TITLE:  How the Bible Teaches
TEXT:  Ephesians 5:15-17
PROPOSITION:  We can know and understand the will of God.
QUESTION:  How?
KEY WORD:  Ways
SCRIPTURE READING:  Same

INTRODUCTION:

1. We must study the Scriptures – John 5:39
2. We can know and understand – text
3. There are 3 ways God expresses His will to us.

Direct Commands

1. This is the easy one.
2. In imperative form – no subject – “Do not kill”
3. In command form – “I command you to love one another”

Examples

1. I recently taught a Wednesday class on this.
2. Many examples – good and bad
3. Binding as a command when it illustrates what is required.

Necessary Inferences

1. 2 types of inferences:
   1. Necessary – This is the only conclusion you can reach
   2. Possible – Your inference is one of several possible conclusions

Biblical Examples of “Necessary Inferences”

1. Existence of God – Romans 1:20, Genesis 1:1
2. Good men do not deceive – John 7:12
3. Animal sacrifice commanded – (Cain and Able) Genesis 4:1-7
4. Inherited sin – Matthew 19:14 – “Of such is the kingdom of heaven”
5. Baptism if old enough to believe – Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16
6. Immersion – Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12
7. Preaching Jesus includes baptism – Acts 8:35-36
8. Can fall from grace – Galatians 5:4
9. Don’t take illegal drugs
   1. Body is temple of Holy Spirit – do not harm (defile) it – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
   2. Obey the laws of civil government – Romans 13:1-3
10. Many moral issues – based on Biblical principles applied
    1. Gambling, smoking, dancing
    2. Pre-marital sex – 1 Corinthians 7:2
11. Good conscience and salvation
    1. Acts 23:1 “in all good conscience”
    2. 1 Timothy 1:15 “chief of sinners”
12. Resurrection – Matthew 22:32-33 – “I AM” not “I was”
    1. I am the God of Abraham – 1776 BC
    2. God did NOT say, “I was the God of Abraham 330 years ago, and the God of Isaac 225 years ago, and the God of Jacob 198 years ago.”
    3. God is still their God – They are alive
    4. “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”