Bible Study Part 3
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Last week we examined two of the four ways in which God authorizes.
In other words, we looked at how God uses direct statements and examples to tell us what he wants us to do or act.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Remembering of course that direct statements are any statements that deliver authority not just commands and that examples are by their very definition that which is to be followed.
However, remember that not every action is an example and not all examples are still binding today.
It’s all these realities that make in vital for us to understand how to “rightly handled the word of truth.”
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Today we are going to peal back the curtains and look at the other two ways in which God authorizes which is implication and expedience.
So, with that in mind let’s examine our lesson for today.
Implication
Implication
What Does This Mean?
What Does This Mean?
Webster’s defines it as, “to involve or indicate by inference, association, or necessary consequence rather than by direct statement.”
I think brother Deaver better defined it, biblically speaking, when he wrote…
“When an action, fact, or teaching is absolutely DEMANDED by the Biblical information at hand—without being specifically stated—then that action, that fact, or that teaching is a matter of implication.”
In other words, when God implies something we are responsible for inferring what is implied.
Understanding this helps “us” be better at…
Inferring From What Is Implied.
Inferring From What Is Implied.
Before we start breaking down what it means to “infer” let us first understand that there is a difference between inferring and assuming.
One of the best illustrations of this is found in the doctrine of infant baptism which is based in Acts 16:15.
In the section of this passage, we read of Lydia and her households’ obedience to the gospel.
15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
From this passage many assumptions are made when this is used as a proof text for infant baptism.
They assume Lydia was married.
They assume she must have then had children.
They assume at least one of them must have been an infant.
They assume that infant must have been baptized.
It is then reasoned then that it is authorized for children to be baptized.
Remember assumptions do not make for authority only inferences as assumptions do not allow us to “know” something only assume something (John 8:32).
Also, these assumptions fly in the face of clear biblical teaching that a person must repent before being baptized (Acts 2:38; Luke 24:46-47).
Another illustration of assumption rather than inference is found in Acts 2:41.
This of course is in the context of the first sermon after Christ’s ascension and in Acts 2:41 we read…
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Many, in the church, assume this verse allows for an unscriptural marriage.
They assume that some of these 3000 had to have been divorced and remarried without a scriptural reason as found in Matthew 19:9.
They assume that Peter or the other apostles said nothing concerning those that were divorced and remarried unscripturally.
They assume that some of the unlawfully married were part of the 3000 that were baptized.
They then reason that those in unscriptural marriages can stay married after they have been baptized.
Again, assumptions are not based in fact but guess work.
Also, these assumptions fly in the face of other passages as well that one must again, repent, of continuous sin before they can obey the gospel.
No one says a homosexual married couple and stayed married after baptism as if it washes away their sinful marriage.
So, what are some illustrations where God implies, and we infer from it?
We can infer and thus teach that the apostle Paul repented before being baptized for the remission of his sin.
There is no where in the bible wherein it teaches that the apostle Paul repented, it is implied by the fact that it is required as we have already discussed.
We can infer and thus teach as doctrine that it is biblically sound to have a song leader even though it is not explicitly stated anywhere.
We can logically and reasonably conclude this by what is taught in scripture.
God requires his children to sing when they come together in one place to worship him.
26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
God requires his children to worship him in an orderly fashion when we come together in one place to worship.
40 But all things should be done decently and in order.
This then requires someone to lead the song service instead of having everyone start singing at once whatever song pops up in this mind.
Summary
Summary
God’s authorization through implication can easily be overlooked or abused without proper understanding.
However, it is vital in our study of God’s word because God uses this method of telling us what is authorized and not authorized.
The fourth form of authorization God uses is that of…
Expedience
Expedience
What Does This Mean?
What Does This Mean?
Again, when God authorizes something there are times wherein, he gives explicit instructions or authorizations but then doesn’t give every detail of how he wants what he has authorized done.
That means expedience involves human judgment concerning those matters based on other biblical authority.
In other words, there are two parameters that must be met if someone wants to call on expedience as their authority.
First, expedience is based on spiritual advantage.
If what is being proposed is an expedience than it must offer a spiritual advantage to the situation.
19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
Second, expedience is always in harmony with the rest of scripture.
Remember what we said a couple of weeks ago, “just because we want to do something or cannot see the harm in it doesn’t mean it is authorized by God.”
18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
So, what are some illustrations of this…
Implicit Authority
Implicit Authority
Let’s turn our attention to the Lord’s Supper again.
As we discussed last week the Lord’s Supper is authorized by way of direct statement, and what we partake of and how often we partake of it is authorized by way of example.
When we partake of the Lord’s Supper is completely up to the congregations leadership however.
We could partake of it before any other act of worship.
We could partake of it after the sermon, or like we do before the sermon.
Each congregation must individually determine what is expedient for them.
What will give their congregation the best spiritual advantage.
Some have moved the partaking of the Lord’s Supper to after the sermon because people were leaving after taking it.
What about having a church building, song books, PowerPoint, etc…
All of these must find authority through expedience.
They must not be done “just because” but because the bring a spiritual advantage to the congregation and do not break any other biblical doctrines.
Also keep in mind that expedience isn’t limited to congregations.
As individual children of God we must make “expedient” decisions.
A great illustration of this is found in 2 Timothy 2:2.
2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
God’s children are to “teach men and women” in such a way that they are able to teach other men and women.
That is the specific or explicit direct statement.
However, it doesn’t say we can only do this at the church building, or home, but anywhere where it is advantages to do so which means where we teach should be based on expedient authority.
Summary
Summary
Expedience is by far the most misunderstood aspects of bible authority and yet it is one of the most used by those that “want what they want” and don’t care what God’s authority is on the matter.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Of the four ways of bible authority “direct statements, examples, implications, and expedience” the last two are the hardest to sometimes wrap our mind around.
With that said none of these four things we must look for when determining bible authority are “impossible” to understand and we must make every effort to understand them if we want to be able to “rightly handle the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.