Directions To Heaven

1
Directions To Heaven

• Theme Using Gods word effectively and
  accurately 2 Tim. 215

2
Introduction

• Directions are a necessity.
• Without them
• Confusion is inevitable.
• Stress and frustration results.
• Ultimately, it is hit or miss whether the
  destination will be reached.
• With them
• There is confidence knowing you will get to the
  desired destination.
• There is peace of mind.

3
Introduction

• Without doubt, God has blessed man with
  directions 2 Pet. 13
• Regarding life for now and eternity.
• Regarding godliness.

4
Introduction

• This lesson serves to help use Gods inherent
  principles that properly guide our understanding
  of His will for now and heaven.
• These principles are known as commands,
  statements, examples, inferences, and silence.
• All of them used interchangeably with context
  (who, what, when, where, how, why) lead us to
  understand Gods revelation.

5
Commands and Statements

• Commands are self-explanatory.
• They are explicit charges to be obeyed.
• Example Peter commanded the Jews to repent and
  be baptized. Acts 238
• The people of Israel could choose to accept or
  reject this command.
• Until this command, however, the people of Israel
  would not have known the need to obey the charge
  repent and be baptized...in the name of Jesus.

6
Commands and Statements

• Statements are also self-explanatory.
• Statements merely state what is being said.
• It is the context combined with a statement that
  leads one necessarily to understand if the
  statement carries the weight of a command.
• Example He who believes and is baptized shall be
  saved. Mk. 1616

7
Necessary Inferences

• Necessary inferences are also an inherent
  principle that defines truth.
• There are times when there can only be one
  conclusive answer based upon the context
• Context sun just risen in the east. Necessary
  inference morning
• Context traveling away from the morning sun.
  Necessary inference traveling westward.

8
Necessary Inferences

• The same is true in Gods word. Gen. 15
• Context The evening and the morning were the
  first day.
• Necessary inference The first day (and the
  others within this passage) is a 24 hour period
  of time.

9
Examples

• Examples are similar to (and embedded within)
  statements in that they merely show something.
• In definition, it is liken to an under-writing,
  where what is being copied is traced write over
  that which is shown...as the example.
• A simple and clear example used as an
  underwriting of Gods command is the response to
  Peters charge to repent and be baptized.

10
Examples

• The scriptures reveal the inherent principles for
  examples
• To show something that is to be imitated. 1Pet.
  221
• To warn against by showing that which is NOT to
  be imitated. 2 Pet. 26
• Important to note is that Gods word commands us
  to follow approved examples. Jn. 1315-17 1 Cor.
  101-6

11
Examples

• Examples are determined via context.
• There is no way to determine whether an example
  is worthy of imitation or warning against without
  teaching about the subject matter.
• Example
• Teaching about calling on the name of the Lord
  for salvation. Rom. 103
• Example Paul was saved when he called on the
  name of the Lord. Cp. Acts 2216

12
Silence

• Authority is never established by silence, but by
  the word of God. Cp. Col. 316
• Yet, much can be understood regarding the
  principle of silence.
• No one knows the mind of God, unless His silence
  about a given matter is revealed to us (via
  commands, statements, examples, necessary
  inferences). 1 Cor. 29-11
• In fact, to act without Gods revelation would be
  to act presumptuously. Acts 1524

13
Silence

• It is only within the revelation of God that His
  silence authorizes.
• Teaching about baptism Matt. 2818-20, Acts
  836-39, Rom. 63-4, etc.
• Within this revelation we may choose various
  locations or means by which one is buried into
  Christ pool, baptistery, face down or up, etc.

14
Conclusion

• Using the proper principles inherent within Gods
  word provides us sufficient means to live as He
  wills.
• The use of these principles will lead us to
  heaven.