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Romans 7:15 – That Thing You Do

Posted on February 26, 2018 by Will

For the thing I do, I do not understand. For what I determine to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.

Truth to Learn

Paul battled his sin nature just as you and I do.

Behind the Words

The words “the thing I do” are from the Greek verb katergadzomai, meaning “to work fully, to finish, or to fully accomplish.” In other words, it is not simply something that Paul comes close to doing or that he does a little bit of, it is something that he does completely.

“Understand” is from ginoskō, which means “to come to know completely or to understand thoroughly.”

“Practice” is from the Greek word prassō, meaning “to practice, to do habitually, or to do repeatedly.”

The word translated “but” is alla. It is an adversative participle which can best be expressed here as “but on the other hand.”

“I do” is translated from the Greek word poieō, which means “to make or do.” It is expressed in the present tense, active voice, indicative mood, implying continual action.

Meaning Explained

This is one of the most important verses of the entire book of Romans. It is Paul expressing the frustration concerning the power that his sin nature has over him. He starts out this verse by confessing that he doesn’t understand why he acts the way he does. The thing which he wants to do (be obedient to God) he doesn’t always do. He is not saying that he never does the things he wants to do. He is saying that he doesn’t consistently do them. Paul wants to obey God and do those things which will glorify Him, but he doesn’t always do them.

Instead, Paul finds that the thing which he hates is the very thing that he continually finds himself doing.

This is a very revealing (and to the rest of us, comforting) aspect of Paul’s walk with God. He is the Apostle to the Gentiles, the most prolific writer of the New Testament and probably the finest example of “Obedience to God” in the entire New Testament. And yet, he has a constant battle with his sin nature and has not reached a state of perfect submission to Christ. Allow me to paraphrase this verse,

I don’t understand my actions. For that which I want to do I don’t always do. On the other hand, that which I hate to do, I keep on doing.

Application

Can you identify with Paul? Of course you can! Any Christian who is completely committed to God will undergo this same sense of frustration as he or she contemplates his or her daily walk with God. We want to be obedient, but we don’t always obey and we don’t understand why.

The answer, my friend, is our sin nature. It is constantly battling against us to produce sin in our lives, even when we want to be totally obedient to God.

Keep in mind that Paul wrote this letter toward the latter part of his life. He was not a “young Christian.” He was an experienced, mature Christian who was as submitted to God as any Christian has ever been. And – he struggled with obedience to God and submission to His will. Paul battled his sin nature until God took him to paradise. So don’t feel defeated when you have the same kind of struggles with your sin nature.

But you must understand that doesn’t excuse us! We are still guilty of the sin, but confession, and forgiveness through the grace of God, will restore our fellowship with Him even when we do that thing which we hate!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 2:3 – The Universal Judge

Posted on August 2, 2017 by Will

And, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, do you think that you will escape the judgment of God?

Truth to Learn

God will judge us all.

Behind the Words

The word “practicing” is from prassō. As we learned a few verses back this means, “to perform an action continually, repeatedly, or habitually.” It is a picture of a musician practicing his or her instrument over and over. It is expressed here as a present participle indicating current, on-going action.

“Doing” is translated from the Greek verb poieō, meaning “to make or do.” It is different from prassō in that it implies an occasional action rather than a habitual one. This word, however, is also expressed as a present participle indicating a current, ongoing condition. Hence, it refers to ongoing occasional action.

Meaning Explained

Paul is talking about the tendency for the Roman Christians to be judgmental of the pagan Romans who constantly engage in sinful practices while these mostly Jewish Christians are guilty of committing many of these same sins. He is warning them that God will judge sin and sinfulness no matter whether it is an occasional sin or a habitual sin. To God, sin is sin!

Paul is teaching these Roman Christians (and us as well) about another condition of the human mind. He just showed us that finger pointing is self-condemning because we tend to see in others what we do ourselves. But also, we all have a tendency to excuse our own actions. After all, we know why we do these things, and we can easily excuse them in our own minds. Besides, we don’t do these things very often, and yet we see others doing these things over and over again.

Let’s not miss the point here. It would be easy to read this passage and say, “We shouldn’t care how others live and we certainly shouldn’t be judgmental.” But that’s not what Paul is saying. He’s saying that before we condemn others for their sinful actions, we need to look inwardly and deal with our own sin. Clearly the sin of harlotry is one which is easily condemnable, but when Jesus was confronted by those who wanted to stone a woman (the legal penalty for adultery) caught committing this sin, He responded:

He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. (John 8:7b)

In other words, our tendency to judge others does not absolve us from guilt and the consequences of our own sin; in fact, it increases our own condemnation.

Paul is going to teach these Christians that it is not important to prove who you are descended from; rather, it is important to demonstrate who has adopted you. That is to say, faith, not heredity nor legal obedience, is the key to salvation and a fulfilled Christian walk with God. We do not, nor did we ever, earn this salvation, either by action or inheritance. It is a gift that flows from the kindness of God. That’s what makes it so precious!

Application

The next time you see someone acting in a way that you know is wrong, remember that God is the Judge of all mankind, and He will execute His judgment according to truth, not according to appearance.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 1:32 – Rejection Fellowship

Posted on July 28, 2017 by Will

who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those practicing such things are worthy of death, not only do them but also approve of those who practice them.

Truth to Learn

Those who reject God are comfortable with others who feel the same way.

Behind the Words

“Knowing” is translated from the Greek word epiginōskō. It is made up of epi, meaning “upon or over” and ginoskō, meaning “knowledge.” Hence it is more than mere knowledge about something, it is knowing upon something. In other words, recognizing or realizing the truth about something.

The words, “righteous judgment” are a translation of dikaiōma, which roughly means, “a righteousness proclamation.”

The word translated “practicing” is a form of prassō, meaning “to perform an action continually, repeatedly, or habitually.”

The words “approve of” are from the Greek word suneudokeō, a compound word made up of sun, meaning “together,” eu, meaning “good” or “well” and dokeō, meaning “to think.” So we see that suneudokeō means, “to jointly think well with others “or “to take pleasure along with others.”

Meaning Explained

Paul now gives a final word of condemnation concerning those who deny God. He says that those who reject Him are not only filled with all kinds of sinfulness, but they also know better. Paul says they know the righteous judgment of God. That is, they recognize, or realize, that God has already proclaimed something to be true.

And that something is explained in the next phrase, “that those practicing such things are worthy of death. “ These God haters know that those who do the things they are doing (not just occasionally, but repeatedly) are guilty of sins that are worthy of death in God’s mind.

But Paul doesn’t stop there. He says that these people not only do these things themselves, but they take pleasure in others who do the same. So what Paul is telling us is, not only do these people realize what God thinks of the things they are doing habitually (that such sins are worthy of death), but they feel gratified with others who practice such things as well. In other words, they feel camaraderie with other sinners who are doing the same things.

The interesting thing is that when these people are in the presence of someone living a life submitted to God, they don’t feel camaraderie, they feel conviction! They don’t want the light of God shining on their darkness. This is precisely what our Lord said regarding those who reject Him:

This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their works were evil. (John 3:19)

When we witness (either by word or by deed) to those who are sold out to sin, it convicts them and they don’t like it (or us).

Application

Now let me ask you a question, “When you are in the presence of people whom you know are living in defiance of God, do they welcome you, or do they want you to leave?”

Think about it!

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 6:21 – The Beloved Waiter

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Will

But that you also might know the things concerning me and what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you;

Truth to Learn

God gives recognition to those who serve humbly.

Behind the Words

The words “that you … might know” are translated from the verb eidō, which technically means “to see.” However, as in English, it is used in the sense of seeing with the mind, or knowing something. It is expressed here in the subjunctive mood indicating the possibility or probability of knowing.

“The things concerning me” is translated from ta kat eme, which refers to the events surrounding Paul and his ministry.

The word “doing” is from prassō, which refers to “something done repeatedly or continually.” It is sometimes translated as “practice,” but here it refers to the general activities of daily living.

“Beloved” is translated from agapētos. This is based on the verb agape, which refers to “a self-sacrificing love.” It is a stronger expression than phileō, meaning “brotherly love.” Paul expressed it here with the definite article, so it is translated as “the beloved.”

“Minister” is from the Greek word diakonos. This is derived from the verb diakō, meaning “to run errands.” It is the word used to describe someone who serves others while they are eating, what we would call “a waiter.”

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul has finished his teaching in this letter to the Christians in the church at Ephesus. He now concludes with a very brief salutation. Paul has a singularity of purpose in his letters to the various churches, that of proclaiming the doctrines of the Christian faith. He spends almost no time at all telling about himself. Instead, he suggests that his dear friends talk to Tychicus about what is happening to him.

What do we know about Tychicus? He is first mentioned in Acts 20:4 where we learn two things about him. The first is that he was from Asia (modern day Turkey) of which Ephesus was the capitol city. The second thing we learn about him is that he was faithful to the Apostle, having accompanied him during part of his travels. It is possible that he became a Christian as a result of Paul’s two year ministry in Ephesus, although we are not told that anywhere.

Another thing that we learn about this man, based on today’s verse, is that he has spent much time with Paul in the Roman prison. Because of this, he is able to tell the brothers and sisters in Ephesus all about what has been happening with Paul. The Apostle refers to Tychicus as “the beloved brother.” This indicates that not only was he a very special friend to Paul, but he was well known among the Ephesians. Finally, we learn that this man was a faithful minister. In other words, he was not hung-up on how great he was. Rather, he was a humble servant, willing to do whatever the Apostle needed him to do.

Application

Most often, those who are called out as special are those who have accomplished some great feat. Not so with Tychicus. He was special because he was a humble servant. What would your pastor say about you? Does he even know who you are?

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 6:21 – The Beloved Waiter

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Will

But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you;

Truth to Learn

God gives recognition to those who serve humbly.

Behind the Words

The words “that you may know” are translated from the verb eidō, which technically means “to see.” However, as in English, it is used in the sense of seeing with the mind, or knowing something. It is expressed here in the subjunctive mood indicating the possibility or probability of knowing.

“My affairs” in translated from ta kat eme, which literally means “the things concerning me.”

“Beloved” is translated from agapētos. This is based on the verb agape, which refers to “a self-sacrificing love.” It is a stronger expression than phileō, meaning “brotherly love.” Paul expressed it here with the definite article, so it could be translated as “the beloved.”

Meaning Explained

Another thing that we learn about this man, based on today’s verse, is that he has spent much time with Paul in the Roman prison. Because of this, he is able to tell the brothers and sisters in Ephesus all about what has been happening with Paul. The Apostle refers to Tychicus as “the beloved brother.” This indicates that not only was he a very special friend to Paul, but he was well known among the Ephesians. Finally, we learn that this man was a faithful minister; in other words, he was not hung-up on how great he was. Rather, he was a humble servant, willing to do whatever the Apostle needed him to do.

Application

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 7:15 – That Thing You Do

Posted on May 2, 2010 by Will

Romans 7:15

For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.

Truth to Learn

Paul battled his sin nature just as you and I do.

Behind the Words

“Doing” is from the word katergadzomai, meaning “to work fully, to finish, or to fully accomplish.” In other words, it is not simply something that Paul comes close to doing or that he does a little bit of, it is something that he does completely.

“Understand” is from ginoskō, which means “to come to know completely or to understand thoroughly.”

The words “what I will” are a translation of ho thelō, which means “that thing which I desire to do.”

“Practice” is from the Greek word prassō, meaning “to practice, to do habitually, or to do repeatedly.”

The word translated “but” is alla. It is an adversative participle which can best be expressed here as “but contrary to this.”

“I do” is translated from the Greek word poieō, which means “to make or do.” It is expressed in the present tense, active voice, indicative mood, implying continual action.

Meaning Explained

Instead, Paul finds that the thing which he hates is the very thing that he continually finds himself doing.

I don’t understand my actions. For that which I want to do I don’t always do. On the other hand, that which I hate to do I keep on doing.

Application

The answer, my friend, is our sin nature. It is constantly battling against us to produce sin in our lives, even when we want to be totally obedient to God.

In God’s service, for His glory,

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