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For by grace are you saved…

For by grace are you saved…

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints that are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ...Ephesians 1:1-2.


Paul is writing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit to the saints in Ephesus and faithful in Jesus Christ… so He was talking to Christians when he wrote…


for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them...Ephesians 2:8-10.


These grace was for those who had been baptized! If you never been baptized then how do you know the difference?

Singing to God...

 

Singing to God

Col 3:16-17; Eph 5:19


Introduction:

1. You and I are different from the rest of the religious world. We are different because we follow a set pattern found in the New Testament. We follow that set pattern because we know that the New Covenant has replaced the Old Testament. We believe in speaking where the Bible speaks and being silent where it is silent. To have a thus says the Lord for everything we do in service to Him.

2. God in His wisdom set the time in which we would live under the rule of grace and mercy by His Son Jesus Christ. Until the time was right for Jesus to be in control, God put man under the written Law of Moses. This is made up of most of the Old Testament. However, the Old Testament was never intended to be in effect until the end of time. Before the Law of Moses God spoke directly to men or the heads of the house.

3. Heb 8:6-13, In this section the inspired writer lets us know that that God intended to form a new agreement or covenant between man and Himself. Now you and I can consider the laws in Tennessee to relate to this: when a new law is passed then the old law is no longer in effect. If the state changes the speed limit then we are not to follow the old speed limit. Same is true in our spiritual Laws.

4. Because we follow that pattern, we therefore worship God only according to the New Testament and not the Old Testament. In this lesson I want to deal with the singing in our worship to God. I will focus on what God has said, objections people make, and what the pattern is for us.


I. Singing in the New Testament

A. Examples of singing in the New Testament

1. Jesus sang hymns (Mat 26:30, Mk 14:26)

a. After the Lord instituted the Lord’s Supper he went to the mount of Olives and sung a hymn

b. Jesus sang praises just like all did in every age since the creation of Man

2. Paul and Silas Sang Hymns (Acts 16:25)

a. In Phillipi when put into prison for casting out an evil spirit, this missionary team sang in shackles and caused God to give an earthquake for an applause.

b. After which they converted the Jailer and his household

3. Singing when rejoicing (Luke 15:25; James 5:13)

a. When the long lost son came home from wasting his inheritance, the Father rejoiced with dancing and singing.

b. The Lord’s brother gives us instruction that when we are happy we are to sing

B. We will sing in Heaven

1. We will sing a New song (Rev 5:9, 14:3, Rev 15:3)

a. In Heaven, those saved sing the Song of Moses and of the Lamb

2. Singing Is a way of Expressing Emotions and Praise

a. Since the beginning of creation man has a need to worship something greater than himself

b. Men of every age has worshipped their imaginations or the true and Living God

c. It is a way to express gratitude, thanksgiving, and devotion to the Higher Being or Power

C. Singing applies to each Christian (Col 3:16; Eph 5:19)

1. Paul addresses the individual roles in the Colossian Congregation (3:1-17; 18-4:6)

a. Verse 16: The word of Christ dwell in us richly; the principles, promises, and commandments of our Lord and God permeate our consciences, hearts and minds

b. Then take those principles and teach and encourage each other. (1) teach- Impart instruction (2) Admonish- to bring to mind or to warn.

c. To do so in psalms- a general psalm as in an ancient song sang

d. To do so in Hymns- A song of praise addressed to God

e. Spiritual Songs- Songs or odes, maybe a melody that refer to spiritual rather than anything else.

f. With what we are to sing- Grace in our hearts to the Lord. We sing with favor and gratitude from our hearts using our lips to relay that emotion to our Great God and King

2. Paul addresses the individuals in the Ephesus Congregation (Eph 5:15-20)

a. Be filled with the Spirit- to have Christ at the center of your hearts and minds. To allow Christ to have full access to every part of your being.

b. Speaking to yourselves- Involves individuals speaking to themselves and thus to others in songs that are helpful spiritually.

c. Psalms- probably meaning the songs of David, Christianity being built over the Jews, many converts would be familiar with the songs sang in the Jewish worship and thus employ them in the Christian Worship.

d. Hymns- shorts songs that involve praises or devotions to God

e. Spiritual Songs- liken to that from Col 3:16, songs that are spiritual in nature. Most gentile converts were used to singing to their false or fake gods with short songs and so Christian adapted this practice and made it into Christian Spiritual Songs.

f. Singing and making melody in your hearts- The songs sang to and about God should stem from a heart dedicated to worshipping God. The music of the soul is made in the heart and resounds from the lips and mouth to others that they may hear and praise God as well.

g. The idea of hymns and songs clearly says that it is okay to use other songs besides the inspired Psalms found in the Bible. As long as it is Christ centered or filled with the Spirit. As said in Col 3:16 that the words of Christ are felt and implied in the singing and praises of such songs then it can be used in our worship.

3. The instruments used are not guitars, drums, and cymbals

a. The instruments used are our vocal chords, our hearts, our minds, and our spirits.

b. Furthermore we are instructed in Col 3:16, that we are speak, teach, and admonish. How can an instrument such as a guitar teach something? Or how can a drum admonish us to do something? These are unauthorized additions to the singing prescribed by the Holy Spirit in our New Testaments.

c. Due to the instructions given to us we thus use our vocal chords, hearts, and minds to speak, teach, and admonish each other by our personal worship to God when assembled.

II. Music in the Old Testament

A. Singing in the Old Testament

1. They used instruments in assembly to worship (1 Chron 5:12-13)

a. 120 trained men used instruments and sang in unison (1 Chron 5:12-13)

2. They used instruments in personal worship (1 Sam 10:5)

3. David was a skilled musician (1 Sam 16:14-23)

B. Examples in the Old Testament

1. Used as a way of celebrating Divine Favor (Ex 15:1; Num 21:17-18; Judges 5:1-31)

a. Miriam was first after Exodus in Egypt (Ex 15:1)

b. Digging of a well (Num 21:17-18)

c. Deborah and Barak celebrated success (Judges 5:1-31)

d. Other examples can be used as well

2. It was used as a communication between people (Gen 31:27; Deut 32:1-4; 1 Sam 18:6-7)

a. Used to send off people (Gen 31:27)

b. Used to instruct by Moses (Deut 32:1-4)

c. People sang a song about David after the battle with Goliath (1 Sam 18:6-7)

3. Singing was very common in the Old Testament time periods

C. Worship in the Psalms

1. Songs were written by men that praised God (1 Kings 4:32; Ps 33,144,71,98,147,149)

a. Solomon said to have written over 1000 songs (1 King 4:32)

b. David wrote Psalms involving instruments (33,144)

c. Others authors wrote Psalms involving instruments (71,98,147,149)

2. Songs were used in Temple worship (1 Chron 25:6-8)

a. There were 288 skilled musicians that casts lots for their duties (1 Chron 25:6)

b. Had a choir that were trained in singing praises to the Lord (1 Chron 25:7-8)

III. Old Law Worship verse New Testament Law

A. How does something become a pattern for us to follow?

1. An approved example of doing something by the early church

a. Such an example would be in Acts 20:7, where we know the earlier church met on the 1st day of the week and ate the Lord’s Supper.

b. We know there is 1st day of the week each week and so we met every week on the first day which is Sunday and partake of the Lord’s Supper

2. An inference to fulfill a God given command

a. In Mat 28:20, Jesus told us to teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you until the end of the world”

b. We have a command to go and teach. In order to fulfill that we may ride a car, walk, run, take a plane in order to go to other nations of people. Adding those things is an inference in order to fulfill the direct command. We do not change the command by adding the use of a car, that helps us to carry the command out and does not change the command.

c. To teach- we may use a piece of paper, a VCR tape, a course designed by men of God, we may use our mouths, the written word, the internet, radio, television, or any other way to get the message to those who need to be taught. That too is an inference. We can choose various ways to perform the command because God did not specifically say use only radio stations, or use only the written word. So as long as it teaches we are pleasing God.

3. A direct command.

a. The direct command is specific and there can be no additions to it.

b. A direct command causes one to do only that which is commanded and all other things are excluded or not allowed.

c. An Example would be Noah in the Old Testament was told to use Gopher wood. If he had said wood is wood and used oak or maple wood then he would have violated the command.

B. It does not say not to

1. Some Additions to Direct Commands change the Command

a. To use an Old Testament Example, Lev 10:1-7, Nadab and Abihu used a fire in the service or worship to the Lord. However it was not the specific fire that The Lord told them to use.

b. They said, “well fire is fire” and thus offered it instead of what the Lord said. The Lord struck them dead for it, because they changed what God said by adding to His commandments.

c. It becomes sin when the addition changes what God said. When we add the radio stations we are still teaching, however when we add the instruments we are allowing them to praise God instead of ourselves.

d. For us to say that instruments help the singing then each of us would have to have an instrument in order to fulfil the direct command for each of us to praise God.

e. The instruments prevent you and I from being able to speak, teach, and admonish each other as we ourselves praise God from the heart.

2. Some additions help to fulfill the command to sing

a. Such example would be song books. When you and I are gathered together we are commanded to sing. Suppose you wanted to sing Amazing Grace and I wanted to sing Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand and we each sung our song in the assembly at the same time. That would be confusion and God is not the author of confusion 1 Cor 14:33

b. So we can add the song book to prevent confusion and help perform the direct command to sing, by all of us singing the same song at the same time.

c. We can also add the Song Leader, He can keep us in the same melody and determine the length, type of song, and pitch in which all of us are to follow.

d. These additions are allowable because they do not change the command of God.

C. They did it in the Old Testament

1. We know the Old Law is dead and no longer in effect (Eph 2:14-15, Col 2:12-14)

a. He took away the dividing wall between Jews and the rest of the world when He died on the cross. He did so in order to make us both one people.

b. He took that old Law system we could never perform and nailed it to the cross when He atoned for our sins.

2. We can not follow 2 Law systems (Rom 7:1-7)

a. We are delivered from the Law of Moses (6)

b. If I was in the Army, then I fulfilled my term and was discharged. Would I be obligated to show up to work as a soldier again the next day? No. I would be discharged from the army and become a normal citizen again. The same is true of us spiritually. We can not serve two law systems.

c. Just like a woman can not have two husbands at the same time unless she be called an adulteress, we can not serve the Old Testament Law and the New Testament of Christ

Conclusion:

1. We know that in the Old Testament there were instruments used in person and in the temple worship of the Jews. Singing has always been a part of praise and devotion to the higher power known as God. In the ages of all time man has felt the desire and urge to worship a God either real or unreal. We know we serve and worship the real and true God.

2. Singing is important to God. He has prescribed to us how to sing to Him in worship and song. We can not make up our own religion. Our relationship to God is determined by how God says for us to worship Him.

3. We know we are directly commanded to speak, teach, admonish one another in Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. This is the prescribed way we are to worship God. We can add certain things that help fulfill the direct commands of God. It is when those additions cause the direct command to be changed and altered it becomes unlawful during corporate worship.


Prayer

Father may we walk in Spirit and Truth and always worship You properly in Jesus of Nazareth's name amen.


Try…A…Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend



Do you renounce all that you have in order to gain Jesus…yes or no?

Do you renounce all that you have in order to gain Jesus…yes or no?

 

Now there went with him great multitudes: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have wherewith to complete it? Lest haply, when he hath laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all that behold begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, as he goeth to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and asketh conditions of peace. So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple...Luke 14:25-33.

 

Do you renounce all that you have in order to gain Jesus…yes or no?

 

Prayer

Father we renounce all and surrender to Jesus your only Fathered Son…please remove the effects of evil in our lives because we renounced all and accept only Jesus as our source…in Jesus of Nazareth’s name amen.

 

Try…A…Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend

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