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In previous
articles of this series, we talked about commands,
expediencies, and apostolic examples. Now, in this article,
we continue with inferences from God's word.
What is an Inference?
An inference is a conclusion made by the deduction of
facts.
Of course, we must be careful to rightly divide the
word of God, and not make false conclusions by twisting
the Scriptures to our own destruction (2 Pet. 3:16).
But the fact remains that we must make proper conclusions,
based on God's word, to understand God's will for us
and serve Him faithfully.
Warning: False Teachers Make False Conclusions
We must watch out for false teachers, and the false
conclusions they assert to draw us away from God. Many
of them twist the Scriptures, making conclusions based
on some facts, but not all the facts revealed in God's
word. As a result, the way of truth is blasphemed and
people are exploited with deceptive words (2 Pet. 2:2-3;
3:16).
One example of false doctrine based on a false conclusion
is once saved, always saved.
- This false doctrine is constructed by taking Scriptures
such as Jn. 5:24; 10:28-29; 17:1f; Rom. 5:9-10; 8:30;
9:11-16; Eph. 2:8-10 and twisting them to construct
a false doctrine.
- This false doctrine ignores Scriptures such as
1 Cor. 15:1-2; Gal. 5:4; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 2:14-26;
4:2-4; Heb. 4:6-9; 10:26-39; 2 Pet. 2:1-3, 18-22;
Rev. 2:1-3:22.
Another example of false doctrine based on a false
conclusion is salvation without baptism.
- This false doctrine is constructed by taking Scriptures
such as Lk. 23:42-43; Jn. 3:16; 5:24; Acts 16:31;
1 Cor. 1:14-17 and twisting them to construct a false
doctrine.
- This false doctrine ignores Scriptures such as
Matt. 28:18-19; Mk. 16:16; Jn. 3:5; Acts 2:38; 8:12,
26-40; 9:1-20; 22:16; 10:34-48; 16:13-15, 25-34; 18:8;
19:1-7.
Context and Historical Narrative
Inferences help us understand the context and historical
narrative of Scripture.
For example, we infer from the Biblical historical
narrative that Matthew wrote the first gospel in the
Bible. Likewise, we use inferences to conclude the author
of other books of the Bible, such as James and Hebrews.
Inferences are also used to establish an approximate
date books of the Bible were written, and therefore
an approximate order in they were written.
Inferences can also help us have a fuller understanding
of the historical narrative.
For example, from Genesis 12:1-5 we infer that Lot
had become a member of Abram's household sometime after
Haran's death. And from Genesis 12:10; 13:1 we infer
that Lot went down to Egypt with Abram.
We must be careful, though, and realize that some
inferences from the historical narrative have a degree
of uncertainty. These inferences must be viewed within
the degree of uncertainty that exists.
For example, knowing the history of the Caldeans'
relationship with the Jews can help us understand the
reason the Caldeans came forward and accused the Jews
of disobeying Nebuchandnezzar's command (Dan. 3:8-12).
But, these inferences are merely speculative.
Bible Examples of Proper Inferences
There are several examples of God's children making
proper inferences, but here we'll only list a few.
Two very important principles we must understand are
that God's commands infer personal responsibility that
cannot be abrogated, and due diligence.
- Gen. 6:13-22 Noah was personally responsible
for building the ark since God commanded him to build
the ark (Gen. 6:13-14). And he was responsible for
exercising due diligence. For example, he could neither
wait three hundred years to begin building the ark
nor prolong its completion.
- Gen. 22:1-19 Abraham was personally responsible
for offering his son since God commanded him to offer
Isaac (Gen. 22:1-2). And he was responsible for exercising
due diligence in obeying the command; therefore, he
rose early the next morning (Gen. 22:3).
- Josh. 6:1-27 Joshua was personally responsible
for organizing the march (Josh. 6:2-3). He rose early
in the morning to begin the march (Josh. 6:12).
- Acts 10:17-48 Peter was personally commanded
to preach to Cornelius (Acts 10:20-22). He could not
abrogate his responsibility to anyone else. He had
to diligently obey (Acts 10:23-24).
- Acts 16:31-33 People who hear and believe
the gospel must be diligent to obey the gospel (cf.
Acts 2:38; 22:16; Heb. 5:9). God's commands imply
due diligence to immediately comply with the command.
Another important precept is that when God commands
for something to be done on a specific day without commanding
the frequency, we must infer it's to be observed every
time the specified day occurs.
- God commanded Israel to observe the Passover, numerous
Sabbaths, and numerous feasts on specified days (Ex.
12:1-28, 43-51; 20:8-11; 23:10-19). He did not specify
the frequency (i.e., every week, every year, etc.).
Israel properly inferred that the Passover, Sabbaths,
and feasts must be observed every time the specified
days occurred.
- Christians assemble every first day of the week,
because God has not given us any conditions under
which we do not assemble on the first day of the week
(Heb. 10:24-25; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2).
- Christians observe the Lord's Supper and take up
a collection every first day of the week, because
God has not given us any conditions under which we
do not observe the Lord's Supper and take up a collection
on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2).
Other examples of inferences from Jesus and the apostles
are:
- Matt. 4:5-7 Jesus inferred that throwing
Himself down from the pinnacle would be tempting God.
- Jn. 8:58 Jesus confessed His eternal nature
and deity by implication (Ex. 3:14).
- Acts 10:9-16, 34 Peter inferred in truth
that God does not show partiality toward men (cf.
Gal. 2:6).
- Acts 16:6-10 Paul inferred that the reason
for the Lord calling him to Macedonia was to preach
the gospel.
- 1 Cor. 15:27 Paul points out an obvious
inference quoting Ps.8:6. Christ is subject to God.
God is not subject to Christ.
Inferences and Apostolic Examples
We are commanded to imitate the apostles and hold the
apostolic traditions (1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1; 2 Th. 2:15;
3:6-7).
Therefore, anything inferred by an authoritative apostolic
example is binding upon us today.
For example, the apostles assembled on the first day
of the week to observe the Lord's Supper. Since the
apostles only assembled on Sunday to observe the Lord's
Supper, and since God has not given us an exception
for assembling on Sunday, we must infer that it is necessary
to assemble every Sunday to partake of the Lord's Supper
(Acts 20:7; Heb. 10:24-25).
Five Important Present-Day Inferences
There are five very important inferences we must be
aware of, which are binding on us today.
For the remainder of this article, I'll list them
here with a few comments.
We must exercise due diligence to carry out
God's will.
- Every Bible example of obedience to God infers
the exercise of due diligence.
- Diligence is commanded (2 Pet. 1:5, 10; Heb.11:6).
We are personally responsible for carrying
out God's will.
- Every Bible example of obedience to God infers
personal responsibility.
Christians must assemble on every Sunday.
- We are commanded to not forsake our assembling
together (Heb. 10:25).
- The church assembled on Sunday (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor.
16:1-2).
- God has not exempted the church from assembling
on any Sunday; therefore, the church must assemble
on every Sunday.
Christians must lay by in store as they have prospered
every Sunday (1 Cor. 16:1-2).
- The apostolic command is to lay by in store as
we have prospered on Sunday.
- The inference is that we must lay by in store every
Sunday. Because, God has not given us any conditions
under which we are not to take up a collect on Sunday.
Christians must observe the Lord's Supper every
Sunday (Acts 20:7).
- We must partake of the Lord's Supper every Sunday
since the apostles only assembled on Sunday to observe
the Lord's Supper, and since God has not given us
an exception for assembling on Sunday.
- Many churches assemble and take up a collection
every Sunday but do not partake of the Lord's Supper
every Sunday. The result is vain worship (cf. Matt.
15:8-9; Mk. 7:6-9; Col. 2:20-23).
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