The Church

In part 4 of this series on the Sabbath, Pastor Grasso addresses the issues of works of necessity and mercy in keeping the Sabbath. These are good and do not violate Sabbath principles because the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.

In part 3 of this series on the Sabbath, Pastor Grasso addresses some practical issues regarding keeping the Sabbath, particularly the issues of recreation and causing others to work. The principle to be maintained is that the Sabbath is holy time set apart for God.

Pastor Grasso explains the relationship between Hebrews 4 and the change of day of the Sabbath.

In part 2 of this series on the Sabbath, Pastor Grasso addresses the change of day of the Sabbath.  Why do Christians keep the Sabbath on the Lord’s Day?  The answer is because Christ has accomplished the new creation and redemption, therefore we celebrate the new creation and redemption rather than the old.

In part 1 of this series on the Sabbath, Pastor Grasso shows that the Scriptures teach that the Sabbath still continues as a moral obligation for Christians today.  The 4th commandment has not been abolished or abrogated.

Does the Bible teach that the form of singing must be the Psalms? Here Pastor Grasso argues that this is not what the Bible teaches. Beginning with the first song in Exodus 15 and concluding with the songs in Revelation, Pastor Grasso shows that the people of God always sang songs outside of the Psalms. Not only this, but all of Scripture testifies to the principle of worship songs being based on and responses to acts of redemption, therefore, songs…

Pastor Grasso answers some objections about the Regulative Principle of Worship.  Here he distinguishes between element, form, and circumstance.  Every element must be found in Scripture, the form must be Scriptural, and the circumstances must facilitate the elements and not contradict Scripture.

The regulative principle of worship states that in worship we must do the things which God has commanded, and we are not to do the things God has not commanded.  The normative principle states that we can do things God has not commanded so long as we do not do things prohibited.  What does the Bible say? Ultimately, our knowledge about how to worship God can either come from God or man; therefore, everything that God does not command, by necessity…

The question of whether or not extraordinary spiritual gifts like tongues and prophecy continue today is a pressing question in light of the charismatic movement. Pastor Grasso argues that while the ordinary gifts of the Spirit continue and are crucial for the church, the extraordinary gifts have ceased, which gives increasing importance to the Bible as it is the only source of knowing the will of God.