1. Establishing Bible Authority

2. Direct Commands Approved Examples Necessary Inferences

3. Establishing Bible Authority Direct Commands Approved Examples Necessary Inferences

4. Definition: Necessary: That which is required. Infer: To reach an unstated conclusion because of other facts that are explicitly stated. Imply: To communicate a thing without explicitly stating it.

5. Necessary Inferences Example: Explicit fact #1: Todd is taller than Gary. Explicit fact #2: Gary is taller than James. Implied fact: Todd is taller than James. Reached by a Necessary Inference.

6. Acts 9:3-6 (NKJV) 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

7. God Teaches By Inferences Acts 22:16 (NKJV) 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' Explicit Fact #1 –Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins,

8. God Teaches By Inferences Explicit Fact #2 –Paul (turns) repents and makes the great confession. Acts 9:6 (NKJV) 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

9. God Teaches By Inferences Explicit Fact #3 –Told to “ go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." Acts 9:6 (NKJV) 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

10. Summarize Explicit fact #1: “Wash away your sins!” Explicit fact #2: Paul (turns) repents and makes the great confession. Explicit fact #3: “In the city: told what must do!” Implied fact: Baptism is necessary to wash away sins because he is told to do so for that reason! Reached by Necessary Inference.

11. Matthew 22:31-32 (NKJV) 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." Explicit fact #1: God said to Moses, as recorded in Exodus, “I am…” Explicit fact #2: Jesus applied it to people of his day when God said, “I am…”

12. Christ Taught This Way Explicit fact #1: God  Moses, “I am…” Explicit fact #2: God  You, “I am…” Implied fact #1: What God had written in Scripture speaks to all people. ------------------------------------------ Reached by Necessary Inference.

13. God Teaches Us This Way Colossians 1:13 (NKJV) 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, Explicit fact #1: Christians have been put into the Kingdom of Christ. Implied fact: The Kingdom exists. Reached by Necessary Inference.

14. Christ Taught This Way John 8:58 (NKJV) 58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.“ Explicit fact #1: Christ, “Before Abraham, I AM.” Explicit fact #2: God is, “I AM.” Implied fact: Christ is God. Reached by Necessary Inference.

15. Acts 10:45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. Explicit fact #1: God poured out the Holy Spirit on Cornelius. Explicit fact #2: God poured out the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. Implied fact: God wills that salvation be offered to the Gentiles. Reached by Necessary Inference.

16. Establishing Bible Authority Direct Commands Approved Examples Necessary Inferences

17. Establishing Bible Authority Direct Commands Approved Examples Necessary Inferences

18. The reason some in liberal churches of Christ seek to do away with approved examples, necessary inferences – appears to be that they think they can come to some sort of grand unity with the religious world – if they will just rely on direct commands.

19. Necessary Inferences What I hope this lesson reminds us of: Christ taught by implication. He expected His listeners to make necessary inferences. God taught Peter/Jewish Christians about the Gentiles by means of implications, and expected them to infer new facts. Whether it be truth about: Baptism, Kingdom, host of other subjects. Never forgetting of course – that we must correctly handle the word of truth. (2 Tim. 2:15)