Basic Lessons in Bible Authority

Expediency & SilenceLesson 5

Expediency & Silence

ExpediencyWhat Is Expediency?

1.Expediency pertains to the realm of GENERIC authority.

Generic Authority Includes

whatever is necessary to carry out a command

Two Kinds of Authority

Noah’s Ark

“Make thee an ark of gopher wood”

Generic Authority

Includes

hammer saw tape measure

As illustrated by…

Expediency & Silence

ExpediencyWhat Is Expediency?

1.Expediency pertains to the realm of GENERIC authority.

2.An expedient is a suitable, profitable, or advantageous way of carrying out a command.

Expediency & Silence

ExpediencyIn the Illustration

“Make thee an ark of gopher wood”

hammer saw tape measure

EXPEDIENTS

Expediency & Silence

ExpediencyHow Do We Determine

If A Thing Is Expedient?

Two Scriptural Guidelines:

1.Must be lawful (1 Cor. 6:12)

2.Must edify (1 Cor. 10:23)

Expediency & Silence

ExpediencySome Examples

A baptistry is an expedient to the command to baptize.

“baptizing them”

Expediency & Silence

ExpediencySome Examples

A classroom is an expedient to the command to teach.

“teaching them”

Expediency & Silence

ExpediencySome Examples

A meetinghouse is an expedient to the command to assemble.

“not forsaking the assembling”

Expediency & Silence

ExpediencyWhat An Expedient Does

And Does Not Do

It aids the command. It does not add to the command.

Expediency & Silence

ExpediencyWhat An Expedient Does

And Does Not Do

It supports the command. It does not substitute for the

command.

Expediency & Silence

ExpediencyWhat An Expedient Does

And Does Not Do

It expedites the command. It does not excel the command.

Expediency & Silence

Silence

Silence belongs to the realm of SPECIFIC authority.

Specific Authority Excludes

Two Kinds of Authority

Noah’s Ark

“Make thee an ark”

Specific Authority

Excludes

canoe rowboat sailboat

As illustrated by…

Two Kinds of Authority

Noah’s Ark

“of gopher wood”

Specific Authority

Excludes

pine hickory maple

As illustrated by…

Expediency & Silence

Silence

Is God’s silence permissive?

or

Is God’s silence prohibitive?

Expediency & Silence

SilenceExamples of Silence

1.Silence about strange fire (Lev. 10:1-2; 16:12)

2.Silence about kings burning incense (Num. 16:36-40; 2 Chr. 26:16-21)

3.Silence about priests from Judah (Heb. 7:14; 8:4; Dt. 21:5)

Expediency & Silence

SilenceLessons from Silence

1.The statement to do one thing excludes the doing of others

2.The Bible condemns presumptuousness (Num. 15:30-31; Dt. 18:22)

3.We are not to go beyond what is written (Dt. 4:2; 1 Cor. 4:6; 2 Jn. 9).

Expediency & Silence

SilenceThe Fellowship Circle – 2 John 9

Doctrine of Christ

Hath God

Hath Not God

Questions to Ask:Is it in the circle or out of the circle? Is it lawful or unlawful? Is it authorized or unauthorized?