determined – Ministry of Grace Church

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1 Peter 3:10 – Innocent Language

Posted on January 10, 2017 by Will

For the one determined to love life and to see good days, let him stop his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile.

Truth to Learn

The way we speak and the things we say will have an effect on the way we live.

Behind the Words

The word translated “determined” (“wants” or “wills” in some translations) is the Greek verb thelō, which means “to desire, implying active volition and purpose.” In other words, it means “to determine.” There is another word translated “will” or “want” in the New Testament. It is the Greek verb boulomai, which means “to want” or “to desire.” Whereas boulomai means “to be disposed or to intend, but not pressing on to execute that decision,” thelo implies a determination that produces action. It is a subtle, but important, distinction especially in today’s verse.

“Stop” is translated from the Greek word pausato, which means “to stop” or “to bring to an end.” The implication is that something is already happening and we need to stop doing it.

The word translated “guile” is dolon, which means “trickery or deceit.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Peter admonished us not to retaliate when people do or say bad things against us. Instead, we are to respond with “good words.” As we have discussed before, we Christians will suffer persecution on this earth. This world is not our home and we are not of this place. Our home is in the heavenlies and we are but strangers and wanderers on this earth. As such we will be treated as aliens by those who are of this world. If we have a witness that we are Christians, then the inhabitants of this world will do evil to us and they will insult us. It’s their nature.

As Christians, however, we must be ever mindful that we are the children of the King and we are His ambassadors. Since we represent Him, people should see Him in us, particularly in our actions. Not only is He the great King but He is Almighty God who is in control of all things. He knows what will make us truly happy, and in these verses Peter tells us how to be that way.

Peter is not saying that if you desire to love life, then do the following. He is saying that if you have determined to love life, then do the following. It is not a wishy-washy hope that you might love life, rather a determination that you will love life and see good days. Isn’t this what we all want (desire)? If so, then let us decide (determine) to do what it takes to have it.

Peter says, if you want to love life and see good days, you must stop using your tongue for evil and your lips from speaking guile. That is, we need to stop speaking worthless or injurious things and stop trying to trick or deceive people with our words.

Application

If you remember what we learned in our study of James, you will recognize how difficult it is to control the tongue, so what Peter is telling us, though it sounds easy, really isn’t. But that shouldn’t stop us from trying! Let your language reflect your spiritual position (in Christ) not your physical surroundings.

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians 2:2 – And Him Crucified

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Will

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Truth to Learn

Christ’s crucifixion is the central theme of Christianity.

Behind the Words

“Determined” is translated from the Greek verb krinō, which literally means “to discriminate between good and evil,” that is “to judge, to choose, or to select.”

The words “to know” are from the verb eidō. It literally means “to see with perception.” In its most common usage it refers to understand mentally, that is “to know.”

“Anything” is from the Greek indefinite article ti, which means “someone, some thing, or a certain thing.”

The expression “except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” is constructed such that it places the emphasis on “Him crucified.” It could be literally translated as “except Jesus Christ and this one as crucified.” The central theme of Paul’s gospel message is not just Jesus Christ as the Son of God, but the fact that He was crucified to pay the penalty for our sins.

Meaning Explained

As we discussed in yesterday’s verse, the Apostle Paul was not known for his eloquent style of preaching but for simply and plainly declaring the good news about Jesus Christ. Today we learn that at some time in the past Paul made a conscious decision to preach the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Notice that he did not say “Jesus and Him crucified.” He was not focused on the humanity of Jesus, but His divinity. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed King who, as part of the Godhead, was the creator of all that is. And, as the Messiah, He is the one promised to come and save the world.

The Jews expected their Messiah would come as a conquering King who would free them from oppression. However, He came instead as a humble servant who was condemned to death and was crucified because He claimed to be the Son of God. This is precisely why the Jews find Him to be a “stumbling block,” and the great philosophical minds of the day considered Paul’s message to be foolishness:

but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, (1 Corinthians 1:23)

Christ’s crucifixion was the central theme of Paul’s preaching, but he did not preach only the crucifixion; He preached the whole Word of God, knowing that there is much more to the Christian life than just Christ’s death on the cross:

And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (Acts 18:11)

For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:27)

how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, … (Acts 20:20).

It is of vital importance to preach the crucifixion of Christ, but that is only the beginning of the Christian experience.

Application

Fortunately, there are still many churches today that preach the salvation message. Unfortunately, there are still churches where that is the only thing being proclaimed. There is much to know about being a Christian beyond salvation.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 7:20 – Living on our Knees

Posted on May 10, 2010 by Will

Romans 7:20

Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

Truth to Learn

When we lose a battle against our sin nature we simply need to confess our sin and God removes it from us.

Behind the Words

The word “do” (in the expression “I who do it”) is from the Greek word katergadzomai, which we saw back in verse fifteen, meaning “to work fully, to finish, or to fully accomplish.”

“Dwells” is also a word that we have looked at before. It is the word oikeō, which means “living somewhere as a permanent residence, as opposed to a temporary residence.”

Meaning Explained

This verse is very similar to verse seventeen, in which Paul identifies the sin dwelling in him as the reason that he does things that he hates. He now states a very similar fact, that it is the sin which has taken up permanent residence in him which fully accomplishes that which he has determined not to do.

According to Adam Clarke in his Commentary on the Bible, Paul is saying;

My will is against it; my reason and conscience condemn it. But it is the sin that dwells in me – the principle of sin, [the sin nature] which has possessed itself of all my carnal appetites and passions, and thus subjects my reason and domineers over my soul. Thus I am in perpetual contradiction to myself. Two principles are continually contending in me for the mastery: my reason, on which the light of God shines, to show what is evil; and my passions, in which the principle of sin works, to bring forth fruit unto death.

It is this contention between the Spirit of life within us and the sin nature within us which produces the daily battle that all Christians face: the wholesome desire to obey and please God versus the lustful desires of the sin nature that drag us into sin and guilt.

We will not leave this battleground until the day that we are taken to glory. We need to learn how to do battle effectively and that is by submitting our will to God and learning repeatedly how to fall to our knees when our sinful tendencies win out over our desire to do good. Remember:

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:8, 9)

Also, keep in mind that when he forgives our sins, he removes them from us, as David said in the Psalms:

For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalms 103:11-12)

Application

Even though we are in a constant battle with our sin nature, and frequently loose the battle, we know that through confession our sins are forgiven and sent away from us as far as the east is from the west. Lord, help us to learn the necessity of living on our knees!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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