1. When God is Silent
~ Does God’s silence authorize or not?
~ Must we have authority from God, or can we act as long as God does not specifically prohibit?
~ Luther & Swingli and the Bible!

2. > True Faith only comes by Hearing What God says (Rom. 10:17)!
~ What God says authorizes, not what He does not say (silence)!
~ Faith based on what God has not said is not “Bible Faith!”

3. > Bible Demonstrations of the Truth!
~ Lev. 10:1-2 – Nadab & Abihu “Offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.”
* God was silent about the fire they used! He had not forbidden it!
* Lev. 16:12 – God just told them the fire they were to use!

4. ~ Heb. 11:29 – God told Israel to go (Ex. 14:15-16)!
* Israel marched by faith!
* The Egyptians marched by human opinion! God was silent!

5. ~ Heb. 7:12-14; 8:4 – Jesus could not be priest under the Law! 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 would be wrong!!!

6. > Acts 15 – God said nothing about Gentiles being circumcised to be saved!
~ 15:7-11 – Peter used “Necessary Inference!”
~ 15:12 – Paul & Barnabas used “Apostolic Example!”
~ 15:13-21 – James used “direct statement” from scripture! (Amos 9:11-12)!

7. ~ 15:24 – “to whom we gave no such commandment.”
* The inspired letter from the apostles, elders & brethren!
* God did not tell the Gentiles that they did not have to be circumcised!
* God had not commanded it. He was silent!

8. > Make Application to:
~ Instrumental music in Worship!
~ Sprinkling for Baptism!
~ Infant Baptism!
~ Church social & recreational work!
~ Church support of Human Organizations!

9. ~ Should we try to justify a belief or. practice by asking “where does
~ Should we try to justify a belief or practice by asking “where does the Bible say ‘Thou shall not do it?
~ Which view is the Bible view?
* What God says is authorized?
* Or, we can do anything God has not forbidden?
* 2 John 9; Gal. 1:8

10. God is not Silent about what the alien must do to be saved:
~ Believe (Heb. 11:6)
~ Repent (Acts 17:30)
~ Confess Christ (Rom. 10:9-10)
~ Be Baptized (Mark 16:16)
What the Christian must do:
~ Confess sins (1 John 1:9)
~ Repent and Pray (Acts 8:22)