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Romans 9:30 – Not Attained by Pursuing

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Will

What shall we say then? That Gentiles, not pursuing righteousness, have taken on a righteousness, even the righteousness of faith;

Truth to Learn

Righteousness comes as a result of faith, not works.

Behind the Words

“Pursuing” is from the Greek verb diōkō, meaning “to actively and intentionally go after something.”

The Greek word translated “have taken on” is katelaben, which is made up of kata, used as an intensifier and a form of lambanō, meaning “to take.” So in its root form this word means “to take aggressively” or “to seize with eagerness.” There is another Greek word that is translated “take on.” It is phthanō, meaning “to come suddenly upon something” or “to arrive at a goal.” Thus, we see that Paul is referring to the Gentiles having taken possession of a prize rather than having reached a goal that they were pursuing.

The word “righteousness” is from dikaiosune, which is derived from the noun dikaios meaning “one who does what is right or just.” The ending sune, makes it an abstraction, so it refers to “the character or quality of being righteous or of having obtained righteousness.”

“Of” is from the Greek word ek, meaning “out of” or “as the result of.” The righteousness that is recorded in God’s book is not the result of any action on our part. It is the result of faith, believing God’s promise to us.

Meaning Explained

“What shall we say then?” With this rhetorical question, Paul begins his summation of this entire chapter. Even though he spent a great deal of time and energy making the case for God’s sovereign choosing (election), that has only been a supporting point of his argument. The main point is that the Gentiles have received the prize of justification (righteousness) without constantly pursuing after it, and the Jews, who constantly pursued righteousness, have not received it.

You see, the Jews had vigorously pursued righteousness by seeking rigorous adherence to the Law, but they did not obtain it. They believed they had to do something. They believed so strongly that righteousness came by obedience that they consumed their entire lives in being obedient to God’s commandments. The Gentiles, on the other hand, did not pursue righteousness but have now been declared righteous by God through faith. They did not pursue righteousness by doing works or by following all the rules; they simply believed the gospel message. Those who believe that Jesus is the Christ and that He died on the cross to pay for their sins are declared as righteous in God’s record book and only they will be permitted in God’s presence without condemnation.

Application

When God chooses those who will be saved, He does not give them a magic formula of things to say or do. He gives them faith to believe His promise of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. This only serves to strengthen Paul’s argument that God chooses whom He will save and He does so through the gift of faith. (see Ephesians 2:8)

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Peter 1:23 – Born Again Forever

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Will

having been born again, not of perishable seed but imperishable, through the word of God which lives and remains,

Truth to Learn

The source of our spiritual life, the word of God, is eternal.

Behind the Words

The expression, “having been born again” is translated from the Greek word anagennaō. This is a compound word made up of ana, meaning “again” and gennaō, which refers to the generation of offspring, that is, to give birth. The word is expressed here as a present, passive participle, so it could be expressed as “being a born again one.”

The word “of” is translated from the Greek word ek, which literally means “out of.”

“Perishable” is from phthartos, which refers to something that is perishable or subject to corruption and decay.

“Seed” is translated from the Greek word sporas, which refers to the “sowing of seed.”

“Remains” is the translation of the Greek word menō, which means “to remain, to stay, to live, or to endure.”

Some translations include the word “forever” at the end of this verse. This is translated from the Greek, eis ton aiona, meaning “unto the ages” or “forever.” However, the best Greek manuscripts do not include this Greek phrase.

Meaning Explained

The term ‘born again’ is used in only two places in the Bible, in John 3 where Jesus is talking to Nicodemus and here.

Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:3-6)

In the John 3 passage “born again” is translated from the Greek genao anothen, which literally means “born from above,” which Nicodemus clearly understood to mean “born again,” else he wouldn’t have asked the question he did.

Clearly, Peter is writing his letter to Christians, and he is telling us something about the spiritual life (salvation) that we have. He tells us that the process of being born again is not from a perishable sowing of seed. Our first birth, our physical birth, is from the sowing of perishable seed. The seed of our fathers that produced us would have eventually died and perished if it had not fertilized our mothers’ ovum. But our spiritual birth is the result of an imperishable seed.

This physical life, which was produced out of a perishable seed, is a perishable life. However, the spiritual life, the life we have as a result of the new birth, is produced by imperishable seed. As a result, this new life that we have is not perishable. It will abide … remain … endure!

Application

Can you imagine losing your life and trying to be physically born again? You simply can’t do it. Once this corruptible physical life is gone, it’s gone. But our spiritual life is different. We can’t lose our spiritual life because it is eternal. Do you see that? You can’t lose your salvation … ever … period!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians 1:30 – All From God

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Will

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

Truth to Learn

Our salvation is all from God.

Behind the Words

The word translated “of” is ek, which means “out of” or “from.” It is an indication of the source of something.

“Became” is from the Greek verb ginomai, which means “to begin to be.” It is expressed in the aorist tense, passive voice, indicating that it was done to Him at a point in time in the past.

Dikaiosunē is the word translated “righteousness.” It is based on the noun dikaios, which means “just” or “righteous.” Righteousness is a description of our standing before God.

“Sanctification” is from the noun hagiasmos, from the verb hagiadzō, which means “to set apart from common use as something without blemish to be used in the service of God.”

The word “redemption” is translated from apolutrōsis. This is made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from” and lutroō, which means “to bring a ransom for the purpose of freeing someone from captivity.” Thus, apolutrōsis means “set free as a result of a ransom having been fully paid.” We are set free from sin and its consequences because the ransom for our freedom has been fully paid by the blood of Christ.

Meaning Explained

Throughout the past six verses Paul has been talking about God’s wisdom in his choosing and calling us foolish, weak, sin-sick nobodies out of the world and into His family. He has masterfully and effectively contrasted the wisdom of the world (which in reality is utter foolishness) with the foolishness of God (which in reality is supreme wisdom). Here he makes a dramatic statement that is often missed. Paul says that God is the source of our position “in Christ Jesus.”

If you carefully study the New Testament teachings, you will find that all aspects of our salvation have their source in God. Here is a list of some of the things that we could not do, but that God has already done for us:

He willed (determined) to make us His (Ephesians 1:5)

He purposed to predestine us (Ephesians 1:11)

He predestined us to adoption as sons (Ephesians 1:5)

He chose us (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

He prepared us (Romans 9:23)

He drew us to Himself (John 6:44)

He granted us to come to Christ (John 6:65)

He saved us (Titus 3:5)

He sanctified us completely (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

He appointed us to eternal life (Acts 13:48)

He delivered us from the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13)

He made us alive (Ephesians 2:5)

He poured out His Spirit on us (Titus 3:6)

He brought us forth (James 1:18)

He justified and glorified us (Romans 8:30)

He called us into His kingdom (1 Thessalonians 2:12)

Application

Seeing all that God has done for us, how can we do anything but be humbled and eternally grateful for all His work in our salvation? And given all that He has already done, how could we ever think that there is anything that we could do to nullify what God has done? Praise God and give Him the glory!

In God's service, for His glory,