commandment – Ministry of Grace Church

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Romans 7:12 – The Holy Law

Posted on February 21, 2018 by Will

So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good.

Truth to Learn

The Law and its commandments are holy, but we are sinful.

Behind the Words

“Law” is translated from the Greek word nomos, which we saw in the last chapter is the noun form of the verb nemō, meaning “to divide among” or “to parcel out.” Therefore nomos refers to that which has been parceled out, which someone has in his or her possession. It is also used to refer to a body of regulations that have been delivered or parceled out, such as the Law of Moses.

This word translated “holy” is hagios. Its fundamental meaning is “set apart from common use to the service of Deity” or “sharing in God's purity and abstaining from earth's defilement.” That which is separated unto God is free from any tainting of sin. It is pure and it is spotless. It is holy!

“Commandment” is from entolē, which comes from the verb entellomai, meaning “to give a charge or a command.” Therefore we see that entolē means “a charge, a precept, or commandment.”

The word translated “just” is dikaios, which means “that which is righteous” or “that which is just.”

“Good” is from the Greek word agathos, which means “good and benevolent, profitable, or useful.”

Meaning Explained

Back in verse seven Paul asked the rhetorical question, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin?” Since that verse he has been showing us why the law is not the culprit; rather it is our sin nature that is the cause of our sinfulness. The law simply causes our sin nature to be empowered. Paul now tells us very clearly that the Law is good but it was not provided to purify the heart of fallen man. Its tendency is to increase guilt, shame, and despair. In other words, man cannot obtain righteousness by obeying the law because the law, by exciting our fallen nature, actually increases our sinfulness.

The Law, says Paul, is holy. It is pure and it is spotless. Paul also says that the commandment is holy. So, what’s the difference between the law and the commandment? The easiest way to distinguish them is to recognize that the law is made up of many commandments. Paul’s point here is that not only is the law as a whole holy and good, but even down to the individual commandments it is holy and just and good.

We cannot blame the law or any one of the commandments for our sins, but the very presence of the law causes our sinfulness to be exceedingly sinful. In fact, we cannot blame anyone else for our sinfulness. We are guilty of our own sins and the Law does not remove that guilt, it increases it.

Application

Do you feel weighed down by guilt over the sins that you have committed? Do you feel guilty because you don’t keep the Law or obey God all the time, or act out of selfish motives? Remember, only the grace of God, through the blood of Jesus Christ, can take away the guilt! Confess your sins and lay them at the foot of the cross.

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 4:2 – God, our Father

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Will

for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Truth to Learn

Christians are God’s children, not just His subjects.

Behind the Words

“You know” is translated from the verb eido, which means “to see with perception.” As in English, this verb can refer to visibly seeing something and perceiving what it is, or it can mean “to see with the mind,” that is, “to know.”

The word “commandments” is from the Greek noun parangelia. This word is made up of para, meaning “to the side of” and a form of angellō, meaning “to deliver a message.” The picture is of a soldier passing on a message to the soldier beside him. In the strictest sense, parangelia refers to a command or an order given by a superior to those under him.

The words “we gave” are from the verb didōmi, meaning “to give of one’s one accord.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicating an action completed sometime in the past..

Meaning Explained

In yesterday’s verse, we noted that Paul has now switched from a message of comfort and encouragement to doctrinal teaching. Many Christians today bristle at the word “doctrine.” They see doctrine as cold, dogmatic, restrictive rules that are hard to follow and, quite honestly, are no fun at all. If we approach Christianity from a legalistic viewpoint, that’s what doctrine often becomes. Doctrine, however, simply means “teaching.” The things that your church teaches you are the doctrine of the church.

The problem with most legalistic doctrine is that it teaches us “rules” instead of principles. It teaches us that our relationship with God is strictly one of Master/slave. “Now that you are a Christian, you must follow these rules!” Don’t get me wrong, God is our Lord and Master, and a fulfilled Christian life must be based on our complete submission to His will. However, our relationship to God is much more than simply being His slave (although we are His slaves). He has extended that relationship because He has adopted us into His family and calls us His children. This is a significant distinction between Christianity and religion. In addition to being His servants, we are God’s children and He is our loving Father.

The Apostle Paul frequently uses the metaphor of “walking the pathway of life” in depicting our life as a Christian. He often pictures God as our guide or coach, advising us in which pathways to take and which to avoid. He sometimes pictures God as our rescuer who saves us when we take a wrong path and get mired in the muck of sin. He also pictures God as our Commander in Chief, who prepares us for those times when our enemy attacks. But more than anything, Paul pictures God as our Father, who is all of these things and so much more.

Our Heavenly Father knows us more deeply than we know ourselves and, in spite of what we see in ourselves, He loves us with an everlasting love. His love is so great that he sacrificed His only begotten Son so that we can have a Father/child relationship with Him. But God did not send his Son only to die for our sins, He also sent Jesus to teach us about the Father/child relationship He wants to have with us. Paul is about to teach us this doctrine from our Master/Teacher Jesus.

Application

As you walk the pathway of this life, keep in mind that God wants you to walk with Him instead of wandering off on your own. He wants to demonstrate Himself as our loving Father and have us respond as His beloved children. He wants obedience from you, but He also wants a relationship with you, because He loves you!

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 6:2 – Honor Your Parents

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Will

“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise:

Truth to Learn

We should all give our parents honor and respect.

Behind the Words

Timaō is the Greek verb translated as “honor.” Timaō literally means “to place a high value on something.” It can refer to giving something a very high price, or it can refer to giving someone honor, respect, or reverence because of their great value as a person.

“Father” is from patēr. This is a primary word which refers to a father, either literally or figuratively.

“Mother” is translated from matēr, which is also a primary word. It refers either literally or figuratively to a mother.

The word translated “first” is protos, meaning “first in place, time, order, or importance.”

The word “commandment” is from entolē, which refers to “an authoritative edict.” Throughout the New Testament it is the word used to refer to one or more of the Ten Commandments.

“Promise” is translated from epangelia. This is a legal term referring to “a summons or promise to do or give something.”

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul has extended his teaching beyond how we are to relate to each other within the family of God (the church) to how we are to relate to each other within our individual families. In yesterday’s verse we were told that all children (young or old) are to obey their parents. The reason that Paul gave us is that it is the right (the proper) thing to do. In today’s verse he builds on that idea. He points out that one of the Ten Commandments specifically addressed this situation. It is the fifth commandment:

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12)

“But Paul says that it is the first commandment,” you may say. Actually, what he says is that it is the first commandment that has a promise. If you carefully read through the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17, you will notice that the second commandment has a general declaration attached to it, but not a promise. The fifth commandment is the only one that has a promise associated with it. The first four of the commandments are specifically aimed at our relationship with God. The fifth commandment is a pivotal command which shows that there is an order of authority under God and the following commandments teach how we are to behave in our human relationships.

Before leaving this verse let me point out that Paul is not teaching that we are still under the Law of Moses. He focused specifically on our freedom from the law in his letter to the Galatians. However, the precepts given in the Ten Commandments are important. So much so, in fact, that all but the fourth commandment (to keep the Sabbath) are repeated in one form or another in the New Testament.

Application

We should all treat our parents with respect and honor. This is particularly true as our parents get older and need our special attention and care. Honor your parents and give God the glory!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 4:2 – God, our Father

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Will

for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Truth to Learn

Christians are God’s children, not just His subjects.

Behind the Words

The words “we gave” are from the verb didōmi, meaning “to give of one’s one accord.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicating past, completed action.

Meaning Explained

The problem with most legalistic doctrine is that it teaches us “rules” instead of principles. It teaches us that our relationship with God is strictly one of Master/slave. “Now that you are a Christian, you must follow these rules!” Don’t get me wrong, God is our Lord and Master, and a fulfilled Christian life must be based on our complete submission to His will. However, our relationship to God is much more than simply being His slave. He has adopted us into His family and calls us His children. This is a significant distinction between Christianity and religion. We are God’s children and He is our loving Father.

Application

As you walk the pathway of life, keep in mind that God wants you to walk with Him instead of wandering off on your own. And, He wants a relationship with you because He loves you!

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 6:2 – Honor Your Parents

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Will

"Honor your father and mother;" which is the first commandment with promise:

Truth to Learn

We should all give our parents honor and respect.

Behind the Words

“Father” is from patēr. This is a primary word which refers to a father, either literally or figuratively.

“Mother” is translated from matēr, which is also a primary word. It refers either literally or figuratively to a mother.

The word translated “first” is protos, meaning “first in place, time, order, or importance.”

The word “commandment” is from entolē, which refers to “an authoritative edict.” Throughout the New Testament it is the word used to refer to one or more of the Ten Commandments.

“Promise” is translated from epangelia. This is a legal term referring to “a summons or promise to do or give something.”

Meaning Explained

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12)

Application

We should all treat our parents with respect and honor. This is particularly true as our parents get older and need our special attention and care. Honor your parents and give God the glory!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 7:13 – Sinfulness Revealed

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Will

Romans 7:13

Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.

Truth to Learn

The Law reveals our sinfulness to the fullest extent.

Behind the Words

The word translated “appear” is phainō, which is from the noun phos, meaning “to shine” or “to make apparent.” Phainō means “to illuminate,” “to become visibly apparent,” or “to reveal.”

“Producing” is from katergadzomai, which we saw back in verse eight means, “to carry out a task until it is completely finished.” It is expressed in this verse as a participle, so it could be translated, “is completely accomplishing in me.”

The word “exceedingly” is from huperbolē, which is made up of huper (or hyper), meaning “above” and a form of ballō, meaning “to throw.” So it literally means “to throw above” or “to throw beyond.” Metaphorically, it means “to surpass” or “to be excessive.” From this we get our English word hyperbole, meaning “an extravagant exaggeration.”

Meaning Explained

Anticipating another objection, Paul now asks another of his rhetorical questions. The objection is this, “Is it possible that what is admitted to be good and pure (the law), might be changed into evil?” Paul’s response to his rhetorical question is the now familiar, me genoito, that is, “No way!”

This next sentence is very confusing to read in most translations. Let me take the liberty of making a couple of minor alterations to the translation so that it might appear to us more clearly what Paul is saying:

But sin, so that it might be made apparent as sin, is completely accomplishing death in me through that which is good (the law); so that sin might become exceedingly sinful, and this because of the commandment.

Do you see what Paul is saying? The law has not become death to us, but it has caused sin to be revealed as it truly is, very sinful, and it is the sin which causes death.

There was a comedian some years back by the name of Flip Wilson whose most famous line was, “The devil made me do it!” Well, if Flip had been around in Paul’s day he probably would have said, “The Law made me do it!” That is precisely what Paul is arguing against. The law does not make us sin, but it does cause sin to be exposed for what it really is so that we are without any excuse whatsoever.

So we can’t blame the law for our sinfulness. We have to take full responsibility for our own sin. Then we return to 1 John 1:9. Do you remember what that verse says?

Application

It is relatively easy for each of us to excuse our own sinfulness for a variety of reasons. But the Law makes our sinfulness so apparent that we no longer have any grounds for denying it. Recognizing and admitting our own sinfulness is the first step in recognizing our need for salvation from the penalty of sin.

Praise be to God for His mercy and His grace!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Romans 7:12 – The Holy Law

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Will

Romans 7:12

Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.

Truth to Learn

The Law and its commandments are holy, but we are sinful.

Behind the Words

This word translated “holy” is hagios. Its fundamental meaning is “set apart from common use to the service of Deity” or “sharing in God’s purity and abstaining from earth’s defilement.” That which is separated unto God is free from any tainting of sin. It is pure and it is spotless. It is holy!

The word translated “just” is dikaios, which means “that which is righteous” or “that which is just.”

“Good” is from the Greek word agathos, which means “good and benevolent, profitable, or useful.”

Meaning Explained

Application

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Romans 7:10 – The Deadly Law

Posted on April 22, 2010 by Will

Romans 7:10

And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.

Truth to Learn

The Law is supposed to bring life, but it only brings death.

Behind the Words

The word translated “found” is heuriskō, which means “to find, by having searched or without searching. Metaphorically, it means “to find out by inquiry, to learn, or to discover.”

Meaning Explained

As we said in the previous verse, Paul believed himself to be righteous until the Law stirred up in him all manner of sinfulness, showing him how unrighteous he really was. He now claims that the original purpose of the Law was to bring life, but instead it brought death. The reason he claims that the original purpose of the Law was to bring life can be seen in several Old Testament passages:

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the LORD your God. According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 18:1-5)

And

And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments,”which, if a man does, he shall live by them.” (Ezekiel 20:11)

And

The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. (Ezekiel 18:20, 21)

But, instead of obtaining life from the Law, Paul discovered that it caused him to have all sorts of sinful impulses that he couldn’t resist, thus causing death in him. His conclusion is that the Law, which is supposed to bring life, only brings death.

Application

Now, lest you think that you and Paul are the only two people on earth who have ever had this frustrating experience, let me assure you that all Christians have this constant battle with sin. The ungodly don’t have this battle because they don’t know the Law (God’s expectation) and they don’t care. But you and I do know what God expects from us, and we know just as well that we can’t possible live up to His expectations.

That’s where grace comes in! That’s why God sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross, that whoever believes on Him should have all of his or her sins (past, present, and future) forgiven and receive everlasting life. And, God gladly did this because He loves you!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Romans 7:9 – Understanding Produces Guilt

Posted on April 21, 2010 by Will

Romans 7:9

I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.

Truth to Learn

Without an understanding of what sin is, we feel innocent of it, but when we understand what it is, we realize our guilt.

Behind the Words

The word translated “alive” is dzaō, which means “to have life.” In early Greek writings this word was rarely used except in the present or past imperfect tense (I am alive or I was alive). For the other tenses, the verb bioō was used. This verb means “to spend one’s existence or to pass one’s life.” It is from this verb that we derive our English word “biography,” the narrative of how one spent his life.

The word “without” is translated from the adverb chōris, which means “separately or apart from.”

“Revived” is from the Greek word anadzaō, which is made up of ana, meaning “again” and dzaō, which we just saw means “to have life.” Hence, anadzaō means “to have life again” or “to come back to life.”

Meaning Explained

This is another difficult verse, perhaps the most difficult so far because it is not clear what Paul means by the two expressions, “I was alive” and “I died.” There has been much discussion amongst Biblical scholars throughout the ages, but there is little consensus other than this: When Paul claims to have been alive, he must mean that he had a certain kind of peace, he felt innocent and secure, and he was free from the convictions of his conscience. That is, he believed himself to be righteous. When he says that he died, therefore, it must mean the opposite to his being alive. In other words sin reigned, producing its condemning effects leading to guilt and misery.

So, what Paul is telling us in this verse comes from personal experience. There was a time when he felt confident in his own righteousness. But as he learned more about the Law, he discovered how much of a sinner he really was, and the effect was that he no longer believed himself to be righteous. In other words, he realized that he was a sinner under God’s condemnation.

This, I believe, is the first step towards salvation and a victorious Christian life for all of us. Unless and until we realize that we are not righteous, that we are sinful and lost, we cannot be saved. Once we realize our own depravity, however, we need to discover what it is that will take that depravity and its guilt away, and only the blood of Jesus Christ can accomplish this. Therefore, realizing that we are a sinner and in need of salvation, we find that the only way to receive forgiveness is to humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God and ask Him to forgive us. Then, we learn that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin, and all we have to do is to accept his payment for our sin to be saved.

Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, He was buried as proof of His death, and He rose again as proof of His righteousness.

Application

Do you believe that you are a sinner in need of salvation? Do you believe that Christ died to pay the penalty for your sins?

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Romans 7:8 – A Sinful Product

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Will

Romans 7:8

But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.

Truth to Learn

The Law does not prevent sin, it produces sin.

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “taking opportunity” is aphormē, which means “an occasion, an opportunity, or casual circumstance producing a tendency toward something else.” In this verse it means that sin took the opportunity to produce lust. This word, aphormē, is an aorist participle which means the action took place before the main verb (produced). Or, to put it another way, sin used the commandment as an opportunity to then produce lust in Paul.

The word translated as “produced” is katergadzomai, which means not just simply to work on something but, “to carry out a task until it is completely finished.”

Meaning Explained

What Paul is telling us is that before the Law was declared, there was no sinful lust. Then the Tenth Commandment was declared:

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s

As soon as the Tenth Commandment took effect, sin took this commandment and accomplished sinful lust in man’s heart, and he suddenly lusted after the very things that the law said we should not lust after.

Paul goes on to say that “apart from the law,” in other words, when the law and sin were separated from each other, “sin was dead.” It’s very much like two siblings who are constantly fighting but as soon as you separate them from each other the fighting stops, it dies. Thus, Paul says that before the law was declared, it and sin were separated and sin was dead. But as soon as the law was declared, sin took the occasion of the presence of the law to completely work out sinful desires within man.

Adam and Eve are a good example of this. When they were first put in the garden, it was not wrong for them to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and they apparently had no particular desire for the fruit of that tree. But, as soon as God told Adam that they were not to eat of that tree, that’s when they both desired to eat of it, and their satisfying of that desire produced sin.

Did you ever wonder why, as a child when your mother baked cookies and put them in the cookie jar saying not to touch them until after dinner, all you could think about was sneaking into the kitchen to steal a cookie from the cookie jar?

That’s precisely the process that this verse is talking about!

Application

Now we can begin to see why obedience to the Law does not produce righteousness. The very declaration of the Law produces the desire to break it, and so we do!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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