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Ephesians 2:10 – Salvation and Works

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Will

Ephesians 2:10 – Salvation and Works

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Truth to Learn

We were saved so that we can do good works.

Behind the Words

The word translated “workmanship” is poiēma, which is derived from the verb poieō, meaning “to make” or “to do.” It literally means “that which has been made” or “that which is done.”

“Created” is from ktidzō, meaning “to create” or “to produce from nothing.” In Homer’s writings it is the verb used to indicate the founding of a city.

The words “good works” are from ergois agathois. Ergois is a form of ergon, which we saw in the previous verse, meaning “any work, deed, act, or action.” Agathois is a form of agathos, meaning “good, benevolent, useful;” in other words, “that which is of good character.”

“Prepared beforehand” is translated from a single Greek word, proetoimadzō. This is a compound word made up of pro, meaning “before, in time or place” and hetoimadzō, meaning “to make ready” or “to prepare.”

“Walk” is translated from peripateō. This is also a compound word composed of peri, meaning “through or around” and pateō, meaning “to walk.” So, literally peripateō means “to walk around” or “to walk through.” It is used metaphorically meaning “to walk through the pathways of life.”

Meaning Explained

In the preceding verses we learned some very important doctrinal truths:

We are saved by the grace of God, which He wants to showcase for all of eternity.
We are saved (declared righteous) through faith.
Our faith and our salvation are a gift of God.
We did not do anything to earn or deserve salvation.

These are such important truths that verses eight and nine are often memorized. The problem with memorizing individual verses is that we often miss what comes immediately before or after them. For instance, most people know John 3:16. Do you know what it says in John 3:15 or John 3:17?

In the preceding verse Paul told us that salvation is not attained by works, lest anyone should boast. God wants to boast about our gracious salvation and He doesn’t want anyone else to be able to. If we did something to earn it, then we could boast, but we didn’t and we can’t. In today’s verse Paul tells us why: we are His workmanship. He did the work of salvation for us!

Then, where do good works come in? Paul says that we are created in Christ Jesus. When we were saved we became a new creation (see 2Corinthians 5:17) and the purpose of that new creation is that we should do good works. Our good works are the evidence that we have become a new creation. That was God’s plan from the beginning; we were saved so that we could walk in good works. That’s precisely what James teaches us in the second chapter of his letter.

Application

We are saved by faith and faith alone? If you’re saved, do your actions give clear evidence of your salvation?

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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Ephesians 2:2 – Who’s Your Master?

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Will

Ephesians 2:2 – Who’s Your Master?

in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Truth to Learn

Christians are no longer under Satan’s authority. We are now in God’s family and under God’s authority.

Behind the Words

“Walked” is translated from the Greek verb peripateō. This is composed of peri, meaning “around” and pateō (based on patos, meaning “a path”), which means “to walk.” Thus, peripateō literally means “to walk around.” Metaphorically it refers to “how one lives one’s life.”

The word “world” is from the Greek noun kosmos, which is indirectly based on the word kolumbos, meaning “to tend or to take care of.” Kosmos refers to “an orderly arrangement” or “a system of order.” As it is used here, kosmos refers to “the system of this world.”

“Prince” is translated from archon, which refers to someone who is “first in authority or power.”

The word “air” is aēr, which refers to “the lower atmosphere” or “the air surrounding the earth.”

The word “disobedience” is translated from the Greek word apeitheia, which is made up of a, meaning “not” and peithō, meaning “to convince or persuade.” Thus, apeitheia refers to those who are not convinced. In other words, it refers to “those who do not believe.”

Meaning Explained

The first two words of this verse, “in which,” are a reference to “trespasses and sins,” mentioned in the previous verse. So, Paul is saying that we Christians used to live our lives in a manner characterized by trespasses and sins. He goes on further to say that we used to live our lives in accordance with the ruler of the power (authority) of the atmosphere. This is a reference to Satan, whom Jesus referred to as “the ruler of this world” (see John 16:11).

But, Paul doesn’t stop there with his description of Satan. He tells us that he is a spirit being who is currently at work in the unsaved people of this world (the sons of disbelief or the sons of disobedience). As a spirit being, Satan is not only the ruler of the world system in which we live, he also has access to the throne room of God in heaven. We know this from the book of Job, where Satan is characterized as appearing before God:

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” (Job 1:6-7)

Satan will continue to have access to Heaven until he is cast out during the seven year tribulation, as described in Revelation chapter twelve.

Application

You were once controlled by your sins and by Satan, but that is no longer true. When you were saved, you were placed into (baptized into) the body of Christ, where Jesus is now your Lord and Master; therefore, you are no longer under Satan’s power and authority. Praise be to God!

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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Romans 13:13 – Light or Dark?

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Will

Romans 13:13 – Light or Dark?

Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.

Truth to Learn

Our words and deeds should show forth the light of Christ.

Behind the Words

The word in the previous verse translated “put on” is enduō, which means “to sink into” or “to put ourselves into.” It is expressed in the middle voice which means that it is something that we must do to ourselves; it is not something that someone else can do for us.

The word “walk” is from peripateō, which literally means “to walk around.” Figuratively, it refers to how a person lives his or her life (walking the road of life).

“Properly” is translated from a form of euschēmōn which is made up of eu, meaning “good or well” and schema, referring to “the external form or condition.” Thus, euschēmōn refers to something that is “well formed” or that has a good external appearance. It is often translated as honorably, decently, or honestly.

“Revelry” is from the Greek word kōmos, referring to conduct involving “feasting, drunkenness, impurity (especially sexual), and gross obscenity.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous two verses Paul told us to wake up and cast-off, or lay-aside, the works of darkness and put on the weapons of our spiritual warfare.

Now, having put on the weapons of our warfare, we should walk properly or honorably, and Paul tells us to do this “as in the day.” A literal translation of this expression would be, “as if in the daytime.” The point he is making is that it is not daylight yet; it is still nighttime and we are surrounded by the works of darkness, but we need to wake up and perform the deeds of righteousness as if we were fully exposed to the world by bright light, knowing that our Lord and His “light” are coming to destroy darkness. That is, we should be behaving as if Christ had already come. The Apostle John recorded a similar message in the following words of our Lord:

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. (John 3:19-21)

Paul now goes on to make a short list of the types of activities that go on in darkness by those who love the darkness. These include partying, drunkenness, lewdness (implying illicit sexual activity), insatiable desire for pleasure, arguing, and jealousy or anger. These are the things that unsaved people do because they don’t have any way of restraining themselves. We, on the other hand, have the Holy Spirit, and we should be beacons in the night showing forth the light of our good deeds as an example of godliness.

Application

Do you yearn for the Light of Life, or do you prefer darkness? Are your words and actions a light to those in darkness around you? Or, do your actions resemble the deeds of darkness?

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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Romans 8:5 – What Do You Think?

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Will

Romans 8:5

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Truth to Learn

What we think about is demonstrated by our actions.

Behind the Words

The words “who live” come from a form of the Greek word eimi. This is the verb of existence or being (I am, you are, he or she is, etc.)

“According to” is the translation of the Greek word kata, which technically means “down” and is often used as an emphatic to intensify the meaning of another word. It is also used metaphorically, as it is here, to express the relation in which one thing stands with respect to another. In such a case it is translated as “in the manner of, according to, or characterized by.”

The phrase “set their minds on” is from phroneō, which means “to think, have a mindset, or be minded.” The activity represented by this word refers to our thought processes and it involves our will, our affections, and out conscience.

Meaning Explained

This verse is an explanation of the last part of the previous verse which said, “… who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” That phrase is a repetition of what we saw in verse 1. In some of the oldest manuscripts, however, this phrase only exists in verse four and not in verse one, so some translations leave it out of verse one. It rightly belongs to verse four, however, and the current verse now explains it.

Paul said that we conduct our manner of life either “according to our flesh” or “according to the Spirit.” So, if we are “walking according to the flesh,” it means that we are walking through life in a manner that is characterized by the things of the flesh. If we are “walking according to the Spirit,” it means that we are walking through life in a manner that is characterized by things of the Spirit of God.

Notice, however, that Paul does not talk about “those who walk” in this verse, but “those who live.” A person’s walk is the outward evidence of how he or she lives his or her life. If we live according to the flesh, then we will walk according to the flesh. But, if we live a life controlled by the Spirit of God, then the way we act will also be controlled by the Spirit.

Now, by way of explaining that phrase further, Paul says that those who walk according to flesh “set their minds on the things of flesh.” That is, those who live according to flesh are continually thinking about fleshly things; their thoughts are about how to please self. Those who live according to the Spirit, however, are continually thinking about spiritual things; their thoughts are about how to please God.

Application

In what realm do you spend most of your time? Do you spend more time thinking about spiritual things and about how you can please God, or do you spend more time thinking about how you can please yourself? In other words, are you living according to the flesh or according to the Spirit? Ouch!

Let us all commit to spending more time thinking spiritual about things and less time thinking about our own desires!

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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Romans 8:1 – No Condemnation

Posted on May 18, 2010 by Will

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Truth to Learn

There is no condemnation declared against born-again Christians; instead, we are declared as righteous.

Behind the Words

This word “condemnation” is an interesting word. The Greek word is katakrima, which means, “the result of a legal judgment in which there is a condemnatory ruling against someone.”

Meaning Explained

In the last verse of chapter seven the Apostle Paul was thanking God for the fact that with his mind he serves the Law of God even though with the flesh he serves the law of sin. He has spent most of the past three chapters discussing the doctrine of justification by grace through faith and then describing the fact that sin has had dominion over us and describing the battle that exists between the sin nature and the intellect.

In this verse he proclaims the great truth about these past three chapters. Even though sin has dominion over us in the flesh, because we have been declared as righteous by God, “There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” Even though our sin nature still causes us to fall and commit sin and, as Paul said back in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death,” he also said in that same verse, “the gift of God is eternal life.” Because God declared us righteous and gave us eternal life, there is no condemnation on us.

Back in chapter four, Paul talked about the fact that righteousness was reckoned, or imputed, to us by grace. This reckoning, or crediting, is a legal term that means that righteousness is declared and placed in one’s account where righteousness did not exist before. Since we have been declared righteous, there can be no condemnatory ruling against us.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Paul completes this verse with a statement of fact, not a condition. He is NOT saying that there is no condemnation to those “who are in Christ Jesus” on the condition that they “do not walk according to the flesh.” He is saying that a characteristic of those who are in Christ Jesus is the fact that they do not walk according to flesh but according to spirit. One of the signs of a true Christian is that they have a manner of life that is characterized by things of the spirit and one that is not characterized by fleshly things.

Application

I have had people ask me, “What do you think about Christians who get saved and then go back to living the same way they did before they got saved?” The only logical answer to this question, according to what Paul has just taught us is, “They never really got saved!” Jesus, during his earthly ministry, taught his disciples, “Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruits, nor can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” (Matthew 7:17, 18)

What does your fruit say about you? Are you in Christ Jesus?

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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Romans 2:23 – Walk the Walk!

Posted on October 5, 2009 by admin

Romans 2:23

You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?

Truth to Learn

Christianity is faith in action, not just good sounding words.

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “boast” is kauchaomai. Some Greek Lexicons indicate that this is derived from auchen, meaning “a neck,” which boastful people hold in a proud manner. The verb kauchaomai means “to boast” used both in a good or bad sense.

“Dishonor” is from atimadzō, which is a compound word made up of the privative a, implying negation or “without” and a form of timē, which means “honor.” Hence, the verb atimadzō means “to dishonor” or “to cause a loss of dignity.”

The word “breaking” is translated from parabasis. This is another compound word which is made up of para, meaning “beside” or “beyond” and a form of bainō, meaning “to go.” Hence, parabasis literally means “to go beyond” or “to transgress.” It expresses the sense of going beyond a limit that has been established by the law. This is different from the word hamartia, typically translated “sin,” which means “to miss the mark.” The difference is that a person can sin without being under an express command or law, but he or she can only transgress (or break) a specific law or set of commands.

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse is very clear and very simple. The Jewish Christians in Rome believed strongly in the Law and even boasted about having received it from God and of knowing it through God’s revelation. This was God honoring … in word! At the same time, by their disobedience of the Law they caused dishonor to God … in deed.

Even today it’s fairly easy to learn the language of the Christian faith and to talk the talk. I’m sure we have all met people who know all the right things to say at all the appropriate times. They can quote Scripture with ease and recite Biblical stories in excruciating detail. They are quick to demonstrate their knowledge with relevant facts and figures. In some cases they may even be teaching a Sunday school class, helping others learn the facts. The problem comes when these people do not demonstrate their knowledge by their actions. They don’t walk the walk. As a result, instead of being a shining example of Christianity in action, they are an embarrassment to those of us who know and love the Savior, and they dishonor the God they claim to serve.

The Apostle John, in teaching what true love is all about, warned us to love in deed, not just in word:

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (1John 3:18)

It’s important to know what the Bible teaches, and it’s particularly refreshing when we meet someone who can make Biblical truths easily understandable. It’s even more important to be a living example of Christianity.

Application

We who have been washed clean by the blood of Christ and who have the entire Bible at our disposal, give worship, praise, and honor to God … in word!

But, do we at the same time by our sinfulness, selfishness, and lack of faith dishonor the God we love … in deed?

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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