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Alcohol
by: Dalton Gilreath

I.                Introduction

A.    2.5 million lives are taken every year to alcohol related deaths

B.    Countless marriages, families, and friends are broken over this substance

C.    Alcohol is addicting, physically harmful to the body, and spiritually harmful

                                                    i.     The Bible gives us plenty of reasons to avoid alcohol

II.              Drunkenness/Drinking parties

A.    There is little debate on whether or not drunkenness is sinful

                                                    i.     The Bible clearly condemns it (Rom 13:13, Luke 21:34)

                                                   ii.     Drunkenness is one of the works of the flesh (Gal 5:21)

B.    However, many debate that drinking parties are acceptable as long as you are not getting drunk

                                                    i.     Paul says to “abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thess 5:22)

                                                   ii.     Paul mentions and “such like” at the end of the works of the flesh (Gal 5:19-21)

                                                 iii.     There is a passage which specifically condemns drinking parties as well (1 Peter 4:3)

1.     Paul references “banquetings” (KJV)

2.     The word means “drinking parties” as seen in the NKJV

III.            Social Drinking

A.    The most heavily debated portion of this topic is social drinking

                                                    i.     Many argue that drinking in moderation cannot be proven to be sinful

                                                   ii.     Consider some texts about the topic

B.    Solomon, by inspiration, gives the solution to avoid drunkenness

                                                    i.     His solution is not to drink moderately, but to not even look at fermented wine (Prov 23:29-31)

                                                   ii.     He may be focusing on drunkenness but he prescribes abstinence

C.    John the Baptist is described as being “great in the sight of the Lord” (Luke 1:15)

                                                    i.     He chose to alcohol and be filled with the Spirit

                                                   ii.     Jesus says those in the kingdom are greater than John (Matt 11:11)

1.     What does that say to us?

D.    There is one text that seems to condemn social drinking

                                                    i.     The word for drunken in the Greek is methe

                                                   ii.     There is a verb form used three times which is methusko

1.     This word references the process that leads to methe (Vines Expository)

2.     Therefore, the process of drinking sip one until drunk

                                                 iii.     The word is used in Luke 12:45, 1 Thess 5:7, and Eph 5:18)

1.     Eph 5:18 is where we see social drinking condemned

2.     Paul says not to “methusko” instead of methe

a.     The whole process is condemned here

3.     Also, he says instead be filled with the Spirit just like John the Baptist

E.    Finally, even if you still disagree about social drinking you must then place it in the category of meat offered to idols (1 Cor 8:8-13)

                                                    i.     There are many brethren who are offended by it and who might drink it against their conscience if you “knowledgable” brethren drink it

                                                   ii.     Paul calls that sin for both parties involved

F.    Surely we can all agree the best thing to do is avoid it outright

                                                    i.     Drinking alcohol is a selfish decision…period