Tag: rose

Romans 14:9 – Lord Of All

Posted on by Will

For to this end Christ died and rose and lived, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

Truth to Learn

Jesus Christ is Lord of all!

 

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “rose” is anhistēmi, which is made up of ana, meaning “again” and histēmi, meaning “to stand.” Hence, anhistēmi means “to stand-up again” or “to rise again.” This word, however, is missing in many manuscripts and is rejected by many Biblical scholars. Fortunately, this does not materially alter the meaning or intent of this verse because it is the fact that Christ both died and lives again that makes Him the Christ and our Savior.

The verb translated “might be Lord” is from the Greek word, kurieuō, which is based on the noun kurios, meaning “lord.” Kurieuō means “to have or exercise rule or authority over.” This word carries the idea of His being “proprietor” or “owner” as well as “ruler.” It means that He exercises entire dominion over us, as our sovereign Lord and Master.

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we talked about the fact that we don’t have control of the time of our death. That is strictly up to our Lord. He is our owner and our master if we have truly submitted to Him and accepted Christ’s death on the cross as payment for our sins. That’s Paul’s point in this verse. It is that Lordship of Christ over us for which He died and lives again. He shed His blood and came back from the dead so that He might be our Lord whether we are alive or dead.

Since both “life” and “death” are used throughout the New Testament in reference to both the physical and spiritual realms, it is unclear whether Paul’s statement is regarding all living creatures, all of mankind, or only those whom God has declared righteous. The context up to this point in Paul’s letter would seem to indicate that he is referring to the righteous ones. In verse eleven, however, it becomes clear that Paul is including every intelligent creature (both physical and spirit).

Jesus Christ, the second person of the godhead, has always been Lord over all created beings; however, it is a result of belief in His resurrection from the dead, the fact that He is alive, that descendants of Adam are declared righteous. Thus, it appears that Paul’s reference here is to both saved and unsaved (spiritually alive and spiritually dead), whether they are physically alive or dead. It is not unlike Paul at all to use such a “play on words” to drive home the truths of his teaching. Jesus Christ is Lord of all—those who are alive physically as well as those who are dead physically, and He is Lord of those who are alive spiritually as well as those who are dead spiritually. He is Lord of all!

 

Application

After death, those who have rejected Christ will learn, to their horror, that they have rejected God Himself. Their eternal fate will have been sealed with no chance to change their mind. For those of us who have believed in His death and resurrection, we know Him as Savior right now. We also have a choice to believe and live like Jesus Christ is our Lord. After death we will completely know His lordship over us. Are you living now as if He is your Lord, or is He just your Savior?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 4:14 – Returning With Him

Posted on by Will

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

Truth to Learn

Christians who have died will come with Jesus at the rapture.

 

Behind the Words

There are three classes of conditional clauses (if statements) contained in New Testament Greek based on their grammatical construction. The clause that begins today’s verse is a first-class conditional statement; it assumes that the “if statement” is true. Therefore, in some cases we can substitute the word “since” for “if,” and we could start this verse off with “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again  …”

“Believe” is translated from the Greek verb pisteuō, meaning “to believe in,” “to have faith in,” or “to trust in.” It is expressed as a present tense, active voice, indicative mood verb, indicating present, possibly continuous, action.

The verb “died” is from apothnēskō, which is made up of apo, meaning “from,” used as an intensifier and thnēskō, meaning “to die.” Thus, it literally means “to die off.”

“Rose again” is from the Greek verb anistēmi, composed of ana, meaning “up” and histēmi, which means “to stand.” Hence, it literally means “to stand up” or “to rise up.”

The words “will bring” are translated from the verb agō, meaning “to lead” or “to bring.” It is expressed here in the future tense, thus we translate it as “will bring.”

Koimaō is the Greek word translated “sleep.” It means “to cause to lie down to sleep.” In the New Testament it is often used in reference to the sleep of death. That is the manner in which Paul uses it here.

 

Meaning Explained

Beginning in the previous verse, Paul is teaching the Thessalonians (and us) about end-time events. This particular event is what we commonly refer to as “the rapture.” We will talk more about this word in verse seventeen. The first thing to learn from today’s verse is who is involved in this event. We are told here that it involves those who “believe that Jesus died and rose up.” In other words, this event involves born-again Christians. As we noted in Behind the Words, the word “believe” likely indicates current, continuous belief, that is, a belief that was not simply a one-time event, but something that has become an integral part of a person’s life.

One of my biggest concerns is that when the rapture takes place, many church members won’t notice, because the church will still be filled with “members.” I fear too many so-called Christians have said the “sinner’s prayer” without ever really believing to the point of a total commitment to Jesus. They may have knowledge of salvation but not truly be saved.

The other thing we learn here is that Christians who “sleep in Jesus,” those who have died physically, will return with Him. Since this event involves our Lord coming from the heavenly realms to the earth’s atmosphere (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17), those who “sleep in Jesus” will also be coming from the heavenly realms, from Paradise. In Luke 23:43 our Lord told the thief that on that very day he would be with Jesus in Paradise. From Matthew 12:40 we know that Jesus went into the “heart of the earth” when He died. But from 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 we know that Paradise is now up with the third heaven. In other words, Paradise has been moved! I think that’s what Paul is talking about in Ephesians 4:8 where he said that Jesus “led captivity captive.” In today’s verse Paul tells us that He will bring those who sleep in Jesus (who are now with Him in Paradise) will come with Him.

 

Application

The fact that you are following these daily Bible studies probably indicates that you are genuinely saved. I wonder how many people will miss the rapture because they simply see salvation as a free ticket into heaven rather than a life-changing commitment. They see Jesus simply as their Savior and not as their Lord. However, as Peter points out in 2Peter 3:18, He is both our Savior and our Lord.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 1:11 – Disappearing Riches

Posted on by Will

For the sun rose with a burning heat and the garden withered; its flower fell, and the beauty of its appearance completely perished. So the rich man also will be extinguished in his journeys.

Truth to Learn

This life and our possessions are only temporary. Do not be lifted up by pride or put your security in these fleeting things. Put your security in the grace of God.

Behind the Words

Anetellō is the Greek word translated “rose.” It is a compound word made up of ana, meaning “up,” and tellō, meaning “to set out for a goal” or “to rise.”

“A burning heat” is from tō kausōn, which comes from the verb kaiō, meaning “to burn.” Thus, kausōn refers to “a burning heat.” The presence of the definite article tō, however, indicates a specific type of burning heat. As a result it could be translated as “the scorching heat.”

The words “will be extinguished” are translated from marainō which means “to put out or extinguish as with a fire.” Here it carries the meaning that the rich man will cease to exist on this earth.

“Journeys” is the translation of poreia, which means “travels” or “journeys.” Most likely it is a reference to the rich man’s journeys through life.

Meaning Explained

Staying with his focus on the rich man and his wealth, James points out that “the sun rose with a scorching heat, the garden withered, its flower fell, and its beauty is gone.” Flowers in a garden are quite beautiful but they are delicate and temporary. They only last a short time and it takes but a single day’s worth of hot, scorching sun and wind before they wither and disappear.

The same is true with a wealthy man and his riches; they are but temporary possessions, not eternal. We humans look on the outward things, the attractive things, the possessions. However, these things can be stripped away in an instant. The real wealth is that which is produced by the trials which produce humility and a strengthened faith. The most valuable thing a man can have is a humble submission to the Almighty Ruler of the earth.

Take Job as an example. He had great wealth. Yet, by God’s permission, it was taken from him, not because he was evil, but because God chose to do it. Even Job had to learn that it is God who rules the world, not himself, and certainly not riches.

Then Job answered the LORD and said: “I know that You can do everything, And no purpose of Yours is withheld from You. … I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye has seen You. Therefore I dispise myself, I have repented in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:1, 2, 5, 6)

Even a rich man who lives a long life will one day cease to exist on this earth. In the eternal state he will be no different from the poor beggar except for the spiritual riches that either one of them may have sent on ahead of time.

Application

We are all on a journey through this life. And, like the great men of faith listed in Hebrews chapter 11 we should recognize that we are but strangers and pilgrims on this earth. Let us realize that all that we are and all that we have are gifts from God. All of our possessions come from Him, so let us give Him the praise and the glory for everything.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 14:9 – Lord Of All

Posted on by Will

Romans 14:9 – Lord Of All

For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

Truth to Learn

Jesus Christ is Lord of all!

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “rose” is anhistēmi, which is made up of ana, meaning “again” and histēmi, meaning “to stand.” Hence, anhistēmi means “to stand-up again” or “to rise again.” This word, however, is missing in many manuscripts and is rejected by many Biblical scholars. Fortunately, this does not materially alter the meaning or intent of this verse because it is the fact that Christ both died and lives again that makes Him the Christ and our Savior.

“Lived again” is from the verb anadzaō, made up of ana, meaning “again” and dzaō, meaning “to live.”

The verb translated “might be Lord” is from the Greek word, kurieuō, which is based on the noun kurios, meaning “lord.” Kurieuō means “to have or exercise rule or authority over.” This word carries the idea of His being “proprietor” or “owner” as well as “ruler.” It means that He exercises entire dominion over us, as our sovereign Lord and Master.

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we talked about the fact that we don’t have control of the time of our death. That is strictly up to our Lord. He is our owner and our master if we have truly submitted to Him and accepted Christ’s death on the cross as payment for our sins. That’s Paul’s point in this verse. It is that Lordship of Christ over us for which He died and lives again. He shed His blood and came back from the dead so that He might be our Lord whether we are alive or dead.

Since both “life” and “death” are used throughout the New Testament in reference to both the physical and spiritual realms, it is unclear whether Paul’s statement is regarding all living creatures, all of mankind, or only those whom God has declared righteous. The context up to this point in Paul’s letter would seem to indicate that he is referring to the righteous ones. In verse eleven, however, it becomes clear that Paul is including every intelligent creature (both physical and spirit).

Jesus Christ, the second person of the godhead, has always been Lord over all created beings; however, it is a result of belief in His resurrection from the dead, the fact that He is alive, that descendants of Adam are declared righteous. Thus, it appears that Paul’s reference here is to both saved and unsaved (spiritually alive and spiritually dead), whether they are physically alive or dead. It is not unlike Paul at all to use such a “play on words” to drive home the truths of his teaching. Jesus Christ is Lord of all—those who are alive physically as well as those who are dead physically, and He is Lord of those who are alive spiritually as well as those who are dead spiritually. He is Lord of all!

Application

After death, those who have rejected Christ will learn, to their horror, that they have rejected God Himself. Their eternal fate will have been sealed with no chance to change their mind. For those of us who have believed in His death and resurrection, we know Him as Savior right now. We also have a choice to believe and live like Jesus Christ is our Lord. After death we will completely know His lordship over us. Are you living now as if He is your Lord, or is He just your Savior?

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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