The use of wine is one of today’s most hotly discussed issues between Christians. While everyone agrees that drunkenness is sinful, the use or approval to use wine ranges from the Roman Catholic use of wine in every Mass to some saying one sip of wine is a condemnable offence. Let’s take a look and see what the Bible has to say about wine.

Wine use is broken described in two different ways, use and drunkenness. Wine is used for many different reasons including for ceremonial purposes. The use of wine for ceremonial purposes is seen in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament God decrees that wine is to be offered as seen in Numbers 15:5-7 And he shall give the same measure of wine to pour out in libations for the holocaust or for the victim. For every lamb, And for every ram there shall be a sacrifice of flour of two tenths, which shall be tempered with the third part of a hin of oil: And he shall off the third part the same measure of wine for the libation, for a sweet savour to the Lord . Wine is also used in the New Testament as seen in Matthew 26: 27-29 And taking the chalice, he gave thanks and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this. For this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins. And I say to you, I will not drink from henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I shall drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father.

Outside of ceremonial purposes wine is used in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament wine is used by man, as seen in Genesis 27:25 Isaac brought Jacob wine, and he drank and by God as a gift to man as seen in Isaiah 25:7 God will provide a feast of rich foods and choice wines. In the New Testament wine is used by man as seen in 1 Timothy 5:23 drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach and by God as seen in all gospels at the Last Supper. Also, Christ turns water into wine at the wedding at Cana John 2:10.

So it is clear that use of wine is a separate condition from the abuse of wine. God decrees that wine be used in ceremonial acts. Saint Paul instructs the use wine. Christ makes wine for use at a wedding, and uses wine Himself. After studying what Scripture reveals about wine use it seems that use of wine is allowable while drunkenness is not. Nikki