STUDIES FROM BRETHREN IN CHRIST

SERMON MENU SELECTIONS

10/12/2006 ~ Instrumental Music in Church Worship


It is God's will what has been reveiled to us.

... how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, ...
~ Acts 20:20

He has assured us that what has been given is all that is NECESSARY.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction, ... ~ 2nd Timothy 3:16-17

He has told us that His word is SUFFICIENT.

... His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life
and godliness, through the knowledge of Him ~ 2nd Peter 1:3

For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
~ Acts 20:27

He has told us that His word is COMPLETE.

... contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered
to the saints. ~ Jude 1:3

... If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues
that are written in this book; ... ~ Revelation 22:18

... if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God
shall take away his part from the Book of Life, ... ~ Revelation 22:18-19

... Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
~ Proverbs 30:5-6

God does not want His delivered word to be perverted or twisted.

... some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
~ Galatians 1:6-7

... which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction,
as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. ~ 2nd Peter 3:16

God has set the boundaries.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ
does not have God. ... ~ 2nd John 1:9

"... one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."
~ Matthew 5:18

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."
~ Matthew 24:35

God has promised His word will remain whole.

"... But the word of the Lord endures forever." ~ 1st Peter 1:23-25

... strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ... ~ Romans 4:20-21

It will be a matter of faith for salvation.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
~ Romans 10:17

... He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. ~ Hebrews 11:6

Is it right to accept what man's doctrine has delivered
or that which God has instructed?

... by revelation He made known to me the mystery ~ Ephesians 3:3-4

God tells us that His word will be easy to understand.

... But what does it say? "The word is near you, ..." ~ Romans 10:6-8

I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.
~ Romans 1:14

... that His word will be accessible without language barriers.

... if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner ...
~ 1st Corinthians 14:11

"... - we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."
~ Acts 2:6-11

... unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand,
how will it be known what is spoken? ... ~ 1st Corinthians 14:5-9

Whether Greek, Russian, Japanese, or English, His word stands sure!

... "By what authority are You doing these things?
And who gave You this authority?" ... ~ Matthew 21:23-25

One will either choose to believe God (humbled) or man (self).

... not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which
also effectively works in you who believe. ~ 1st Thessalonians 2:13

... the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.
~ 1st Corinthians 14:37

If it not found in the Bible it is not from God but an invention of man.

... if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received,
let him be accursed. ~ Galatians 1:9

So, how does your heart believe?

"The baptism of John - where was it from? From heaven or from men?" ...
~ Matthew 21:25-27

→ We are called to investigate the truth.

● Should mechanical instrumental music be in church worship?

- It is God’s determination, the truth.
The New Testament is what teaches us.

We need to study from unbiased translations of the Bible
~ And not out of any individual church or denominations
that publish there own interpretations.

~ Reliable translations by a consensus of
committees consisting of accredited scholars.

CREDIBLE TRANSLATIONS
  1. King James
  2. New King James
  3. American Standard
  4. New American Standard  
Cross scriptural study hones one’s understanding
as to the whole intent of what God wants us to know.

Does the Bible endorse instrumental music?
What is the authority given from the Bible?
What by itself, in English, does the Bible say
about using mechanical instruments of music?

"... I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name."
~ Romans 15:9

Singing does not infer a mechanical musical instrument.

... I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
~ 1st Corinthians 14:15

... one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
and making melody in your heart to the Lord ~ Ephesians 5:19

... admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ~ Colossians 3:16

... suffering? Let him pray. Is there anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
~ James 5:13

Do you cheerfully love God?

This is what the New Testament teaches us.
We are instructed to use our voices in heart to sing to our Lord.

~ Is a psalm a mechanical musical instrument?

Psalms ≠ Mechanical Instrument Accompaniments

... "Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: ..." ~ Luke 20:42
                                                         ↑ It is a literary work. ↓
"... were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms ..."
~ Luke 24:44

~ No mention of a musical instrument.
→ It is a literary work with a message.

For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ... ~ Acts 1:20

... As it is also written in the second Psalm: ... ~ Acts 13:33

Therefore He also says in another Psalm: ... ~ Acts 13:35
                                                                 └─> A recitation of a literary work.

A musical accompaniment is not implied.

~ Does the New Testament authorize any instrument; harp?

... twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, ...
~ Revelation 5:8

... And I heard the sound of harpists playing harps. ~ Revelation 14:2

... standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. ~ Revelation 15:2

Harps in Revelation are observed in Heaven, not on the earth.
Therefore there is no application in the church on the earth.
Revelation is a book of symbols and deep thoughts.
Lamb = God’s Son

So everything would be symbolic except for the harp?
Symbolism has no application in the real world church.

● It is then that musical instrumentation is from the desires of man;
Derived from human motives, and designed to satisfy the wishes of man
... rather than God.

"... From heaven or from men?" ~ Matthew 21:25

How do you answer to spiritual authority?
Was it
FROM HEAVEN 		Then
BELIEVE IT
Was it
FROM MAN 		Then
REJECT IT
Say You
DON'T KNOW 		So Cowards
WON'T COMMIT

We all have a right to understand God’s word in plain language.

The real question is whether Old Testament practices may be adapted
for application in the New Testament church
~ without God’s instruction or approval.

This reaches into many areas such as circumcision.
→ There is a physical separation in the Bible,
The first part is the Old and the second is the New.

Where do we NOW stand with God?
Old
Covenant 		Inactive Obsolete Faulty Vanished
Away 		Fulfilled
New
Covenant 		Active Permanant Perfect Appeared Begun

┌─> Christ became the mediator of the New covenant.  
... He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the
redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, ... ~ Hebrews 9:15

         ┌─> God brings forth a New Covenant as told to Jeremiah 600 years before Christ.
... "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete and growing old
is ready to vanish. ~ Hebrews 8:13

... You observe days and months and seasons and years. ... ~ Galatians 4:9-11
                                                                                                 ↑
                     ┌─> You can no longer be judged by the Old covenant.  <─┘
... So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival
or a new moon or sabbaths, ... ~ Colossians 2:14-16

Do not be judged by the traditions of man but condition of the heart.

"For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, ..."
~ Matthew 5:18

... we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, ...
~ Hebrews 12:27-28

Should something temporary be added as something permanent?

... He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established
on better promises. ~ Hebrews 8:6

For if that first covenant had been faultless,
then no place would have been sought for a second. ~ Hebrews 8:7

PERFECT ≠ IMPERFECT

You can’t say that you can use what you like in the OLD in the NEW.
● What about animal sacrifice?

Endorse Part = Endorse All

... the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.
~ Leviticus 20:10

What about transgressions requiring immediate death?

... gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. ... must surely be put to death;
all the congregation shall stone him with stones ... ~ Numbers 15:32-35

If one brings out musical instruments from the Old Testament
then all the Old Testament must be pulled upon.

The Old Testament commands that priests be from the house of Levi.

... Levites shall set it up. The outsider who comes near
shall be put to death. ... ~ Numbers 1:47-53

Jesus came from the house of Judah.

For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, ... ~ Hebrews 7:14-17

       The law is no longer valid if a priest can be from the tribe of Judah. <─┐
For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change
of the law. ~ Hebrews 7:12

┌─> A curse on who does not keep the whole law.                                
... "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written
in the book of the law, to do them." ~ Galatians 3:10

The old covenant has been reduced to profitless. <─┐             
... that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.
~ Galatians 5:2

... every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep
the whole law. ~ Galatians 5:3

The Old Law demands obedience for the whole law.
                                 └─> Only Jesus was able to do this.

One falls from Grace by remaining in the Old Law. <─┐     
... you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
~ Galatians 5:4

The use of musical instruments will severe, cut one from Christ.
The cost is too high
Would you endanger your soul by practicing the Old?

It is clear that we are no longer abiding under the Old Law.

The mighty hand of God has been on it all in divine providence.
And so, we have the Bible in the English language.
→ God wants you to understand it.
If you can’t understand it, it is not authorized by God.

The authorization of mechanical musical instruments
is not found in the New Testament.

~ The Bible is here for our well being.
If it is the command of God to play instrumental music,
then ALL must play one.
? Which one should be used? A harp?
~ Then ALL must play the harp to please God.
→ This is simply not reasonable.
God does not demand so much of us.
His word is simple and clear.
 ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
↓ ↓
↓
... one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
and making melody in your heart to the Lord ~ Ephesians 5:19

The instrument we are instructed to use identified from the Bible
is the he♥rt.

God wants us to be extra sure.

Ephesians 5:19-20 † Colossians 3:16-17
... speaking to one another = teaching and admonishing
one another
psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, 		= psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs,
making melody in your heart ≈ singing with grace in your hearts
to the Lord, = to the Lord.
... giving thanks always
for all things to God the Father
in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, ...

= ... in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God the Father
through Him.


Discover and apply the word because you love the Lord.
We want our foundation to be the TRUTH.

... as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ...
~ Ephesians 6:6

We are instructed that our worship of God must be from the heart.
Not one of us can know the heart of another soul,
~ We can only know the bottom of our own.
Let God dwell in the midst of your heart
You, commit to God in your heart.
~ Jesus died for our salvation.
Submit to God’s LOVE.
♪
Following musical instrumentation is not the same
as upwelling spirit from the inner self.
Play your He♥rt for God.

I will praise the name of God with a song, ... ~ Psalm 69:30-32

... let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. ...
~ Psalm 95:1-2

Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!
~ Psalm 105:2

Look in to your own heart. The Grace of God gives us eternal life.
(John 8:24) (Luke 13:3-5) (Matthew 10:32-33) (Mark 16:16) (Romans 6:4)

Do we worship the music or does our music worship God?


 

SERMON MENU SELECTIONS


Love
Edify
Order
top

Home
Page		 Chimney
Scriptures		 Prayer Conduct Salvation Sin ~ Spirit Miracles,
Parables,
& Prophecies
Holy Spirit Death TimeLines Bible Notes Ongoing
Journey		 Sermons About
me		 Links


Copyright © 2006 by Ronald Arthur Bert. ‏ ‏ All rights reserved.