1. Does God’s silence authorize?
Must we have authority from God, or can we act as long as God does not specifically prohibit?

2. True Faith only comes by Hearing What God says (Rom. 10:17).
What God says authorizes, not what He does not say.
Faith based on what God has not said is not biblical faith.

3. Nadab & Abihu—“Offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them” (Lev. 10:1-2).
God was silent about the fire they used! He had not forbidden it!
God just told them the fire they were to use (Lev. 16:12).

4. God told Israel to go (Heb. 11:29; Exod. 14:15-16)
Israel marched by faith.
The Egyptians marched by human opinion. God was silent.

5. Under Mosaic Law Jesus could not have been a priest (Heb. 7:12-14; 8:4). Why?
God was silent about Judah being priests.
But He did not specifically forbid it.
If “everything not forbidden is authorized” the writer of Hebrews is wrong!

6. God said nothing about Gentiles being circumcised to be saved (Acts 15).
Peter used necessary inference (Acts 15:7-11).
Paul & Barnabas used apostolic example (Acts 15:12).
James used direct statement from Scripture (Acts 15:13-21; Amos 9:11-12).

7. “To whom we gave no such commandment” (Acts 15:24).
The inspired letter from the apostles, elders, and brethren.
God did not tell the Gentiles that they did not have to be circumcised.
God had not commanded it. He was silent.

8. APPLICATION Instrumental Music in worship.
Sprinkling instead of immersion.
Infant baptism.
Church sponsored social works.
Church support of human institutions.

9. Should we argue, “Where does the Bible say we can’t do it?”
What is the Bible view?
What God says is authorized?
Or, we can do anything God has not forbidden? (cf. 2 John 9; Gal. 1:8).

10. God is not silent about what one must do to be saved:
Believe (Heb. 11:6).
Repent (Acts 17:30).
Confess Christ (Rom. 10:9-10).
Be Baptized (Mark 16:16).