Download WORLDLINESS – 9

WORLDLINESS – 10
1 JOHN 2:15-17 – TEXT
INTRODUCTION - Is worldliness a problem in everyday life? We would have to
answer emphatically YES!!! Today we will continue our series of lessons that will focus
on worldliness. What does the Bible have to say about worldliness as it relates to
drunkenness and social drinking?
1 JN. 2:15-17 - Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the
world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of
the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the
world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of
God abides forever.
Drinking and drunkenness are big problems today. The bible clearly states drunkenness
is a sin but what about social drinking? Moderate drinking? Having just an occasional
beer or wine?
In this lesson we want to look at what the bible teaches concerning drinking and
drunkenness. There is much confusion on this subject because we do not understand that
the Greek and Hebrew words for wine – Oinos and Yain - are used to refer to fermented
or intoxicating wine, or unfermented juice – the fruit of the vine, or grapes in the cluster,
also referred to jams or syrups that were prepared by boiling the juice.
These words unlike our word for wine have both a general and specific meaning.
WORLDLINESS – SOCIAL DRINKING:
I. DOES GOD APPROVE?
A. PROV. 20:1 – God teaches us in his word that wine is a mocker and strong
drink is raging and if you let that fool you then you are not wise. I.E. – The
rationale to get behind the wheel of a vehicle because after all I have only had a
few drinks. Fact every 30 minutes someone is killed by a driver who is
impaired that is nearly 50 people a day.
B. ISA. 5:21-24 – Woe unto them – Note that God condemns those who drink
wine not just those who are drunk.
C. EPH. 5:15-18 – God wants us to serve him as wise obedient sons so he instructs
us to not become drunk.
D. GAL. 5:19-21 – Paul describes two classes of people who will not inherit the
kingdom of God. Those involved in drunkenness and revelries. What does this
word revelries mean? Carousal or rioting associated with drinking parties.
E. ROM. 13:11-14 - “not in rioting” Strong 2970 – komos – drinking parties,
revelry, always used of a disorderly company, but not of necessity a drunken
company. Ones who are riotous and involved in rioting.
F. 1 PET. 4:1-3 –God uses three different words to describe the use of alcohol and
its effects and he says this type of living is walking after the Gentiles
i. Excess of wines – winebibbing – oinophulgia - to debauch with
wine, drunkenness, or sottishness
ii. Revellings – komos – drinking parties
iii. Banqueting – potos – drinking matches or bouts, VS. 4 – they no
longer participated in this type of activity
II. ARGUMENTS TO JUSTIFY –
A. JN. 2:1-11 – People are quick to remind you - remember preacher that Jesus
turned water into wine. There conclusion from this is that it must be OK to
drink alcohol. Remember what we have already discussed that the term wine
does not always mean an intoxicating beverage. We need to insure that we
define bible words not as we use them today but as they were used then. Wine
simple meant the juice of the grape whether it was fermented or freshly
squeezed. It even referred to grapes in the cluster.
B. ISA. 16:10, 65:8 – Tread out the wine in the presses. The new wine is found in
the cluster.
C. 1 TIM. 5:23 – Paul told Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach. Paul
was clearly giving him medical advice for his particular situation. This verse
cannot be used to justify social drinking.
D. 1 TIM. 3:8 – Deacons are instructed to not be given to much wine. So again
people begin to conclude that I can partake of wine just not too much.
Forbidding excess never justifies less let’s look ta some examples.
E. ECCL. 7:17 – Do not be overly wicked. Does this mean I can be a little wicked
or moderately wicked and still be acceptable to God?
F. ROM. 6:12 – Do not let sin reign in your mortal body. Does this mean that I
can let a little sin or perhaps a moderate amount of sin reign and still be
acceptable to God? God would not condemn drunkenness in various passages
and also authorize the use of fermented wine in others. This would put God in
contradiction with himself.
III. WHAT ARE THE RESULTS?
A. GEN. 19:30-36 – Would Lot have willing participated in this sin if he were in
full control of his faculties?
B. PROV. 23:35 – Drinking promotes anger, contentions, and strife. How many
have been killed in fights as a result of drinking?
C. PROV. 31:4-5 – Under the influence our sense of judgment and justice is
destroyed.
D. MATT. 5:13-16 – Our influence for good is destroyed, because we are not
exercising self control.
E. 1 PET. 2:11 – While drinking we will not abstain from worldly and fleshly lusts
rather we will pursue them because our inhibitions are lowered.
IV. WHAT SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES ARE BROKEN?
A. 1 THESS. 5:21-22 - No the Bible does not say “thou shalt not have a Miller
Lite but it does teach us divine principles that God expects us to discern and
apply to our lives.
B. ROM. 13:14 – When we decide to put on Christ then we are taught to not make
provisions for the lust of the flesh.
C. 1 COR. 6:19-20 – Alcohol is a poison, it is a narcotic – a drug. Our body is the
temple of the Holy Spirit so should we defile this temple with alcohol which has
the following long term effects on our body – permanent damage to vital organs
- brain, different types of cancer, gastrointestinal irritations such as ulcers, high
blood pressure, lowered resistance to disease. It is a sin to purposefully
harm our body
D. MATT. 18:6-7 – We do not consider that our example could cause others to
stumble. What if that one who followed your example was your child?
V. WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
A. 1 PET. 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant – Vines defines sober as “free from the
influence of intoxicants”
CONCLUSION –
Think of all the harm that has been done in this world as a result of drinking.
God’s word is warning us to leave this activity out of our life.
The choice is up to us as individuals.
There is always a price to pay when we ignore God’s wisdom.