The Bible Authorizes By The Bible Authorizes By ImplicationImplication• Implication is not mere assertion, personal interpretation Implication is not mere assertion, personal interpretation

or wishful thinking. It is a logical relationship among terms or wishful thinking. It is a logical relationship among terms of a proposition in which one derives/ascertains/deduces of a proposition in which one derives/ascertains/deduces truths which lie inherently in the terms of the explicit truths which lie inherently in the terms of the explicit propositionspropositions. In implication, . In implication, conclusions are necessitated conclusions are necessitated and cannot be avoidedand cannot be avoided given certain premises. given certain premises.

• That which the Bible teaches implicitly is That which the Bible teaches implicitly is just as truejust as true, just , just as as bindingbinding, just as , just as authoritativeauthoritative as is that which it teaches as is that which it teaches explicitly. These are conclusions that explicitly. These are conclusions that must be drawnmust be drawn!!

• Brethren often speak of “inference,” but “inference” deals Brethren often speak of “inference,” but “inference” deals with correct reasoning with regard to what God already with correct reasoning with regard to what God already authorized by implication in His explicit statements.authorized by implication in His explicit statements.

• The authority inherent in that which is implied lies not in The authority inherent in that which is implied lies not in the fact that I have reasoned correctly regarding an explicit the fact that I have reasoned correctly regarding an explicit statement, but in the fact that statement, but in the fact that GOD HAS IMPLIED ITGOD HAS IMPLIED IT!!

The Bible Authorizes By The Bible Authorizes By ImplicationImplication• There is a vast difference between “inference” and There is a vast difference between “inference” and

“assumption.” Some call things “inferences” but are “assumption.” Some call things “inferences” but are actually “assumptions.” We must be careful to distinguish actually “assumptions.” We must be careful to distinguish what a text actually says and implies from what “we want what a text actually says and implies from what “we want it to say.”it to say.”

• For example:For example:– Acts 16:15 states that Lydia and her household were baptized. Acts 16:15 states that Lydia and her household were baptized. – It is often claimed that, therefore, Lydia was married, that she It is often claimed that, therefore, Lydia was married, that she

had children, and that some of these children were infants, had children, and that some of these children were infants, and that, therefore, it is Scriptural to practice infant baptism.and that, therefore, it is Scriptural to practice infant baptism.

– There is here a great amount of “assumption” but no There is here a great amount of “assumption” but no “inference.”“inference.”

• We must stay within what a text teaches and authorizes We must stay within what a text teaches and authorizes and not conjecture or assume things that are not within and not conjecture or assume things that are not within Scripture.Scripture.

The Bible Authorizes By The Bible Authorizes By ImplicationImplication• Modern illustrations to understand the authority Modern illustrations to understand the authority

implication carries implication carries (just as much as the explicit statements):(just as much as the explicit statements):– Illustration #1:Illustration #1:

• Explicitly True: “Bill is taller than Jack.”Explicitly True: “Bill is taller than Jack.”• Explicitly True: “Jack is taller than John.”Explicitly True: “Jack is taller than John.”• Implicitly True: Bill is taller than John. (Just as true!)Implicitly True: Bill is taller than John. (Just as true!)

– Illustration #2:Illustration #2:• Explicitly True: “This square has one side 12 inches long.”Explicitly True: “This square has one side 12 inches long.”• Implicitly True: There are 3 other sides each 12 inches long.Implicitly True: There are 3 other sides each 12 inches long.• Implicitly True: The perimeter of the square is 48 inches.Implicitly True: The perimeter of the square is 48 inches.• Implicitly True: The area of the square is 144 inches.Implicitly True: The area of the square is 144 inches.• Implicitly True: There are 4 right angles.Implicitly True: There are 4 right angles.

• What we know by implication is just as true, just as What we know by implication is just as true, just as factual, just as authoritative as what we know explicitly.factual, just as authoritative as what we know explicitly.

The Bible Authorizes By The Bible Authorizes By ImplicationImplication• Biblical examples:Biblical examples:– Implication authorizes the Bible to be personally applied.Implication authorizes the Bible to be personally applied.

• Compare Mark 16:16 and your baptism.Compare Mark 16:16 and your baptism.• Where do you find your name in the text?Where do you find your name in the text?• Are we authorized (commanded) to be baptized to be saved?Are we authorized (commanded) to be baptized to be saved?• How can we know this w/o applying principles of implication?How can we know this w/o applying principles of implication?

– Implication authorizes that Saul repented of his sins.Implication authorizes that Saul repented of his sins.• Scripture does not explicitly state that Saul of Tarsus repented.Scripture does not explicitly state that Saul of Tarsus repented.• No person can become a Christian w/o repenting of his sins.No person can become a Christian w/o repenting of his sins.• Saul of Tarsus did become a Christian.Saul of Tarsus did become a Christian.• Then, Saul, in becoming a Christian, did repent of his sins.Then, Saul, in becoming a Christian, did repent of his sins.

– Implication authorizes partaking of L.S. every Sunday.Implication authorizes partaking of L.S. every Sunday.• The Sunday assembly is for the purpose of the L.S. (Acts 20:7).The Sunday assembly is for the purpose of the L.S. (Acts 20:7).• The Lord’s Day meeting was a weekly affair (1 Cor. 16:1-2).The Lord’s Day meeting was a weekly affair (1 Cor. 16:1-2).• Then, the early church observed the L.S. every Sunday.Then, the early church observed the L.S. every Sunday.

The Bible Authorizes By The Bible Authorizes By ImplicationImplication• Jesus taught by implication (Matt. 22:29-32).Jesus taught by implication (Matt. 22:29-32).– Jesus explicitly said:Jesus explicitly said:• ““God said, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and God said, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and

the God of Jacob.’”the God of Jacob.’”• ““He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

– Jesus implicitly said:Jesus implicitly said:• ““Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were somewhere, living.”Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were somewhere, living.”

– Conclusions:Conclusions:• The Sadducees were obligated to infer necessarily (though The Sadducees were obligated to infer necessarily (though

not admit) that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were alive.not admit) that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were alive.• Their failure to reason correctly was equated by Jesus with Their failure to reason correctly was equated by Jesus with

their failure to know the Scriptures.their failure to know the Scriptures.• They were in error because of their failure to appreciate They were in error because of their failure to appreciate

that which was implied by God in His Word.that which was implied by God in His Word.

The Bible Authorizes By The Bible Authorizes By Accounts of Approved ActionAccounts of Approved Action• General Classifications:General Classifications:– Actions which are ACCEPTABLE to God (AUTHORIZED Actions which are ACCEPTABLE to God (AUTHORIZED

by God’s Word) by God’s Word) • Obligatory ActionsObligatory Actions• Optional ActionsOptional Actions• These actions provide approved examples/patterns/ These actions provide approved examples/patterns/

models for us to follow.models for us to follow.– Actions which are UNACCEPBALE to God (NOT Actions which are UNACCEPBALE to God (NOT

UNAUTHORIZED by God’s Word) UNAUTHORIZED by God’s Word) • Explicitly ForbiddenExplicitly Forbidden• Implicitly Forbidden Implicitly Forbidden • Forbidding What God AllowsForbidding What God Allows• Binding What Is Not EssentialBinding What Is Not Essential

The Bible Authorizes By The Bible Authorizes By Accounts of Approved ActionAccounts of Approved Action• Specific Classifications:Specific Classifications:– Action which was PERMANENTLY SINFULAction which was PERMANENTLY SINFUL• Ex: Betraying Jesus (Matt. 26:47-49)Ex: Betraying Jesus (Matt. 26:47-49)• Ex: Denying Jesus (Matt. 26:69-75)Ex: Denying Jesus (Matt. 26:69-75)• Ex: Loving this world (2 Tim. 4:10)Ex: Loving this world (2 Tim. 4:10)• Ex: Church tolerating false teachers/doctrines (Rev. 2:14-15)Ex: Church tolerating false teachers/doctrines (Rev. 2:14-15)

– Action which was OPTIONAL & TEMPORARYAction which was OPTIONAL & TEMPORARY• Ex: Preaching to Jews only (Acts 2-11; cf. 10:27-28)Ex: Preaching to Jews only (Acts 2-11; cf. 10:27-28)• Ex: Preaching in the temple (Acts 21:26-30)Ex: Preaching in the temple (Acts 21:26-30)

– Action which was OPTIONAL & PERMANENTAction which was OPTIONAL & PERMANENT• Ex: Traveling by ship to preach (Acts 13:4)Ex: Traveling by ship to preach (Acts 13:4)• Ex: Eating Lord’s Supper in an upper room (Acts 20:7-8)Ex: Eating Lord’s Supper in an upper room (Acts 20:7-8)• Ex: Giving beyond ability to give (2 Cor. 8:3)Ex: Giving beyond ability to give (2 Cor. 8:3)

The Bible Authorizes By The Bible Authorizes By Accounts of Approved ActionAccounts of Approved Action• Specific Classifications:Specific Classifications:– Action which was PERMANENTLY SINFULAction which was PERMANENTLY SINFUL– Action which was OPTIONAL & TEMPORARYAction which was OPTIONAL & TEMPORARY– Action which was OPTIONAL & PERMANENTAction which was OPTIONAL & PERMANENT– Action which was OBLIGATORY & TEMPORARYAction which was OBLIGATORY & TEMPORARY• Ex: Confirming the message through miracles (Acts 8:4-8)Ex: Confirming the message through miracles (Acts 8:4-8)• Ex: Desiring & possessing spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:1)Ex: Desiring & possessing spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:1)

– Action which was OBLIGATORY & PERMANENTAction which was OBLIGATORY & PERMANENT• Ex: Church partaking Lord’s Supper on Sunday (Acts 20:7)Ex: Church partaking Lord’s Supper on Sunday (Acts 20:7)• Ex: Preaching Jesus incl. necessity of baptism (Acts 8:35-39)Ex: Preaching Jesus incl. necessity of baptism (Acts 8:35-39)• Ex: Baptizing for the remission of sins (Acts 9:18; 22:16)Ex: Baptizing for the remission of sins (Acts 9:18; 22:16)• Ex: Baptizing is a burial in water (Acts 8:26-40)Ex: Baptizing is a burial in water (Acts 8:26-40)

The Bible Authorizes By The Bible Authorizes By Accounts of Approved ActionAccounts of Approved Action• When is an account of action binding?When is an account of action binding?– Something other than the account of action itself must Something other than the account of action itself must

be working to bind us today.be working to bind us today.– We must look at the account itself, the immediate and We must look at the account itself, the immediate and

remote context.remote context.– We must look for an underlying command.We must look for an underlying command.– We must look for the doctrinal significance of the We must look for the doctrinal significance of the

account.account.