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Romans 4:21 – Timeless Performance

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Will

Romans 4:21

and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

Truth to Learn

God’s ability to keep His promises never changes.

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “being fully convinced” is plērophoreō, which is a compound made up of plerēs, meaning “full,” and a form of phoreō, which means “to fill.” Hence, in its root meaning this word implies that something is “fully filled” or “completely full.” By implication it means “to fulfill, to thoroughly accomplish, or to be completely convinced.” In this case it means that Abraham’s faith was as complete and solid as humanly possible. There was no room for doubt.

“Able” is translated from dunatos, which is the noun form of the verb dunamai, meaning “to be strong” or “to be able;” that is, to have the power to do something. Hence, dunatos means “having the power or ability.”

The word translated “is” is the verb eimi, which is the verb of being (“to be”). It is expressed here in the present tense, active voice, indicative mood which implies current action. In other words, it should be translated “He is.”

“Perform” is from the Greek verb poieō, meaning “to make” or “to do.”

Meaning Explained

You will recall that in the previous verse we noted Abraham’s faith was consistent and strong (not wavering at all) and his faith glorified God. This verse adds some further definition to that faith which Abraham had. The first thing that Paul says in this verse is that Abraham was fully convinced. This is another way of saying that he had no doubts at all. This may sound like a repetition of what was said in the previous verse, but there is a subtle difference. Not only was Abraham’s faith not wavering (growing stronger and weaker over time), but it was as fully filled-up as it could possibly be.

The thing that Abraham was fully convinced about was that God is able to do what He had promised (that Abraham would be the father of many nations). You will notice that I said “is able to do” not “was able to do.” As noted in “Behind the Words,” the form of this verb indicates current action (He is able to do). So what’s the significance of this? It is as significant as what Jesus said when He was discussing with the Jews about what it really means to be a son of Abraham. When the Jews asked Him if He was greater than Abraham, He said:

Truly, truly, I say to you, Before Abraham was, I AM! (John 8:58)

He did not say “before Abraham was, I was” because Jesus, being God, is eternal. He never ceases to exist and, in fact, He exists simultaneously at all points in time past, present, and future. Likewise in the verse we are looking at today, the Apostle Paul says, “what He had promised, He is also able to perform.”

Application

God’s ability to perform his promise to Abraham, and His ability to fulfill the promises that He makes to us today through his Word, never ceases to exist. He is always able to fulfill them. In other words, His power and His commitment to us are eternal and they never change. Hallelujah!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Romans 4:20 – Wait Training

Posted on January 19, 2010 by Will

Romans 4:20

He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,

Truth to Learn

While waiting for God to fulfill His promise, Abraham’s faith got stronger, and he gave glory to God.

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “waver” is diakrinō. This word is made up of dia, meaning “through,” though it is occasionally used to indicate “separation” and krinō, meaning “to distinguish, to judge, or to decide.” So, diakrinō in the passive voice, as it is used in this verse, implies being separated from oneself or to be in strife with oneself. Hence it is often translated as “to doubt, to hesitate, or to waver.” This is the sense in which this word is used in today’s verse.

“Unbelief” is translated from apistia, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “not” or “without” and a form of pistis, meaning “a conviction or belief in a truth.” Hence, apistia refers to “the lack of faith or lack of belief.”

The word “strengthened” is from the Greek word endunamoō, which is made up of en, meaning “in” and dunamoō (from which we get our English word dynamite), meaning “to strengthen or to empower.” Therefore, endunamoō means “to make strong or vigorous” or “to strengthen.”

“Glory” is translated from the Greek word doxan, which primarily means “thought or opinion, especially favorable human opinion,” and thus in a secondary sense it means reputation, praise, honor.

Meaning Explained

This verse simply summarizes what has been said about Abraham in the previous few verses. In spite of his having to wait 20 years, Abraham did not stagger in his faith. The Greek actually says that “he did not waver in unbelief regarding God’s promise.” His faith was so sure and so strong that his faith did not weaken over time, and he apparently never doubted God once he accepted and believed the promise God made to him regarding his descendants.

I find the next phrase quite interesting. Paul says, “but (he) was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.” If we look at Abraham’s life we see that he had many direct interactions with God. In each case he learned a little bit more about God, and each situation served to reaffirm his belief in God and in His promise to Abraham. So, instead of Abraham’s faith getting weaker over the course of time as he waited for God to fulfill His promise, his faith was unwavering and it actually was strengthened. As a result of his strengthening faith, Abraham gave glory to God. Do you see what that says? Abraham’s strong, unwavering faith actually enabled him to give glory to God while he waited. In a similar way, when we believe God’s promise and act on faith, we give honor to God. Also, as we learn to depend on God’s promises, which we must accept by faith alone, we become a testimony to his greatness.

Application

Are you going through a time of testing? Does God seem to be ignoring your prayers? If you remain firm in your faith and wait patiently for God, your faith will be strengthened and in time you will be able to praise God and give Him glory. Time won’t make your faith weaker, it will make it stronger!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Romans 4:16 – Foundational Promises

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Will

Romans 4:16

Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

Truth to Learn

God’s promises to you are there for you to build on.

Behind the Words

The word translated “sure” is bebaios, which means “fixed, sure, or certain.” Figuratively it refers to that upon which one may build, rely, or trust. In the New Testament it is never used of people, only objects or ideas.

Meaning Explained

This verse starts off with a connecting clause, “Therefore it is of faith …” The natural question is, “What is of faith?” By backtracking over the previous verses we see that this clause refers to verse 13 which reads:

For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:13)

Therefore, Paul is saying that righteousness is the result of faith, according to God’s gracious gift and not the result of works. The point we made several verses ago was that Abraham was declared righteous as a result of his believing God’s promise regarding his future son. God’s declaration of Abraham’s righteousness occurred a number of years before Abraham obediently circumcised himself and his household. Therefore it can’t have been because of works of obedience, it must be the result of faith.

Now, Paul reiterates the statement that he has made in the past couple of verses, that since Abraham was declared righteous as a result of faith, he has become the father figure to all who believe. He says in today’s verse that the promise was made sure to all Abraham’s seed, whether they are children of his flesh or children (through faith) by his example. The promise is not conditional, it is not partial, and it is not questionable. It is sure and firm just like a building’s foundation.

Application

Where are you putting your confidence? Are you still trying to keep all the rules and ordinances of your church in order to please God? Or, do you trust in God’s promises for your eternal future? In order to trust in the promises, you have to know what those promises are, and in order to know what those promises are you have to read the Bible, repeatedly and consistently.

Let me encourage you to set aside one half hour every day whether at the beginning of the day, in the middle of the day, or at the end of the day. It doesn’t matter when it is, as long as you are consistent about it. In the first 20 minutes, read your Bible and in the other 10 minutes pray about what you just read. If you don’t know where to begin reading, I would suggest that you start with 1st John (the 5^th from the last book in the Bible) or perhaps the book of James or one of the Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John).

Try it for a week and see if you don’t begin to feel like God is actually talking directly to you as you read. The more you read your Bible, the better you will understand God’s message for you and His promises to you.

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Romans 4:14 – Precious Promise

Posted on January 7, 2010 by Will

Romans 4:14

For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect,

Truth to Learn

Righteousness comes either by faith or by works, not both.

Behind the Words

The word translated “void” is kenoō, which means “to make empty, to neutralize, or to make false.” It is expressed here in the passive voice indicating what is done to faith.

“Made of no effect” is translated from the Greek word katargeō. This is made up of kata, used as an intensifier and argeō, meaning “to be idle.” Hence it means “to render totally inactive, to be completely idle, or to become absolutely useless.” It is expressed here in the passive voice indicating what is done to the promise.

Meaning Explained

Paul now argues the other side of the fence. Having shown that it is through faith that God reckons righteousness, he now makes a counter statement regarding righteousness through obedience.

He says that if righteousness, being an heir of the world (which was promised to Abraham), is achieved by obedience (obeying the law or any other set of rules), then nothing is accomplished by faith, and God’s promise is useless. After all, what value is there in a promised gift to someone if someone else can attain the same thing by working for it?

Do you understand? What value is there in a promise regarding any unearned future gift if that same thing can be earned? Paul says it makes faith “void.” That is, faith would become void of any meaning, hollow, and empty if righteousness can be earned by works. Not only that, but Paul says that the promise that God made to Abraham would be “of no effect.” It would become absolutely useless and serve no purpose at all.

What Paul is demonstrating is how righteousness by faith and righteousness by obedience are complete opposites. You can’t have both and you can’t have a combination of the two, it has to be one or the other. Either a person is made righteous by obedience or he is made righteous by faith. This is particularly significant when you consider what Paul told us previously:

As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10-12)

Faith is a matter of believing, while obedience to the law is a matter of doing. Since none of us is righteous based on our doing (works), our only hope for righteousness (and salvation) is through faith. This renders that righteousness very precious because it can’t be earned; it can only be given to us:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (Ephesians 2:8)

Let’s thank God for this precious righteousness by faith!

Application

If you believe that Christ’s death on the cross paid for your sins, then God has declared you to be righteous; you are saved from your sins. How precious does that salvation feel now?

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Romans 4:13 – Promise Received through Faith

Posted on January 6, 2010 by Will

Romans 4:13

For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Truth to Learn

God’s promise of salvation is based on faith, not obedience.

Behind the Words

The word translated “promise” is epangelia, which is made up of epi, used as an intensifier, and angelō, meaning “to tell” or “to declare.” Hence, epangelia refers to “a message, a summons, or a promise.”

“Heir” is from the Greek word klēronomos, which is made up of klēros, meaning “a lot” or “a die” and a form of nemō, meaning “to have in one’s possession” or “to distribute.” This word is a reference to the person who possesses the right to receive an inheritance.

Meaning Explained

Paul is covering all the bases, making sure that the Christians in Rome who are predominantly Jewish have no way to twist what he is saying into anything resembling “righteousness through obedience.” This verse says something a little bit different from what we found back in verse 10. That verse had to do with righteousness being imputed as a result of faith. This verse is talking about the promises that God made to Abraham. These promises include:

· Gen 12:2 – that God would make of Abraham a great nation

· Gen 12:3 – that in him all the families of the earth should be blessed

· Gen 15:5 – that his descendents should be as numerous as the stars

· Gen 17:5 – that he should be the father of many nations

It is probably this last promise to which Paul is specifically referring when he says that “… he would be the heir of the world.”

His point is that this promise was made to Abraham through the righteousness that comes from faith, not from obedience to the Law. In fact, if you read the Old Testament carefully you will discover that the Law of Moses came some 300 years after Abraham died. Hence, not only was he declared righteous through faith (just as we are declared righteous by faith) but the great promises that were made to Abraham (like the promises that are made to us) were given to him in faith, not obedience. That is, Abraham didn’t have to be obedient in order to receive the promises, he simply had to believe.

In a similar manner, the promises made to us concerning our salvation are not dependent on us being obedient before or after we are saved, they are based solely on our “once for all time” saving faith. In other words, there is no sin that we can commit that will prevent God’s promises from being fulfilled if we have truly accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!

These promises are based on faith, not obedience! Hallelujah!

Application

Perhaps you are convinced now that you can’t earn your salvation. But do you realize that you can’t keep your salvation (receive God’s promise to you) by obedience either?

In God’s service, for His glory,

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2 Peter 3:13 – Righteous Heaven & Earth

Posted on June 30, 2009 by admin

2 Peter 3:13

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

Truth to Learn

After God’s fiery judgment there will be a new heaven and a new earth where only the righteous will live.

Behind the Words

The word “promise” is translated from epangelma, a form of epangellō, which is made up of epi, an intensifier and angellō, meaning “to announce, proclaim, or declare.” The suffix –ma indicates it is the result of epangellō. Hence, this could be interpreted as “a sure announcement or proclamation.”

Meaning Explained

Peter has just told us about the next judgment of the earth and its inhabitants by fire. This judgment will completely destroy the entire universe as we know it. He now tells us not to become too upset over the loss of the heavens and the earth because God is going to fulfill his declaration of a new heaven and a new earth as proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah:

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth. And the things before will not be remembered, nor come to mind. (Isaiah 65:17)

These new heavens and new earth will be different from the current heavens and earth in that, according to Peter, in them righteousness will dwell. In other words, only the righteous will occupy the new heavens and the new earth. All others will have been cast into the lake of fire for eternity.

Some esteemed Biblical scholars have speculated that the new heavens and the new earth will simply be “renovated” and somehow changed just as they were in the flood judgment. However, according to Revelation:

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (Revelation 20:10)

If there was found “no place for them” then they could not exist, otherwise they would be some place. In effect, what the Apostle John is saying in this passage is that they were nowhere to be found; that is, they no longer existed. He goes on to say:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away (Revelation 21:1)

This new heaven and new earth are not simply a remake of the current heavens and earth because they will have passed away. The new heaven and new earth will be created out of nothing just as the current heavens and earth were created out of nothing.

Why is Peter telling us this right now? So that we can rest assured that God has completely thought out His plan and He will execute it in perfect harmony with all of His promises, whether the scoffers believe it or not.

Application

Therefore, first of all, we should be thankful for the salvation that we have (including a hope for a future), and secondly we should be obedient to this Almighty God who has made such great and precious promises to us.

In God’s service, for His glory,

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2 Peter 2:19 – Corrupt Slaves

Posted on June 1, 2009 by admin

2 Peter 2:19

They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

Truth to Learn

That which you are committed to and controlled by is your master and you are its slave.

Behind the Words

This word “freedom” is translated from the Greek word, eleutherio which means “freedom or independence.”

“Slaves” is translated from doulos, which refers to “a slave, one who is in a relation of servitude to another, his will being altogether consumed in the will of the master.”

The word translated “depravity” is phthora, meaning “decay, spoilage, corruption, ruin, or wasting away.”

Meaning Explained

Peter now continues his description of the messages that these false teachers proclaim. In the previous verse we talked about the fact that these messages were well crafted messages, like orchestrations, that were intended to lure the people through the lusts of their flesh. The people who had come out of churches which preached a false message were then entrapped by these well crafted messages of these false teachers.

Peter now says that these messages contained promises of freedom. That’s what many people want to hear, freedom from worry and independence from guilt. They want freedom from the rules of a righteous God and independence to make one’s own decisions. They want free will without guilt. Unfortunately, true freedom only comes from submission and dependence (on the grace and mercy of God) but that’s not the message that was being preached to these people.

Why? Because the teachers are themselves slaves to the corruption of their own selfish desires. They are literally incapable of preaching the message of peace through the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross, because they are themselves slaves to sin. And, Peter says, anyone who has been overcome by something or someone else is a slave to that which has overcome them. These false teachers have been overcome by their own selfish motives and have become enslaved by them. Hence, they are not able to see the truth, let alone preach it to others.

Here’s the message that we all need to take from today’s verse. If we want to be an effective witness for God then we have to be slaves to God (His personal servants). We have to proclaim His message and we have to do it His way. Anything else is selfish ambition and cannot possibly portray the truth. This applies to both teacher and disciple. In order to effectively teach or to effectively learn we must be submitted and committed to God and God alone.

Application

Peter doesn’t sugar coat it and neither will I. So let’s be completely honest with ourselves and answer the following two questions.

Who are you committed to, God, or your own selfish desires?

What are you submitted to, the will of God, or your own will?

I think it’s time for all of us to pray!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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