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Romans 15:18 – Give Him Credit

Posted on January 21, 2019 by Will

For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, in word and deed, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles.

Truth to Learn

God gets all the credit for what is accomplished through us.

Behind the Words

The word “dare” is translated from talmaō, meaning “to have courage or boldness, to dare.”

“Obedience” is translated from the Greek noun hupakoē, which is made up of hupo, meaning “under” and akouō, meaning “to hear.” So, literally this word means “to hear under,” that is, “someone who listens attentively to what is being taught and puts into practice what is heard.”

Meaning Explained

Paul has just talked about the things that he can boast about in Christ Jesus. He does not dare, or presume, to speak of those things which Christ had done through the ministry of others. He only concerns himself with the way the Lord had used him to win the Gentiles to obedience, both through what he said and through what he did, by the messages he preached and by the miracles he performed (through the Holy Spirit).

Notice that Paul is not boasting about what he personally has done but what God has done through the ministry he has been called to. If he had anything to boast about personally it would be the fact that he responded to God’s call, made himself available to God, and worked long and hard at the tasks that God called him to do. But Paul does not brag about what he has done, simply about what God has done through him. Paul recognizes that he has done nothing; God has done it all.

We could all take a lesson from Paul on this point. We tend to get puffed up about the things that we have accomplished in our ministry, not recognizing that God is the one who deserves credit for it all. One day all Christians will stand before the judgment seat of Christ:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or evil. (2Corinthians 5:10)

Our rewards will be in the form of crowns that we will receive for the good things we have done for God in this life. We will then have the opportunity to cast those crowns at His feet in recognition of the fact that He is the one deserving of the recognition, not us:

the twenty-four elders [representing all believers] will fall down before the one sitting on the throne and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will throw their crowns before the throne, saying: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created." (Revelation 4:10-11)

Application

Since we will give all the credit to God someday, let’s get in the habit now of giving Him all the credit for what we have accomplished. Our Christian works of service are all about Him, not about us. After all, He is worthy!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 5:7 – Unreasonable Sacrifice

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Will

For hardly for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

Truth to Learn

It’s not reasonable that anyone would die for us.

Behind the Words

The word “hardly” is translated from the Greek word molis. It is derived from mōlos, which refers to “the pain produced by hard labor.” Hence, molis refers to something that is painful or difficult. As used in this verse it is often translated as “hardly, or scarcely.”

“Righteous man” is translated from dikios, meaning “one who always does what is right in God’s eyes.”

“Perhaps” is from the Greek word tacha, meaning “probably, possibly, or perhaps.”

The word translated “good man” is the Greek word agathos, meaning “someone possessing general goodness or benevolence.” This word refers to someone who has a reputation for doing good things to and for others.

“Dare” is from the Greek talma, meaning “courage, boldness, or confidence to do something.” It is often used in a negative sense such as, “they did not dare oppose him.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we learned that it was while we were without the ability to do anything for our own justification that Christ died for us. I like the way Matthew Henry put it in his Commentary on the Whole Bible:

He died for the ungodly; not only helpless creatures, and therefore likely to perish, but guilty sinful creatures, and therefore deserving to perish

In this verse Paul is telling us why it is so amazing that Christ would die for us. The Jews made a three-fold division of mankind around the notions of goodness and righteousness:

A righteous person was one who adhered strictly to the Law of Moses and always did what was demanded of him or her; a person who was respected and looked up to.
A good person was someone who went beyond a strict adherence to the Law. In addition to being righteous, this person was liberal in giving to others, full of love and compassion. This type of person was not only respected but admired by all.
A sinner was one who was ungodly and wicked; one who had no regard for godliness or for others.

Paul tells us that it is unlikely that anyone would be willing to give up his own life for someone else, even though that person might be outwardly religious. He goes on to say that it is possible that someone would be willing to give up his life for a good person; someone who in not only outwardly religious but kind, benevolent, and generous. The implication is that it is highly unlikely that anyone would be willing to die for sinful scumbags like you and me.

Application

Christ died for us when we were condemned and powerless to do anything about it. We were, in fact, neither good nor righteous. Do you realize how worthless, helpless, and condemned we are without Christ? Let’s all take a moment to thank God for His great love with which He loves us!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 15:18 – Give Him Credit

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Will

Romans 15:18 – Give Him Credit

For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient—

Truth to Learn

God gets all the credit for what is accomplished through us.

Behind the Words

The word “dare” is translated from talmaō, meaning “to have courage or boldness, to dare.”

“Obedient” is translated from the Greek noun hupakoē, which is made up of hupo, meaning “under” and akouō, meaning “to hear.” So, literally this word means “to hear under,” that is, “someone who listens attentively to what is being taught and puts into practice what is heard.”

Meaning Explained

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2Corinthians 5:10)

the twenty-four elders [representing all believers] fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4:10-11)

Application

In God’s service, for His glory,

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

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Romans 5:7 – Unreasonable Sacrifice

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Will

Romans 5:7

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

Truth to Learn

It’s not reasonable that anyone would die for us.

Behind the Words

The word “scarcely” is translated from the Greek word molis. It is derived from mōlos, which refers to “the pain produced by hard labor.” Hence, molis refers to something that is painful or difficult. As used in this verse it is often translated as “hardly, or scarcely.”

“Righteous man” is translated from dikios, meaning “one who always does what is right in God’s eyes.”

“Perhaps” is from the Greek word tacha, meaning “probably, possibly, or perhaps.”

“Dare” is from the Greek talma, meaning “courage, boldness, or confidence to do something.” It is often used in a negative sense such as, “they did not dare oppose him.”

Meaning Explained

He died for the ungodly; not only helpless creatures, and therefore likely to perish, but guilty sinful creatures, and therefore deserving to perish

In this verse Paul is telling us why it is so amazing that Christ would die for us. The Jews made a three-fold division of mankind around the notions of goodness and righteousness:

· A righteous person was one who adhered strictly to the Law of Moses and always did what was demanded of him or her; a person who was respected and looked up to.

· A good person was someone who went beyond a strict adherence to the Law. In addition to being righteous, this person was liberal in giving to others, full of love and compassion. This type of person was not only respected but admired by all.

· A sinner was one who was ungodly and wicked; one who had no regard for godliness or for others.

Application

In God’s service, for His glory,

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

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