1. What should we do OR not do do OR not do in worship to God? Stan Crowley

2. 2  In the books of the New Testament, we find instructions involving worship. ● Use bread and fruit of the vine to keep the Lord’s Supper (I Cor. 11). ● Sing in the assembly (Col. 3:16, I Cor. 14).  The question is: How do we apply these instructions?

3. 3  Are they just information? ● We may omit them. ● We may add other acts.  Are they requirements but do not set limits on what we can do? ● We must do them. ● We may add other acts.  Are they a pattern to follow? ● We must do them. ● We must NOT add other acts. ● We follow them like a pharmacist.

4.  How do we know that is the way God expects His instructions to be followed?  We have a passage where God explains how to follow His instructions. ● It is in Exodus 30 (under Law of Moses). ● In Exodus 30:1-6, God gives instructions on how to construct the Altar of Incense. ● In Exodus 30:7-8, He calls for what to offer on that altar: one specific kind of incense (described in verses 34-36). 4

5.  After saying what He wanted, God explained: (Exo 30:9 KJV) Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon. ● Do not offer other types of offerings (burnt, meat, drink). ● Do not offer other forms of the same type of offering (“strange” incense). 5

6.  God has explained the way we must follow His instructions: IF GOD HAS NOT CALLED FOR IT, MAN MUST NOT ADD IT.  We see examples of this in all ages of God’s dealing with mankind. ● Before the Law of Moses ● Under the Law of Moses ● Under the Law of Christ 6

7.  Under the Law of Moses: (Lev 10:1 KJV) And Nadab and Abihu, … offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not {which he had not commanded them, ASV}. (Lev 10:2 KJV) And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.  Read carefully. It does not say they failed to offer what God called for.  They offered something God had NOT called for. It was sinful.  If God has not called for it, man must not add it! 7

8.  Before the Law of Moses: (Heb 11:4 KJV) By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, … (1 John 3:12 KJV) … Cain, … works were evil, and his brother's righteous.  “By faith” is not generic faith in God; both had that.  The difference is in what they did.  By faith in God’s word, Abel offered what God had called for. 8

9.  Before the Law of Moses: (1 John 3:12 KJV) … Cain, … works were evil, and his brother's righteous.  Cain offered something different.  Cain was not punished for what he did not do, but for “his works.”  If God has not called for it, man must not add it! 9

10.  Under the Law of Christ: (2 John 1:9 KJV) 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.  We must stay within the instructions found in Christ's New Testament.  Those who go beyond are guilty of “evil deeds” (2 John 1:10-11). 10

11.  Under the Law of Christ: (2 John 1:9 KJV) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God....  This is not a warning not to disobey Christ, but a warning not to go beyond what Christ has called for.  Those who go beyond have added things God has not called for. 11

12.  Under the Law of Christ: (2 John 1:9 KJV) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. …  If it is not found in Christ’s New Testament, it cannot properly be called the “doctrine of Christ.”  We must not add to what we find in Christ's New Testament.  If God has not called for it, man must not add it! 12

13.  Ideas not found in the Bible come from men.  Men’s ideas result in improper worship. (Mat 15:9 KJV) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.  If we go beyond what we find in the N.T., we will be offering things that God has not called for. IF GOD HAS NOT CALLED FOR IT, MAN MUST NOT ADD IT. 13

14.  Many understand and apply this principle in some areas of worship today.  Most use only two items of food in the Lord’s Supper (I Cor. 11:23-28). ● The bread ● The cup (fruit of the vine, Matt. 26:28)  They would not dare to add a third item of food to the Lord’s Supper. 14

15.  Why would they not dare add a third item of food? ● There is no Scripture that says do not add another kind of food. ● There is no Scripture that says use only the bread/cup.  They dare not add a third item of food because they apply the principle: IF GOD HAS NOT CALLED FOR IT, MAN MUST NOT ADD IT. 15

16. To be consistent, that same principle should be applied to other acts of worship— like music. 16

17.  God has called for music: (Col 3:16 KJV) … teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Heb 2:12 KJV) … in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.  Singing is found in the Sunday assembly of the church (I Cor. 11-16).  God indeed calls for music! 17

18.  God calls for one kind of music: singing. ● There is not one Scripture that calls for mechanical instruments in N.T. ● There is not one Scripture in the N.T. that says that they were used. ● The Law of Moses has no authority today (Eph. 2:15, Col. 2:14, Rom. 7:1-7).  Adding a second kind of music violates the principle: IF GOD HAS NOT CALLED FOR IT, MAN MUST NOT ADD IT. 18

19.  Applying that principle consistently to worship means: ● Only two items of food on the Lord’s Table: bread, fruit of the vine ● Only one kind of music: singing  God has explained the way we must follow His instructions: IF GOD HAS NOT CALLED FOR IT, MAN MUST NOT ADD IT. 19

20.  We must follow New Testament instructions for salvation: ● (John 8:24 KJV) … if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. ● (2 Cor 7:10 KJV) For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation … ● (Rom 10:10 KJV) … with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ● ( Acts 2:38 KJV) … Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, … 20