Applying Gods Word

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Applying Gods Word

• Does God expect us to make application of His
  principles and laws to our daily lives?
• Can the application of Gods principles and laws
  be considered truth?
• Is a woman who wears only bra and panties in
  public TRULY immodest? (1 Timothy 210)
• Can actions be called sin if the diagnosis
  requires application of Gods principles?
• Is a person who aborts an unborn child from the
  womb TRULY guilty of murder?

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• Hebrews 513-14
• For everyone who partakes only of milk is
  unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is
  a babe.
• But solid food belongs to those who are of full
  age, that is, those who by reason of use have
  their senses exercised to discern both good and
  evil.

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Lets Build Some Hedges
Recreation Movies, Music, TV Profanity,
Crudity Dancing, Prom Modesty in Dress
Appearance Use of Alcohol Choice of
Employment Use of Time Attendance at
Services Etc., etc., etc.
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Use Of Alcohol

• Drunkenness is condemned in the Bible (Gal.
  519-21), but Christians also need to carefully
  apply the Bibles teaching about the recreational
  use of alcohol.

Is social drinking sinful? Is drinking in
moderation sinful? Is an occasional beer
sinful?
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Is God pleased with the recreational consumption
of alcoholic beverages today?
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• 1 Peter 41-3
• Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the
  flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose,
  because he who has suffered in the flesh has
  ceased from sin,
• so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh
  no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will
  of God.

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• 1 Peter 41-3
• For the time already past is sufficient for you
  to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles,
  having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts,
  drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and
  abominable idolatries. 

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• But Is
• One Drink
• Sinful?

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• Two Extreme Positions Not Supported By The Bible

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Is Any Alcohol A Sin?Binding Where God Has Not
Bound

• Many spokesmen for total abstinence have
  attempted to argue that the teaching of the Bible
  FORBIDS the consumption of an alcoholic beverage
  in any amount.
• However, their cause would be better served by
  an honest admission that Gods specific
  statements are against the harmful effects of
  alcohol and not inherently against alcohol itself.

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Is God Pleased With Moderate Drinking?Loosing
Where God Has Not Loosed

• Although moderationists are correct in stating
  that the Scriptures do not specifically forbid
  the intake of all alcohol, they are incorrect in
  asserting that the Scriptures speak positively
  about drinking alcoholic beverages. Nowhere do
  the Scriptures encourage the intake of alcohol
  itself, even in moderation, except for medical
  reasons.

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• Americas Drinking Problem

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Drinking Is A Problem

• The drinking of alcoholic beverages by over 100
  million Americans is regarded by many social
  analysts as Americas number-one public enemy.
• Alcohol claims at least 100,000 American lives
  per year, 25 times as many as all illegal drugs
  combined. (1986 report of the National
  Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, as
  quoted in "Coming to Grips with Alcoholism," U.S.
  News World Report (November 30, 1987)56).

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Drinking Is A Problem

• Norman Geisler, To Drink Or Not to Drink?
• Over 1/3 of adult drinkers are problem drinkers.
• Almost 20 of teenagers are now alcoholics.
• 1/3 of all American families have had alcohol
  related problems.
• Alcohol is the third largest cause of death in
  America (also of birth defects).
• Every 2 minutes someone dies because of alcohol.

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Drinking Is A Problem

• The real human cost of alcohol
• A 1987 Gallup Poll indicated that more than 61
  million Americans (1 of every 4 families) are
  affected by some alcohol-related problems such as
  divorce, violence in the home, crime, sickness
  and death.

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Drinking Is A Problem

• Abraham Lincoln once declared
• Alcohol is the greatest and most blighting
  curse of our modern civilization. The liquor
  seller is simply and only a privileged malefactor
  - a criminal.

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Argument 1
Shouldnt a Christian be concerned about being
associated with or appearing to condone the
recreational drinking of alcoholic beverages?
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• The Biblical Data On Alcohol

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The Biblical Data

• The most common word for wine in the OT and the
  NT can mean either fermented or unfermented grape
  juice.
• ONLY in passages where the bad effects of wine
  are mentioned are we absolutely sure that
  fermented wine is under consideration.

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Fermented Wine

• Maximum alcohol content was 14, but only with
  ideal conditions of temperature, yeast and sugar
  content.
• Palestinian wines rarely reached more than 8 in
  alcohol content.
• Water was often added, from 3 parts to 1 to as
  much as 20 to 1.

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Fermented Wine

• To drink a 2 to 1 mixture was viewed as
  madness 1 to 1 was death undiluted was
  barbaric. (attested to by Homer, Aristotle,
  Hippocrates other ancient sources)
• Usual content ½ to 2 alcohol.
• TODAYS fermented beverages Distilled -
  40? Liqueurs - 20-25 Wines - 12-15
  Beer - 5-8

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Strong Drink

• shekar a highly intoxicating beverage made
  from grain, dates, pomegranates, apples, or
  honey, usually 8-10 alcohol content.
• shekar used 21 times in OT, almost always in
  reference to sinful intoxication.
• Isaiah 511 Woe unto them that rise up early
  in the morning that they might follow strong
  drink.
• Prov. 201 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is
  raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not
  wise.

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Strong Drink

• Nowhere does the Bible ENDORSE strong drink as a
  RECREATIONAL beverage.
• The only positive references to strong drink
  are
• a pain killer when one is dying (Prov. 316).
• Deuteronomy 1422-26 - God allowed the Israelites
  to buy strong drink with tithe money. God was not
  condoning the recreational use of strong drink.
  There were many legitimate uses for owning
  alcohol, namely cooking, healing, pain-killing,
  and religious offerings.

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• All Of Todays Alcoholic Beverages Are Strong
  Drink

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• Proverbs 201
• Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging and
  whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

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• Proverbs 2329-35
• Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions?
  Who has complaining? Who has wounds without
  cause? Who has redness of eyes?
• Those who linger long over wine, those who go to
  taste mixed wine.

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• Proverbs 2329-35
• Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it
  sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly
• At the last it bites like a serpent and stings
  like a viper.
• Your eyes will see strange things and your mind
  will utter perverse things.

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• Proverbs 2329-35
• And you will be like one who lies down in the
  middle of the sea, or like one who lies down on
  the top of a mast.
• They struck me, but I did not become ill they
  beat me, but I did not know it. When shall I
  awake? I will seek another drink.

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The Biblical Data

• Alcoholic Beverages Are Dangerous
• They mock us, Prov. 201
• They lead us to poverty, Prov. 2320-21
• They bring on woes, sorrows, contentions,
  babblings, and wounds, Prov. 2331-35
• They impair our judgment, Prov. 314-5
• They inflame our passions, Isaiah 511
• They enslave us, Hosea 411
• They lead us to violence, Prov. 417

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The Biblical Data

• The Effects of Alcohol
• Forgetfulness and loss of mental faculties
  (Prov. 314-5 Job 1225)
• Sickness (Jer. 2527)
• Selfishness (Hab 25)
• Confusion and delirium (Prov. 2332)
• Poverty (Prov. 217)
• Vulnerability to attack (2 Sam. 1328)
• Sadness and depression (Isa. 169-10)

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The Biblical Data

• The Effects of Alcohol
• Loss of consciousness (Gen. 1933-35)
• Pain (Prov. 2329-30)
• Dizziness (Isa. 1914)
• Laziness (Prov. 2321)
• Complacency (Zeph. 112)
• Immorality (Joel 33)
• Perversion (Hab. 215)

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But What About

• There are a few passages where the Bible speaks
  about the goodness of wine.

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1 Timothy 29-10

• Psalm 10414-15
• He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and
  vegetation for the labor of man, so that he may
  bring forth food from the earth,
• And wine which makes mans heart glad, so that he
  may make his face glisten with oil, and food
  which sustains mans heart.

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Ecclesiastes 97

• Ecclesiastes 97
• Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink
  your wine with a cheerful heart for God has
  already approved your works. 

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But What About

• There are a few passages where the Bible speaks
  about the goodness of wine.
• It cannot be proven that fermented wine is the
  subject.
• Even if it were fermented, it would still be
  nothing close in alcohol content to modern wines
  and liquors.

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Argument 2
A Christian cannot correctly use the Bible to
justify the recreational use of todays strong
drink alcoholic beverages.
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• Biblical
• Principles

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Relevant Principles

• Matt. 513-16 Phil. 215 As Christians we must
  be concerned about our influence.

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Philippians 215
Philippians 215 so that you will prove
yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children
of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked
and perverse generation, among whom you appear
as lights in the world 
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Matthew 513-16
Matthew 513-16 You are the salt of the
earthYou are the light of the world Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they
may see your good works, and glorify your Father
who is in heaven.
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Is God Pleased?1 Corinthians 612

• You may so influence a brother that he sins
  against his conscience. (Rom. 1421-23)
• You may so influence someone that he drinks and
  becomes an alcoholic. (Matt. 186-10)
• Once known, your influence among brethren will be
  harmed. (1 Tim. 412)
• Once known, you may never be an elder or a
  deacon. (1 Tim. 33, 8)

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Is God Pleased?1 Corinthians 612

• You may bring shame upon the Lords church. (Rom.
  224)
• You may lose the respect of (or be a poor
  influence on) your spouse and children.
• You may be tempted to lie and deceive to keep
  people from knowing. (Eph. 425)

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Non-Drinkers

• never commit the sin of drunkenness
• never face the possibility of addiction
• do not contribute to an industry that destroys
  lives
• do not cause others to sin
• do not ruin their influence

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Argument 3
A Christian cannot maintain a godly influence
while insisting on using strong drink
recreationally.
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Three Arguments

• Shouldnt a Christian be concerned about being
  associated with or appearing to condone the
  drinking of alcoholic beverages?
• A Christian cannot correctly use the Bible to
  justify the recreational use of todays strong
  drink alcoholic beverages.
• A Christian cannot maintain a godly influence
  while insisting on using strong drink
  recreationally.

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A Christian May Drink? Supporting Arguments

• The Bible doesnt say we cant do it.
• God gives basic principles of conduct. He does
  not have to say Thou shalt not on everything
  that displeases Him.
• The warnings God has given about strong drink
  should be enough for us to avoid the beverages of
  today.

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A Christian May Drink? Supporting Arguments

• What about the wedding feast at Cana (John
  21-11)?
• The best wine would be the freshest.
• That Christ provided an alcoholic wine is a much
  less likely possibility in light of the Bibles
  warnings against intoxication.

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A Christian May Drink? Supporting Arguments

• What about 1 Timothy 523 drink a little wine
  for your stomach ?
• Medicinal purposes. Still used today. Use it if
  it is the best or only alternative.
• Interesting Timothy was obviously abstaining.
  Paul had to TELL Timothy to drink a little.

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A Christian May Drink? Supporting Arguments

• The Pharisees called Jesus a winebibber
  (drunkard), Mt. 1119. He must have been
  drinking fermented wine.
• Doubt the truthfulness of anything the Pharisees
  spoke against Jesus.
• Jesus associated with sinners, no doubt some of
  which were drunkards.
• Jesus did drink wine did He ever drink
  intoxicating wine? Or strong drink?

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A Christian May Drink?Supporting Arguments

• Deacons are told not to be given to much wine.
  A little would thus be OK.
• All alcoholic beverages of today are strong drink
  and thus much wine.
• Any man known to imbibe strong drink in OT or NT
  days would be viewed as carnal. Why?

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A Christian May Drink? Supporting Arguments

• Self-control is the issue. Gluttony is condemned,
  eating in moderation is fine.
• We must all eat to live we dont HAVE to drink
  alcohol to live. People WANT to drink for their
  own pleasure.
• Those who imbibe strong drink do not obey the
  command to be sober (1Thes. 56-8).

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• Hebrews 513-14
• For everyone who partakes only of milk is
  unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is
  a babe.
• But solid food belongs to those who are of full
  age, that is, those who by reason of use have
  their senses exercised to discern both good and
  evil.

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• Titus 211-13
• For the grace of God has appeared, bringing
  salvation to all men,
• 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly
  desires and to live sensibly, righteously and
  godly in the present age,
• 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing
  of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ
  Jesus

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Will You Become A Christian?
Hear the Gospel (Rom. 1017) Believe that Jesus
is the Son of God (Mk. 1616) Repent of Your Sins
(Acts 1730) Confess Jesus as Lord (Rom.
109-10) Be Baptized for Forgiveness of Sins
(Acts 238) Live Faithfully until You Die (Rev.
210)
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• An Interesting Addendum

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An Old Testament Clue

• Total abstinence was required of anyone
  performing a sacred office or service.
• A king was to avoid intoxicating drink while he
  judged the people. Prov. 314-5 It is not for
  kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink
  wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink, for
  they will drink and forget what is decreed, and
  pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

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An Old Testament Clue

• Total abstinence was required of anyone
  performing a sacred office or service.
• A priest had to be fully sober while he was
  ministering in the Temple Lev. 109 Do not
  drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your
  sons with you, when you come into the tent of
  meeting, so that you may not die - it is a
  perpetual statute throughout your generations.

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An Old Testament Clue

• Total abstinence was required of anyone
  performing a sacred office or service.
• Anyone who took a Nazirite vow (set himself apart
  for special dedication and service to the Lord),
  was forbidden to eat or drink any product of the
  vine and specifically required to abstain from
  wine and strong drink (Num. 63).

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An Old Testament Clue

• Christ has perfectly fulfilled the roles of
  Nazirite, priest, and king.
• As a member of Christ, each believer is
  simultaneously a Nazirite, priest, and king.

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An Old Testament Clue

• We are always set apart from the world and
  willing to show it forth, like a Nazirite.
• We are always a petitioner and intercessor before
  the throne of God, like a priest.
• We are always a minister to those under our
  charge, like a king

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• Nazirites, Priests
• Kings Abstained.
• Am I Willing To Abstain?