27,200 pattern is this. The example is it went from The 274 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:31,700 Source the congregation directly to the recipient that's the 275 00:16:31,700 --> 00:16:33,700 pattern and that's what we follow. 276 00:16:33,700 --> 00:16:36,600 That's what's scriptural. All right, let's go further. 277 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:40,100 What about when many churches cooperated with the Jerusalem 278 00:16:40,100 --> 00:16:43,000 Church by contributing to help meet the needs that were in 279 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:45,800 Jerusalem. They made up their own funds, 280 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:49,300 they selected their own messenger and they say, Directly 281 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:53,900 to the need in 1st Corinthians chapter 16 beginning in verse 1. 282 00:16:54,300 --> 00:16:57,200 Now concerning the collection for the Saints as I've given 283 00:16:57,200 --> 00:16:59,500 orders to the churches of galatia. 284 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,700 So you must do also on the first day of the week. 285 00:17:03,700 --> 00:17:07,700 Let each one of you lay something aside storing up as he 286 00:17:07,700 --> 00:17:10,099 may Prosper. That they'll be no collections 287 00:17:10,099 --> 00:17:14,099 when I come and when I come whomever you approved by your 288 00:17:14,099 --> 00:17:18,099 letters, I will send it bare your gift to Jerusalem, but if 289 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:24,700 It is fitting that I go also they will go with me. when 290 00:17:24,700 --> 00:17:29,500 Antioch made up of contribution for the brethren in Judea, 291 00:17:29,500 --> 00:17:33,700 during the time of famine, they sent it by the hands of their 292 00:17:33,700 --> 00:17:37,700 own Messengers. And that was Paul and Barnabas 293 00:17:38,100 --> 00:17:40,200 and it was sent directly to the Elders of the church. 294 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:43,500 That was in need acts 11 27 through 30. 295 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:47,200 And in those days, prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 296 00:17:47,500 --> 00:17:51,200 Then one of them named agabus stood up and showed the spirit 297 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,200 that they were going to be a Great Famine throughout the 298 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:58,100 world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. 299 00:17:58,500 --> 00:18:01,200 Then the disciples each, according to his ability, 300 00:18:01,500 --> 00:18:05,500 determined to send relief to the Brethren dwelling in Judea this, 301 00:18:05,500 --> 00:18:09,800 they So did and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas 302 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:13,600 and Saul. Now, there's a reason for 303 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:17,300 showing you all of this. There's a reason. 304 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:21,300 We don't have any Bible Authority. 305 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:27,300 We don't have any example of multiple congregations sending 306 00:18:27,300 --> 00:18:32,000 their money to a sponsoring church or sponsoring 307 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:36,700 organization who then decided and determined to pass out the 308 00:18:36,700 --> 00:18:40,200 money as they saw fit, we don't have Bible for that. 309 00:18:41,900 --> 00:18:45,400 And I'll tell you something, what happens to if you think 310 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:50,700 about it this way. if we, as a congregation set our money to 311 00:18:50,700 --> 00:18:54,300 help needy people in another country, We would send it 312 00:18:54,300 --> 00:18:58,300 directly to the need, we would do that but if we send it for 313 00:18:58,300 --> 00:19:02,200 example to a sponsoring church and that's sponsoring Church 314 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:05,800 received from, I don't know 30 other churches, all this money 315 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:08,600 don't you see? We lose our autonomy. 316 00:19:09,300 --> 00:19:13,000 The lines of autonomy are now gone, what's autonomy? 317 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:16,100 Autonomy means self-governing, that's why we don't have any 318 00:19:16,100 --> 00:19:18,500 kind of home office. The Church of Christ doesn't 319 00:19:18,500 --> 00:19:20,900 have a home office and our leader is Jesus. 320 00:19:21,700 --> 00:19:26,100 Our founder is Jesus So, for congregations to do this, we 321 00:19:26,100 --> 00:19:28,400 have to, we can't cross lines of autonomy. 322 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:31,500 We decide to do this in this amount. 323 00:19:31,500 --> 00:19:35,200 We do that in that amount directly to the recipient, and 324 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:39,300 we can use modern forms of getting it there, but we can't 325 00:19:39,300 --> 00:19:43,400 cross the lines of autonomy or we cannot violate the pattern. 326 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:48,000 So at every case, the rule of uniformity proves that the money 327 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:51,500 was sent directly to the one that was in. 328 00:19:51,500 --> 00:19:55,700 Need number two, though, Number two, we have the rule of Harmony 329 00:19:56,200 --> 00:20:00,300 or the rule of unity, and this is what that means. 330 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:07,100 It means that each example in each example, in Scripture, Must 331 00:20:07,100 --> 00:20:10,500 be interpreted in light of everything else that God said on 332 00:20:10,508 --> 00:20:14,500 the same subject or theme. So you got the rule of 333 00:20:14,500 --> 00:20:17,100 uniformity, right? All the examples did it a 334 00:20:17,100 --> 00:20:18,600 certain way? We follow that example, but 335 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,300 there's more. We also put it to the test and 336 00:20:21,300 --> 00:20:23,100 it's the rule of unity or Harmony. 337 00:20:23,300 --> 00:20:27,500 So what we do in the example, if the example does not comply with 338 00:20:27,500 --> 00:20:31,000 everything that God said on that subject, it is not an approved 339 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:34,300 example. But if it does, it is an 340 00:20:34,300 --> 00:20:37,900 approved example for us today. You know, why? 341 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:45,200 Because truth is always in harmony with truth, always, the 342 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:48,300 rule is Illustrated to again, we're going to notice the 343 00:20:48,300 --> 00:20:53,100 community and again the Lord's Supper in Acts 20 and 7 It says, 344 00:20:53,100 --> 00:20:57,200 now, on the first day of the week when the disciples came 345 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:01,400 together, to break bread, Paul ready to depart the next day, 346 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:06,100 spoke to them and continued, his message until midnight, notice. 347 00:21:06,500 --> 00:21:09,000 As we've already noticed, it was the first day of the week. 348 00:21:09,100 --> 00:21:13,500 Now, what we want to notice is does acts 20:7 example. 349 00:21:13,700 --> 00:21:17,700 Violate anything else that God said on the same subject in his 350 00:21:17,700 --> 00:21:20,600 word we want to notice that. So we go to First Corinthians, 351 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,900 11, and 24. And when he had given thanks, he 352 00:21:23,900 --> 00:21:25,900 broke it. And said, take eat. 353 00:21:25,900 --> 00:21:28,500 This is my body, which is broken for you. 354 00:21:28,700 --> 00:21:33,800 This do in remembrance of me. So Acts 20 and 7 doesn't violate 355 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:41,200 First Corinthians 11. so we go further, It doesn't contradict 356 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:45,300 anything that God had said, the example to break bread and acts. 357 00:21:45,300 --> 00:21:48,600 20:7 is also in harmony with Apostolic instruction. 358 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:52,500 First Corinthians, 11, and 20 says, therefore, when you come 359 00:21:52,500 --> 00:21:55,700 together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's supper. 360 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:57,900 Please don't understand what this is saying. 361 00:21:58,500 --> 00:22:01,100 He's not saying when you come together, you're not supposed to 362 00:22:01,100 --> 00:22:03,800 eat the Lord's Supper, that's not what that means. 363 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:09,600 What this means is when you come together, Acts 20 and 7, it's 364 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:13,300 for the purpose of breaking bread, but what you're doing is 365 00:22:13,300 --> 00:22:16,800 wrong when you come together in one place and you assemble 366 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:20,200 together in one place and you do so on the first day of the week, 367 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:23,300 you are not partaking of the Lord's Supper properly. 368 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:26,700 They made a mockery of the Lord's Supper, they turned it 369 00:22:26,700 --> 00:22:29,200 into a common meal and that's what he was saying. 370 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:33,200 So in Acts, 20 and 7, we have the idea to break bread. 371 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:36,900 First Corinthians, 11 and 20 is not violated in that example, 372 00:22:36,900 --> 00:22:39,700 therefore, by the rule of Unity and Harmony. 373 00:22:40,300 --> 00:22:45,200 We keep that example. There's another one though. 1st 374 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:49,500 Corinthians 11 and 26. For as often as you eat this 375 00:22:49,500 --> 00:22:51,800 bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till 376 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:57,100 he come. You know this proves that The 377 00:22:57,100 --> 00:23:00,000 facts of the Bible are not violated to do it repeatedly 378 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:05,200 every Lord's Day. Okay, here's the argument. 379 00:23:06,500 --> 00:23:12,000 It doesn't say every Lord's Day. It doesn't say every Lord's day 380 00:23:13,100 --> 00:23:15,600 so if it doesn't say every Lord's Day, can't we just make 381 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,000 it maybe once a month as long as it's on the Lord's Day. 382 00:23:19,300 --> 00:23:21,200 Or what about this? What about maybe every six 383 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:25,300 months, what about every year? I heard somebody in the 384 00:23:25,300 --> 00:23:27,500 religious World say, you know what, if we would just take the 385 00:23:27,500 --> 00:23:30,300 communion and do it less, it gives it more. 386 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:35,200 So, it makes us feel better like it's more important special. 387 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:40,100 Well, I got news for you folks. The communion is not for our 388 00:23:40,300 --> 00:23:45,500 feeling of special. The communion is to commemorate 389 00:23:45,500 --> 00:23:48,900 the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 390 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:52,700 When are we going to start realizing in the religious 391 00:23:52,700 --> 00:23:54,600 world? It's not about us. 392 00:23:55,900 --> 00:23:58,800 When we worship God in spirit and in truth, we feel good but 393 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:01,000 it's not about us. It never was supposed to be 394 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,300 about us, it's always going to be about God. 395 00:24:05,500 --> 00:24:08,500 That's what God wants what Jesus wants to what the word of God 396 00:24:08,500 --> 00:24:12,900 tells us to do every Lord's day. When he says, first day of the 397 00:24:12,900 --> 00:24:14,800 week we do it every first day of the week just like they 398 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:17,300 understood under the Old Law. Keep the Sabbath. 399 00:24:17,300 --> 00:24:21,200 Holy not every fourth one. It was every seventh. 400 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:25,500 One final thing. If I'm working for Terry. 401 00:24:25,500 --> 00:24:29,500 He says, you know what I pay on Friday I'm not going to say, 402 00:24:29,508 --> 00:24:32,400 well, he probably meant once a month, I'll roll in there in 403 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:35,600 about four weeks on Friday. No, I'm there. 404 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:42,100 Every Friday, pay, me boss. When it comes to the community, 405 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:45,000 it's exactly the same thing first day of the week, every 406 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:48,000 first day of the week. Number three, though, we apply 407 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:49,900 the rule of universal application. 408 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:54,100 I love this. Because if this doesn't fit the 409 00:24:54,100 --> 00:24:56,900 church, I don't know what does this is incredible. 410 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:02,700 What this means is, as we look to an example, we have to look 411 00:25:02,700 --> 00:25:08,400 to the possibility of whether or not, it is possible for us to do 412 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:11,300 the same thing under similar circumstances. 413 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:15,500 In fact, it means this everything taught in the gospel 414 00:25:15,500 --> 00:25:19,100 of Christ is within the realm of possibility, in practice. 415 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:22,500 For all people in all parts of the world. 416 00:25:22,500 --> 00:25:27,800 In every age, the scope of the Gospel is worldwide both in its 417 00:25:27,900 --> 00:25:30,200 Provisions and in its requirements. 418 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:38,900 Here's one. Let's put baptism to it. 419 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:44,600 Okay. Do you know why the universal 420 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:48,400 application? has the possibility of applying 421 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:51,700 to everybody no matter where you live, no matter when you live 422 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:56,100 because even if you live in a third world country, you don't, 423 00:25:56,100 --> 00:26:03,500 you have You got water. The universal application is, 424 00:26:03,500 --> 00:26:07,100 everybody has water. You can't live without water. 425 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:09,100 So they might say, there's no water at all when you're not 426 00:26:09,100 --> 00:26:10,400 living. So you're going to be leaving or 427 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:14,600 dying, got to have water. And by the way, I don't care. 428 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:19,200 If it's a third world country, you will have much water too so 429 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:22,500 that you can go down into the Waters of baptism and be buried 430 00:26:22,500 --> 00:26:25,500 like Jesus was and rise to walk in newness of life. 431 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:29,100 You can assimilate that Burial at baptism because anywhere you 432 00:26:29,100 --> 00:26:32,500 live where their Action. There will be much water. 433 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:37,800 I'm going to tell you some, I've seen some rough-looking water in 434 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:39,900 the Philippines, but it's much water. 435 00:26:40,700 --> 00:26:45,000 It's deep enough. Every place in the world has an 436 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:48,800 ocean or a lake or stream, or a pond. 437 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:55,000 Everybody's got something. The law of universal application 438 00:26:55,000 --> 00:27:00,400 applies. So yes, it is possible for us to 439 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:03,100 do that. If an example in the New 440 00:27:03,100 --> 00:27:08,200 Testament was such that it could not by impossibility, be applied 441 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:11,400 to everybody in the world. It would not have been an 442 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:15,900 approved example. Here's another one. 443 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:20,700 What about this? What about the Lord's Supper? 444 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:27,300 now, folks, I'm going to tell you one of the greatest things 445 00:27:28,100 --> 00:27:33,400 about being a Christian. and you want to talk about increasing 446 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:38,300 your faith, Maybe, you are somebody that you've grown up in 447 00:27:38,308 --> 00:27:43,400 the church? and this is all, you know, you 448 00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:47,400 don't know anything else. You weren't converted out of the 449 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:50,000 world. All, you know, is what you have 450 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:53,300 done in the Lord's church, and your family has done, and their 451 00:27:53,300 --> 00:27:55,500 grandparents have done in their great-grandparents have done. 452 00:27:55,500 --> 00:27:58,900 And that's all, you know. And you do it because it's 453 00:27:58,900 --> 00:28:01,300 right. You know what? 454 00:28:01,300 --> 00:28:06,200 Absolutely increases your faith when you go across the world to 455 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:09,900 another country and you see somebody else using the same 456 00:28:09,900 --> 00:28:12,500 Bible doing the exact same thing. 457 00:28:14,300 --> 00:28:16,900 I don't know why the religious world is filled with all the 458 00:28:16,900 --> 00:28:19,500 production, the bands and all the production. 459 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:22,000 Do you know this? If you Worship in spirit and in 460 00:28:22,008 --> 00:28:23,300 truth like we're going to do today. 461 00:28:23,700 --> 00:28:29,000 Every single thing we have done today is universally applicable 462 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:30,400 in our life. We can do it. 463 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:33,700 You can have one loaf of unleavened bread and Lord's 464 00:28:33,700 --> 00:28:36,400 table. You can have one cup, contained 465 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:38,600 therein the fruit of the Vine. I don't care where you go. 466 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:41,800 It doesn't matter where you go, you can do that, it's 467 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:44,300 duplicatable Universal application. 468 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:47,700 So the examples in the New Testament, absolutely, that's 469 00:28:47,700 --> 00:28:49,800 what we do. I'm not talking about any other 470 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:53,000 religious affiliation, talking about what we do everything we 471 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:56,600 do. We can all do and universally, 472 00:28:56,800 --> 00:29:01,800 we have that application now. So the rule of universal 473 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:05,000 application supports the fact that these are binding examples 474 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:06,700 today. What about this though? 475 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:10,500 This is important too. So this is for all the people 476 00:29:10,500 --> 00:29:12,800 that say no, wait a minute, if you're going to buy one example, 477 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:15,800 you've got to bind every single little tiny example, to that 478 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:21,100 comes Under The Heading of the law of materiality, the law of 479 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:24,400 materiality. Now, I'll just say that 480 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:26,700 determining whether something is relevant. 481 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:31,200 Material or essential is very important. 482 00:29:32,100 --> 00:29:35,400 Absolutely important. But also remember this, too, 483 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:41,300 Incidental matters are never relevant, they are never 484 00:29:41,300 --> 00:29:44,700 material and they are never competent in determining, the 485 00:29:44,700 --> 00:29:48,000 will of God. Question is, what in the world 486 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:53,200 is a incidental matter with? Every example, by the way, there 487 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:57,700 is an essential aspect and there is an unessential aspect. 488 00:29:57,700 --> 00:30:01,300 So, there's a material aspect and there's an immaterial 489 00:30:01,300 --> 00:30:03,000 aspect. What do we do? 490 00:30:03,100 --> 00:30:05,800 It's go back to our same, the same examples. 491 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:08,300 We've been using. What about baptism, okay. 492 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:12,300 We've already established. Its starts with the word of God. 493 00:30:12,300 --> 00:30:15,700 It produces faith, faith, produces obedience, obedience to 494 00:30:15,700 --> 00:30:17,500 what? What obedience to the gospel? 495 00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:19,600 That's to be baptized in much water. 496 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:23,000 Okay, that's the material part. That is the essential part. 497 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:28,600 Here's the immaterial. The place that you got baptized. 498 00:30:30,100 --> 00:30:36,500 And Aqueduct River. A baptistery the ocean. 499 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:41,600 A Jacuzzi, a nice warm jacuzzi in the winter. 500 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:47,700 A swimming pool. That is the immaterial part. 501 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:52,200 So when we look to a Bible example, we look under the laws 502 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:54,100 of materiality. We look to the things that are 503 00:30:54,100 --> 00:30:59,800 essential but we don't bind any other aspect of the immaterial 504 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:06,300 or unessential. All that matters is baptism in 505 00:31:06,300 --> 00:31:07,600 water. Here's another one. 506 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:10,800 Here's another one. Preaching, the gospel. 507 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:13,400 Okay. Now I'm not specifically 508 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:15,300 referring to worship. I'm preaching the gospel now 509 00:31:15,300 --> 00:31:18,700 trying to, but I'm talking about just preaching the gospel in 510 00:31:18,700 --> 00:31:19,600 general. Okay. 511 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:22,900 What did Jesus say? Jesus says, go to all the world 512 00:31:22,900 --> 00:31:25,300 and preach the gospel to Every Creature, take the word of God 513 00:31:25,300 --> 00:31:28,800 to the world. As an evangelist, I'm trying to 514 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:32,200 devote my life to doing just that taking the gospel to the 515 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:33,900 world. Preaching, the gospel. 516 00:31:34,100 --> 00:31:37,200 What is the essential element? It's the actual preaching of the 517 00:31:37,208 --> 00:31:40,500 Gospel. What is the unessential 518 00:31:40,500 --> 00:31:42,700 elements? One of which is the means of 519 00:31:42,700 --> 00:31:45,700 travel to get there? It doesn't matter. 520 00:31:46,100 --> 00:31:49,100 He just said go. If Jesus would have said, go and 521 00:31:49,100 --> 00:31:51,900 go in this form or fashion, we would have to bind that, but he 522 00:31:51,900 --> 00:31:54,500 didn't. He just said, go, the essential 523 00:31:54,500 --> 00:32:00,400 part is go and preach. The traveling part is up to us, 524 00:32:00,500 --> 00:32:03,100 it doesn't matter what about this? 525 00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:09,000 What also is the immaterial aspect is the place in which I 526 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:10,500 preached it. I could proceed in this 527 00:32:10,500 --> 00:32:12,400 building. I can preach it under a tree. 528 00:32:12,500 --> 00:32:13,900 I could preach in somebody's house. 529 00:32:14,100 --> 00:32:16,600 I can go to the Philippines, we meet outside somewhere, we can 530 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:20,000 go anywhere. The place is not relevant to 531 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:22,500 evangelism of the preaching of the Gospel. 532 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:26,200 What the essential is is the actual preaching itself. 533 00:32:26,300 --> 00:32:29,100 Here's another one, the place of assembly. 534 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:34,200 Yeah, we haven't wonderful building here. 535 00:32:37,500 --> 00:32:39,700 It's a very comfortable place to worship. 536 00:32:42,500 --> 00:32:44,600 I have been in congregations that met in a home. 537 00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:48,700 I've been in congregations at met at the community center in 538 00:32:48,700 --> 00:32:52,200 Ventura. Because you know why, it fit our 539 00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:54,900 needs, the only charges 10 bucks, a service to rent the 540 00:32:54,908 --> 00:32:56,100 facility. Great. 541 00:32:57,900 --> 00:33:01,800 Our worship today is not any more special in this building 542 00:33:02,300 --> 00:33:04,500 than some other place or some other person in some other 543 00:33:04,500 --> 00:33:06,000 assembly. What is the essential? 544 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:10,500 The essential is this assembling together in one place. 545 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:15,300 That's the essential. This building does not matter at 546 00:33:15,300 --> 00:33:18,600 all. The church is the body of 547 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:20,900 Christ. That's what matters when we 548 00:33:20,900 --> 00:33:23,400 assemble. We need to assemble as the body 549 00:33:23,400 --> 00:33:26,500 of Christ in one place. And wherever we choose to do 550 00:33:26,500 --> 00:33:28,700 that is find. That's just up to us. 551 00:33:30,700 --> 00:33:33,800 Now what we can't do is this so don't misunderstand me. 552 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:38,400 What we can't do is have a few have private worship over here 553 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:40,600 or if you have private worship over there. 554 00:33:41,500 --> 00:33:44,500 Here's the essential, the essential is this because the 555 00:33:44,500 --> 00:33:48,400 place doesn't matter. So long as this is in place, we 556 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:52,500 come together in one place. The whole church comes together 557 00:33:52,500 --> 00:33:55,300 in one place. And by the way, that's why we 558 00:33:55,300 --> 00:33:58,200 meet in an undivided assembly, that's why it's what the Bible 559 00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:00,600 says. So the essential part is meeting 560 00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:02,900 in one place. The place that we had plans Road 561 00:34:02,900 --> 00:34:04,600 decide we're going to meet doesn't matter. 562 00:34:05,500 --> 00:34:08,000 We can meet in your backyard. Terry's backyard next Sunday we 563 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:10,699 can say you know what the church is meeting at Terry's house next 564 00:34:10,699 --> 00:34:14,699 Sunday, that's fine because the building doesn't matter. 565 00:34:14,699 --> 00:34:17,500 There's nothing significant about this building. 566 00:34:17,500 --> 00:34:20,100 There's nothing special about this building. 567 00:34:20,900 --> 00:34:23,199 What did Jesus say about it? The place doesn't matter. 568 00:34:24,100 --> 00:34:26,699 The hour is coming and now is when the true worshipers shall 569 00:34:26,699 --> 00:34:29,600 worship the father in spirit and in truth for the father is 570 00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:33,199 seeking In such to worship him. God is a spirit and those that 571 00:34:33,199 --> 00:34:39,699 worship Him must worship Him in spirit, and in truth, spirit is 572 00:34:39,699 --> 00:34:43,900 the attitude behind it. Truth is that which is in 573 00:34:43,900 --> 00:34:48,100 accordance with Divine truth. Can I throw a little side note 574 00:34:48,100 --> 00:34:51,400 in? I got to throw this in. 575 00:34:53,100 --> 00:34:57,500 Let us not think because we're so afraid of the implications of 576 00:34:57,500 --> 00:35:02,100 the charismatic movement of the 1950s and the 1960s that we 577 00:35:02,100 --> 00:35:05,500 become so robotic because we don't want to, we don't want to 578 00:35:05,500 --> 00:35:08,900 have any kind of emotion. You think the Lord wants a bunch 579 00:35:08,900 --> 00:35:15,500 of emotionless robots. Now emotion is not the basis of 580 00:35:15,500 --> 00:35:19,800 what we believe in practice but truth is the basis on what we 581 00:35:19,800 --> 00:35:23,000 practice. But Hey, listen, put everything 582 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:26,300 you got in it. Put everything you have in it. 583 00:35:27,900 --> 00:35:29,900 That's what the Lord wants. And by the way, that's what he 584 00:35:29,900 --> 00:35:31,100 meant. When he said to love the Lord, 585 00:35:31,100 --> 00:35:35,000 your God with all your heart, that's not the mind if it was 586 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:36,200 the mind. And why do you say the mind? 587 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:41,700 A couple words later? Mind, soul body, and strength. 588 00:35:44,700 --> 00:35:51,000 So put your heart into it. Now we make a point about 589 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:52,600 something that is not in material. 590 00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:58,700 Please get this. The emblems and items on this 591 00:35:58,700 --> 00:36:03,800 table are not immaterial. They're not. 592 00:36:05,100 --> 00:36:09,500 The significance of the emblems on this table are these one loaf 593 00:36:09,500 --> 00:36:13,500 of unleavened bread. One loaf unleavened bread. 594 00:36:13,900 --> 00:36:19,800 We can't add bread with leaven soda crackers, whatever it has 595 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:21,300 to be a loaf of unleavened bread. 596 00:36:21,300 --> 00:36:23,700 That's how Jesus gave it in his example. 597 00:36:23,700 --> 00:36:26,200 That's what the disciples continued to do and that's what 598 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:29,200 we do also. And if we change any aspect of 599 00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:32,000 that, we change what it means. Can't do that. 600 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:35,800 What else do we have, folks? We've got one One cup on this 601 00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:39,000 table. Paul said this cup is the New 602 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:41,700 Testament in my blood. That's what Jesus said, Paul 603 00:36:41,700 --> 00:36:44,800 quoting. Jesus, the cup is the New 604 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:49,700 Testament in my blood. You know what that means? 605 00:36:50,900 --> 00:36:53,600 If that's the case, have you ever considered it this way? 606 00:36:54,700 --> 00:36:58,900 That the cup on that table is as important as the New Testament 607 00:36:58,900 --> 00:37:03,800 itself. Jesus said this cup is the New 608 00:37:03,800 --> 00:37:08,600 Testament in my blood contained therein as the fruit of the 609 00:37:08,607 --> 00:37:10,300 vine. Can't change it. 610 00:37:11,800 --> 00:37:15,200 It is not a material, it's very material those things. 611 00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:18,600 Here's what's immaterial again, where we assemble. 612 00:37:18,700 --> 00:37:22,800 That's immaterial as long as all the church comes together in one 613 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:24,500 place. Here's another one, though. 614 00:37:25,900 --> 00:37:28,700 The law of limited application. We're almost finished. 615 00:37:30,500 --> 00:37:33,200 This is when the example or the question. 616 00:37:34,500 --> 00:37:39,700 Only applies to the circumstances at hand. or when a 617 00:37:39,707 --> 00:37:42,900 general principle was taught by using a current custom of the 618 00:37:42,900 --> 00:37:48,500 day because we understand this, some examples do not apply to 619 00:37:48,500 --> 00:37:56,300 all circumstances or all conditions, some don't now, 620 00:37:57,700 --> 00:38:00,500 Notice. When they sold their 621 00:38:00,500 --> 00:38:02,100 possessions. Okay. 622 00:38:03,700 --> 00:38:06,500 Is this a binding obligation or binding example for us to sell 623 00:38:06,500 --> 00:38:09,400 our all our possessions and have all things common? 624 00:38:09,700 --> 00:38:13,900 No, watch me on this now. When that when those in 625 00:38:13,900 --> 00:38:18,200 Jerusalem had traveled, however, far they traveled and on 626 00:38:18,200 --> 00:38:20,400 Pentecost data was over a million people there in the 627 00:38:20,408 --> 00:38:22,500 gospel was preached for the first time with the ability to 628 00:38:22,500 --> 00:38:25,500 respond to it. Three thousand Souls were saved. 629 00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:28,100 They were baptized for the remission of their sins. 630 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:31,200 They turn their back on everything, they turn their back 631 00:38:31,200 --> 00:38:34,400 on their way of life. They were poor, they had nothing 632 00:38:34,500 --> 00:38:36,000 and all of a sudden they were there. 633 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:38,600 What did they do? They took care of each other. 634 00:38:38,600 --> 00:38:41,800 They sold their possessions and had all things in common. 635 00:38:41,900 --> 00:38:45,100 That was Exclusive, those specific acts to what was 636 00:38:45,100 --> 00:38:48,600 actually happening in the conditions and circumstances of 637 00:38:48,600 --> 00:38:52,300 their life then. So what is the general principle 638 00:38:52,300 --> 00:38:55,100 here? Take care of one another. 639 00:38:57,200 --> 00:39:02,300 That's the general principle. The general principle isn't sell 640 00:39:02,300 --> 00:39:05,300 all your possessions and have one big commune. 641 00:39:06,500 --> 00:39:10,300 It's take care of each other. Here's another one bear. 642 00:39:10,300 --> 00:39:13,800 One another's, burdens. Be there for each other. 643 00:39:14,300 --> 00:39:17,600 That's the general principle to that specific example. 644 00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:18,900 Here's another one. I told you he's going to get 645 00:39:18,900 --> 00:39:24,700 back to this foot. Washing, foot washing Let's talk 646 00:39:24,700 --> 00:39:29,400 about foot washing. It was absolutely needed 647 00:39:29,500 --> 00:39:33,500 customarily at that time. Because they had a lot of dirt 648 00:39:33,500 --> 00:39:36,800 roads, they had a lot of dirt, okay? 649 00:39:37,700 --> 00:39:42,000 And when they would travel mostly by foot their feet would 650 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:46,500 get dirty and they were send those So when their feet got 651 00:39:46,500 --> 00:39:51,100 dirty, they would go to a particular place and the host. 652 00:39:51,100 --> 00:39:54,400 They're showing Hospitality would wash their feet. 653 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:59,900 This is a general principle using an ancient custom or a 654 00:39:59,900 --> 00:40:02,600 custom specific to the day, okay? 655 00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:07,300 When Jesus washed the disciples feet, he was giving a 656 00:40:07,300 --> 00:40:11,700 demonstration of service servitude and sacrifice for 657 00:40:11,700 --> 00:40:13,100 others. That's the general principle. 658 00:40:13,100 --> 00:40:16,600 The general principle is is serve others. 659 00:40:17,100 --> 00:40:20,700 Take yourself and remove it from the equation and serve others. 660 00:40:21,800 --> 00:40:23,400 That's what that General principle is. 661 00:40:24,600 --> 00:40:27,700 Here's another one. I'm glad we don't have this holy 662 00:40:27,700 --> 00:40:33,400 kissing. I don't want to kiss you. 663 00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:39,000 Especially if you're a man. I have no desire to do that. 664 00:40:41,500 --> 00:40:45,100 Okay. But in Romans 16:16, Paul said 665 00:40:45,100 --> 00:40:47,300 salute one another with a holy kiss the Churches of Christ. 666 00:40:47,300 --> 00:40:51,600 Let you that was a custom. It was a custom of greeting. 667 00:40:53,600 --> 00:40:56,300 Do you remember when the vile traitor Judas betrayed? 668 00:40:56,300 --> 00:41:00,200 Jesus and he makes the deal with the devil as it were. 669 00:41:00,600 --> 00:41:02,100 He said, whomsoever. I kissed. 670 00:41:02,400 --> 00:41:04,300 That's the one. You know, why? 671 00:41:04,600 --> 00:41:06,900 It was a custom, that's what they did. 672 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:10,800 I have Italian Heritage on my dad's side, you know what, they, 673 00:41:11,100 --> 00:41:14,100 those in the East do they'll kiss you on both cheeks. 674 00:41:15,700 --> 00:41:17,000 And by the way, I never liked it. 675 00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:19,300 When the ants did that never like that at all? 676 00:41:19,800 --> 00:41:23,000 Okay, do I have to Holy kiss? Anybody know. 677 00:41:23,000 --> 00:41:24,400 But I'll tell you what I got to do though. 678 00:41:24,500 --> 00:41:26,500 I got to have a warm greeting for each other. 679 00:41:26,900 --> 00:41:30,300 I got to do that. I have to have a loving warm 680 00:41:30,300 --> 00:41:32,600 greeting. I got to greet my brothers and 681 00:41:32,600 --> 00:41:36,600 sisters in Christ in love. Just one little side Note 2. 682 00:41:36,600 --> 00:41:40,500 If I may one last thing about this not only is this not 683 00:41:40,500 --> 00:41:42,900 required, it can even be a little bit. 684 00:41:42,900 --> 00:41:45,200 I don't know. Inappropriate in certain 685 00:41:45,200 --> 00:41:49,300 settings, maybe somebody might be offended by that because it 686 00:41:49,300 --> 00:41:53,000 is specific and exclusive to the customs of the day. 687 00:41:53,500 --> 00:41:56,100 The principle is greet one another. 688 00:41:56,800 --> 00:42:00,700 Alright, the last one in finally, That's the Law of 689 00:42:00,700 --> 00:42:03,700 exclusion. The law of exclusion. 690 00:42:05,100 --> 00:42:08,800 Is very important. When there's no precept. 691 00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:13,900 No approved example and no necessary inference. 692 00:42:13,900 --> 00:42:16,500 That includes the practice under consideration. 693 00:42:18,700 --> 00:42:23,000 There's no Authority then for such a practice and it has to be 694 00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:27,900 excluded If there's no example, if there's no precept, if 695 00:42:27,900 --> 00:42:30,800 there's no inference, we have to let it go. 696 00:42:31,300 --> 00:42:35,800 That's not a binding example. God's silence rules against such 697 00:42:36,300 --> 00:42:40,100 a practice in our life, 2nd, John verses 9 through 11. 698 00:42:42,000 --> 00:42:44,500 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of 699 00:42:44,500 --> 00:42:47,900 Christ is not have God. He Who abides in the doctrine of 700 00:42:47,900 --> 00:42:49,900 Christ has both the father and the son. 701 00:42:50,000 --> 00:42:52,900 If anyone comes to you, and does not bring this Doctrine, do not 702 00:42:52,900 --> 00:42:55,900 receive him into your house. Nor greet him for, he who greets 703 00:42:55,900 --> 00:42:59,500 him, shares in his evil Deeds. Okay. 704 00:42:59,500 --> 00:43:02,200 In conclusion, I'll put them all on the screen. 705 00:43:02,200 --> 00:43:06,700 One final time, here they are. What do we know about examples 706 00:43:06,700 --> 00:43:10,100 and when are they binding, what test can we put to see if it's 707 00:43:10,100 --> 00:43:13,200 an approved example? Well, first of all, the rule of 708 00:43:13,200 --> 00:43:17,200 uniformity look to all the examples on the same subject and 709 00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:21,300 make sure they're all the same and everyone did the exact same 710 00:43:21,300 --> 00:43:23,600 thing. If they did in every example in 711 00:43:23,600 --> 00:43:27,100 the New Testament, by the laws of uniformity, it's a binding 712 00:43:27,100 --> 00:43:29,500 example. Also the rule of Harmony or 713 00:43:29,500 --> 00:43:32,500 Unity. How does that example coincide 714 00:43:32,600 --> 00:43:34,300 with the word of God? Does it go? 715 00:43:34,400 --> 00:43:37,900 Inside with everything else that God said on the subject if it 716 00:43:37,900 --> 00:43:41,600 does and it's in harmony with that then that is a binding 717 00:43:41,600 --> 00:43:43,400 example. What about this? 718 00:43:43,500 --> 00:43:45,600 The rule of universal application. 719 00:43:46,100 --> 00:43:48,800 Is it possible to follow that example? 720 00:43:48,800 --> 00:43:53,000 Today, in the aspects, we talked about today, it certainly is if 721 00:43:53,000 --> 00:43:56,500 it is it is a binding example, understand the law of 722 00:43:56,500 --> 00:44:00,200 materiality, things are essential in material, but there 723 00:44:00,200 --> 00:44:03,700 are some things that are unessential or immaterial got to 724 00:44:03,700 --> 00:44:06,700 know the difference. Between that finally also the 725 00:44:06,700 --> 00:44:11,000 law of limited application. Did it just apply to a specific 726 00:44:11,000 --> 00:44:16,500 custom of the day and was the Lord or the apostles or anyone 727 00:44:16,500 --> 00:44:19,200 else. By example, just demonstrating a 728 00:44:19,200 --> 00:44:21,600 general principle that they needed to know. 729 00:44:21,700 --> 00:44:26,600 And finally if we have no Bible Fork, It's excluded 730 00:44:26,600 --> 00:44:33,600 automatically, it's excluded. This is when examples are 731 00:44:33,600 --> 00:44:36,600 binding on us. Today we speak with the Bible 732 00:44:36,600 --> 00:44:38,600 speaks for silent with the Bible is silent. 733 00:44:39,400 --> 00:44:41,300 And I want you to know that everything that we have done to 734 00:44:41,300 --> 00:44:43,900 the very best of our ability and knowledge today from the word of 735 00:44:43,908 --> 00:44:47,500 God will be in accordance with the examples that are binding in 736 00:44:47,500 --> 00:44:50,900 scripture today. It is Beauty and simplicity. 737 00:44:51,600 --> 00:44:53,800 It's wonderful. And you can worship God today in 738 00:44:53,800 --> 00:44:56,300 spirit. And in truth, with every aspect 739 00:44:56,300 --> 00:44:59,400 of our worship, everything that we do because it follows the 740 00:44:59,400 --> 00:45:03,900 rule of Reversal application. It is possible. 741 00:45:05,500 --> 00:45:08,100 We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the 742 00:45:08,100 --> 00:45:13,900 Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you 743 00:45:13,900 --> 00:45:17,000 would like any additional information, or you would like 744 00:45:17,000 --> 00:45:20,100 to receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail. 745 00:45:20,800 --> 00:45:24,600 Please email us at info at her Church of Christ 746 00:45:24,600 --> 00:45:28,600 Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays 747 00:45:28,600 --> 00:45:34,200 at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 748 00:45:34,800 --> 00:45:38,300 Please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our 749 00:45:38,300 --> 00:45:39,200 honored guest.