blessing – Ministry of Grace Church

Tag: blessing

Romans 15:29 – Blessing Crammed Full

Posted on February 12, 2019 by Will

But I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

Truth to Learn

We serve Christ with His full blessing.

Behind the Words

“I know” is translated from the Greek verb eidō. This particular verb has two meanings depending on the form used. One means “to see or perceive” and the other means “to know.” The form that Paul used here means “to know.” It is in the perfect tense implying past completed action with a continuing result, but with the emphasis on the result. So the best translation of this is probably, “I know” (because I have known for some time).

“Fullness” is from plērōma, derived from the verb plēroō, meaning “to fill completely” or “to cram full until there is no room to add anything more.” Thus, plērōma refers to the complete fullness (nothing left out).

“Blessing” is translated from eulogia, which is a compound word made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and a form of logos, meaning “word.” Thus eulogia (from which we get our English word eulogy) refers to “the good words of a commendation or blessing.”

Meaning Explained

It’s interesting to note that Paul had no doubt that he would be going to Spain and stopping by Rome on the way. He starts off this verse with, “But I know that when I come to you.” You will notice that Paul said, “when I come to you,” not “if I come to you.” He was sure that God was leading him to visit Rome. And, when going to Rome, Paul “knew” that he would come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

Some translations include the phrase “of the Gospel” toward the end of this verse However, these words are missing in most of the major manuscripts. As a result, many textual scholars leave this out in the translation. Here Paul is saying that he will come in the fullness of the blessing, not of the gospel of Christ, but of Christ Himself. There is a blessing that we get from the gospel, particularly because we believe it, and also as we share it. But there is a greater blessing that we get from Christ as our Master, our Savior, our Redeemer, our Advocate before the Father, our Lord, and as our future husband. He is “a friend that sticks closer than a brother,” as Proverbs 18:24 puts it.

As we mentioned in the previous verse, Paul was a driven person. He knew that his calling was to preach the Gospel message to those in the Gentile world who had never heard it. He was duty bound to fulfill his calling, and he would let nothing stop him from accomplishing his task, but he also knew that he was doing so with the full blessing of his Lord and Savior.

Application

We should never get tired of serving God in the area He has called us. We may get tired “in serving” but never “of serving.” When we get weary from performing the work He has called us to, we need to remember that we are doing so in the fullness of Christ’s blessing. Do you want the full blessings of Christ? Then serve Him with all your strength until you have completed the work He has called you to.

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Peter 3:9 – Blessings for Insults

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Will

not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the contrary blessing, because you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

Truth to Learn

The proper response when someone insults you is to bless them.

Behind the Words

The word translated “returning” is the Greek word, apodidantes, which means “to give away” or, as in this case, “to give back.” The notion is that it is not self-initiated action but reaction.

The word “evil” is from kakos, which means “worthless, bad, or evil.”

“Insult” is translated from loidoria, which refers to “insulting language or verbal abuse.”

The expression “on the contrary” is from the Greek word tounantion, which literally means “the opposite.”

The word translated “blessing” comes from our old friend, eulogeo, which literally means “good words.”

“Inherit” is translated from the verb klēronomeō, which is made up of klēros, meaning “a lot” or “a portion” and nemō, meaning “to hold” or “to distribute.” klēronomeō refers to the distribution of an inheritance to those who rightfully deserve it.

Meaning Explained

After telling us how we should behave, Peter now tells us how we shouldn’t behave. Few of us go around looking for people we can do bad things to or people we can cast a vicious insult at. On the other hand, how quickly we seem to react to the pain inflicted by others with a little pain infliction of our own. How effortlessly we can deliver a quick and powerful (and stinging) response to others when we are simply defending ourselves.

However, Peter says we should do just the opposite. We should respond with a blessing when we are insulted or when someone does something bad to us. We should eulogize them, we should respond with kind words (Yeah, right! That’s what I want to do when someone slams me!) The point is, the action we should take is not what we want to do, it is what God tells us to do.

“Why should I say something nice to someone who just did something bad to me?” you may ask. Peter says, in effect, that this is our purpose in life. Unto this we were called. Here’s what the Apostle Paul said to the Christians in Rome:

But whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, those He also justified. And whom He justified, these He also glorified. (Romans 8:39)

Because God chose us and called us, He also declared us as just, or righteous, and in God’s mind at least, He has already glorified us. Because of this calling, however, we are also expected to behave in a certain manner. We were called to inherit a blessing, that is, justification, glorification, and salvation! Therefore, we certainly should return a blessing on those who do bad things to us in light of what God has already done for us and in light of what He is going to do for us.

Application

The next time someone does something bad to you or insults you try saying something nice to them in return. You may be surprised by what happens!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 15:29 – Blessing Crammed Full

Posted on May 27, 2011 by Will

Romans 15:29 – Blessing Crammed Full

But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

Truth to Learn

We serve Christ with His full blessing.

Behind the Words

Meaning Explained

Actually, the Greek words translated “of the Gospel” are missing in most of the major manuscripts. As a result, many textual scholars leave this out in the translation. Hence, this verse should probably say, “And I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.” I like this better that the NKJV translation that we are using for these verses because here Paul is saying that he will come in the fullness of the blessing, not of the gospel of Christ, but of Christ Himself. There is a blessing that we get from the gospel, particularly because we believe it, and also as we share it. But there is a greater blessing that we get from Christ as our Master, our Savior, our Redeemer, our Advocate before the Father, our Lord, and as our future husband. He is “a friend that sticks closer than a brother,” as Proverbs 18:24 puts it.

Application

In God’s service, for His glory,

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

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, send an e-mail to:

1 Peter 3:9 – Blessings for Insults

Posted on January 15, 2009 by admin

1 Peter 3:9

not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

Truth to Learn

The proper response when someone insults you is to bless them.

Behind the Words

The word “evil” is from kakos, which means “worthless, bad, or evil.”

“Reviling” is translated from loidoria, which refers to “insulting language or verbal abuse.”

The expression “on the contrary” is from the Greek word tounantion, which literally means “the opposite.”

The word translated “blessing” comes from our old friend, eulogeo, which literally means “good words.”

Meaning Explained

But whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, those He also justified. And whom He justified, these He also glorified. (Romans 8:39)

Because God chose us and called us, He also declared us as just, or righteous, and in God’s mind at least, He has already glorified us. Because of this calling, however, we are also expected to behave in a certain manner. We were called to inherit a blessing, that is, justification, glorification, and salvation! Therefore, we certainly should, in light of what God has already done for us and in light of what He is going to do for us, return a blessing on those who do bad things to us.

Application

The next time someone does something bad to you or insults you try saying something nice to them in return. You may be surprised by what happens!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, you can call the church phone (618) 614-3070 and leave a message telling us your name and e-mail address or you can send an e-mail to: