delivered – Ministry of Grace Church

Tag: delivered

Romans 15:31 – Fearful or Following?

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Will

that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my ministry for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,

Truth to Learn

Following God is more important than personal safety.

Behind the Words

The word translated “delivered” is rhuomai, meaning “to snatch from danger, to rescue, or to deliver.”

“Acceptable” is from the Greek word euprosdechomai, a double compound word made up of eu, meaning “good or well,” pros, meaning “unto or toward,” and dechomai, meaning “to accept or receive.” Thus, it means “well received.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul urgently requested the Christians in Rome to join him in fervent, heartfelt prayer, striving against the forces of Paul’s opposition. If you or I were asking for prayer in this situation, we most certainly would ask for deliverance from the persecution that was surely coming. The Apostle Paul also wanted to be delivered from trouble, because he was concerned that the disbelieving Jews in Judea might try to do him harm. Clearly, Paul had good reason to believe this. Throughout his journeys to spread the gospel he was repeatedly accosted, thrown in jail, and even stoned. On his third missionary journey, about the time that he was writing this letter, Paul was planning to return to Judea by way of Syria but someone discovered a plot among the Jews:

Now passing through that region and having encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. (Acts 20:2-3)

As he continued on this journey to Jerusalem, Paul stopped and invited the leaders of the church in Ephesus to come and meet with him. He shared with them the many trials that he had endured for the sake of the Gospel and told them that he had received repeated indications from the Spirit of God that chains and tribulations awaited him in Jerusalem.

And see, now I go bound by the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. (Acts 20: 22, 23)

He knew that something bad was going to happen to him in Jerusalem and yet he felt bound by the Spirit of God to go there anyway. And, although Paul wanted to be delivered from personal harm, that was not his primary concern. He wanted to deliver the gift to the converted Jewish saints in Jerusalem and he wanted that gift to be well received. He knew that trouble from the Jewish unbelievers might take away from the joy and gratitude of those receiving the gift he was bringing.

Once again, we see that Paul’s focus was on his ministry, not on his personal situation. He was so intent on delivering the gift to those in need that he gave little thought for what might happen to him in Jerusalem

Application

Paul was more interested in serving God than in saving his own skin. If we are focused on serving God when and where He calls us, personal concerns take a back seat. I wonder – if you knew that following God’s calling for your life would mean personal harm, would you still do it? Think about that!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 8:32 – All Things Given

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Will

Indeed, He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things?

Truth to Learn

God has freely given us the payment for our sins and has also freely given us everything we need to be godly people.

Behind the Words

The word “spare” is translated from pheidomai, which means “to spare” or “to treat leniently.” God was not lenient toward His Son, but gave Him to suffer for you and me.

“Delivered” is translated from paradidōmi, which is made up of para, meaning “beside, to the side of, or over to” and didōmi, meaning “to give.” Hence, it means “to give over to” or “to surrender to.”

The word translated “freely give” is charidzomai, which means “to willingly bestow an undeserved favor.” This same word is translated “having forgiven you” in Colossians 2:13.

Meaning Explained

Paul has just declared, “If God is for us, who is against us?” We know from other passages of Scripture that God is Almighty, that is, All Powerful. No one is more powerful than God (our father is stronger than their father). But, just because He can do anything to protect us and defend us doesn’t mean that He will make our lives one of ease and prosperity. In fact, because He is an all-knowing God, He knows what things will make us most Christ-like. He knows that times of trial and difficulties in our lives will make us stronger. That’s precisely the issue that Paul is addressing in this verse.

God the Father, did not spare His only Son, Jesus. In fact, God the Father, sent His only Son to live a perfect life and then freely offered that life as a substitutionary sacrifice to pay for your sins and mine. He permitted His precious Son to be subjected to one of the most cruel and painful tortures ever invented by the sin-sick minds of man. Then, once our sins were paid for, He then declared us to be righteous and adopted us as His children. That has been His plan since before time began and nothing can alter that plan.

So, Paul’s point in this verse is very simple; if God is willing to offer up His only Son so that He could adopt us as His children as well, He must really love us. And if He loves us this much, surely He will freely give us all that we need, or as Paul put it; “how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things?”

But what does Paul mean by “all things?” The Apostle Peter gives us the answer to that question in his second general epistle to the church:

His divine power has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the full knowledge of him who called us through glory and worthiness. (2Peter 1:3)

Thus we see that in addition to giving the life of His Son to pay the penalty that we can’t pay ourselves, God gives us everything we need to live full lives as godly people.

Application

Not only is our Father the strongest around, He loves us more than we can comprehend! And, now that you know that you have everything you need to live a godly life, what are you going to do about it?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 8:21 – Curse Begone

Posted on April 10, 2018 by Will

Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption unto the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Truth to Learn

The curse on God’s creation will be lifted when we are glorified as the children of God.

Behind the Words

“Delivered” is translated from eleutheroō, which is the verb form of the noun eleutheros, meaning “free to move about, unrestrained, or independent.”

The word “corruption” is from phthora, which refers to “decay” or “spoiling.”

“Into” is from the Greek word eis. This preposition is most often translated “into” but it can have a lot of nuance translations as well. When this word is used in relation to time, it can be translated as “unto” or as “in expectation of.” This is very likely the use of the word in today’s verse.

Meaning Explained

We recently learned that the whole of creation was placed in a state or condition where it is not fully useful; it is perishable, and it is decaying. We also learned that God subjected creation in hope. This hope is explained in today’s verse.

Paul tells us that the reason creation was subjected “in hope” is because creation will be set free from this bondage of decay at the glorious freedom of the children of God. In other words, when God completes the final judgment and we who are saved are all given our eternal bodies, all of creation will also be freed from the bondage of corruption and it will be re-created. Here’s how the Apostle John described it in the book of Revelation:

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." (Revelation 21:1-5a)

I am eagerly looking forward to that day when all sin and all sinners will have been judged and the current heavens and earth are no more, when the new heavens and the new earth have been created and we will spend eternity in peace and joy (in Matthew 25:21, 23 it’s called the joy of the Lord). There, in God’s new creation which will have been freed from the bondage of decay, we will be serving and praising God eternally, for He is worthy!

Application

When you see corruption and decay all around, don’t despair. Some day in the not too distant future God will give His children glorified bodies, and He will recreate the heavens and earth as a perfect place for us to serve Him!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 4:25 – Resurrection Justification

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Will

who was delivered for of our transgressions, and was raised for our justification.

Truth to Learn

Salvation is only through faith in the sacrificial death and bodily resurrection of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

Behind the Words

The word “transgressions” is from paraptōma, which is derived from parapiptō, meaning “to fall by the side” or “to slip-up.”

“Justification” is from the word dikaiōsis, from the verb dikaioō, which means “to justify” or “to declare righteous.”

Meaning Explained

Abraham believed that God would raise up a son from the deadness of his own body and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. Abraham also believed that God would raise Isaac again from the dead after he was to offer him as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah (see Genesis 22:1-19). In the same way we are to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that he will raise us from the dead unto eternal life. Though it is different subject matter in each case, it is still faith that God responds to with His declaration of righteousness.

We are not to believe in just anything. It’s not just blind faith in “a deity” or simply believing that there is a God. In order for us to be declared righteous by God, we have to believe in what He tells us about ourselves and about Jesus. We are sinners, and we deserve the punishment of Hell for our sins; therefore, we need salvation that we can’t provide for ourselves. The worst part of the punishment of Hell is not the torment of the fire; rather, it is the separation from God, the inability to fellowship with Him, the fact that He has sentenced us to a place of loneliness and emptiness. That’s the real agony Hell induces.

As Paul states in this verse, Jesus was delivered for our transgressions. Jesus took on our transgressions and suffered our punishment for us. We must believe this. While Jesus was hanging on the cross, there was darkness for three hours. Toward the end of this time of darkness, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Why? It was during these three hours that Jesus was separated from God the Father for the only time ever. It was during this time that Jesus suffered the loneliness of Hell for us. It was during this time that He suffered in our place and paid the penalty for our sins!

Paul then states that He was raised for our justification. We are justified because Jesus was raised from the dead by the power of God. This is according to His promise just as Isaac was raised from the deadness of Abraham and of Sarah’s womb, and Isaac would have been raised from the dead if Abraham had been allowed to sacrifice him on Mount Moriah. Because we believe in the resurrection of Christ and believe God’s promise that He will raise us up to eternal life, He has imputed righteousness to us and has given us the seal of the Holy Spirit to keep until He fulfills His promise.

Application

Paul has been teaching us that eternally secure salvation is by the grace of God through faith and faith alone. Hallelujah!

In God's service, for His glory,

2 Thessalonians 3:2 – Protect The Messengers

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Will

and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

Truth to Learn

Those who deliver the gospel message need God’s protection.

Behind the Words

“We may be delivered” is translated from the Greek verb rhuomai. This word is derived from rhuō, meaning “to drag along the ground.” Rhuomai means “to draw out” or “to snatch from danger.” It is most often translated as “to rescue” or “to deliver.” It is expressed here in the subjunctive mood, indicating possibility or probability.

The Greek word translated “unreasonable” is atopos. This is made up of the privative a, meaning “not” or “without” and topos, meaning “a place.” So, atopos literally means “out of place” or “without a place.” Figuratively, this word means “improper, unreasonable, or hurtful.”

Ponēros is the Greek word translated “wicked.” It refers to “evil in a moral or spiritual sense.” It is usually translated as “bad, evil, or wicked.”

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul is in the middle of a prayer request to the people of the church in Thessalonica. In the previous verse he asked that they pray for swift movement of the word of the Lord. It was Paul’s desire to see the gospel spread all over the world; his hope and his prayer were that it would move swiftly from one place to the next.

Now Paul requests that he and his co-workers be delivered from (protected from) those who are opposed to the gospel message. He refers to them as unreasonable, or hurtful, and as wicked, or evil. From the time that Paul first landed in Macedonia (in Philippi) he preached the gospel and was opposed by non-believing Jews. In Philippi he and Silas (Sylvanus) were thrown in jail. When they moved on to Thessalonica, they were again persecuted by the non-believing Jews. Having secretly left Thessalonica by night, they went to Berea. But when the Jews of Thessalonica heard that Paul was in Berea, they went after him there and stirred up the people against him. So Paul headed to Athens and then to Corinth, from where he wrote this letter. He remained there at least a year and a half. While in Corinth, however, Paul was brought before the judgment seat of the proconsul Gallio. There the Jews accused him of persuading people to worship God contrary to the law, but the case was dismissed even before Paul had a chance to speak. (Read Acts chapters 16 – 18.)

Wherever Paul went, two things regularly happened: he preached the gospel to anyone who would listen, and he was opposed by those who didn’t believe his message. Instead of keeping silent to protect himself, Paul preached the word boldly and asked believers to pray for his safety and protection from those who opposed the gospel message.

Application

All around the world we are seeing more and more opposition to the true gospel message. We see churches, where the truth of God has been watered down, growing and prospering. But those that remain faithful to the fundamental truths of the Bible are finding it more and more difficult to survive. Around the world, Christians are more frequently becoming the targets of violence. We all need to be praying for each other that we will be strong and that God will continue to protect us as we deliver the most important message to those who need it most.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 15:31 – Fearful or Following?

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Will

Romans 15:31 – Fearful or Following?

that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,

Truth to Learn

Following God is more important than personal safety.

Behind the Words

The word translated “delivered” is rhuomai, meaning “to snatch from danger, to rescue, or to deliver.”

Meaning Explained

Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. (Acts 20:2-3)

And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. (Acts 20: 22, 23)

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:

Romans 8:32 – All Things Given

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Will

Romans 8:32 – All Things Given

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Truth to Learn

God has freely given us the payment for our sins and has also freely given us everything we need to be godly people.

Behind the Words

The word “spare” is translated from pheidomai, which means “to spare” or “to treat leniently.” God was not lenient toward His Son, but gave Him to suffer for you and me.

The word translated “freely give” is charidzomai, which means “to willingly bestow an undeserved favor.” This same word is translated “having forgiven you” in Colossians 2:13.

Meaning Explained

Paul has just declared, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” We know from other passages of Scripture that God is Almighty, that is, All Powerful. No one is more powerful than God (our father is stronger than their father). But, just because He can do anything to protect us and defend us doesn’t mean that He will make our lives one of ease and prosperity. In fact, because He is an all-knowing God, He knows what things will make us most Christ-like. He knows that times of trial and difficulties in our lives will make us stronger. That’s precisely the issue that Paul is addressing in this verse.

But what does Paul mean by “all things?” The Apostle Peter gives us the answer to that question in his second general epistle to the church:

as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, (2Peter 1:3)

Thus we see that in addition to giving the life of His Son to pay the penalty that we can’t pay ourselves, God gives us everything we need to live full lives as godly people.

Application

Not only is our Father the strongest around, He loves us more than we can comprehend! And, now that you know that you have everything you need to live a godly life, what are you going to do about it?

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:

Romans 8:21 – Curse Go Bye-Bye

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Will

Romans 8:21 – Curse Go Bye-Bye

because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Truth to Learn

The curse on God’s creation will be lifted when we are glorified as the children of God.

Behind the Words

“Delivered” is translated from eleutheroō, which is the verb form of the noun eleutheros, meaning “free to move about, unrestrained, or independent.”

The word “corruption” is from phthora, which refers to “decay” or “spoiling.”

Meaning Explained

Paul tells us that the reason creation was subjected “in hope” is because creation will be set free from this bondage of decay at the glorious liberty of the children of God. In other words, when God completes the final judgment and we who are saved are all given our eternal bodies, all of creation will also be freed from the bondage of corruption and it will be re-created. Here’s how the Apostle John described it in the book of Revelation:

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:1-5a)

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:

Romans 7:6 – Free to Serve

Posted on April 18, 2010 by Will

Romans 7:6

But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

Truth to Learn

We are free to serve God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Behind the Words

The word translated “delivered” is katargeō, which is made up of kata, meaning “down” but used here as an intensifier and argeō, which means “to be idle or inactive.” Katargeō, therefore, means “to become completely ineffective” or “to cease being effective.” As Paul used it here it means “we have been completely set free from the effect of the Law.”

“Held by” is from a form of katechō, which is also a compound word. This one is made up of kata, meaning “down” and echō, meaning “to have” or “to hold.” Thus we see that katechō literally means “to be held down.” It is a picture of someone who he being held down on the ground so that they are powerless to do anything.

Meaning Explained

In the previous two chapters Paul has spent considerable time and energy pointing out two things. The first is, before we were saved we were slaves to sin because of the Law. The second is, when we were saved, our sin nature was put to death. That is, we died with Christ. As he has just shown in the past few verses, death releases us from the requirements of the Law. Therefore, this verse is the culmination and summation of the results of these things.

Since we are dead with respect to the Law, like the wife who is free to marry after her husband has died, we are no longer under the dictates of the Law and are free to serve God. We are no longer held down by the Law. We are free from it! Let me say that again. We are free from the Law!

We do not have to keep the Ten Commandments or any other part of the Law in order to be righteous in God’s eyes. In fact, you will remember that Paul told us that we couldn’t obtain righteousness by keeping the Law anyway because no one (except Christ) is able to keep all the Law.

The second half of this verse is really a key statement and I don’t want any of us to miss it. We have been set free from the law to “serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.” In other words, before we were saved by grace, we were unable to keep the Law and, therefore, could not serve God because the letter of the Law made us sinful and abhorrent to God. But … now that we have been set free from the Law we can serve God in a way that we never could have before – in the spirit of righteousness. That is, since we are righteous in God’s eyes now, He will allow us to serve Him. We have spiritual life which we owe entirely to God. Therefore we should gladly serve Him with the life that He has given us.

Application

When we were saved we were set free from the penalty of our sins. We were also set free from the requirements of the Law and have become free to serve God through the power of the Holy Spirit. Are you serving God right now? If you are, are you doing so out of obligation or are you serving Him out of gratitude for what He has done for you? We should rejoice in our service for Him because we have been set free from bondage to the Law!

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: