Tag: desires

Ephesians 2:3 – Wrath Avoidance

Posted on by Will

among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Truth to Learn

Before we were saved we were destined for God’s wrath.

 

Behind the Words

The word “among” is translated from the Greek preposition en, meaning “in” or “among.”

“Conducted” is from the verb anastrephō. This is made up of ana, meaning “again” and strephō, meaning “to turn.” So, literally it means “to turn again.” When used of a person it is a metaphor meaning “to live one’s life.”

Epithumia is the Greek word translated “lusts.” It is made up of epi, meaning “over” or “above” and a form of thumos, which refers to “a passion or desire of the mind.” Thus, epithumia refers to “overly strong desires.”

The word “doing” is from the Greek verb poieō, meaning “to make” or “to do.” It is expressed here as a present participle, so it means “doing.”

“Desires” is translated from thelēma which refers to “an act of determination.” So, it really means more than “desires.” It means “those things which we decided to do.”

“Flesh” is from sarx, which literally refers to “the meat or flesh of a living creature.” This word is commonly used to refer to the physical part of our existence as opposed to the spiritual part.

The word “mind” is translated from dianoia which refers to “deep thought” or “imagination.”

“Nature” is from the Greek word phusis, which is derived from the noun phuō, meaning “to bring forth in birth.” It is used here as a metonym in reference to our natural inclination.

The word “wrath” is translated from orgē, which means “desire, strong emotion, anger, or wrath.”

“Others” is from the Greek word loipos, which is from the verb leipō, meaning “to lack” or “to leave something where it is.” In other words, it refers to “that which is left.” So, it could be translated as “the remainder” or “the others.”

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul told us that before we became Christians we lived according to the ways of the world system in which we live. Our behavior was influenced by Satan who controls those who don’t believe in Christ.

What he tells us in today’s verse is that we used to live our lives controlled by the lusts of our flesh. Another way of saying this is that we used to be controlled by our sin nature. In the book of Romans, Paul calls it our “old man,” and he tells us that we used to be the slaves of sin:

knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be nullified, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (Romans 6:6)

Because we were controlled by our fleshly desires and our imagination, Paul says we were children of wrath just like the rest of unsaved humanity. What he means is that before we were saved, we were God’s enemies and subject to his wrath. Some Christians think of God as a vengeful God, waiting for us to slip up so He can punish us. Other Christians don’t like to think of God as vengeful and exhibiting wrath; they like to think of God as a God of love. He is both. Those who receive Jesus Christ will one day experience God’s love completely, whereas those who reject Jesus Christ will one day experience the full fury of God’s wrath.

… And He treads the winepress of the wine of the anger and wrath of Almighty God. (Revelation 19:15c)

 

Application

As a Christian you still have a sin nature, but you don’t have to be controlled by it. Instead, you can submit your will to God and allow the Holy Spirit to control your life.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 1:14 – Temptation’s Source

Posted on by Will

But each one is tempted by his own desires, being drawn away and enticed by them.

Truth to Learn

We may want to blame someone or something else for our sinfulness, but each of us is to blame for our own sin.

Behind the Words

James tells us that each and every one of us is tempted, not by God, but by his (or her) own “desires.” This is translated from the Greek work epithumia which is made up of epi, which means “above or over” (as in epidermis) and thumia, which means “the mind.” What this word represents is overly strong desires of the mind. It is often translated as “lusts.”

The words “drawn away” are from the Greek word exelkō. This is made up of ex meaning “out of” or “away from” and helkō, meaning “to drag” or “to draw.” This word was used by Jesus in John 6:44 where He said that the Father draws men to Him. Hence, this word means to be pulled away or drawn away.

The word translated “enticed” is deleadzō, from the noun delear which means “bait.” And what is the purpose of bait on the end of a hook? It is to entice and entrap a fish. Metaphorically, this word means “to trick or entice.”

In the previous verse we noted that the word “by” was translated from apo, referring to source rather than agency. In this verse the word “by” is translated from hupo which indicates agency. In other words, our overly strong desires are the very things (the agency) which cause us to be tempted.

Meaning Explained

When we sin, we have no one to blame but ourselves. We cannot claim the old Flip Wilson line, “The devil made me do it!” And we cannot blame our parents, or the way we were raised. The sin comes from within and it can only be taken care of from without; that is, by the blood of Christ. He is the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

We all have desires and they are necessary for sustaining life. We have the desire to eat, we have the desire to rest when we are tired, we have sexual desire, we have the desire to achieve, and many others. All of these are good and necessary in the proper balance. It is when any one of these becomes too great, even uncontrollable, that we get tempted to sin.

This is not to say that Satan and his fallen angels have no part in our temptation. In both Matthew 4:3 and 1Thessalinians 3:5 we find that our adversary is referred to as “the tempter.” The world system, which he controls, is made up of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16).

No matter who or what the source of our temptations may be, James is telling us that the agency of our temptation is our own desires which we allow to get out of control. When this happens, those lusts draw us from God’s way and entrap us in our own selfish ways.

Application

We all sin. It’s a fact of life. None of us has complete control of our fleshly desires. But we do have a Savior who did not sin and who gave His life to pay for ours. Let us thank our God for the blood of Christ and for the faith to believe in Him.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 1:14 – Temptation’s Source

Posted on by Will

But each one is tempted by his own desires, being drawn away and enticed by them.

Truth to Learn

We may want to blame someone or something else for our sinfulness, but each of us is to blame for our own sin.

Behind the Words

James tells us that each and every one of us is tempted, not by God, but by his (or her) own “desires.” This is translated from the Greek work epithumia which is made up of epi, which means “above or over” (as in epidermis) and thumia, which means “the mind.” What this word represents is overly strong desires of the mind. It is often translated as “lusts.”

The words “drawn away” are from the Greek word exelkō. This is made up of ex meaning “out of” or “away from” and helkō, meaning “to drag” or “to draw.” This word was used by Jesus in John 6:44 where He said that the Father draws men to Him. Hence, this word means to be pulled away or drawn away.

The word translated “enticed” is deleadzō, from the noun delear which means “bait.” And what is the purpose of bait on the end of a hook? It is to entice and entrap a fish. Metaphorically, this word means “to trick or entice.”

In the previous verse we noted that the word “by” was translated from apo, referring to source rather than agency. In this verse the word “by” is translated from hupo which indicates agency. In other words, our overly strong desires are the very things (the agency) which cause us to be tempted.

Meaning Explained

When we sin, we have no one to blame but ourselves. We cannot claim the old Flip Wilson line, “The devil made me do it!” And we cannot blame our parents, or the way we were raised. The sin comes from within and it can only be taken care of from without; that is, by the blood of Christ. He is the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

We all have desires and they are necessary for sustaining life. We have the desire to eat, we have the desire to rest when we are tired, we have sexual desire, we have the desire to achieve, and many others. All of these are good and necessary in the proper balance. It is when any one of these becomes too great, even uncontrollable, that we get tempted to sin.

This is not to say that Satan and his fallen angels have no part in our temptation. In both Matthew 4:3 and 1Thessalinians 3:5 we find that our adversary is referred to as “the tempter.” The world system, which he controls, is made up of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16).

No matter who or what the source of our temptations may be, James is telling us that the agency of our temptation is our own desires which we allow to get out of control. When this happens, those lusts draw us from God’s way and entrap us in our own selfish ways.

Application

We all sin. It’s a fact of life. None of us has complete control of our fleshly desires. But we do have a Savior who did not sin and who gave His life to pay for ours. Let us thank our God for the blood of Christ and for the faith to believe in Him.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 2:3 – Wrath Avoidance

Posted on by Will

Ephesians 2:3  – Wrath Avoidance

among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Truth to Learn

Before we were saved we were destined for God’s wrath.

Behind the Words

The word “among” is translated from the Greek preposition en, meaning “in” or “among.”

“Conducted” is from the verb anastrephō. This is made up of ana, meaning “again” and strephō, meaning “to turn.” So, literally it means “to turn again.” When used of a person it means “to move around,” that is, “to live one’s life.”

Epithumia is the Greek word translated “lusts.” It is made up of epi, meaning “over” or “above” and a form of thumos, which refers to “a passion or desire of the mind.” Thus, epithumia refers to “overly strong desires.”

The word “fulfilling” is from the Greek verb poieō, meaning “to make” or “to do.” It is expressed here as a present participle, so it could be translated as “doing.”

“Desires” is translated from thelēma which refers to “an act of determination.”

“Flesh” is from sarx, which literally refers to “the flesh of a living creature.” This word is commonly used to refer to the physical part of our existence as opposed to the spiritual part.

The word “mind” is translated from dianoia which refers to “deep thought” or “imagination.”

The word “wrath” is translated from orgē, which means “strong emotion, anger, or wrath.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul told us that before we became Christians we lived according to the ways of the world system in which we live. Our behavior was influenced by Satan who controls those who don’t believe in Christ.

What he tells us in today’s verse is that we used to live our lives controlled by the lusts of our flesh. Another way of saying that is that we used to be controlled by our sin nature. In the book of Romans, Paul calls it our “old man,” and he tells us that we used to be the slaves of sin:

knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (Romans 6:6)

Because we were controlled by our fleshly desires and our imagination, Paul says we were children of wrath just like the rest of unsaved humanity. What he means is that before we were saved, we were God’s enemies and subject to his wrath. Many Christians don’t like to think of God as vengeful and exhibiting wrath; they like to think of God as a God of love. He is both. Those who reject Jesus Christ will one day experience the full fury of God’s wrath.

He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (Revelation 19:15)

Application

As a Christian you still have a sin nature, but you don’t have to be controlled by it. Instead, you can submit your will to God and allow the Holy Spirit to control your life.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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