Lesson 14: By Making Proper & Necess ary Distinctions

A Key Verse & Key Responsibility in A Key Verse & Key Responsibility in Understanding the BibleUnderstanding the Bible• 2 Timothy 2:152 Timothy 2:15– Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that

needeth not to be ashamed, needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truthrightly dividing the word of truth. . (KJV)(KJV)

– Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of rightly dividing the word of truthtruth. (NKJV). (NKJV)

– Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the handling aright the word of truthword of truth. (ASV). (ASV)

– Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the accurately handling the word of truthword of truth. (NASB). (NASB)

– Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the rightly handling the word of truthword of truth. (ESV). (ESV)

Must Make Proper & Necessary Must Make Proper & Necessary Distinctions BetweenDistinctions Between• The Temporary & the PermanentThe Temporary & the Permanent– The early church had:The early church had:• Apostles, possessing a miraculous measure of the Holy Spirit Apostles, possessing a miraculous measure of the Holy Spirit

to perform miracles (Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4; Ac. 2:4)to perform miracles (Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4; Ac. 2:4)• Apostles, endowed with the power and ability to impart Apostles, endowed with the power and ability to impart

miraculous gifts to others (Acts 8:14-20; 19:1-6; 2 Cor. 12:12)miraculous gifts to others (Acts 8:14-20; 19:1-6; 2 Cor. 12:12)• Spiritual/Miraculous gifts, possessed by Christians upon Spiritual/Miraculous gifts, possessed by Christians upon

whom an apostle had laid his hands (1 Cor. 9:2; 2 Tim. 1:6)whom an apostle had laid his hands (1 Cor. 9:2; 2 Tim. 1:6)– Necessary, yet temporary elements in infant churchNecessary, yet temporary elements in infant church• Living apostles (John 21:18-19; Acts 12:1-4; 2 Tim. 4:6-8)Living apostles (John 21:18-19; Acts 12:1-4; 2 Tim. 4:6-8)• Miracles (cease when purpose fulfilled, John 20:30-31)Miracles (cease when purpose fulfilled, John 20:30-31)• Spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 13:8-13; Eph. 4:11-13)Spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 13:8-13; Eph. 4:11-13)• Never intended to be a part of Never intended to be a part of permanentpermanent Christianity Christianity

Must Make Proper & Necessary Must Make Proper & Necessary Distinctions BetweenDistinctions Between• The Temporary & the PermanentThe Temporary & the Permanent– The early church had:The early church had:• Desperate need for divine guidance & instruction (but did Desperate need for divine guidance & instruction (but did

not have the complete, written word of God)not have the complete, written word of God)• Prophets, placed in the church by God, through whom He Prophets, placed in the church by God, through whom He

directly revealed His message (1 Cor. 12:10; 14:29-31)directly revealed His message (1 Cor. 12:10; 14:29-31)

– Necessary, yet temporary elements in infant churchNecessary, yet temporary elements in infant church• Prophets (1 Cor. 13:8)Prophets (1 Cor. 13:8)• Direct revelation (1 Cor. 13:8-13; Eph. 4:11-15; Jude 3)Direct revelation (1 Cor. 13:8-13; Eph. 4:11-15; Jude 3)• Never intended to be a part of Never intended to be a part of permanentpermanent Christianity Christianity

Must Make Proper & Necessary Must Make Proper & Necessary Distinctions BetweenDistinctions Between• The Temporary & the PermanentThe Temporary & the Permanent– The 10 Commandments, incl. Sabbath = temporaryThe 10 Commandments, incl. Sabbath = temporary• Sabbath NOT a religious day of “observance” from creationSabbath NOT a religious day of “observance” from creation• It was hallowed as a day of worship through the LawIt was hallowed as a day of worship through the Law

– ““You came down also on You came down also on Mount SinaiMount Sinai, And spoke with them from , And spoke with them from heaven, And gave them heaven, And gave them just ordinances and true lawsjust ordinances and true laws, Good , Good statutes and commandments. statutes and commandments. You made known to them Your holy You made known to them Your holy SabbathSabbath, And commanded them precepts, statutes and laws, By , And commanded them precepts, statutes and laws, By the hand of Moses Your servant” (Neh. 9:13-14).the hand of Moses Your servant” (Neh. 9:13-14).

– It was not until this time at Mt. Sinai that God’s people knew It was not until this time at Mt. Sinai that God’s people knew anything about hallowing or observing the Seventh day. It did not anything about hallowing or observing the Seventh day. It did not start at creation and exist from the beginning of time, as some so start at creation and exist from the beginning of time, as some so assert.assert.

Must Make Proper & Necessary Must Make Proper & Necessary Distinctions BetweenDistinctions Between• The Temporary & the PermanentThe Temporary & the Permanent– The 10 Commandments, incl. Sabbath = temporaryThe 10 Commandments, incl. Sabbath = temporary• God promised a new covenant, different from the firstGod promised a new covenant, different from the first

– ““Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a I will make a new covenantnew covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—Judah—not according to the covenantnot according to the covenant that I made with their that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of to lead them out of the land of Egyptthe land of Egypt…But this is the covenant that …But this is the covenant that I will makeI will make…” (Jer. …” (Jer. 31:31-34).31:31-34).

– ““And there I have made a place for the And there I have made a place for the ark, in which ark, in which isis the the covenantcovenant of the LORD which He made with our fathers, of the LORD which He made with our fathers, when He when He brought them out of the land of Egyptbrought them out of the land of Egypt” (1 Kings 8:21).” (1 Kings 8:21).

– ““Nothing was Nothing was in the arkin the ark except the except the two tablets of stonetwo tablets of stone which which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenantmade a covenant with with the children of Israel, when they the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egyptcame out of the land of Egypt” (1 ” (1 Kings 8:9).Kings 8:9).

– The two-tablet-covenant, including the Sabbath, was The two-tablet-covenant, including the Sabbath, was temporarytemporary!!

Must Make Proper & Necessary Must Make Proper & Necessary Distinctions BetweenDistinctions Between• The Temporary & the PermanentThe Temporary & the Permanent– The 10 Commandments, incl. Sabbath = temporaryThe 10 Commandments, incl. Sabbath = temporary

• Christ released us from the old law, incl. 10 CommandmentsChrist released us from the old law, incl. 10 Commandments– ““Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the

law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the lawreleased from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is she is free from that lawfree from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has , so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. Therefore, my brethren, married another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also have become you also have become dead to the lawdead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the lawwe have been delivered from the law, , having having died to what we were held bydied to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness , so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. What shall we say of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet’” (Rom. 7).covetousness unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet’” (Rom. 7).

Must Make Proper & Necessary Must Make Proper & Necessary Distinctions BetweenDistinctions Between• The Temporary & the PermanentThe Temporary & the Permanent– The 10 Commandments, incl. Sabbath = temporaryThe 10 Commandments, incl. Sabbath = temporary• The handwritten commandments, incl. Sabbath, were The handwritten commandments, incl. Sabbath, were

wiped outwiped out– “…“…having having wiped outwiped out the the handwritinghandwriting of requirements that was of requirements that was

against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. So let no one judge you in food or in triumphing over them in it. So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths” (Col. drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths” (Col. 2:14-16).2:14-16).

Must Make Proper & Necessary Must Make Proper & Necessary Distinctions BetweenDistinctions Between• The Temporary & the PermanentThe Temporary & the Permanent– The 10 Commandments, incl. Sabbath = temporaryThe 10 Commandments, incl. Sabbath = temporary• The law written on stones, incl. Sabbath, done awayThe law written on stones, incl. Sabbath, done away

– ““Who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, Who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. But if the ministry of death, gives life. But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on written and engraved on stonesstones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look , was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away…For if what is passing countenance, which glory was passing away…For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious” (2 Cor. away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious” (2 Cor. 3:6-7, 11).3:6-7, 11).

– ““So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone” (Deut. 4:13).tablets of stone” (Deut. 4:13).

Must Make Proper & Necessary Must Make Proper & Necessary Distinctions BetweenDistinctions Between• Faith & OpinionFaith & Opinion– It is dangerous to treat the faith as an opinion, likewise it It is dangerous to treat the faith as an opinion, likewise it

is dangerous to treat an opinion as the faith.is dangerous to treat an opinion as the faith.– It is dangerous to treat the revealed as if unrevealed, and It is dangerous to treat the revealed as if unrevealed, and

likewise the unrevealed as if revealed.likewise the unrevealed as if revealed.– There is and must be a distinct difference between:There is and must be a distinct difference between:

FAITH OPINION

God’s Revealed Will Man’s Thoughts

Determines Fellowship (2 Jn. 9-11) Must NOT Determine Fellowship

Basis of Unity (Ep. 4:1 -13;1 Co. 1:10) May Have Diversity (Rom. 14:1-9)

Must Judge (2 Thess. 3:14) Must NOT Judge (Rom. 14:13)

Must Preach (Gal. 1:23; 1 Pet. 4:11) Must NOT Preach (Rom. 14:22)

Must Contend For (Jude 3) Must NOT Contend For (Rom. 14:22)

Must Make Proper & Necessary Must Make Proper & Necessary Distinctions BetweenDistinctions Between• Faith & OpinionFaith & Opinion– Failing to distinguish between faith (God’s say so) and Failing to distinguish between faith (God’s say so) and

opinion (man’s think so) is the source of religious divisionopinion (man’s think so) is the source of religious division– Must never arrogantly treat our opinions as divine Must never arrogantly treat our opinions as divine

revelation or lower God’s Word to the level of human revelation or lower God’s Word to the level of human thoughts (cf. Isa. 55:8-9).thoughts (cf. Isa. 55:8-9).

MATTER OF FAITH MATTER OF OPINION

Nicodemus came by night (Jn. 3:1-2) Because he feared the Pharisees

Vocal, Congregational Singing w/o musical accompaniment (Eph. 5:19)

Number of songs, number of verses, selection of songs, tempo of singing

Worship with the Lord’s Supperevery Sunday (1 Cor. 11:23-33)

Location, time of day, order of worship service, trays, matzos, etc.

only for immersed Remission of sinspenitent believers (Acts 2:38)

Baptistry, lake, ocean, pool, heated, garments, backwards, forwards

Must Make Proper & Necessary Must Make Proper & Necessary Distinctions BetweenDistinctions Between• Faith & OpinionFaith & Opinion– Example of differences of opinion:Example of differences of opinion:

• Paul & Barnabas regarding John Mark on 2Paul & Barnabas regarding John Mark on 2ndnd Missionary Journey Missionary Journey• They did not disagree over a matter of faith (they were united)They did not disagree over a matter of faith (they were united)• They disagreed over a matter of opinion (parted company)They disagreed over a matter of opinion (parted company)• Still brothers – Paul later wrote 1 Cor. 9:6; 2 Tim. 4:11Still brothers – Paul later wrote 1 Cor. 9:6; 2 Tim. 4:11

– Summary:Summary:• In matters of faithIn matters of faith• In matters of opinion In matters of opinion • In all thingsIn all things

–– UNITYUNITY–– LIBERTYLIBERTY–– LOVELOVE

Must Make Proper & Necessary Must Make Proper & Necessary Distinctions BetweenDistinctions Between• Faith & OpinionFaith & Opinion– It is dangerous to treat the faith as an opinion, likewise it It is dangerous to treat the faith as an opinion, likewise it

is dangerous to treat an opinion as the faith.is dangerous to treat an opinion as the faith.– It is dangerous to treat the revealed as if unrevealed, and It is dangerous to treat the revealed as if unrevealed, and

likewise the unrevealed as if revealed.likewise the unrevealed as if revealed.– There is and must be a distinct difference between:There is and must be a distinct difference between:

Faith Opinion

God’s Revealed Will Man’s Thoughts

Determines Fellowship (2 Jn. 9-11) Must NOT Determine Fellowship

Basis of Unity (Eph. 4:1-13; 1 C 1:10) May Have Diversity (Rom. 14:1-9)

Must Judge (2 Thess. 3:14) Must NOT Judge (Rom. 14:13)

Must Preach (Gal. 1:23; 1 Pet. 4:11) Must NOT Preach (Rom. 14:22)

Must Contend For (Jude 3) Must NOT Contend For (Rom. 14:22)

Must Make Proper & Necessary Must Make Proper & Necessary Distinctions BetweenDistinctions Between• Faith & OpinionFaith & Opinion– Failing to distinguish between faith (God’s say so) and Failing to distinguish between faith (God’s say so) and

opinion (man’s think so) is the source of religious divisionopinion (man’s think so) is the source of religious division– Must never arrogantly treat our opinions as divine Must never arrogantly treat our opinions as divine

revelation or lower God’s Word to the level of human revelation or lower God’s Word to the level of human thoughts (cf. Isa. 55:8-9).thoughts (cf. Isa. 55:8-9).

Matter of Faith Matter of Opinion

Nicodemus came by night (Jn. 3:1-2) Because he feared the Pharisees

Vocal, Congregational Singing w/o musical accompaniment (Eph. 5:19)

Number of songs, number of verses, selection of songs, tempo of singing

Worship with the Lord’s Supper every Sunday (1 Cor. 11:23-33)

Location, time of day, order of worship service, trays, matzos, etc.

Remission of sins only for immersed penitent believers (Acts 2:38)

Baptistry, lake, ocean, pool, heated, garments, backwards, forwards