Total Abstinence: Choice, Conscience or Command? (Part 2) With Q&A
Speaker: Reverend Joseph Poon
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Website: http://www.bpcwa.org.au/
DOWNLOAD Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-SA1vofjek1YKmvcpwh_u-nP_qe4YRGP/view
DOWNLOAD FAQ Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wEuY3PacLVpAs9Njod40lo5KpcgXxN-a/view
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TOTAL ABSTINENCE – CHOICE, CONSCIENCE OR COMMAND? (PART 2) Q&A
Session 1: Total Abstinence – Our Biblical basis
Session 2: Frequently Asked Questions
Today’s Session
I. Review of key lessons
II. Biblical principles for interpreting Scriptures
III. Some definitions for alcoholic wine, alcoholic food, and drunkenness
IV. Frequently asked questions
(I) REVIEW OF KEY LESSONS
God forbids drinking alcoholic beverages and the desire to be intoxicated by them.
A) MEANING OF THE WORD “WINE” AND ITS IMPLICATIONS
1. Up until the seventh edition of Webster’s Dictionary, “wine” was used to describe both nonfermented, non-intoxicating juice as well fermented, intoxicating drinks
2. Common words for wine in the original languages in the Bible are:
2.1. Yayin (Hebrew word used to describe grapes, grape juice, as well as intoxicating wine)
2.2. Tirosh (Hebrew word used to describe grapes, grape juice; sometimes translated as “new wine”, “sweet wine”)
2.3. Shekar (Hebrew word used to describe juice from those other than grape fruits, as well as intoxicating wine; sometimes translated “strong drink”)
2.4. Oinos (Greek word used to describe both grape juice as well as intoxicating wine)
3. Hence for the same word used in the original language, context will tell us that when God prohibits “wine”, it must be the intoxicating kind. When he commends “wine”, it must be the non-intoxicating juice.
4. The wine that Jesus miraculously made from water must also therefore refer to grape juice
B) TOTAL ABSTINENCE COMMANDED:
1. God’s Word expects us to not even look at fermented, intoxicating drinks, let alone drink it:
1.1. Prov 23:31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
2. God expects leaders of His people to set the example and must be drink intoxicating wine:
2.1. Lev 10:8-9 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, (9) Do not drink wine [yayin] nor strong drink [shekar], thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
2.2. Prov 31:4-5 “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: (5) Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.”
2.3. 1Ti 3:2-3 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; (3) Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
2.4. 1 Tim 3:8 “Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;”
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Bible Passage (KJV): Proverbs 23:29-32
29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
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Series on the Christian & Alcohol
Bible Presbyterian Church of WA
Friday 5th April 2019
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