Singing In Worship 1

The Authority of God I. Bible authority 2

How does the Bible authorize? How does the Bible reveal to us what we are to do? 3

1. Command or direct statements It may be a statement of fact A command Something we are not to do It may even be a question 4

Example How do you know faith comes by hearing? There is a direct statement of that fact! 5

Rom. 10:17 [17] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 6

Acts 2:38 – How do you know baptism is essential to salvation [38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 7

2. Approved example “We are required to do what the N.T. characters were required to do.” 8

1 Cor. 11:26 [26] For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. HOW OFTEN? 9

Acts 20:7 – Lord’s Supper on the 1 st day of the week [7] And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. 10

Acts 14:23 – Fasting with appointment of elders not binding [23] And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. 11

3. Implication (Necessary inference) Gen. 13:1 [1] And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 12

No where is it stated that Lot went down into Egypt with Abraham – but since he left Egypt with him, it is implied that he had to go with him into Egypt 13

1 Tim. 3:2 [2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Husband of one wife – implies an elder must be a man 14

Note difference in implication and assumption Assumption – assuming something to be true; supposing Acts 16:15 “And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.” 15

Some assume that her “household” included small children Does the verse imply this – NO 16

II. The authority of silence 17

Many say that the N.T. does not expressly say we cannot use a mechanical instrument like a piano in our worship 18

Noah and gopher wood – an example of silence Gen. 6:14 [14] Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. 19

The book of Genesis does not say one word about not using other types of wood - HOWEVER, we know they were excluded because God told Noah to use gopher wood! 20

Col. 3:17 [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. 21

1 Cor. 4:6 6 Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other. (ASV) 22

2 Jn. 9 [9] Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 23

III. God authorizes singing 24

Mt. 26:30 [30] And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 25

Mk. 14:26 [26] And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 26

Acts 16:25 [25] And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 27

Rom. 15:9 [9] And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 28

1 Cor. 14:15 [15] What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also 29

Eph. 5:19 [19] Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 30

Col. 3:16 [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. 31

Heb. 2:12 [12] Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 32

Heb. 13:15 [15] By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 33

Js. 5:13 13] Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 34

Gen. 6:14 [14] Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. Eph. 5:19 [19] Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 35

IV. Expedients 36

Noah and the ark Noah Could have used an ax, which is not mentioned – this would have been an expedient Pine would have been an addition because God specified gopher wood 37

Song book and singing A song book is an expedient – a tool to help us in our singing The piano would be an addition because God tells us to sing MUSIC – two types – instrumental and vocal 38

Knotty pine would have produced a different kind of ark – a piano would produce a different kind of music 39

Singing is authorized Mechanical instruments in worshi are not authorized LET US BE CONTENT TO SING AS GOD HAS COMMANDED 40

41