Bible Word Study
By
Joe Banghart
The word;
Access (Romans 5:2)
Quicken (John 6:63)
Perfect (Matt. 5:48, Lk. 1:45; I Cor. 2:6)
Fellowship (I John 1:7)
Allow (Romans 7:15)
Church (114 times in New Testament)
Peculiar (Titus 2:14)
Castaway (I Cor. 9:27)
Substance (Heb. 11:1)
Chosen (Eph. 1:4)
Vile (Phil. 3:21)
Abide (John 15:4-5)
Humility (James 4:10)
Meekness (Gal. 5:22-23)
Gentleness (I Pet. 2:18)
Envy (Various words and scriptures)
Chastening (I Cor. 11:32)
Be Careful (Phil. 4:6)
Comfort (I Thess. 5:11)
Truth (John 14:6)
Sins (I John 1:9)
Adoption (Rom. 8:15)
Filled (Eph. 5:18)
Victory (John 16:33)
Example (I Peter 2:21)
Conformed & Transformed (Rom. 12:2)
Love (John 13:34-35)
Repent (Acts 17:30)
Forsaken (II Cor. 4:7-9)
Conversation (I Tim. 4:12)
Vanity (Eph. 4:17)
Striveth (I Cor. 9:25)
All things (Col. 1:17)
Reconciled (Rom. 5:10)
Reign (Rom. 6:12)
Servants (Rom. 6:16)
Lose (Matt. 16:26)
To Die (Heb. 9:27)
New (Rev. 21:1)
If (Rom. 8:31)
Reckon (Rom. 8:18)
Whatsoever (Col. 3:17)
Products of Love (I Tim. 1:5)
Commendeth (Rom. 5:8)
Leave (“I will never leave thee” Heb. 13:5)
Follow (Heb. 12:14
The Door (John 10:9)
A Lively Hope (I Pet. 1:3)
Living Soul (Gen. 2:7)
No Wise Cast Out (John 6:37)
A True Heart (Heb. 10:22)
Whole Armor of God (Eph. 6:11)
Christ Being Grieved For The Hardness of Mens Hearts (Mark 3:5)
Told Him All The Truth (Mark 5:33)
Bear Burdens of Others (Gal. 6:2)
Being A New Creature (II Cor. 5:17)
Works (Gal. 5:19-20)
Imaginations and Thoughts (II Cor. 10:5)
Departed (Luke 4:13)
Love May Abound (Phil. 1:9)
Birth of Christ (Matt. 1:18)
Christ Being Manifest In The Flesh (I Tim. 3:16)
Becometh (Phil. 1:27)
We Do Know That We Know Him (I John 2:3)
Trial of Faith (I Peter 1:7)
Obedient (I Pet. 1:14)
Temptations (2 Pet. 2:9)
Afraid (Matt. 14:30)
Judgement Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10)
Murmurings (Phil. 2:14)
All Power (Matt. 28:18)
Satan Hath Desired To Have You (Luke 22:31)
Disorderly (2 Thess. 3:11)
Blessed (Luke 2:28)
What is the meaning of the word “access” in the Bible? “By whom also we have access (prosagoge) by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2). It is a Greek word made up of the verb ago meaning “to go”, and the preposition pros which means “toward, facing.” It is a picture of the approach of a ship to a haven or harbor where it could land. From this word God has given us a picture of our souls having a permanent haven in Him. The word prosago, the base of the word “access” means in the intransitive use, “approach, a drawing near.” The word mean’s “to bring into the presence of” thus to present, to introduce.” It is Christ that brings believing sinners into the presents of a Holy God and introduces them to Him. The verb prosago in I Peter 3:18 in translation could read, “that He might provide for you an entrée into the presence of God.” This is all made possible by the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary as He brings all that will accept Him as personal savior into the unlimited favor and infinite grace of God.
The word quicken in scripture has two meanings. It is not the act of energizing something or someone that is already alive. “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). The Greek word zoopoieo is made up of zoe, which refers to the life principal in contradistinction to bios which means “to make.” Energo means “to be operative, to be at work, to put forth power.” It is the ability of individuals to accomplish certain things that come from the source of the power that energizes. It is God that energizes the saved (Phil 2:13) and demonic powers that energize the unsaved (Eph. 2:2). It is God through the working of the Holy Spirit and Word of God that quickens each individual who surrenders their life daily for His service. It is never by our power or might but by His working within us when we allow this quickening to take place. This is not something we do in our energy or efforts but that which takes place when we yield ourselves to God (Rom. 12:1-2). It is God putting forth His power through us.
The word perfect has four translations in the Bible. Telaios the adjective includes the ideas of “full-growth, maturity, workability, soundness, and completeness.” The verb teleioo is the process of bringing the person or thing to any of these conditions. When applied to a Christian it is a person that is spiritually mature, complete, well rounded in Christian character (Mt. 5:48, Lk. 1:45, I Cor. 2:6). The word katartizo means, “to repair, to restore to a former good condition, to fit out, to equip”(Eph. 4:11,12). Akribes, meaning “exactly, accurately, diligently,” is translated by the word perfect in Acts 18:26, 23:15, 20, 24:22. In contrasting the words we could say, “teleios refers to Christian experience, katartizo to Christian service, teleios to maturity and completeness of Christian character, katartizo to equipment for service.” “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no division among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement” (I Cor. 1:10).
What does it mean for us to have fellowship with Jesus Christ and those that love Him ? “But if we walk in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1:7). Notice how this verse opens, “if we walk” which indicates the responsibility is ours and we must make a constant effort towards this walking. The word walk in the Greek refers to our conduct and the thoughts, words, and deeds that we experience. The word “fellowship” is from a Greek word that mean’s “to have in common with.” A person who has placed trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour is partaker of a divine nature(II Peter 1:4). If we love what Christ loves and hate sin then we have fellowship with Him and this should produce a fellowship with each other. How often is sin standing between you and God ? How often is sin standing between you and other Christians ? Is this fellowship demonstrated when we openly ignore each other or treat one person different from others when in a group ? How often have we allowed evil thoughts, words, and deeds to influence our fellowship with Christ and each other ?
What understanding can we find that will help explain our two natures? “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate that do I” (Romans 7:15). The word “allow” is from a Greek word meaning “to know by experience.” Paul is saying what all of us experience in the struggle between our two natures, good and evil, a battle exist. We have a desire to do good but often find no power to put this desire into action. We boldly and openly rebel against doing evil but often have no power to keep from sinning. Paul does not find the answer in self-effort but total dependence and reliance upon God. The struggle Paul faced and that every Christian faces is self-dependence. We must apply the resource of the Holy Spirit and Word of God to produce the Christ-like life that will defeat a self-dependent attitude. This struggle is present every day and Christ is always ready to help each of us find the victory over sin and joy of serving Him if we apply His Word. The struggle is ever with us and the solution is given yet we still live and conduct ourselves like defeated people.
Why is it vital for Christians to understand the meaning of the word” church”? The Greek word is ekklessia and ek means “out” and kaleo means “to call or summon.” In the secular Greek society it referred to an assembly or meeting and never to the people within that assembly. In the New Testament it means “the people of God.” Of its 114 occurances in the New Testament all but five times it is translated by this meaning. The church has been given many responsibilities by Christ. It is a place where all can attend and study the Word of God. It is a people called out from the world and designed for worship of the Lord. The primary purpose of the local church is to make as many people as much like Jesus in the shortest possible time. Every saved individual should be apart of a local, visible, Bible Believing Church. At least twenty-three New Testament churches are listed in the Bible. At Jerusalem (Acts 2:47), Antioch of Syria (Acts 11:19), Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:14), Lystra (Acts 14:6), Derbe (Acts 14:21, 22), Iconium (Acts 14:2), Philippi (Acts 16:15), Thessalonica (Acts 17:1), Berea (Acts 17:11), Athens (Acts 17:34), Corinth (Acts 18:1), and other locations. Are you active in a church ?
What is the meaning of the word peculiar when used in the Bible? “Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). The word peculiar in the English language means “odd or strange.” The Greek word is pepisuoisn, made up of two words one which means “around”, as a circle, and the other means “to be.” The illustration often given to explain this meaning is a dot with a circle around it. As the circle is around a dot, so God is around each one of His saints. Christ has died for us but He was also dying to gain something for Himself – a people of His own, who would be eager to do His will – the specific good works which He had before ordained “that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). We are the private and unique possessions of the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself that we might live. A circle that cannot be broken because it is drawn with the precious blood of calvary and confirmed by the resurrection for all that will accept Him. We are indeed peculiar people designed for God through redemption.
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (I Cor. 9:27). What is the meaning of the word castaway in this Bible verse? Paul is not speaking in fear of failure of service to God and being castaway into suffering in the Lake of Fire. The context is not one of salvation, but of service and the rewards produced by this service. The word “castaway” is from a word compounded of two parts of speech, a word meaning “to put one’s approval upon after one has tested something,” and the Greek letter Alpha, which when prefixed to a word makes the word mean the opposite to that which it originally meant. Paul is saying that he is careful not to be disapproved by the Lord in his apostolic service not salvation. Each person that is seeking to serve the Lord should be seeking to do their best to please Him lest we be put aside and the opportunity given to someone else. Not the salvation of our souls but the wonderful joy of serving the risen Lord.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). What is the meaning of the word “substance?” A good translation for the word “substance” is assurance. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” If a bequest gives a piece of property in another state and the title deed is delivered to the recipient, it is not necessary for him to see the property in order to be assured of his ownership. Those who are saved and study John 14:2 or I Peter 1:4,5 already have the deed to a piece of heavenly property that belongs to them. As Christians we know by faith that this heavenly property is ours and we do not need Christ to prove it to us, we believe this by our assurance and trust in what He has done for us. It is the advance guarantee of God for us that lies within His hands to deliver unto us when the proper time occurs. Expectation that leads to prediction and successful verification that is based on measurable evidence is not Christian faith.
What is the meaning of the word chosen in the Bible ? Choose is from eklegomai which is made up of lego “to choose” and ek “out from.” Thus the compound word means “to pick, single out, to choose out.” “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Eph. 1:4). “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16). The adjective eklektos is from eklegomai and means “chosen” “elect.” Divine election is a Holy God that chooses out certain ones from among mankind for salvation. This election does not imply the rejection of the rest, but is the outcome of the love of God which He gives to those He has chosen-out. The main meaning and application should be the appointment of those called out for a certain object or goal. Our goal as children of Christ is to bear fruit that others might be saved.
What does the word vile mean in the Bible? “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Phil. 3:21). The Greek word translated for vile is “tapeinonis.” In Luke 1:48 the same word is translated, “low estate.” “But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away” (Jam. 1:10). Our preset bodies have been brought to the lowest of all positions because of the fall of Adam. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12). Our bodies are subject to all sickness, weariness, and death. Even with a vile body every person has the opportunity to accept the love of God found in Christ. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). The only hope we have is found in Jesus Christ and his victory over sin and death.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). The Greek word for abide is meno. The classical meaning is, “to stay, stand fast, abide, to stay at home, stay where one is, not stir, to remain as one was, to remain as before.” When used by Christ speaking about His relationship with all those who have trusted Him it means, “His permanent residence in them and His supplying that Christian with the necessary spiritual energy to produce fruit in his life through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.” In John 15 the picture is that of an unbroken fellowship between Christ and us. No sin left unjudged and put away. Do we abide in Christ as we should? What is the evidence of our abiding in Him?
What is the Christian meaning for the word humility ? “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10). It is the translation of the word tapeinophrosune and involves the ability of a person to think humbly of one’s self. A past Christian writer has called this form of humility “the casket or treasure house in which all other graces are contained.” This word is the very fruit of the gospel and no Greek writer employed it before the Christian era. The word means “to make low, bring low, to bring into a humble condition, to abase, to assign a lower rank or place to, to humble or abase one’s self, to be ranked below others who are honored or rewarded, to have a modest opinion of one’s self, to behave in a unassuming manner.” How can we accomplish this difficult grace in our service of God? “Humble yourself therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (I Pet. 5:6). Why is it that each of us attempt to be important or thrive when others look upon us as educated or busy in our Christian service? Do we practice this type of humility in our life?
Why should we demonstrate a spirit of meekness to others? “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is not law” (Gal. 5:22-23). It is the inward reaction of our soul to God first and then towards others. It is our ability to accept that God’s working with us through all trials and tribulations. It is our ability to endure suffering regardless of how unjust others may be in the infliction of them upon us. We acknowledge our own sin and meekly accept and endure the burdens that sin may bring upon us. We should be ready to practice this gift of meekness even towards others that have been overtaken in sin. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Gal. 6:1). Insults and injuries that we may receive from others are permitted by God for our life to experience chastening and purifying in His Grace.
What is the meaning of the word gentleness? “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the forward” (I Pet. 2:18). The word (gentle) epieikeia is defined by Thayer as: “mildness, gentleness, fairness, sweet reasonableness.” It is the ability to treat others under any circumstance with mildness of spirit. The ability to practice reasonableness under situations that require decisions based upon legal rights that may be pushed into moral wrongs. It is a requirement in the person that desires leadership within the church. “Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient (gentle), not a brawler, not covetous” (I Tim. 3:3). Are we gentle in our dealings with others? Are we gentle in our service to others in the occupations the Lord has given us? Can others see and experience the gentleness of God within our life?
The word envy as used in the New Testament is the translation of two Greek words, zelos and phthonous. The word zelos used in a good sense appears in John 2:17; Rom. 10:2; II Cor. 7:7 and other locations. Thayer gives the following meaning: “excitement of mind, fervor of spirit, zeal, embracing, pursuing, defending anything.” The word is used in an evil sense in Acts 5:17, 13:45; Rom. 13:13, and other locations. It is translated “indigation, envy, emulations.” It is the desire to make war upon that which is good or bring trouble upon it. The word phthonos is displeasure at another’s good, with the desire to make this good less and its own will be made more. It is used in an evil sense in Mt. 27:18; Mk. 15:10; Rom. 1:29 and other locations. In James 1:5 it speaks of the Holy Spirit and His passionate desire to control the believer. The Holy Spirit is displeased with our evil nature to the point of phthonos and passionately desires that this evil nature may be less so He can control the believer. Help us O Lord to have the excitement of mind to serve You every day.
Who is happy when they receive chastening ? “But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world” (I Cor. 11:32). The Greek word paideia translated “chastening” in the New Testament does not mean any form of punishment. We often connect the word chastening with some form of punishment and this is not the meaning in this verse. It is not chastening for just instructions. It is not just for growth in all the Christian virtues. The primary purpose of the chastening of the Lord for His children as found within this verse and use of the word paideia is to rid our life of sins, faults, and weaknesses by corrective measures which God, in His providence sends or allows to come into our life. Paideia is designed to eliminate all those things in our life that would hinder our growth in the Lord. Do we examine everything we experience in light of the Word of God? What is it that will come into our life today that will help us be more like Christ? Thank you Lord for all that you allow into our life so we can be more like You.
“Be careful in nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.” Phillipians 4:6 What is the meaning of “Be careful”? Today this word means for us to exercise caution. When used in the Greek it means “to be full of anxious care.” It is a synonym for the word “worry”. The Greek word means the forbidding of the continuance of an action already going on. Translated correctly it would say, “Stop perpetually worrying about even one thing.” The same Greek word is found in Matthew 6:25 and translated, “Take no thought.” The key for our understanding is found in the words, “perpetually worrying.” What is the reason for why we are not to worry ? I Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.” Everyone has been down the road of “perpetual worry” and many are still walking it. The word “cast” in I Peter 5:7 means we will let Christ assume the responsibility for our welfare.
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” I Thessalonians 5:11 There are four Greek words translated by the one word “comfort.” The word “paregoria” used only one time in Col. 4:11, “paramutheomai” used in at least six places in the Bible, and “tharseo” which means “be of good cheer.” The fourth word is “parakaleo” made up of the verb “kaleo”, which means “to call,” and the preposition “para” which means beside. The majority of time in the New Testament it means “’please, I exhort, I urge.” As Christians we are called upon to exhort, comfort, and encourage each other. Everyone has the ability to comfort another. This is probably one of the areas we neglect the most. We cannot encourage, strengthen, or comfort others if we are not at least talking with them. Life keeps us from each other and often we are just busy with our everyday routines and neglect to comfort others. I am confident all of us need help in this important area of our life.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”John 14:6 The word truth and true are the Greek words “aletheia” and “alethes.” The word “alethinos,” is used twenty two times in John’s writings and only five times in the rest of the New Testament and means, “that which has not only the name and semblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name.” The noun “aletheia” is, “verity, truth, what is true in any matter under consideration.” In the words of the Nicene creed, the Lord Jesus is the very God of very God. The challenge of our world is holding onto the real meaning and practice of the word truth. When we turn on the television, read a paper, hear a speech, read a book, place trust in another person, the word truth is often broken. Christ is the very opposite of all that is fictitious, counterfeit, imaginary, simulated, and pretended. It is vital that we have our trust in the truth of Christ.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9 In the New Testament nine different Greek words paint pictures for us of various aspects of sin. They are “hamartia”or “hamartema” missing of the mark or aim; “parabasis” the overpassing or transgressing of a line; “parakoe” the inattentiveness or disobedience to a voice; “paraptoma” the falling alongside where one should have stood upright; “agnoema” the doing through ignorance of something wrong which one should have known about; “hettema” the coming short of ones’ duty; and “anomia” the non-observance of the law. If we confess Christ will forgive. We are responsible for every thought, action, and lack of commitment towards Christ and His word. When is the last time that any of us confessed our sin’s before Christ? Why is this important? “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father” Romans 8:15 The Greek word translated “adoption” is made of two words, a word meaning “to place,” and the word “son”, its total meaning being “to place as a son.” It is the acceptance of all those who have by faith accepted Jesus Christ as personal savior into the family of God. Each of us by nature do not belong in the family of God. It is the Holy Spirit that performs this act of adopting. The word huiothesia(adoption) is never used in relation to Christ. Christ alone is the Son of God by nature. This position as adopted children into God’s Family is founded on a covenant relation to God and the work of Christ for all that will come unto him. We have not only the status that is given us by God in this adopted status but we have also been given the heart of sons. When others observe our daily walk can they tell we belong to the family of God? Do we treat others in this family like they are members of the same family as we are?
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit;”Ephesians 5:18. The word filled in our language does not convey the actual meaning of this verse. We should not visualize this as the Holy Spirit filling an individual as if they are an empty receptacle. The Holy Spirit is a part of the trinity and when given the opportunity by each believer, takes control of that person’s life. The Holy Spirit will if given this opportunity control our volitional, rational, and emotional activities. The very evidence of this scripture and others clearly demonstrates that our will is to be under the control of the Holy Spirit. This process of being filled requires a constant yielding and leaning upon Him for guidance and power. God has given us the marvelous opportunity to “Be controlled by the Spirit.” As we move and live each day who is it that controls our life? Yes we can be controlled by anything that we allow into our life. Every thing the Holy Spirit does through us will be in conformity to the Word of God.
The word victory is important as we read and study the Bible. The victory we have access to is over satan and all his powers. Victory “nikao” is found twenty-eight times in the Greek New Testament, and is almost always translated by the word “overcome.” There are three important verses in which this word is used:”These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”(John 16:33). “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world”(I John 4:4). “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” Observe closely who has overcome the world, Christ. Read carefully “greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the world.” Notice our inheritance as “over comers” is being with Christ. Examine your own strengths and weaknesses. Examine the strengths and weaknesses of Satan. We have the promise of the word of God that provides victory for us over Satan and all he may bring into our life. Are we living each day as victors or victims?
“For even, hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps” I Peter 2:21. The word example is,”to write under,” i.e. to trace letters for children to write over; to give directions for acting; trace in outline; sketch out. (Liddell & Scott, 1877). Peter is saying to all that have accepted Christ as savior we should study and trace out the very steps of Christ. When we teach children how to write the first stage involves tracing the letter before they can have success. Our challenge is to trace the steps of Christ within the pages of the Bible and find the true example of how we should walk in this life and all eternity. How often we look for another example and soon that example fails us. Christ is the only example we have for victory in all that we attempt or consider. Lord help us follow your example trace your steps and surrender ourselves to you in all that we desire or want in this life..
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” Romans 12:2. The Greek word for conformed and transformed is “sunschematizo”, “to assume an outward expression that is patterned after something else, which outward expression does not come from within and is not representative of one’s inward nature, but which is assumed from without.” Paul is saying that we should not take on or assume the outward expression which is conformed after the world, which is assumed from without, and does not represent the changed inner or renewed life we have received from Christ. The same word is used in Phil. 3:10 where it is translated “made conformable to.” This process can take place when we renew our minds with the Word of God and experience the transformation that gives complete glory to Christ. Notice it is our responsibility to renew our mind. It is my prayer that each of us would seek transformed minds by the word of God every day.
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” John 13:34-35. Two Greek words are translated for love “Phileo” and “Agapao.” “Phileo” arises from a sense of pleasure found in the object loved and “agapao” is a love springing from a sense of the preciousness of the object loved. It is certainly our Lord’s purpose that Christians love one another. The Spirit filled Christian manifests in his life the fruits of the Spirit, one of which is love(Gal. 5:22). If we love Christ we will keep His commandments (John 14:21), which teach us to love one another. Lost humanity will not come to the point of salvation by our correct theology, or if we are socially prestigious and politically powerful. Throughout history since Pentecost the church has tried in various ways to convince the unsaved world that she is truly composed of disciples of Jesus Christ. How often divisions among Christians that argue or actually fight over scripture turns the lost from Christ. Christ says, “…If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” John 14:23. Could the lack of the practice of actual Christian love mentioned be the reason why people are not being saved?
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent “ Acts 17:30. The Greek word “metanoeo” means “to change one’s mind or purpose, to change one’s opinion. The noun “metanoia” means “a change of mind on reflection.” It is the inner thought process of changing one’s attitude towards and opinion of sin and then forsaking it. Repentance from the Bible view involves this intellectual apprehension of the character of sin, then our own guilt with respect to the sin, and finally our making the conscious choice to turn away from the sin. Just a mere emotional appeal only to a sinner is only one step in the process. The Word of God must be clearly explained and is at the root of the word “metanoeo”(the intellectual appeal) and is essential in our understanding of what it means to repent. Repentance involves emotional and volitional aspects that produce the response scripture instructs us to have. This action is nothing less than confession and then turning away from that sin which we have committed. Without the turning away from the sin our repentance is not real. Where are we in our individual understanding of repentance?
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed” II Corinthians 4:7-9. The Greek word “egkataleipo”(forsaken) is made up of three words, “eg” meaning in, “kata” meaning down, and “leipo” to leave. It is a picture of a person who let another person down in a set of circumstances that were against him. The word has various meanings, “to abandon, desert, leave in straits, leave helpless, leave destitute, leave in a lurch, let down.” We have in our “earthen vessels (our bodies) the Holy Spirit yet often trouble has a way of finding us. How often have we been perplexed, persecuted, cast down and seems no one understands what it is we are going through? In all of this we are not forsaken by God, maybe by others but not by God. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” I Corinthians 10:13.
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” I Timothy 4:12. Three Greek words are translated into English for our word “conversation.” The noun “anastrophe” and the verb “anastrepho.” In Classical Greek the verb means, “a turning back or about, occupation in a thing, a mode of life, behavior.” It means “to conduct one’s self, to walk.” It is our ability to determine our course of conduct and the carrying out of that determined course of action. The noun means “one’s walk, manner of life, conduct.” In English the word conversation would indicate verbal exchange. In biblical use it involves the moral and spiritual aspect of one’s manner of life. The third word is “tropos” (Hebrews 13:5). It comes from “trepo” and means “to turn or guide towards a thing, to turn one’s self, to direct one’s attention to a thing, to be occupied with it.” What is it that occupies our attention the most during each day? Spiritual or material thoughts and actions or things that take us away from a closer walk with Christ.
“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” I Corinthians 9:25. The word striveth is translated from the word fight in the Greek “agonizomai” and the noun “agon.” The word “agonizomai” is used of the Greek athletics. It means, “to content for victory in the public athletic games, to wrestle as in a prize contest, straining every nerve to the uttermost towards the goal.” The noun “agon” speaks more of the conflict or contest itself. The Bible uses these terms in a very vivid manner to illustrate the intensity of purpose and activity that should characterize both Christian living and Christian service. Some writers have compared this to a football game so we might understand it’s meaning for today. If we Christians would live our Christian lives and serve the Lord Jesus with the intensity of purpose and effort that is put forth in a football contest, what God glorifying lives we would live. Help us O Lord to strive for the mastery of everything that conforms to the very will of God.
“And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” Colossians 1:17. The first clause with its ablative of time separation means that Jesus Christ personally antedates creation. At a time which we mortals, who are subject to the categories of time and space, call “the beginning” the Word(Jesus Christ) already was and had been enjoying a continuous existence. It was our Lord who “by the word of God” maintained the relationship between land and sea in Noah’s world before the flood. The chemical world, philosophical, ethical, social, economic, and political worlds consist in Christ “all things.” Reason, faith and experience form the tripod of the Renaissance man. All things have come from His(Christ) creative mind and hand and are thus subject to His perfect will. Man lives by his own changeless criteria and cannot find the answer for creation. Should we doubt scripture when it clearly says “And He is before all things and by means of Him all things consist.” If you do not believe that God created “the heaven and the earth” then God would have to be created. He has always existed, still exist, and will always exist. What would happen if God removed His hand from His creation?
“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled , we shall be saved by his life” Romans 5:10. The word reconciled is the Greek word “katalasso meaning, “to change, exchange.” Vincent writes, “The verb means primarily to exchange, hence to change the relation of hostile parties into a relation of peace.” In the Christian life it is the change we experience in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is a movement of God towards man that breaks down the hostility we have towards Him. It is a movement of man yielding to the appeal of Christ’s self sacrificing love, our renouncing of sin and turning to God. The results of these two movements produces a change of character in man, a forgiving, cleansing of his sin through Jesus Christ. When this takes place God is no longer hostile to man but receives man into His fellowship and turns loose upon man His fatherly love and grace (I John 1:3, 7). This then is the complete act of reconciliation. We can only experience this by individual trust in what Jesus Christ has done for us through His death, burial, and resurrection.
“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lust thereof” (Romans 6:12). The Greek word is “basileuo”, “to exercise kingly power.” Eerdman says, “The verb is present imperative with the negative “me”, which construction forbids the continuance of an action already going on. Paul says, “Stop allowing the sinful nature to reign as king in your mortal body.” Here Paul is speaking of our body not just the sinful nature. Why the emphasis on the human body? The sinful nature is intangible, invisible, and cannot be watched. We have a responsibility to keep watch over the members of our body, what our eyes may see, what our ears might listen to, what our minds think about, what our hands do, and where our feet direct us or lead us. Every person has a free will. Those who have the divine nature and the Holy Spirit to urge us on have the power to refuse the sinful nature and obey the Word of God. Who has the reign in our life today?
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness” Romans 6:16. The Greek word for servant is “doulos” the most abject, servile term for a slave in the Greek language. Each person that is saved was a slave of Satan’s before salvation but since salvation is a slave of the Lord Jesus. The word “doulos” has various meanings. It refers to one born into a condition of slavery. All are born into the natural generation and have inherited a totally depraved nature through our parents from Adam. The second meaning of “doulos” is, “one whose will is swallowed up in the will of another.” Before salvation our will was swallowed up in Satan and after salvation our will is to be swallowed up in Christ. The third meaning is, “one who is bound to another in bands so strong that only death can break them.” Another meaning is, “one who serves another to the disregard of his own interest.” It is vital that we understand Paul is telling us that a believer does sin at times, but he does not provide in his life’s plan for occasional acts of sin. Paul argues that the believer does not want to live even a life of planned, occasional sin because, he has a new nature in Christ.
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26. The word loss means; “to sustain damage to one’s possessions or status,, spiritually or economically. It occurs in five contexts, Lk. 9:25, Mt. 16:26, Mk. 8:36, II Cor. 7:9, I Cor. 3:15. The word is applied to Christians who are threatened with a loss of spiritual development, with consequent loss of power and effectiveness for Christ. In this verse salvation is not in view only rewards. It is possible for a Christian, eternally secure in the eternal purpose of God, to lose his soul in the sense that he fails tragically to fulfill God’s purpose for his life and loses his spiritual power to influence others for the cause of Christ. It is difficult for us to surrender control of all our temporal values for the blessed promises of future spiritual rewards now and in the future. Read II Corinthians 4:17-18, for the promise given us. The verse has no relation to our salvation or loss of it. Only each individual can answer this question, “Have I loss my effectiveness for Christ?”
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” Hebrews 9:27. As human beings we have a terminal disease called mortality. We all must walk the path of physical death. Death is not the end and our eternal destination will be determined on our faith in Christ or our refusal to accept him as our saviour in this life. The following is listed as the Death Rate. Worldwide, 3 people die every second, 180 every minute and nearly 11,000 every hour. This means nearly 250,000 people every day go to Heaven or Hell. What have we accomplished to help others in this life prepare for the future? How many people have we encouraged through the Word of God to follow Christ? How many people can look at our life and see Christ in and through us? Have we helped others prepare for this appointment of death? James 2:17, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea” Revelation 21:1. The Greek word “Kainos”, translated “new”, indicates that the earth God creates when he retturns won’t merely be new as opposed to old, but new in quality and superior in character. Paul uses the same word “Kainos” when he speaks of the believer becoming “a new Creation” (II Corinthians 5:17). Various opinions exist on total destruction of the earth but is that what this word “Kainos” indicates? Total destruction is not necessary. The “new earth” is still the same just as a new Christian is still the same person as they appeared before salvation. Different in the spiritual since, yes, but the same in appearance. An illustration that I have read that helps our understanding of this event pictures a person walking through a door. On one side of that door they are lost without Christ and then when they enter through the door (Christ) they are a “new creature” yet still retain the same body yet different. Jesus said, “I am the door: by me if any man shall enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture” ( John 10:9).
“What shall we then say to theses things? If God be for us who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). The “if” is “ei”, the conditional particle of a fulfilled condition. This scripture is often read as a question, as if we where to question if God is for us. Paul is not presenting this statement as a question concerning God being for us. He is saying, “In view of the fact that God is for us, who is or could be against us, so as to do us harm?” Since God is for the individual that has by faith trusted Jesus Christ as savior then no one can actually do us harm. Denny explains, “The Christian’s faith in providence is an inference from redemption. The same God who did not spare His own Son will freely give us all things…It shows the impression of God’s love through the sense of the sacrifice it made…He who has done so much is sure to do much more.” God is for us and in and through His Son will stand with us in all that we can every face in this life or life eternal with Him. Do we live each day with the reality of this promise or do we live as if we are defeated?
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). The Greek word for “reckon” is “logizomai.” It’s basic meaning is, “to compute, calculate.” The word implies reasoning (Vincent). “I judge after calculation made” (Godet). It is a process of reasoning that when completed results in a conclusion. As we examine the present sufferings in life, regardless of the degree, they are nothing compared with the glory that will be revealed in the saints at the second advent of the Lord Jesus (II Thess. 1:5-10, I Pet. 1:7, 4:13). This mental step is very difficult for each of us. Looking into the future often does not give us the answers for sufferings in the present time. This is why we find the use of the word “reckon” to demonstrate for us that when suffering takes place in this life, and it will, we are to utilize reasoning and conclude that in all that we might face God will provide the victory for us through it all. Our thought process in all that is in this life must be wrapped in the Word of God, motivated by our love for him, and focused on our current and future life with him. Lord help our reasoning to be yours and not our own.
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father through him”( Col. 3:17). In this verse is found the rule of ethics for believers. He is saying we can do whatever we wish and say whatever we desire but these actions must be said or done with the awareness that, both in speech and action we are acting as representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ. Does this give us the open door to act or speak in any way we desire? No! If I say that what I am doing is in the name of our Lord, I am saying that He has sent me to do it, that He agrees that I should do it and that if He were here, He would do it Himself. The second part of this verse says that as we do and say what we have chosen we are also, at the same time, thanking God the Father, through the Lord Jesus Christ, for the privilege. The word “whatsoever” is not given for us to have an excuse for any violation of the Word of God. As we work and live during this day we should do all that we do in “word or deed” in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and thank God for that opportunity.
“Now the end of the commandment is charity( love) out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned” (I Timothy 1:5). Paul is listing for us the products found in love. First love flows from a cleansed heart. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). The second product of love is a good conscience. This is our ability to put it all together. We can be objective, sort out right from wrong, and assess praise and blame. “If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17). The third product of love is sincere faith. We can have all the correct doctrine and reject the moral commitment which sincere faith in Christ produces. When each of us manifest these products of love then can we experience God’s flow of the love found in I Corinthians 13. Our question should be “is this the type of love that flows from us?”
“But God, commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The Greek word for “commends” is sunistemi, “to put together by combining or comparing, hence to show, prove, establish, exhibit.” Denny says, “How greatly is this utmost love of man surpassed by the love of God. He commends, or rather makes good, presents in its true and unmistakable character…..His own love toward us.” Vincent comments, “Note the present tense, God continuously established His love in that the death of Christ remains as its most striking manifestation.” Individuals in history, and maybe even many in the future, may face death for someone else but none have or ever will give as God has through Christ for all that will come unto Him. Christ died for all those who are bitter enemies or hate Him. God’s love of His only son on the cross of calvary cannot be compared with man’s attempt at a demonstration of love. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). The Greek word leave is “aniemi”. This word is followed by two negatives in the Greek which serve to strengthen it’s meaning. It is “I will not, I will not cease to sustain and uphold thee.” The word forsake is a compound of three Greek words meaning “in”, kata meaning “down”, and leipo meaning “to leave.” This teaches us the Lord will not forsake us when we are in a state of defeat or helplessness in the mist of hostile circumstances. God will always come to our rescue when we face difficult circumstances. I find great strength and comfort in the words “never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Others may fail us, our minds might trick us, the devil may tempt us, life might bring hardships and pain but Christ stands by his word. May we apply and trust this promise of God in our life this day is my prayer.
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). The Greek word translated for follow is “dioko” and means “to run swiftly in order to catch some person or thing, to run after, to press on.” It is a picture of a person running a race swiftly in the attempt to reach a goal. The same word appears in Phil. 3:12. The metaphorical meaning is “to pursue, to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavor to acquire.” The Hebrews had a quarrelsome spirit and a strong spirit of alienation for weaker Christian. Anger and disputes often took place and both the saved and unsaved could not find the peace necessary for growth in Christ or salvation of those that needed Christ. We are encouraged and admonished to seek peace from all those who are weak in the faith and not saved so that they may “see the Lord.” Notice the phrase “peace with all men”. May each of us in this day seek peace with all men so they might have a desire to follow the example of Christ in our life.
“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:9). In this “I am” Jesus identifies Himself clearly as the sole source of salvation. The Greek phrase means “through my agency” or “by means of me.” Notice salvation can only be received by individuals that first enter by the door of Christ. Second those that accept Christ can go in and out of the sheepfold over which the Good Shepherd presides. Then these individuals will find pasture, which indicates growth. This is a picture of the believer in Christ saved from the penalty of sin which is death being put forward into this world by the Shepherd (Christ). We follow the Shepherd who calls us by name and we hear His voice. As we walk the Shepherd goes before us and always when we stray brings us back into the fold. This is a wonderful picture of Psalms 23. Examine the type of door you have entered and make sure it is Jesus Christ. Any other door will not provide eternal life.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (I Peter 1:3). The Greek word “lively” is a life principal. It occurs in the New Testament a majority of the time when the writers speak of eternal life. This “lively hope” which every Christian has is an energizing principal for life each and every day. The person that applies this principal has the expectancy of continued blessings, hope, a looking forward to good things, and the ability to look on the bright side of all situations. When we experience fear and doubt of the future we are not applying “a lively hope” and we find ourselves depressed or involved in a mental struggle trying to answer life situations that only God can handle. This lively hope should be how all of us awake and face each day. This is the secret of the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Do we face each day with this “lively hope” or fear and uncertainty?
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). What are the four basis characteristics of the human soul? First is intellect, that aspect of the soul which tells me whether a given issue is right or wrong. Second sensibility, that aspect which tells me what I would like to do about the issue. Third conscience, that aspect which tells me what I should do about the issue. The Bible list several kinds of conscience and how they influence life. An evil conscience (Hebrews 10:22), a defiled conscience (Titus 1:15), a weak conscience (I Cor. 8:7&12), a good conscience (I Tim. 3:9), and a seared conscience (I Tim. 4:2). The fourth characteristic of the soul is will, that aspect which tells me what I shall do about the issue. Our mind can deliver or destroy life (Philippians 4:6-8). It is in our mind where the battle first exist for our service to Christ or service to the world. How focused is your mind on Christ?
“Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). In this verse the Greek shows two negatives before the verb meaning “I will not, I will not cast out.” The words “cast out” are made up from two words, “to throw” and a preposition meaning “out from within.” Christ is speaking to all those who have come to Him by faith and in prayer “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). If you have made this commitment then John 6:37 is Christ speaking to you and He is saying “The one who comes to me, I will not, I will not throw out into the outside.” We live in a society that throws things away. Sometimes a new born baby is left at the door of a hospital, an elderly person is found neglected, we throw out most of what we purchase. If you are in Christ He will not throw you outside. Revelation 22:15 tells us what is outside of Christ, “ dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murders, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” It is vital that we are sure about our relationship with Christ if we are to apply this promise correctly.
“Let us draw nigh with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22). As believers we now have freedom of choice to approach Christ with hearts that are true. Our hearts should be without deceit, dissimulation or doubt all because of what Christ has done for us. Notice that faith produces assurance while works only generates doubt and anxiety (Hebrews 10:3). Notice the close connection between will and the intellect and between emotion and thought. Many Christians have God’s law’s in their hearts, by divine grace, yet they do not give sufficient priority to the study of His Word. This study by each individual helps inscribe the same laws mentioned in this verse into our intellect. We need straight theological thinking if we are to glorify God in our lives. The philosophy that pursues the thought of Christ is not only advisable, but indispensable to the growth in grace that not only instructs the mind but purifies the heart and dignifies the life style (Col. 2:8), because in Him “are hid all of the treasures of philosophy of science (Col. 2:3).
“Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). The phrase “put on” is enduo, “to envelope in, to hide in, to clothe with.” “Whole armor” is panoplia, made up of pas, “whole”, and hoplon, “weapon”; literally all weapons. It is the responsibility of all those who have accepted Christ to “put on the whole armor of God” every day. This picture of a foot solder fully dressed is a picture of what we must do, “put on”, in order to meet our spiritual foe. We must take to ourselves all that God provides for living and for overcoming. This armor is “loins of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the spirit.” Do we “put on the whole armor of God” every day? Have we forgotten this armor of God today ? Are we able to withstand spiritual wickedness ? If not it could be that we have left off some of this “whole armor of God.”
“And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other” (Mark 3:5). Robertson quotes Gould concerning the word anger as saying, “Anger against wrong as wrong, is a sign of moral health.” Our Lord’s anger was tempered by his grief over the hardness of their hearts. “ Hardness” is translated porosis. The verbal form means “to cover with thick skin, to harden by covering with a callus,” the noun poros meaning, “hard skin, a hardening.” It means those who observed Jesus heal a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath had mental and moral spiritual hardness in their hearts. How often have we read or heard something concerning truth from the Bible and because of the “hardness of our heart” not responded. This is another reason we should place scripture to memory. Are you involved in a scripture memory process that you do each day? Our prayer for this day should be, “O Lord help us in our unbelief that our hearts will not be callus to your word and truth.”
“But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth” (Mark 5:33). Here is a woman that came behind Jesus and touched his garment and her issue of blood was healed. A multitude stood about Christ yet he took time for this woman, and his disciples, to learn the spiritual value of telling him all the truth. This action and the Greek wording speaks of this woman telling Christ the whole truth, which would include not only what she had just done, but her excuse for doing it. Notice that “she knew what had happened to her.” As a child I can remember being ask to tell the truth about something I had just done. I have spoken with many children and adults in counseling asking them to tell me all the truth so I can better help them. A half truth or lie will not work. What has happened to each of us in Christ? What has Christ given us that is worth telling “all the truth?” It is to Christ that we are instructed to “tell all the truth”(Romans 10:9&10, I John 1:9). What is it that each of us have to tell him today? May we “tell him all the truth” is my prayer.
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). The word bear is from bastazo which means, “to bear what is burdensome.” Bearing burdens of others is never easy or something we make an attempt towards doing. In this verse Christ instructs us to “bear one another’s burdens.” This is the spiritual welfare each of us should feel and assume in action towards other Christians. These individuals are going through hardships and we so often reject them, use theology in our attempt to avoid them, and often say or write things to them that we should not. It is the responsibility of all those who are saying they are Spirit-dominated to help others that have life situations that hinder their relationship with Christ by helping them turn and confess to Christ. It is the assuming of those burdens in a willing, helpful, sympathetic way, despite the fact that the bearing of them may involve unpleasantness and heartache. Lord help us “bear the burdens of others so we can fulfill the law of Christ.”
“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17). The new birth implants a new divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) and the Christian, though physically in the world, and though still unchanged in his physical body, with its fleshly desires, has a new nature, which Paul calls “the inner man” (Eph. 3:16). Our relationship with the unsaved world is no longer the same as it was before we came to Christ. Our responsibility to Christ is to represent the best interest of heaven and the glory of God on this earth (2 Cor. 5:20). This transformation is an inner change given us by God in the Holy Spirit. The dedicated Christian must always feel the alienation which separates him from those who are unsaved. We are called upon to leave an influence of good upon this earth because we are “a new creature” and “all things are become new.” We are called upon to be a witness to the redemption in the cross. Do we walk, talk, and live each day as “as a new creature” in Christ?
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings…” (Galatians 5:19-20). The word “works” list the products of the flesh, which the child of God is clothed with, and is capable of producing. This list includes sins of the mind as well as sins of the body. It is not a complete list yet covers a majority of sins we choose to do (works of the flesh). We must work at them or they will not happen. This long list does not contain a single constructive attitude or action. These works of the flesh extend into the family, the neighborhood, the state, the nation, and society. Today we must choose the works of the flesh or allow the Holy Spirit to bear His fruits through our life, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…” (Gal. 5:22-23). O Lord help us bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit today and not the “works of the flesh.”
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (II Corinthians 10:5). The arguments or thoughts that we are to refute are all those raised up against the knowledge of God. These thoughts we are instructed to bring under control are our own. This verse is telling us to bring every idea, concept, mental construct, and theory into obedience to Christ and his word. By doing this we can refute all the arguments of Satan who is a liar and the father of all lies (John 8:44). We must bring every thought into the captivity of Christ and measure those thoughts by the very word of God. When we are successful at bringing these thoughts into the captivity of Christ nothing is left but the treasures of wisdom and knowledge found in him (Col. 2:3, I Cor. 2:10). Translation…”and every lofty obstacle that is being exhalted against the knowledge from God, and bringing every concept into captivity unto the obedience to Christ.”
“And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season” (Luke 4:13). This word is from a Greek word that literally means “to stand off from.” It has no indication that Satan will every leave the individual alone that has Christ as personal saviour. It expresses the idea that Satan only stands off from him and waits for a time when we are more susceptible to temptation. It is our responsibility for victory in Christ for the daily walk that we practice this everlasting watchfulness, “lest Satan should get an advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices” (II Cor. 2:11). Satan is watching and waiting for the opportunity each day that offers him the open door to get an advantage over us. We must keep in mind that Satan is never far away and that he has only departed possibly only a few feet away. O Lord help us examine our life and apply the word of God to keep Satan departed from us.
“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment” (Philippians 1:9). The word “abound” is from the Greek word meaning “to exceed a fixed number or measure, to exist in superfluity.” Notice that which is to abound within the hearts of all Christians is love. It is the divine love that is found only in Christ Jesus and that love is to overflow out of our hearts into the hearts of others. This love abounding should come from hearts that are eager and enthusiastic yet Paul prays this abounding love will be applied within the guiding of knowledge and judgment. When we have put the Word of God into our daily walk, then we have this abounding love. This is a process that takes place over time and as this love grows each of us grow in a deeper knowledge and judgment concerning the working of God. Our constant question must be what love abounds in our life, the love of this world, or the love of Christ?
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 1:18). The word birth as applied in this verse is the physical birth of Jesus Christ and also in John 1:14 to the physical birth of John the Baptist. This section in Matthew is the explanation of how Jesus was begotten, conceived and born. In the previous verses (Matthew 1:2-17) forty-one generations of men were born as each generation fathered his son all in the usual biological manner. Mary, the mother of Christ, is found to be pregnant with Christ before the specific event or act of her and Joseph coming together as man and wife. The source of her pregnancy was the Holy Spirit. The virgin birth of Christ in the human species is scientifically impossible. Hebrews 10 tells us the body of Christ was prepared by God through the Holy Spirit in order that God might make an atoning sacrifice for our transgressions. At the beginning of the earthly life of our Lord the creative and fashioning work of the Holy Spirit of God is present and at the end of his earthly life His resurrection is also described as the work of the Holy Spirit of God (Rom. 1:4). Without the virgin birth of Christ we would not have atonement for our sins.
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (I Tim. 3:16). The Greek word for manifest is “phaneroo.” Paul uses this word many times to show us the preexistent person (Jesus Christ) who is presented to us and manifested to us now. It is a great mystery to us that God should be man and dwell among us. In Hebrews 1:1-3 it speaks of God who is the express image of the Father, in the brightness of His glory. He is given a body that He might make sacrifice, pouring out His life and blood for our sins (Heb. 10:5). He is described as a faithful High Priest, sympathetic with us, tried in all points like as we are, though without sin (Heb. 2:17-18). His name is Jesus our Lord-God in the flesh. All of this is found in the word manifest. May we thank God today for our Lord’s entrance into human flesh through the Virgin Birth.
“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and se you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Phillipians 1:27. The Greek word “becometh” when used in the genitive case means, “having the weight of (weighing as much as) another thing.” It means, “of like value, worth as much.” This is telling us that every Christian should so live each day that the life others see in us weighs as much as the gospel we profess. Other meanings are “befitting, congruous, corresponding.” When we speak, present our life daily, or work within this world is it clear to all those we come in contact with that the word of God has “like value or weight” with the gospel of Christ? What are we becoming each day?
“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments” (I John 2:3). “We do know” is the Greek word ginosko, “to know by experience” as contrasted to the Greek word oida, “absolute, immediate knowledge of a fact once for all.” “We know Him” is the Greek egnokamen auton. “The verb is perfect in tense, referring to a past complete act having present results.” It is not just a mere act of obeying but conveys the action of a deep desire not to disobey but obey perfectly. It is our willingness to take heed so we do not fall or having that constant apprehension of the deceitfulness of the heart and our inner corruption that we depend upon the Word of God each and every day. It is our habitual, moment by moment safeguarding of the Word lest we violate its precepts. We cannot safeguard something we do not read and study each day. We cannot safeguard that which does not guide our daily walk. Do we live by the very words found within the Bible or by our own thoughts and concepts?
“That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto the praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 1:7). The Greek word dokimion is translated as a noun, and the word dokimazo being the verb with the same root. It is the act of putting someone or something to the test to determine whether it is worthy of being approved or not, the testing being for the intention of approving if possible. It is when our faith in Christ has met the test and has been approved and thus brings His glory out as a results of such testing. This is the actual approving of our faith by Christ which is at the root of this verse and it’s meaning. God can trust those who are His and it is this prior approval that is pictured. God is looking for faithful, dependable workers before they receive gifts of service or formal education. Your faith will be tried and Christ is the source of this process. Our faith in Christ is purified through trials in this life.
“As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance” ((I Peter 1:14). In the Greek it reads, “as children of obedience.” The word obedience seems so far from much of what we say or do in society today. The picture here is that obedience found between a parent and child. Even this does not exist at the level God has intended it to. It should be only natural that the child of God would obey Him. The word fashion in the Greek refers to the act of assuming an outward appearance patterened after some certain thing, an appearance or expression which does not come from and is not representative of one’s inner and true nature. Are we as obedient children of Christ masquerading in the costume of the world? What type of fashion statement do we make as others observe our life or talk with us ? Maybe our children and others that work or live around us cannot see this obedience to Christ in our life and this is keeping them from personally accepting Christ as savior!
“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished” (2 Peter 2:9). Strachan says: “The idea here is primarily of those surroundings that try a man’s fidelity and integrity, and not of the inward inducement to sin, arising from the desires.” These temptations should be a joyous opportunity for the development of spiritual and moral strength. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations” (James 1:2). “Blessed is the man that endureth temptations: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (James 1:12). We exist in a world that mocks Christ and many cultures view Christians as devils and evil. It is a test for us to live in this type of atmosphere. God is the only one with the power to deliver us from these temptations. Are we living each day with the realization of His delivery from all temptations?
“But when he saw the wind boisterous (violent), he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord save me” (Matthew 14:30). Peter like most of us, was making good progress as he strode along the top of the water toward Jesus, but he took his eyes off Christ and began to look around him at the effects of the wind. Peter began to fear as he looked around and experienced the strong wind and saw the huge waves,. He began to sink and cried out to the Lord. Fear and faith are mutually exclusive in all of life. When Peter or any Christian believes in the complete working of Christ they do not fear yet how often we are caught in the storms of life and see the violent situations affecting us and we cease believing. Peter as he began to sink at least had the faith to cry out to Jesus, “Lord, save me” (Romans 10:13). It is one of the shortest prayers on record and one of the most effective. We are all caught in the same situation as Peter, we often achieve great things by faith, and are at fault when the storms of life hit us. We can be walking on the water and still fear the wind. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). This issue of judgement is not salvation. This question was settled in the eternal counsels of God, provided at Calvary and implemented by the Holy Spirit in regeneration. Here is a universal divine subpoena, issued from the bench of Messiah, the Judge (John 5:22) to every Christian. The group served by this subpoena is “the entire body of us” yet the judgement is for individual deeds. The deeds of our present life, in our mortal bodies, will come under the divine scrutiny. Here each of us will pay the opportunity cost of Christian resources we have wasted in the markets of this world. Our question should be “what account will I give to the Lord when this time comes?” As 2010 comes to an end we should reflect back and examine what it is we did not do for the glory of God when given that opportunity? Did we fail to share the gospel to someone that needed Christ? Did we fail to pray or study the Word of God as we should? Did we not help a family member, friend, neighbor, or stranger when we had that opportunity? Lord forgive me where I have failed to take the opportunities in 2010 you gave me and I seek to not make these errors of neglect during the NewYear of 2011.
“Do all things without murmurings and disputings” (Philippians 2:14). The word “murmurings” is the translation of the Greek word which means, “to muter, to murmur.” It is used of the cooing of doves. It is an onomatopoetic word that is, a whord whose sound resembles its meaning. The Greek spelling is “gongusmon.” It refers, not to a loud outspoken dissatisfaction, but to that undertone murmuring which one sometimes hears in the lobbies of our present day churches where certain cliques are “having it out,” so to speak, among themselves. It is a murmuring against men, not God. This is a picture of many Christians today that murmur with others and these murmurings have not reached the loud dissension stage. Are we guilty of being murmurers? What is it that we have not turned over to the Lord? Why should we express dissatisfaction to others instead of God?
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). Jesus is teaching concerning His sovereignty in both the spheres of heaven and earth. He is saying that every area of life must yield to His will. It is not all power in heaven and on earth, as though there were some other power outside heaven and earth. It is not physical power though He can exercise that too. It is the authority that is vested in Christ by virtue of the fact that He is the Son of God, a fact that is attested by His bodily resurrection from the tomb (Rom.1:4; Heb. 5:5; Acts 13:33; Ps. 2:7). This power is the basis of the marching orders for the church. Are we marching within the power of the resurrected Christ or in the power of our own strength? Christ and He alone has the power that provides the answer for salvation of all individuals. Is this the power you have trusted in?
“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31). Satan is seeking permission from the Lord to harass the disciples. Satan was asking Jesus for permission to put the disciples through severe test. The god of the world (2 Cor. 4:4) who is the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2) has control over the material, social, political, economic and psychological stimuli by which the Christian is constantly bombarded. Satan is capable of applying severe pressure with the result that the Christian is “sifted” like wheat which is pounded and shaken in a sieve to be separated from the chaff. This passage also proves the superiority of the power of Christ over that of Satan. Satan does not dare touch Peter and the other disciples or Christians without divine permission. In all this we have the power of Christ to overcome the sifting.
“For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies” (2 Thessalonians 3:11). The verb meaning “to conduct one’s self in a disorderly manner” is atakteo. It comes from the verb tasso which is a military term referring to the act of arranging soldiers in military order in the ranks. Atakteo refers to soldiers marching out of the order or quitting the ranks, thus being disorderly. The word therefore means’ “deviating from the prescribed order or rule.” The word is found in the verb form in II Thes. 3:7, as an adejective in I Thes. 5:14 (unruly) and an adverb in II thes. 3:6,11. It is a word picture that can refer to any deviation from the prescribed order or rule of the Christian life. How are we as servants of the Lord marching today? Have we broken rank and deviated from God’s prescribed order for our life?
“Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God…” (Luke 2:28). Eulogeo the verb, eulogetos the adjective, and eulogia, the noun are part of our second word study concerning the word blessed. When man is said to bless God it is an act of speaking well of God, speaking in His favor, extolling Him for what He is and does, it is an act of praising Him, of eulogizing Him. When we bless God it is with exaltation of words. When God blesses man, it is an exaltation by act, that of conferring benefits upon him. When man is said to bless his fellow man (Lk. 6:28), he confers benefits upon him (Rom. 12:14-21), or speaks well as in eulogizing. The word is also used in asking God’s blessings on a thing, praying Him to bless it to one’s use. In Eph. 1:3 it refers to the benefits or favors themselves which are conferred upon man. What is it a person is trying to say when they tell us, “have a blessed day?”
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