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NASB | John 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth [set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]; Your word is truth. |
Subject: Is there intelligent life on earth? |
Bible Note: Hello, brother Tim... The regulative principle has nothing to say regarding such pianos and organs. Think more broadly than that. Okay, here is what we are *now* contending over: The statement that "unless something is specifically commanded in Scripture, it is false worship." (Which is only one part of the regulative principle.) The regulative principle is based on a number of fundamental principles. Here are a few of them: "The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience." This is based on many scriptures, but includes 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Isaiah 8:20, Luke 16:29-31, Ephesians 2:20, Romans 1:19-21, Romans 2:14-15, Psalms 19:1-3, Proverbs 22:19-21; Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:19-20) "The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (Who is truth itself), the Author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God." Some of the scriptures for this position are 2 Peter 1:19-21, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, and 1 John 5:9. "The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His Own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men." Some of the scriptures for this are 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Galatians 1:8-9, John 6:45, 1 Corinthians 2:9-12, 1 Corinthians 11:13-14; 1 Corinthians 14:26, 40. We are commanded to worship God (John 4:23-24 and elsewhere). Worship can be acceptable to God or unacceptable to God (Luke 18:10-14, Amos 5:21-25, Genesis 8:21, and elsewhere). For our purposes a good definition of worship comes from Dr. Wayne Grudem ("Systematic Theology" page 1003), "Worship is the activity of glorifying God in His presence with our voices and hearts." Thus, the statement "unless something is specifically commanded in Scripture, it is false worship" can be understood as follows: If (1) scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule for obedience, and (2) the whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His Own glory, then it follows that scripture explicitly tells us how to worship. If there are things that we can add to how we worship, then we are saying that the scriptures are not sufficient or complete. Any additions to the Word of God are forbidden (Rev 22:19). Of course, if one disagrees with any of the presuppositions, then it is possible to disagree with the "false worship" conclusion. For example, if a person believes that there is a greater authority for how we ought to worship than the Word itself, etc. The regulative principle is about HOW we approach God in worship. It calls for us to deal with Who He actually is. It calls us to accept Him as the Almighty Lord God, the Judge of Heaven and Earth, the Holy Father. Therefore we come before Him in humility, reverence, fear, and awe. I've probably done poorly at explaining all this. (Proof of my inadequate job will be more questions about tempo or instrumentation.) Worship is an important subject. I hope that I've adequately explained how deeply important it is to those of us who look to the Word of God for guidance in all areas of obedience. In Him, Doc |