Introduction

• Matthew 27:5; Luke 10:37; John 13:27 – Picking random verses in the Bible is not a good way to study!
• It’s easy to make mistakes by quoting scriptures out of context.

Who is speaking, writing, or talking?

• Psalms 14:1 – “there is no God”
  • This is what the fool says!
• Romans 3:8 – “let us do evil that good may come”
• Job 4:18 – “against His angels He charges error”
  • This is what Eliphaz is theorizing. In Job 42:7, Eliphaz is rebuked by God for not speaking rightly!

Who is being addressed?

• Matthew 10:8 – “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers …”

  • Jesus was addressing the twelve apostles. This message was specific to them.

• Luke 23:43 – “today you shall be with Me in Paradise”

  • So, is baptism not required?

  • See Luke 23:39-42. Jesus was not yet dead, so no one could be baptized into His death. Baptism for remission of sins was not yet in force.

• Psalm 150:3 – “Praise Him with trumpet sound”

  • Is instrumental music authorized? This was written under the Old Covenant when instrumental music was authorized. See II Chronicles 29:25-26.

How is a word or phrase being used?

• “do not become children” (I Corinthians 4:20) vs. “become like children” (Matthew 18:3)
  • Different aspects of children are being discussed here.
• “God so loved the world” (John 3:16)
  “God who made the world” (Acts 17:24)
  “Do not love the world” (I John 2:15)
• “How are you fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer?” (Isaiah 14:12, NKJV)
  • Compare Luke 10:17-18. Lucifer was referring to the evil king of Babylon. Jesus was referring to Satan being defeated.

What subject is under discussion?

• I Corinthians 2:9 – “All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Alcohol is everywhere

What does history say about alcohol?

• Grapes were crushed. Natural yeast on the skin of the grape and sugar in the juice fermented to a maximum of 3%. Adding more yeast can bring the alcohol content up to 11%.
• Wine was sometimes boiled to increase sugar content and boil off the alcohol.
• It was common practice to dilute water with wine to make the water taste better and make the water safe to drink.
• Wine in ancient times was in any range of alcohol state.

What does the Bible say about alcohol?

• Greek word oinos literally means wine.

• Oinos refers to wine with any level of alcohol up to 10%.

• It is difficult from the context to determine what concentration of alcohol is under consideration.

• New Testament passages concerned with drinking:

  • John 2:1-4 – Jesus turned water to oinos. The context does not indicate what alcohol content, if any, was in the wine.

  • I Timothy 5:23-25 – Timothy was told to drink oinos for his stomach.This passage indicates that oinos mixed with water is not sinful to drink, at least in small doses.

  • Matthew 27:48 – Jesus drank sour wine on the cross. In sour wine, the alcohol has partly or completely turned to vinegar.

  • I Timothy 3:3, 8 – Elders and deacons are not to be addicted to wine.

• The Bible expressly condemns getting drunk.

  • Proverbs 20:1

  • Proverbs 23:29-35

  • Romans 13:11-14

  • I Corinthians 6:9-10

  • Galatians 5:19-21

  • I Peter 4:1-3

• Why does the Bible condemn drunkenness?

  • Loss of control

  • Loss of inhibitions

What is drunkenness?

• Blood alcohol concentration

  • 0.02% - loss of judgment, feeling warm and relaxed

  • 0.05% - exaggerated behavior, loss of control of small muscles

  • 0.08% - legal limit for intoxication in US (not Utah)

Conclusions

• Drinks today contain higher alcohol content than they did in ancient times.
• Impairment occurs after only one standard drink.
• Impairment is drunkenness, which is condemned in the Bible.

Applications

• I Peter 5:8; 3:14-15

The church

• Universal sense: Ephesians 3:15; 2:12; Hebrews 12:23
• Local sense: I Corinthians 1:2; Philippians 1:1

Apostasy in the church

• Apostasy within the church often arose because of laziness within the eldership. Rather than handling their own needs, they sent money to another local church and let them handle it. This is not God’s pattern.

• There is no such thing in scripture as joint participation of churches.

Why should we accept God’s moral standards?

• Romans 9:20-21
• Luke 17:10
• I Corinthians 1:18-21

Why does anyone choose to submit to what is wrong?

Does the Bible relate to today’s moral questions?

• Yes, it is the ultimate authority.

  • II Timothy 3:16

  • Galatians 1:8-9

  • John 16:13

  • II Peter 1:3

Conclusion

• We must be willing to remove ourselves from the process of deciding what’s morally right and wrong to keep from causing a disaster.

Am I picking up sinners … or running them over?

• Galatians 6:1-5

• Hebrews 12:11-17

• James 5:19-20

• Ephesians 4:11-16

• I Corinthians 9:14-23 – Things Paul did to “pick up sinners.”

  • Meet people on their level.

  • Don’t dodge issues but speak the truth in love.

  • Change is a function of energy and time.

• When I sin, am I running myself over or letting others pick me up?

  • Philippians 3:11-17

  • God’s people are forgiven – not perfect.

Am I running over the devil or picking him up?

• Ephesians 4:17-24; 5:1-16 – Imitate God, not the world. Don’t be deceived – you can’t walk in sin and serve God.
• James 4:4-10
• I Corinthians 10:12-13
• I Peter 5:8-11