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Ephesians 4:5 – More Oneness

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Will

one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

Truth to Learn

There are several aspects of oneness in the church.

Behind the Words

“Lord” is translated from the Greek noun kurios. This word is derived from kuros, meaning “authority” or “supremacy.” The basic meaning of kurios is “owner, master, or lord.” It refers to the person who has absolute ownership rights or full and final authority over another. It is also used as a sign of respect very much like our English “sir” or “mister.”

The word “faith” is translated from pistis. It is derived from the verb peithō, meaning “to win over, to persuade, or to convince.” Pistis refers to a firmly held conviction. Subjectively it refers to belief or faith in something. Objectively it refers to that which is believed.

“Baptism” is not a translation but a transliteration (a word of one language spelled with the letters of another language) from the Greek word baptisma. This Greek word is based on the verb baptō, meaning “to dip, to dunk, or to place into.” The ma ending indicates the result of the action.

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul has been challenging us to work hard at promoting unity within the church. He is now giving us a number of examples of the existence of the unity which characterize the church. Previously, he said there is only one body of Christ, there is only one Holy Spirit empowering the church, and there is a single hope (eternal bliss in God’s presence) that all Christians expect at the end of this life.

Now he gives us three more unifying characteristics of the church. The first of these is that we all have the same Lord. All members of the church have the same owner and supreme authority governing their lives. And there is only one God. When asked by one of the scribes what the first commandment is, Jesus responded:

… "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. (Mark 12:29)

Since we all have the same master, and He is not divided, but one, we are all members of the same household.

The second thing we are told here is that there is only one faith. Not only did we all have to exercise the same faith in order to be saved, we all have the same object of our faith, the sacrificial death of Jesus as payment for our sins.

The third thing mentioned in today’s verse is one baptism. The baptism referred to here could be the water baptism that we submitted ourselves to as a testimony of our saving faith in Jesus Christ. However, it is more likely that Paul is referring to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is not referring to the supernatural enabling with special gifts, for that is not the meaning of the word “baptism.” Paul explains this Holy Spirit baptism to the Corinthians this way:

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body… (1Corinthians 12:13a)

At the moment we believed, each one of us was “placed into” the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. That’s Spirit baptism.

Application

Since all Christians have the same owner, have the same saving faith, and were all placed into the same body by the Holy Spirit, we should all strive for unity of purpose and peace.

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 1:2 – Grace and Peace

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Will

Ephesians 1:2 – Grace and Peace

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Truth to Learn

Paul prays for God to show His grace to us and grant us peace.

Behind the Words

The word translated “Grace” is charis, which is derived from the verb chairō, meaning “to rejoice.” Charis refers to “favor, good will, or kindness, especially that which causes joy and gratification.”

“Peace” is translated from eirēnē, which means “peace or tranquility.” It is a state in which there is no perceived threat or cause for worry present.

“Lord” is from the Greek word kurios, which is derived from the noun kuron, meaning “might” or “power.” Thus, kurios refers to the one possessing might or power; that is, it refers to “one who is supreme in authority” or “one’s owner.”

Meaning Explained

This verse, which expresses the Apostle Paul’s natural tenderness toward those whom he loves, is sort of like the calm before the storm. Whereas the first two or three verses in this chapter seem like drinking from a peaceful babbling brook, what comes after these verses may seem like trying to drink from a fire hose.

Though part of the salutation of the letter, this verse actually expresses a prayer from the apostle. Since Paul spent three years with the Christians in Ephesus, he developed a close relationship with, and fondness for, them. His first expression of fondness is that he prays for grace for them. Christians often think of grace as “unmerited favor,” which it surely is when used in reference to the grace that God has shown to us in granting us the righteousness of Christ and eternal life through Him. But, since Paul is addressing this letter to Christians who already know the grace of God with regard to salvation, this is a different flavor of grace. This is living grace, the favor and good will from God that brings gratification and joy to the everyday lives of Christians.

In addition to grace, Paul prays for peace to be bestowed on all who read this letter. Throughout the years, from the first century until now, faithful Christians have enjoyed periods of peace as well as periods of persecution. Paul is well aware of the trials and troubles that we will encounter throughout our journey on this earth and expresses this prayer for peace even when we are in the midst of such troubles.

He recognizes and tells us not only the source of grace and peace, but the mediator through whom these are passed on to us. Though there are three persons in the Godhead who are each one completely God, there is a hierarchy that the three persons have agreed on. The Father is the first person of the three. The Son (the Lord Jesus Christ) is the second person of the three and is voluntarily submitted to the authority of the Father. And, the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead who is voluntarily submitted to the authority of both the Father and the Son. Paul tells us here that grace and peace are from our Father and from (or through) our Lord Jesus Christ.

Application

Do you know the peace of God that surpasses all our understanding (Philippians 4:7)? Are you experiencing His grace in your life? Are you fully submitted to His will?

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Romans 16:24 – Precious, Sacred, and True

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Will

Romans 16:24– Precious, Sacred, and True

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Truth to Learn

We have the genuine Word of God.

Behind the Words

“Grace” is translated from charis. This is the noun form of the verb chairō, meaning “to be full of cheer” or “to rejoice.” The noun form, charis, means “joy, pleasure, or gratification as a result of an undeserved kindness granted.” In other words, it refers to “an undeserved or unmerited favor done without expectation of anything done in return.” It is sometimes described as “unmerited favor.”

The word “Lord” is from the Greek noun kurios, which is derived from the noun kuron, meaning “might” or “power.” Thus, kurios refers to the one possessing might or power; that is, it refers to “a master or owner.”

“Jesus” is transliterated (spelling a word of one language with the letters of another language) from the Greek Iēsous, which is in turn transliterated from the Hebrew Yēshū’a, or Joshua, meaning “Jehovah is help” or “Jehovah saves.”

“Christ” is the transliteration of the Greek word christos, which is derived from the verb chriō, meaning “to anoint.” Therefore, christos means “anointed one.” This is the equivalent of the Hebrew word Māshīach, or Messiah.

The word “amen” is transliterated from the Greek word amēn, which in turn is transliterated from the Hebrew ‘āmēn. It literally means “to be firm, steady, or trustworthy.” The Greek word is sometimes translated as “verily” or “truly.” Because we almost always end a prayer with amen, we tend to think of it as meaning “the end” but this is not the proper meaning of the word. At the end of a prayer, it is more appropriately equated to “it is truth” or “it is so.”

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse is almost exactly the same as the second half of verse twenty, except that the word “all” has been inserted. Some of the major Greek manuscripts do not include this verse, so it is omitted in some translations. However, it is included in this translation so let’s look at it briefly.

According to his second letter to the Thessalonians, this is an expression that Paul uses to mark the genuineness of his letter:

The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (2Thssalonians 3:17-18)

In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul alludes to a forged letter from him (2Thessalonians 2:2), so he may have used this valediction to assure them that it was truly from him. Thus, we see this expression in various forms in 1Corinthians 16:23, 2Corinthians 8:9, Galatians 6:18, Philippians 4:23, 1Thessalonians 5:28, 2Thessalonians 3:18, 1Timothy 1:14, and Philemon 1:25.

As to why it is included in both verses twenty and twenty-four we can only speculate. Perhaps the first was written by his penman and this one was written by Paul himself.

Application

We are so privileged to have God’s truth presented to us in a single book, a book that we know to be genuine. We should treat it as precious, honor it as sacred, and follow it as God’s Holy Word. Amen.

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Romans 14:4 – Household Rule

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Will

Romans 14:4 – Household Rule

Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

Truth to Learn

Chastening fellow Christians is God’s responsibility, not ours.

Behind the Words

“Servant” is translated from the Greek word oiketēs, which is derived from oikeō, meaning “to reside or to dwell.” Oiketēs refers to someone who resides, that is, a fellow resident. It is the word that was used to describe a household servant, typically one who was paid for their labors.

The word “master” is from the Greek word kurios, which means “one who is supreme in authority” or “one’s owner.”

“Able” is from the noun dunatos (the word from which we get our English word dynamite). It refers to “power, authority, or ability.”

Meaning Explained

This is one of those verses that none of us wants to have explained to us because we are all guilty of what Paul is correcting here. For centuries the Jews had been the keepers of God’s revelation to man (see Romans 3:1, 2); therefore they felt like it was their duty to enlighten others regarding how they were violating God’s laws. According to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, however, within the body of Christ the Law has been abolished and Jews and Gentiles are one and the same.

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. (Ephesians 2:14-16)

Regardless of our backgrounds, all Christians are of the household of our Master and we are all his servants. We have no right to judge how obedient another servant is to our Master. That is a matter which is strictly up to our Master. When we confess that Jesus is our Lord, we are saying that we accept the fact that He is our owner and the supreme authority over us, and as our supreme authority we are committed to obeying Him in whatever He asks of us.

Now, there certainly are some things that we are supposed to judge about others. We are to judge whether or not a person is genuinely saved before admitting him or her into our fellowship and we are to judge them, and lovingly confront them, if they are blatantly living in sin. As to less weighty matters of obedience to our Lord and Master, it is up to God to judge, admonish, and chasten His servant-children, not us.

Application

As a result of what we have learned in this verse, I have a two-part question for you. Are you judgmental regarding your brothers and sisters in Christ, and are you submitted to your Lord and committed to obeying Him completely regardless of how other members of the household are behaving? If the answer to the first part is “Yes,” then the answer to the second part is most definitely “No.” If we are totally submitted to our Master, then we will be loving toward our brothers and sisters, not judgmental. That’s what our Master wants from us!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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

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Romans 5:21 – Eternal – Death or Life

Posted on February 24, 2010 by Will

Romans 5:21

so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Truth to Learn

Even though we were ruled over by sin in the past, God’s grace will reign over us because of the righteousness that He imputes to us when we submit to Him as our Lord.

Behind the Words

The words “reigned” and “might reign” are translated from basileuō, meaning “to reign” or “to be king” as we saw back in verse fourteen. The verb forms in this verse are very telling. “Reigned” is in the aorist, active, indicative indicating a past action occurring at a point in time. Hence, it could be translated as “began to reign” or “reigned” as we have it in this translation. However, “might reign” is an aorist, active, subjunctive, which implies something that is not necessarily occurring at the moment but that might occur in the future.

“Eternal” is translated from the Greek word aiōnios, which is from aiōn, meaning “an age” or “a long period of time.” Hence, aiōnios means “perpetual, everlasting, or eternal.

The word translated “Lord” is kurios, which comes from the noun kuros, meaning “might or power.” The word kurios means “one who is supreme in authority or power, a master, or an owner.” When we refer to Jesus Christ as our Lord we are saying that he is our owner, the one who has supreme authority over all that we do and that we have submitted our will to His.

Meaning Explained

Paul now ties-up the entire chapter in this one verse. Previously Paul taught us that the Law came in to make the presence of sin much more evident. It was the spotlight that made sin undeniable. And he said that where sin was more apparent, grace was even more so. That is, as the knowledge of sin became greater, the recognition of the immenseness of the grace became even greater. To use a military analogy, the greater and more powerful the enemy, the greater is the reputation of the army that conquers that enemy.

Paul now makes the final comparison. On the one hand, sin has reigned unbeatable in the past, producing death. From 2Thessalonians we know that this death is everlasting:

… and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)

But in the final showdown, grace will defeat the enemy. It will reign over death and through righteousness (imputed by that grace) it will produce in us eternal life. This grace which allows righteousness to be imputed to us is only made possible through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Application

Thank you, Heavenly Father for helping me see my sinfulness and for your gracious gift, the blood of your only begotten son that paid for my sins. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the promise of eternal life rather than the eternal punishment that I deserve. Truly, you are worthy of my worship and my praise! You are my Owner, my Master, and my Lord, and I willingly submit my will to yours. Amen.

In God’s service, for His glory,

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

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