Tag: diastole

Romans 10:12 – Everyone’s the Same

Posted on by Will

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord of all is rich to all those calling upon Him.

Truth to Learn

God doesn’t care who your ancestors are. He will respond to your call for salvation.

 

Behind the Words

“Distinction” is translated from the Greek word diastolē, which is the noun form of the verb diastellō, made up of dia, indicating a transition and stellō, meaning “to send.” Hence it means “to send (or cause) a change,” that is, “to make things different. The noun form, diastolē, refers to this change, difference, or distinction.

The words “is rich” are from the Greek verb plouteō, which is based on the noun ploutos, referring to “riches or wealth, either in money or possessions.”

“Calling upon” is translated from epikaleō, which is made up of epi, meaning “over or upon” and kaleō, meaning “to call.” Therefore,  epikaleō means “to call upon or request aid from someone else.”

 

Meaning Explained

Before we get into this verse let me point out that when Paul refers to Greeks in these verses, he is using the name as a metonym, which is using a name of one object or concept for that of another. He doesn’t really mean the Greek people; he means all non-Jews or all Gentiles. Since the common language of the entire Roman Empire was Greek, it became a common expression among the Jews to refer to all Gentiles as Greeks.

In the previous verse Paul said that everyone believing on Jesus will not be put to shame. Clearly he was implying that this applies to both the Jews and the Gentiles. Throughout the first four chapters of this letter, Paul set out to show that there is no difference between the Jews and the Gentiles in God’s eyes. Notice particularly what he said in Romans 3:28-30:

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law. Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since it is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

In the current verse Paul makes it abundantly clear that God treats all mankind the same whether they are Jewish or not. As you read through the book of Acts, you will see the difficulty that even the Apostles had in believing that God accepts the Gentiles without having to satisfy the Law. In fact, it comes to a head in Acts chapter 15 where Paul and Barnabas go to Jerusalem from Antioch to get this matter settled. If the Apostles had such a difficulty with this concept, it is understandable that Paul would make such a big deal of it for the Jewish Christians in Rome.

In the current verse Paul states that the same Lord who is over us all is rich in his giving to all of us who call on Him, whether we are Jew or Gentile. God will freely bestow His riches of grace and mercy upon all who submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ and call upon Him for salvation.
 

Application

It doesn’t matter what your ethnic background is, what family you’re part or, or who your ancestors are. If you confess Christ as your Lord and Savior, God will grant you the riches of His righteousness. That’s His promise!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 3:22 – Through Faith

Posted on by Will

and the righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ, toward all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

Truth to Learn

You can’t earn righteousness, but you can receive it.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “faith” is the Greek word pistis. This is derived from the verb peithō, which means “to persuade” or “to win over.” Therefore, pistis describes the result of having been won over or persuaded. In other words, it means “faith, conviction, or belief in a truth.”

The expression “of God” is a translation of the word Theou, which can mean either “of God” or “from God.” Hence, we can say that the righteousness that comes by faith belongs to God and He gives it to those who believe.

“Difference” is from the Greek word diastolē, which is derived from the verb diastellō, meaning “to separate” or “to set apart.” Diastolē represents the state after the action, in other words, “a distinct difference.” In 1Corinthians 14:7 this word is used to describe distinctly different sounds of a musical instrument.

 

Meaning Explained

The righteousness needed to stand guiltless before the Judge of the entire world cannot be obtained by obeying a set of rules, no matter how perfect those rules are and no matter how sincere we are or how hard we try. The Old Testament has declared that all of us are sinners. None of us is righteous, no not even one of us; not me, not you, not your pastor, not even the Apostle Paul. I like the way the prophet Isaiah said it:

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a filthy rag; we all fade like a leaf, and like the wind our sins take us away. (Isaiah 64:6)

In yesterday’s verse Paul introduced a new concept, one that isn’t really new, for it was written about in the Old Testament. Namely, it is possible to obtain the righteousness of God, but it is obtained totally apart from the Law. We can’t become righteous by obeying all the rules or by doing good deeds.

This new doctrine of “justification by faith” is now plainly declared by Paul. There is righteousness apart from the Law, “the righteousness of God,” but this righteousness comes “through faith in Jesus Christ.” That is to say, we can’t earn the righteousness necessary to meet God’s standard of behavior, but we can receive it from God by believing in Jesus Christ.

Paul also tells us that this righteousness by faith is granted to everyone who believes. You don’t have to be born into the right family. You don’t have to be a member of a church. You don’t have to take religion classes. You don’t have to be wealthy. All you have to do is believe.

We will talk about the last phrase of this verse when we talk about the next verse, with which it rightly belongs.

 

Application

Do you want to stand before the Judge of the earth with the same righteousness as Jesus Christ? You can! And, you don’t have to earn it. You certainly don’t deserve it. Nonetheless, you can have that righteousness, through faith in Jesus Christ.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 10:12 – Everyone’s the Same

Posted on by Will

Romans 10:12 – Everyone’s the Same

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.

Truth to Learn

God doesn’t care who your ancestors are. He will respond to your call for salvation.

Behind the Words

“Distinction” is translated from the Greek word diastolē, which is the noun form of the verb diastellō, made up of dia, indicating a transition and stellō, meaning “to send.” Hence it means “to send (or cause) a change,” that is, “to make things different. The noun form, diastolē, refers to this change, difference, or distinction.

The words “is rich” are from the Greek verb plouteō, which is based on the noun ploutos, referring to “riches or wealth either in money or possessions.”

“Call upon” is translated from epikaleō, which is made up of epi, meaning “over or upon” and kaleō, meaning “to call.” Therefore, epikaleō means “to call upon or request aid from someone else.”

Meaning Explained

Before we get into this verse let me point out that when Paul refers to Greeks in these verses, he is using the name as a metonym, which is using a name of one object or concept for that of another. He doesn’t really mean the Greek people; he means all non-Jews or all Gentiles. Since the common language of the entire Roman Empire was Greek, it became a common expression among the Jews to refer to all Gentiles as Greeks.

In the previous verse Paul said that everyone believing on Jesus will not be put to shame. Clearly he was implying that this applies to both the Jews and the Gentiles. Throughout the first four chapters of this letter, Paul set out to show that there is no difference between the Jews and the Gentiles in God’s eyes. Notice particularly what he said in Romans 3:28-30:

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

In the current verse Paul makes it abundantly clear that God treats all mankind the same whether they are Jewish or not. As you read through the book of Acts, you will see the difficulty that even the Apostles had in believing that God accepts the Gentiles without having to satisfy the Law. In fact, it comes to a head in Acts chapter 15 where Paul and Barnabas go to Jerusalem from Antioch to get this matter settled. If the Apostles had such a difficulty with this concept, it is understandable that Paul would make such a big deal of it for the Jewish Christians in Rome.

In the current verse Paul states that the same Lord who is over us all is rich in his giving to all of us who call on Him, whether we are Jew or Gentile. God will freely bestow His riches of grace and mercy upon all who submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ and call upon Him for salvation.

Application

It doesn’t matter what your ethnic background is, what family you’re part or, or who your ancestors are. If you confess Christ as your Lord and Savior, God will grant you the riches of His righteousness. That’s His promise!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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