"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." (2 Peter 1:3.)

"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." (Psalm 19:7.)

"Whereby, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit." (Eph. 3:4-5.)

"The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." (Deut. 29:29.)

"And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book." (John 20:30.)

The seven thunders that John heard are not revealed to us. "And when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered and write them not." (Rev. 10:4.)

The Bible reveals much to us. It is, in fact, remarkable how much is found in such a small book. Think about the nature of the subjects discussed: creation, the necessary history preparing for the coming Christ, Jesus’ life, redemption, things that pertain to life and godliness, and eternity. From this one book has come millions of other books and messages. From it has arisen benevolent institutions to help the poor and sick; schools to teach the unlearned; Bible colleges to prepare Christian men and women for service in various fields of endeavor.

The Bible is God’s message to mankind. He will say no more directly to us. This is it. We marvel at the design of the Bible---its message and its scope. Yet, just as amazing is what the Bible does not say. There is, as John admitted, much that is not recorded. We should not assume then that every possible question has been answered. We do not have every detail of what to do and how to do it.

My purpose in this message is two-fold: one is to state some things not found in the Bible and secondly to consider the implications of such. There is a message from what is not recorded, as well as from what is written.

Jim McGuiggan wrote: "I am opposed to the notion that the Holy Spirit presents us with an exhaustive blueprint when he gives us the Bible. . . There are a host of questions He (the Holy Spirit) helps us to answer without exhaustive instructions! This should come as no surprise to anyone. You can’t open the Bible without being confronted with unanswered questions. Let me illustrate: Is genetic engineering morally acceptable? What about harvesting human organs from spare embryos? Is cloning humans immoral? Is the death penalty a Christian choice? Should Christians bomb innocent civilians in war? Should Christians engage in war? Has the Holy Spirit told us exhaustively and precisely how we are to respond to the following ethical teachings? Be modest in dress! Honor your parents! Give as you have been prospered." (Where the Spirit of the Lord Is, Jim McGuiggan, 207-208.)

Works of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit. After listing many things that are works of the flesh, Paul adds, "And such like." After naming the fruit of the Spirit, he writes, "Against such there is not law." (Gal. 5:21, 23.) Paul did not purpose to name everything that belonged in these categories. It was unnecessary for him to do so. Christian maturity and wisdom can easily identify the things that belong to the work of the flesh and to the fruit of the Spirit.

Jesus as Head of the Church, His bride. Often the Bible teaches the great truth of the headship of Christ over the church. We know His will from the revelation of God in Scripture. Otherwise, we would not know what the Head desires for His Body, the Church. Yet, we learn much about being the head, as husbands, from Jesus being the Head of the Body. He does not give every detail and a command for the Church on every matter. Look at "the virtuous woman" (a better word is capable) in Prov. 31:10-31. Even though this is found in the midst of a strongly patriarchal setting, this woman and wife is actively involved in many actions and making many decisions about the household. She is buying and selling land; she oversees the work of others in her household. She is busy doing good for her family and others. Being head of the family does not mean that the husband rules as a lord over his wife. Jesus does not so rule over the Church. He has, in fact, left many decisions for the church, his bride, to decide.

If Jesus has done that, when he is Lord of lords and King of kings, how much more should husbands in their relationship with their wives.

Resting on the Sabbath. The Jews knew what the Law said about the Sabbath. It was brief. A man should work six days and rest on the seventh. Two reasons were given: God rested after six days of creating the world, and because they were once slaves in Egypt. Resting would remind them every week of their freedom.

Yet, every detail of what constituted working was not explained. The Jewish leaders wrote volumes trying to explain what was not explicitly said in the Law. When Jesus dealt with the Jews who had made up so many laws about the Sabbath, he gave to them instructions about what God wanted and implied that they should have known this from common sense. If an owner of animals assisted an animal out of a mud-hole on the Sabbath, this did not constitute work. The command did not exclude acts of benevolence or kindness on this day.

But could a dairy farmer who milked cows do that on the Sabbath? Those who have owned milk cows will know that it is very important to milk them every day. In fact, the very reason that Christians meet at 10 AM on the Lord’s Day may be to accommodate the dairy farmers who had to work that day. (The Lord’s Day is not the Christian’s Sabbath Day!)

We have learned from the Bible that the Lord wants mercy and not sacrifice. Jesus’ disciples plucked corn to eat on the Sabbath; the Pharisees condemned them. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees. He reminded them of David’s actions entering the temple and eating the showbread when he was hungry. Jesus concluded, "If you had known what this means: I will have mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath Day." (Matt. 12:7-8.)

A doctor under the Mosiac Law could perform necessary surgery and medical assistance to those in need. It did not matter if a seamstress carried a needle in his or her hat. That did not constitute work. The Jews failed because they misunderstood the heart of God. If they knew God, then they would have been able to answer such questions. They sought after justification as if it were by the works of the Law, instead of by faith and love expressed toward God.

The Lord’s Day and the Jewish Sabbath. We have some difficulties confronting us because we have to deal with two special days in the Bible. It seems clear to me that the Sabbath was to be observed by the nation of Israel only. It was a sign between God and the Israelites. (Deut. 31:13.) They worshipped on that day as well. But should Christians abstain from their regular toil on that day? Some of the older preachers and Christians certainly inclined toward that view. Brother Gus Nichols referred to the Lord’s DAY, not hour. He emphasized that the whole day should be devoted to spiritual things. If we do not have a Sabbath as did the Jews and we do not rest on the Lord’s Day (making it our Sabbath), then do we not need a day of rest? That specific question is not dealt with directly in the Bible. Is it simply left up to the discretion of the individual Christian? I tend to think so, though it is not answered in Scripture.

Where Christians meet. We know that the early Christians meet often for worship. They were taught to come together regularly. Very little information and no commands were given concerning where, in what kind of structure. The early Jewish Christians met in synagogues. James calls them that. (2:2.) They met in homes. Later, wealthy Christians would give their homes to the church family to use. It was large and would accommodate a good number of worshippers.

Is it alright for Christians to build a building just for worship? To add a fellowship hall for meals? These are questions not addressed directly in the Bible. We do know that their agape meals, or love feasts, were a regular part of their assemblies.

Should we use many cups, and small ones, instead of one larger cup? Should the Lord’s Supper be observed more like a meal or like a fasting communion (that we have commonly accepted)? We know that Jesus and the disciples observed the Passover as a special meal with meat, bread, salads and wine. It was a meal. From that meal, Jesus took two elements and used them to represent his body and blood. We surely must realize that the way we serve the communion (in special communion ware and small portions) was not exactly the way the early Christians observed it. Our larger assemblies in public meeting places have changed many things concerning our worship and public life as Christians.

Qualifications for elders, deacons, and wives. (1 Tim. 3 and Titus 1.) What does "not given to wine" mean? Should they not drink too much or not at all? Having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly? If an elder has a son or daughter who leaves the church, is he unqualified to serve?

What does "the husband of one wife" mean? If he has been married before and scripturally remarried, can he serve? If his wife has died, now leaving him without a wife, is he qualified to serve? I know a church that practices resigning the elders when a wife dies because he is no longer the husband of one wife. Does it mean "one legitimate wife?" Does "children" mean more than one? Can he serve if he has only one child?

There are many legitimate and thought-provoking questions that can be asked that the text does not specifically answer.

How to do evangelism, benevolence and worship. Can more than one church combine its resources and support a missionary? Can you use a woman translator in teaching the Gospel? Should a church establish a hospital, do dental work for the poor, provide eyeglasses and crutches?

Should a church build and support an orphan home with money from the treasury? Should we give money to the poor non-Christians from the treasury, or just to Christians?

Should we serve communion to people after 6 PM? (Sunday is then over??) Should we use only one song leader at a time, or could more than one lead us? Is "special music" acceptable worship? Should a woman speak during Bible class?

Oh! The questions that can be asked that the Bible does not specifically address. There are some patterns in the Bible for us to follow. Moses was told to make all things according to the pattern. (Heb. 8:5.) Does that mean that the Bible gives us every detail in everything we are told to do? My answer to that is, NO! Yet, what does that mean? Are we left to our own devises without divine guidance?? Here is what I think that it means.

Man wants some answers. Did you find yourself giving some answers as I went through the list of questions? We are prone to want and to search for an answer to every such question. Surely we have learned from the Pharisees that God does not want us to write thousands of books explaining every detail that He left out. Do not presume to answer for God for all the rest of us. If God has not spoken, then "let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." (Rom. 14:5.) Searching for answers is not wrong, but binding things on others and dividing God’s people over it is wrong.

Allow room for wisdom and understanding. We all understand things better as we grow older. There is no exact pattern for your life: marriage, work, children, occupation, health, etc. You work these things out one decision at a time. Often there is no one answer that is right. You must decide. Faith in God helps us to decide some of the answers. I am personally glad that there is no pattern for everything we are to do in life. It surely would make life boring. We do not know the future and what tomorrow may bring. We walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Cor. 5:7.)

Relationships are important in life. No one need tell a person who loves another how to express it. The relationship teaches us as we grow up with one another. When we are looking for rules to tell us what to do in every detail, we misunderstand the nature of spiritual freedom and relationships. Look to the relationship, not always for a rule. Yes, we have rules that govern our relationships. But relationships built on and guided by love need few rules. Jesus said that on two love-commandments (love God and your neighbor) hang all the Law and the prophets. (Matt. 22:40.) Having the law written on your heart is much better than having one written on cold, hard tables of stone.

Allow room for the Spirit of God to work. Surely, the Spirit of God is alive and at work in the church today. God promised a new covenant which would be written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God upon the fleshly tables of the heart. There is something important in the relationship between the spirit of man and the Spirit of God. In conversion, our spirit is born of the Holy Spirit. In sanctification, the Spirit of God renews our mind making it possible for us to discern the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom. 12:1-3.) When the heart is right with God, good decisions about life can be made. When the heart is not right, all the laws in the world will not make that life conform to the will of God. Paul wrote, "The carnal mind in enmity against God. It is not subject to the law of God and neither can it be." (Rom. 8:7.)

The value of the spoken word. "Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink, but I trust to come unto you and speak face to face that our joy may be full." (2 John 12.)

"I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee. But I trust I shall shortly speak face to face. Peace be to thee." (3 John 13-14.)

Christians have long recognized the importance of both the spoken and written Word of God. Words of preachers are not inspired as prophets and apostles were. They do not come directly from God. God does not give us specific things to preach. Messages must come from the Word of God.

More and more people are minimizing the method God chose to save the world; that is, the proclaiming of the Gospel by believers. Paul asked, "How shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom. 10:14.) The spoken word to an audience is edifying, specific to the occasion, and can be significantly used of God to promote His cause. The Ethiopian eunuch asked, How can I except some man guide me? (Acts 8:31.)