Using Using Necessary Necessary InferencesInferences

Using Using Necessary Necessary InferencesInferencesJudging what is Judging what is

RightRight

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Necessary InferenceNecessary InferenceNecessary InferenceNecessary Inference•What is it?What is it?•What is their part in knowing What is their part in knowing the Bible?the Bible?•Do they establish binding Do they establish binding authority?authority?•Are they human in origin and Are they human in origin and legalistic legalistic in nature?in nature?•How do we determine when an How do we determine when an

inference is necessary?inference is necessary?

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Under AttackUnder AttackUnder AttackUnder Attack•Many reject NI as a vestigial Many reject NI as a vestigial remnant of remnant of “patternism”“patternism”•Those who reject NI for Bible Those who reject NI for Bible authority authority also reject examples also reject examples as binding, authority, as binding, authority, 2 Tim 1:132 Tim 1:13•NI is a Christ-approved way of NI is a Christ-approved way of establishing establishing His authority for His authority for our doctrine and practiceour doctrine and practice

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What is a Necessary What is a Necessary Inference?Inference?

What is a Necessary What is a Necessary Inference?Inference?

““That which, though neither That which, though neither expressly stated nor specifically expressly stated nor specifically exemplified, [yet] is necessarily exemplified, [yet] is necessarily implied by the clear import and implied by the clear import and meaning of the language used.” meaning of the language used.”

--Walking by FaithWalking by Faith, , Cogdill, 14Cogdill, 14

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What is a Necessary What is a Necessary Inference?Inference?

What is a Necessary What is a Necessary Inference?Inference?

““By ‘necessary inference’ we By ‘necessary inference’ we refer to truths that are not refer to truths that are not directly or expressly stated, directly or expressly stated, but but mustmust necessarily follownecessarily follow as a logical conclusion from as a logical conclusion from what is stated. what is stated.

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What is a Necessary What is a Necessary Inference?Inference?

What is a Necessary What is a Necessary Inference?Inference?

““But the term ‘necessary But the term ‘necessary inference’ sometimes confuses inference’ sometimes confuses people, so we will also refer to people, so we will also refer to that same concept by other that same concept by other terms, such as ‘Scriptural terms, such as ‘Scriptural reasoning’ or ‘necessary, logical reasoning’ or ‘necessary, logical conclusions.’”conclusions.’”

David PratteDavid Pratte

The Authority of Scriptural ReasoningThe Authority of Scriptural Reasoning

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Necessary InferencesNecessary InferencesNecessary InferencesNecessary Inferences•Jesus endorsed and used NI, Jesus endorsed and used NI, Lk Lk

12:54-5712:54-57•Reasoning, discerning and arriving Reasoning, discerning and arriving

at Scriptural conclusions, at Scriptural conclusions, Isa 1:18; Isa 1:18; Mk 12:28; Acts 19:8Mk 12:28; Acts 19:8

•Without necessary inferences there Without necessary inferences there are many issues left to personal are many issues left to personal interpretation based on silence of interpretation based on silence of the Scripturesthe Scriptures

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Without Necessary Without Necessary InferencesInferencesWithout Necessary Without Necessary InferencesInferences•Silence of Scriptures validated to Silence of Scriptures validated to endorseendorse

•Miracles and modern-day revelationMiracles and modern-day revelation•Sprinkling or pouring for baptismSprinkling or pouring for baptism•Infant baptismInfant baptism•Lord’s Supper on weekdaysLord’s Supper on weekdays•Praying for the deadPraying for the dead•One elder over a congregationOne elder over a congregation•Instrumental music in worshipInstrumental music in worship

USING NECESSARY USING NECESSARY INFERENCESINFERENCESUSING NECESSARY USING NECESSARY INFERENCESINFERENCES

Bible GuidanceBible Guidance

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Using Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferencesUsing Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferences•Judgment based on revealed truth, Judgment based on revealed truth,

Jno 7:24Jno 7:24•Every inference Every inference notnot necessary, necessary, Jno Jno

21:20-2321:20-23•NotNot drawn from drawn from subjectivesubjective sources sources

such as personal feelings, conscience such as personal feelings, conscience or opinions, or opinions, Acts 26:9; 23:1Acts 26:9; 23:1

•Deduced from what is said in the Deduced from what is said in the Scriptures, Scriptures, Matt 22:29, 31-32Matt 22:29, 31-32•Knowing NI is knowing the Scriptures!Knowing NI is knowing the Scriptures!

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Using Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferencesUsing Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferences•Will Will harmonizeharmonize with all that is revealed with all that is revealed

and previously known to be true, and previously known to be true, 2 2 Peter 3:4-9Peter 3:4-9• Some said the Lord was not returning Some said the Lord was not returning

because they inferred everything has because they inferred everything has always stayed the same always stayed the same (3:4)(3:4). Their . Their inference was flawed because…inference was flawed because…

• Willfully forgot to take into account Willfully forgot to take into account the the floodflood (3:5-7)(3:5-7) and the and the nature of Godnature of God (3:8-(3:8-9)9)

• Flawed inference leads to false teaching!Flawed inference leads to false teaching!

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Using Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferencesUsing Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferences•Will Will harmonizeharmonize with all that is revealed with all that is revealed

and previously known to be true, and previously known to be true, 2 2 Peter 3:4-9Peter 3:4-9• ““Walking according to their own lusts”, Walking according to their own lusts”, 3:33:3• Rather than a determined resolve to do the Rather than a determined resolve to do the

will of God, will of God, Jno 7:16-17Jno 7:16-17• Being driven by lust leads to drawing Being driven by lust leads to drawing

unnecessary inferences that twist the unnecessary inferences that twist the Scriptures, Scriptures, 2 Peter 3:162 Peter 3:16

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Using Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferencesUsing Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferences•NI is the NI is the onlyonly conclusion that can conclusion that can be drawn from what is statedbe drawn from what is stated• ““In the beginning God created the In the beginning God created the

heavens heavens and the earth,” and the earth,” Genesis Genesis 1:11:1

•We necessarily infer that God We necessarily infer that God existed existed beforebefore the creation, although it is not the creation, although it is not directly stateddirectly stated

•The The onlyonly conclusion to infer from what conclusion to infer from what is saidis said

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Using Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferencesUsing Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferences•NI is the NI is the onlyonly conclusion that conclusion that can be drawn from what is can be drawn from what is statedstated•““When He had been baptized, When He had been baptized,

Jesus came up immediately from Jesus came up immediately from the water…” the water…” Matthew 3:16Matthew 3:16

•We necessarily infer that Jesus We necessarily infer that Jesus went down into the waterwent down into the water before before He “came up…from the water”He “came up…from the water”

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Using Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferencesUsing Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferences•NI is a conclusion or judgment that NI is a conclusion or judgment that

is drawn from what is known, is drawn from what is known, Luke Luke 12:54-5712:54-57•When they saw “a cloud rising out When they saw “a cloud rising out

of the west” they inferred “a of the west” they inferred “a shower is coming” and it was so, shower is coming” and it was so, Luke 12:54Luke 12:54

•When they saw the south wind blow When they saw the south wind blow they inferred “there will be hot they inferred “there will be hot weather” and they were correct,weather” and they were correct, Luke 12:55Luke 12:55

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Using Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferencesUsing Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferences•NI is a conclusion or judgment that is NI is a conclusion or judgment that is

drawn from what is known, drawn from what is known, Luke 12:54-57Luke 12:54-57• Jesus expects us to use NI to know the Jesus expects us to use NI to know the

truth, truth, Luke 12:56-57Luke 12:56-57• John 3:2: John 3:2: Nicodemus necessarily inferred Nicodemus necessarily inferred

Jesus was a “teacher come from God” Jesus was a “teacher come from God” because:because:• Jesus was working miraclesJesus was working miracles• Miracles only by power and presence of GodMiracles only by power and presence of God• Therefore, Jesus Therefore, Jesus mustmust be from God be from God

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Using Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferencesUsing Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferences• NI is a Scriptural and decisive NI is a Scriptural and decisive

way to establish Bible authorityway to establish Bible authority•Authority not to bind circumcision Authority not to bind circumcision

on Gentiles for salvation is based on Gentiles for salvation is based on a necessary inference in on a necessary inference in Acts Acts 15:1215:12

•Authority to eat the Lord’s Supper Authority to eat the Lord’s Supper everyevery first day of the week is based first day of the week is based on necessary inference in on necessary inference in Acts 20:7Acts 20:7

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Using Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferencesUsing Necessary Using Necessary InferencesInferences•NI is a Scriptural and NI is a Scriptural and

decisive way to establish decisive way to establish Bible authorityBible authority•Authority for the innocent Authority for the innocent party in a divorce to remarry party in a divorce to remarry is the result of a necessary is the result of a necessary inference, inference, Matt 19:9Matt 19:9

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Necessary InferencesNecessary InferencesNecessary InferencesNecessary Inferences

• To conclude NI is merely based on To conclude NI is merely based on human logic and therefore we human logic and therefore we must accept differences is NOT A must accept differences is NOT A NECESSARY INFERENCE – it is NECESSARY INFERENCE – it is ERROR! ERROR!

• Develop spiritual discernment by Develop spiritual discernment by using the word of God in order to using the word of God in order to correctly apply knowledge, correctly apply knowledge, Phil Phil 1:9-10; 2 Tim 2:15; 1:131:9-10; 2 Tim 2:15; 1:13