Presented in two lessons October 31, 2004
USING EXAMPLES PROPERLY
The importance of authority cannot be overemphasized. On one occasion during the life of Jesus, the chief priests and elders of the Jews confronted Him demanding that He give justification for His actions. They asked, “By what authority are you doing these things?” (Matthew 21:23-27). While their motives were corrupt, and Jesus exposed that fact, their right to demand authority for one’s action was just. As Jesus was about to ascend to heaven He told His disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth…teaching them to observe all things I have commanded” (Matthew 28:18-20). Paul said, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord” (Colossians 3:17). Can we establish authority for all that we do as His church? Roy E. Cogdill in his book, Waling by Faith defined authority as “the right to command or direct and enforce obedience or administer punishment.” This concurs with dictionary definitions of the word. By authority in religion we mean that right which is established by accurately handling God’s word to determine what He would have us to do and how to do it.
There are primarily 3 ways to establish authority for what we do – 1)Direct Precept, 2)Approved Apostolic Example and 3) Necessary Inference. In our lesson today, we want to talk the proper use of examples in establishing authority.
I. What Is An Example?
A.
An example is 1) “one or a portion taken to show
the character or quality of the whole” or 5) “an instance serving for
illustration of a rule or precept, especially to be solved.” Or 2)“that which
is to be followed or imitated as a model” (Webster)
Maurice Barnett, in his booklet, Understanding Bible Authority, defines
an example as, “a description of the conduct or activity of people
in the Bible, primarily New Testament disciples, that acts as a pattern that we
may imitate or avoid.”
B. Examples are an important part of the Bible.
a. Acts 20:35 as Paul spoke to the Ephesian elders he gave them an example that they were to follow.
b. 1 Corinthians 11:1 – Paul encouraged us to imitate him AS he imitates Christ.
C.
As we refer to examples in establishing authority
we mean examples that help explain how to fulfill a command. At times these
examples help to further solidify a command by filling in details not mentioned
in the command.
For example: We know that we are to partake of the Lord’s Supper because Jesus
told us to in Matthew 26:26-29 and Paul reemphasized this in 1 Corinthians
11:23-26.
In Acts 20:7 we have an example of WHEN they partook of the Lord’s Supper. It
is the ONLY example addressing a time frame for partaking of the emblems. Is
that example important?
D. Examples must be approved to be acceptable.
a. By an approved example we mean something done by the apostles that indicate God intended for it to be done that way. Consider 1 Corinthians 11:1 where Paul encouraged us to imitate him, but only AS HE imitated Christ. Consider also 1 Corinthians 4:16-17 to further understand this.
b. For example: We know the first day of the week IS an approved example. If we limit our actions concerning the Lord’s Supper to this day, we KNOW God is pleased with what we do.
c.
There are examples that we should NOT follow or
that teach us what NOT to do –
Jude 7 describes the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah as an example NOT to follow
Acts 5:1-11 where we read of Ananias and Saphira who were struck dead for lying
to the Holy Spirit. Vs. 11 describes the lesson they learned from that example.
Galatians 2:11-13 – Paul rebuked Peter for sinful behavior. Notice also the
result of Peter’s poor example – others followed it.
3 John 11 – “Do not imitate what is evil, but what is good…”
d. IN THIS lesson we are interested in the importance of examples in establishing authority for what we do. Can we use examples to establish how we do something? Are those examples binding and exclusive (they limit all other possibilities)?
II. Rules For Applying Examples
A. There are a number of rules that we can apply to help us understand how to properly use examples.
B. The Rule of Uniformity
a. When there is more than one example in the Bible, and they are all uniform, it is an indication that God expects something to be done that way.
b. FOR EXAMPLE – CONVERSION. In every example of conversion in the New Testament church we find two things. 1) The gospel was taught. 2) A man presented the gospel. From this we can conclude that to convert someone they need the gospel (nothing more and nothing less) AND it has to be taught (this contradicts the D.O. of the H.S. in opening man’s hearts. IT also impresses upon us the importance of teaching others – as song 512 says, “We are the only Bible this careless world will read…”
c. FOR EXAMPLE – Every example of conversion involved faith of the believer.
d. CONCERING the Lord’s Supper – Acts 20:7 says they partook of the Lord’s Supper upon the first day of the week. NO other example as to time is given – therefore to be sure we are pleasing to God, we ought to restrict our observance to that day. IT WAS MENTIONED FOR A REASON.
e. Applying this rule to the work of the church we find that no church did their work THOUGH another local church. In other words there were no sponsoring churches or extra-congregational organization
f.
What about examples that do not mention a specific
event?
Consider baptism – numerous examples mention baptism as that step which put one
into Christ. Yet there are times when it is NOT mentioned – Acts 4:4, 17:12,
34. Yet in none of these examples do we find for sure they were NOT baptized.
In fact it can be concluded they were because of the many examples teaching and
demonstrating its importance.
C. The Rule of Unity
a. This rule indicates that in considering examples, we have to interpret that in light of all God’s word. BECAUSE God’s word does NOT contradict itself. So if we find an example of something being done, how does that accord with God’s commands?
b.
FOR EXAMPLE – everything we find about the work of
elders in the Bible is confined to the local work they are a part of – Cf. 1
Peter 5:1-2, Acts 20:17, 28. There is NO example of elders overseeing another
congregation.
Concerning benevolence we have examples of a need that arose in Acts 11:27-30.
Brethren in Antioch determined to send relief. “This they did and also sent it
to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul” (30). Some use this to teach
that the elders we the “sponsoring church” for relief. But we CANNOT conclude
that from this example because of the above passages. We can conclude that
relief was sent to the elders of each church in Judea directly by Barnabas and
Saul because that does not contract either this example (or any other example of
elders) OR plain passages restricting the work of elders.
c. ANOTHER EXAMPLE – Acts 20:7 – upon the first day of the week. The disciples came together to “break bread” which is a reference to the Lord’s Supper. That they were to partake of the Lord’s Supper often is found in its institution and 1 Corinthians 11:26 which speaks of it being something we do often. We can assume from the examples and passages we do have that the Lord’s Supper was something they did EVERY first day of the week. BTW, people see no problem with this when it comes to giving (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
Lesson 2, presented Sunday PM
D. The Rule of Universal Application
a. We understand that Christianity is available to all mankind everywhere. No matter where you are it is possible to be a Christian (though not always easy). There are certain examples that make this possible.
b.
FOR EXAMPLE: Baptism is in water.
John baptized in the Jordan because, “there was much water there” John 3:23
Paul was told, “Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins…” (Acts 22:16)
Hebrews 10:22 – Our bodies need to be “washed with pure water”
Acts 10:47 – in the example of Cornelius, “can anyone forbid water…”
Water is available everywhere in sufficient quantities that one can be baptized
(immersed)
c. FOR EXAMPLE: Acts 20:7 - they met “on the first day of the week”. Every week has a first day and as far as I know, the entire civilized world recognizes a week as 7 days (BTW, it is interesting that the week is the only time setting that is not affected by nature). In this we can know HOW OFTEN to worship (at a minimum)
d.
FOR EXAMPLE: We have mentioned that in the Bible,
churches were independent and autonomous. There was no organization larger than
a local church. Yet we find many denominations today with headquarters that
give “marching orders”. Even among some churches of Christ this pattern is
being violated with churches pooling their resources and elders taking the
oversight over works larger than their local congregation.
Yet understand that no matter where you are you can have a local congregation.
God knew what He was doing in establishing the pattern for the church.
E. The Rule of Relevance –
a. At times there are elements involved in fulfilling a command that either have relevance to fulfilling God’s command or not. The relevance is determined by what the scriptures say based on rules we have already discussed (Universality, Unity & Universal Application).
b.
FOR EXAMPLE: We know there were 3000 souls
baptized on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2:41. We know water was
used, but whether or not that water was running water or a pool is irrelevant.
There is NOTHING to indicate one way or the other anywhere in scripture.
Only 2 passages reference the location of a baptism – John 3:23 and Acts
8:36-38. The relevance of the location is immaterial in both cases except for
the fact that “there was much water there” and the relevance of that is you need
enough water to immerse someone.
c.
FOR EXMAPLE: We know they assembled on the first
day of the week because of Acts20:7. Where we assemble is irrelevant (provided
we are not breaking any laws) as long as we assemble as commanded. We can
assemble in a building, in a tent, in a home, outside, etc. But we HAVE TO
assemble – Hebrews 10:25.
BTW, this passage authorizes securing a place for that purpose, hence a
building.
Because Acts 20:8 mentions an “upper room” there are some who assume we have to
meet in a location that has two stories to partake of the Lord ’s Supper. That
fact is irrelevant to the context.
d. AS TO RELEVANCE: When we find examples of elders working, it IS RELEVANT as to whether or not they maintained their independence - Because of 1 Peter 5:1-2, etc. While in human reasoning there are several possible scenarios, only those that fulfill specific commands can be considered.
e.
AS TO RELEVANCE: When Jesus instituted the Lord’s
Supper, He did so using the elements of the Passover feast which were unleavened
bread and grape juice. Matthew 26:26-28, 17-19 – the Passover.
Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 made reference to this occasion. The context
indicates he was rebuking them for abusing the occasion by making it a common
meal (17-22).
Because of these examples and the teaching we know that we CANNOT use cake and
coke for the elements. The pattern is set and we ought to follow it.
F. The Rule of Limited Application –
a. Sometimes contents limits the ones to whom an example applies. There were many things the 1st century Christians needed to address that are not relevant today.
b. FOR EXAMPLE: 1 Corinthians 14 and many other passages make reference primarily to spiritual gifts. Because they have been done away with that does not apply to us. (However, the principles of the passage applies to us – let all things be done for edification – 5, 11, 26 AND 40 – let all things be done decently and in order)
c. FOR EXAMPLE: Ephesians 4:11 speaks of various offices given for the equipping of the saints. The context primarily has reference to the time when all scripture would be revealed. We live in a time where God’s word is complete, so our approach to this passage is somewhat different from back then.
d. NOT ALL cultures have a problem with meats offered to idols, etc. While there may be principles to apply, the specifics don’t.
Establishing authority in all that we do is so important. It is my hope that in this lesson we have seen the relevance of examples in establishing authority for what we do. We have mentioned a number of rules that can help us to “rightly divide the word of truth” when we see examples. Let us consider this in all we