Tag: seed

Romans 11:1 – We Preach, He Enlightens

Posted on by Will

I say then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Truth to Learn

We are to preach the gospel to everyone, whether they will believe or not.

 

Behind the Words

You will notice in this translation the word “not” doesn’t appear in the first sentence, whereas in other translations it does. The word actually is in the Greek text but it should not necessarily be written in the translation. Let me explain why. The Greek word in question is me, which is a negative particle and should in most cases be translated as “not.” There is another Greek word that is translated as “not,” however, which is ou. The difference is that ou has an absolute negative interpretation whereas me has a relative negative interpretation. In fact, me is often used, as is the case in the current verse, to express a question that anticipates a negative answer.

The words “Certainly not!” are translated from me genoito, which is often translated as “May it not be.” In today’s vernacular we would say “No way!”

“Seed” is translated from sperma, meaning “that which is sown, containing the germ of life which will produce new fruit.” It is an indication that Paul is a direct descendant of Abraham.

The word “tribe” is from phulē, which is based on the verb phuō, meaning “to generate or produce.” In the common usage of this word, phulē, refers to “a tribe or a clan.”

 

Meaning Explained

To a Christian Jew living in Rome reading through this letter (or listening to someone read it to him or her), it may have appeared that Paul was teaching that God had rejected the Jews. This would seem preposterous to them since God had chosen them as a covenant people. So in order to clarify what he means, Paul anticipated the objection and states it as a rhetorical question, “did God cast away His people?”

As we pointed out above, this question is asked in such a manner that it requires a negative answer. This would make it immediately clear to the reader (or hearer) that Paul does not even entertain the notion that God would totally reject all Jews. So, he is asking the rhetorical question in such a way that the reader would not immediately reject his statement and would continue on.

He follows-up the question with his familiar me genoito, “No way!” As proof that God has not rejected all Jews, Paul demonstrates that he, himself, is an Israelite and not an adopted one but a natural born Israelite, a direct descendent of Abraham. The Israelites took great pride (and still do today) in knowing the tribe and sometimes even the family of Israel of which they descended. Paul states at the end of this verse that he is of the tribe of Benjamin. He will continue this thought in the following verse.

 

Application

In verse seven of this chapter, Paul will explain that many of the Jews have been blinded so that they can’t see the truth. However, that does not excuse us from preaching the gospel even to those who cannot see the truth. It is not our responsibility to determine who will believe. It is simply our responsibility to preach the gospel truth. The rest is up to God.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 9:29 – General God the Merciful

Posted on by Will

And as Isaiah said before: "Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have become like Gomorrah."

Truth to Learn

The leader of Heaven’s army chooses to save only a few.

 

Behind the Words

The words “said before” are from the Greek verb proereō, which is made up of pro, meaning “before, in time or position” and ereō, meaning “to say or proclaim.” Thus we see that proereō means “to speak in advance” or “to foretell.”

The word “Lord” is from the Greek word kurios, meaning “master or ruler.”

“Sabaoth” is not a Greek word, but a transliteration of the Hebrew word tseva’ah, which means “armies or military hosts organized for war.” It is a reference to the armies of heaven, the angelic hosts.

The word “seed” is translated from the Greek word sperma, meaning “that which is sown, containing the germ of life which will produce new fruit.” In Isaiah’s passage it is the Hebrew word sariyd, meaning “a survivor, or one who remains after a battle.”

 

Meaning Explained

Paul now quotes another of Isaiah’s prophesies from the Septuagint version of the Old Testament.

Unless the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah. (Isaiah 1:9)

He makes reference to the Lord of the hosts of Heaven, the great and powerful leader of the mightiest of all armies. As the leader of the most powerful army ever, He will do as He determines and none can stop Him.

Isaiah’s point is that unless the mighty God had chosen to preserve a small number of survivors of Israel, they would have been completely destroyed just as Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for lack of 10 righteous people. This is a reference to the fact that Abraham negotiated with God for saving Sodom if only 10 righteous people were found in the city. As it turned out there were only Lot, his wife, and his two daughters. You can read all about these events in Genesis chapters 18 and 19.

Now, Paul’s point is the same as the previous verse, namely that God might cast off the entire nation because they have followed after other gods, saving only a few as His chosen ones. Thus, Paul demonstrates that God is ultimately the one who chooses who is destroyed and who is preserved. This is especially poignant given what Paul has already told us way back in Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,

The net effect of all this is that the Jewish Christians in Rome (and all of us who are God’s chosen ones) should fall to their knees and thank the Lord of hosts that he has not cut them off as they deserve, but has chosen to impute to them His righteousness and allow them into His eternal presence.

 

Application

Instead of complaining that it isn’t fair for God to destroy most of humanity and preserve only a few by His choice, let’s be eternally grateful that He opened our eyes to the truth of the gospel. He chose to save us even though we don’t deserve it.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 9:7 – Isaac, God’s Choice

Posted on by Will

nor because they are the Abraham’s seed are they all children; but, "in Isaac your seed shall be called."

Truth to Learn

God chose Isaac as the promised seed of Abraham.

 

Behind the Words

The word “children” is translated from the Greek word teknon, which is the noun form of the verb tiktō, meaning “to give birth to offspring.” Hence, teknon refers to a child. This word does not imply gender as does the word huios (son).

“Seed” is from sperma, meaning “something sown, that is a seed.” Metaphorically, it refers to the offspring that is produced by the seed.

The word “called” is kaleō, which properly means “to call aloud to someone,” but it is also used in the sense of naming someone or something.

 

Meaning Explained

Paul now continues his explanation of why ancestry is no guarantee of righteousness. He just said that not all the people of Israel are spiritual descendants of their father Israel. He started with Israel because he is the one from whom the nation got its name. Now he will cover the other two of the three main patriarchs.

Since the calling and the promises for the nation started with the calling of Abraham, Paul now addresses this part of their lineage. Just because they are descendants of their father Abraham doesn’t mean that they are considered children of the promise. Remember that the first child of Abraham was Ishmael, not Isaac. By the laws of primogeniture (oldest son inheriting the prime blessing and a double portion or all of the estate of the father), Ishmael should be the one through whom the lineage of Abram is recognized. However, God chose Isaac, the son of promise, to be the blessed one. Note also that Ishmael is the father of the Arabs. The Arabs to this day dislike the Jews partially because of this transferring of the blessing from Ishmael to Isaac.

Isaac is the son that God promised to Abraham and for whom Abraham had to wait 25 years. When Isaac was born, Ishmael was a teenager, and the jealousy of Ishmael and his mother Hagar (the personal maid servant of Abraham’s wife Sarah) caused them to be cast out from the clan. As Abraham wrestled with sending his first son away, God told him;

Do not let it be wrong in your eyes because of the boy or because of your handmaid. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. (Genesis 21:12)

It was not Abraham’s choice to place Isaac above Ishmael, it was God’s choice. Isaac was the promised son, not Ishmael. Isaac was God’s chosen one and Ishmael was not! As a result, the seed of Isaac (through Jacob) became God’s chosen people. It may not seem fair to us that God chose Isaac above Ishmael, but He did! God chose Isaac; Isaac did not choose God.

 

Application

We all have a hard time accepting the fact that God chooses some to be saved and not others. That’s why Paul is going through this thorough discourse on God’s choosing.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 1:3 – Son of a King

Posted on by Will

concerning His Son, who was born of the seed of David according to flesh,

Truth to Learn

Jesus, the focus of the gospel message, the Christ, the Messiah, is descended from King David.

 

Behind the Words

The words “was born” come from the Greek, “tou genomenou” which means “the one who was brought into being” or “the one who became.”

The word translated “seed” is the Greek word, “spermatos’, which is both revealing and self explanatory.

“according to flesh” comes from the Greek, “kata sarka’, which means, “with respect to that which is flesh and bone.”

 

Meaning Explained

In verses one and two, Paul talked about the good news that God promised through His prophets. But even more important than who proclaimed this message in the past is who this good news is about. In today’s verse, He tells us who this gospel is about, “His (God’s) Son.” The importance of this verse cannot be overlooked. Paul is making it very clear from the start of this epistle who the central figure is.

He now goes on to declare the pedigree of the one he is talking about. Paul says that Jesus “was born of the seed of David;” that is, Jesus Christ took on human flesh as a descendent of King David (of the sperm of David).

The expression “according to flesh” is an interesting one in that it is used of no one in the Bible except Jesus. But why is this never used to describe anyone else? Saying that he came into being with respect to flesh and bone implies that there is another aspect (another nature) of His being that is not flesh and bone that already existed. This is only true of one who existed before He became flesh and blood and that is not true of any man except Jesus, who is eternally God. He has always had His divine nature and He took upon himself a human nature.

And why is it important for Paul to establish that Jesus was a direct descendent of King David? Because the Jews have been waiting for the One who was to come and rule eternally. This One was predicted numerous times in the Old Testament, most notably in David’s instruction to his son Solomon shortly before his (David’s) death which is recorded in 1 Kings 2:1-4. In order for Jesus to be declared the Christ, the Messiah of the Old Testament, He must be a descendent of King David.

According to the nineteenth century preacher Albert Barnes, “To a Jew there could be scarcely any honor so high as to be descended from the best of their kings; and it shows how little the Lord Jesus esteemed the honors of this world, that he could always evince his deep humility in circumstances where people are usually proud; and that when he spoke of the honors of this world, and told how little they were worth, he was not denouncing what was not within his reach.”

 

Application

And yet we, who have so much less to boast about in our own lineage, find it so hard to be as humble as He who had so much about which He could have boasted!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Peter 1:23 – Born Again Forever

Posted on 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,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 11:1 – We Preach, He Enlightens

Posted on by Will

Romans 11:1 – We Preach, He Enlightens

I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Truth to Learn

We are to preach the gospel to everyone, whether they will believe or not.

Behind the Words

You will notice in this translation the word “not” doesn’t appear in the first sentence, whereas in other translations it does. The word actually is in the Greek text but it should not necessarily be written in the translation. Let me explain why. The Greek word in question is me, which is a negative particle and should in most cases be translated as “not.” There is another Greek word that is translated as “not,” however, which is ou. The difference is that ou has an absolute negative interpretation whereas me has a relative negative interpretation. In fact, me is often used, as is the case in the current verse, to express a question that anticipates a negative answer.

The words “Certainly not!” are translated from me genoito, which is often translated as “May it not be.” In today’s vernacular we would say “No way!”

“Seed” is translated from sperma, meaning “that which is sown, containing the germ of life which will produce new fruit.” It is an indication that Paul is a direct descendant of Abraham.

The word “tribe” is from phulē, which is based on the verb phuō, meaning “to generate or produce.” In the common usage of this word, phulē, refers to “a tribe or a clan.”

Meaning Explained

To a Christian Jew living in Rome reading through this letter (or listening to someone read it to him or her), it may have appeared that Paul was teaching that God had rejected the Jews. This would seem preposterous to them since God had chosen them as a covenant people. So in order to clarify what he means, Paul anticipated the objection and states it as a rhetorical question, “has God cast away His people?”

As we pointed out above, this question is asked in such a manner that it requires a negative answer. This would make it immediately clear to the reader (or hearer) that Paul does not even entertain the notion that God would totally reject all Jews. So, he is asking the rhetorical question in such a way that the reader would not immediately reject his statement and would continue on.

He follows-up the question with his familiar me genoito, “No way!” As proof that God has not rejected all Jews, Paul demonstrates that he, himself, is an Israelite and not an adopted one but a natural born Israelite, a direct descendent of Abraham. The Israelites took great pride (and still do today) in knowing the tribe and sometimes even the family of Israel of which they descended. Paul states at the end of this verse that he is of the tribe of Benjamin. He will continue this thought in the following verse.

Application

In verse seven of this chapter, Paul will explain that many of the Jews have been blinded from seeing the truth. However, that does not excuse us from preaching the gospel even to those who cannot see the truth. It is not our responsibility to determine who will believe. It is simply our responsibility to preach the gospel truth. The rest is up to God.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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Romans 9:7 – Isaac, God’s Choice

Posted on by Will

Romans 9:7 – Isaac, God’s Choice

nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “in Isaac your seed shall be called.”

Truth to Learn

God chose Isaac as the promised seed of Abraham.

Behind the Words

The word “children” is translated from the Greek word teknon, which is the noun form of the verb tiktō, meaning “to give birth to offspring.” Hence, teknon refers to a child. This word does not imply gender as does the word huios (son).

“Seed” is from sperma, meaning “something sown, that is a seed.” Metaphorically, it refers to the offspring that is produced by the seed.

The word “called” is kaleō, which properly means “to call aloud to someone,” but it is also used in the sense of naming someone or something.

Meaning Explained

Paul now continues his explanation of why ancestry is no guarantee of righteousness. He just said that not all the people of Israel are spiritual descendants of their father Israel. He started with Israel because he is the one from whom the nation got its name. Now he will cover the other two of the three main patriarchs.

Since the calling and the promises for the nation started with the calling of Abraham, Paul now addresses this part of their lineage. Just because they are descendants of their father Abraham doesn’t mean that they are considered children of the promise. Remember that the first child of Abraham was Ishmael not Isaac. By the laws of primogeniture (oldest son inheriting the prime blessing and a double portion or all of the estate of the father), Ishmael should be the one through whom the lineage of Abram is recognized. However, God chose Isaac, the son of promise, to be the blessed one. Note also that Ishmael is the father of the Arabs. The Arabs to this day dislike the Jews partially because of this transferring of the blessing from Ishmael to Isaac.

Isaac is the son that God promised to Abraham and for whom Abraham had to wait 25 years. When Isaac was born, Ishmael was a teenager, and the jealousy of Ishmael and his mother Hagar (the personal maid servant of Abraham’s wife Sarah) caused them to be cast out from the clan. As Abraham wrestled with sending his first son away, God told him;

Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. (Genesis 21:12)

It was not Abraham’s choice to place Isaac above Ishmael, it was God’s choice. Isaac was the promised son, not Ishmael. Isaac was God’s chosen one and Ishmael was not! As a result, the seed of Isaac (through Jacob) became God’s chosen people. It may not seem fair to us that God chose Isaac above Ishmael, but He did! God chose Isaac; Isaac did not choose God.

Application

We all have a hard time accepting the fact that God chooses some to be saved and not others. That’s why Paul is going through this thorough discourse on God’s choosing.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, send an e-mail to:

Romans 4:16 – Foundational Promises

Posted on by Will

Romans 4:16

Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

Truth to Learn

God’s promises to you are there for you to build on.

Behind the Words

The word translated “sure” is bebaios, which means “fixed, sure, or certain.” Figuratively it refers to that upon which one may build, rely, or trust. In the New Testament it is never used of people, only objects or ideas.

Meaning Explained

This verse starts off with a connecting clause, “Therefore it is of faith …” The natural question is, “What is of faith?” By backtracking over the previous verses we see that this clause refers to verse 13 which reads:

For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:13)

Therefore, Paul is saying that righteousness is the result of faith, according to God’s gracious gift and not the result of works. The point we made several verses ago was that Abraham was declared righteous as a result of his believing God’s promise regarding his future son. God’s declaration of Abraham’s righteousness occurred a number of years before Abraham obediently circumcised himself and his household. Therefore it can’t have been because of works of obedience, it must be the result of faith.

Now, Paul reiterates the statement that he has made in the past couple of verses, that since Abraham was declared righteous as a result of faith, he has become the father figure to all who believe. He says in today’s verse that the promise was made sure to all Abraham’s seed, whether they are children of his flesh or children (through faith) by his example. The promise is not conditional, it is not partial, and it is not questionable. It is sure and firm just like a building’s foundation.

Application

Where are you putting your confidence? Are you still trying to keep all the rules and ordinances of your church in order to please God? Or, do you trust in God’s promises for your eternal future? In order to trust in the promises, you have to know what those promises are, and in order to know what those promises are you have to read the Bible, repeatedly and consistently.

Let me encourage you to set aside one half hour every day whether at the beginning of the day, in the middle of the day, or at the end of the day. It doesn’t matter when it is, as long as you are consistent about it. In the first 20 minutes, read your Bible and in the other 10 minutes pray about what you just read. If you don’t know where to begin reading, I would suggest that you start with 1st John (the 5th from the last book in the Bible) or perhaps the book of James or one of the Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John).

Try it for a week and see if you don’t begin to feel like God is actually talking directly to you as you read. The more you read your Bible, the better you will understand God’s message for you and His promises to you.

In God’s service, for His glory,

signature

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, you can call the church phone (618) 614-3070 and leave a message telling us your name and e-mail address or you can send an e-mail to:e-mail address

Romans 1:3 – Son of a King

Posted on by admin

Romans 1:3

concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,

Truth to Learn

Jesus, the focus of the gospel message, the Christ, the Messiah, is descended from King David.

Behind the Words

The words “was born” come from the Greek, “tou genomenou” which means “the one who was brought into being” or “the one who became.”

The word translated “seed” is the Greek word, “spermatos’, which is both revealing and self explanatory.

“according to the flesh” comes from the Greek, “kata sarka’, which means, “with respect to that which is flesh and bone.”

Meaning Explained

In verses one and two, Paul talked about the good news that God promised through His prophets. But even more important than who proclaimed this message in the past is who this good news is about. In today’s verse, He tells us who this gospel is about, “His (God’s) Son, Jesus Christ.” The importance of this verse cannot be overlooked. Paul is making it very clear from the start of this epistle who the central figure is.

He now goes on to declare the pedigree of the one he is talking about. Paul says that Jesus “was born of the seed of David;” that is, Jesus Christ took on human flesh as a descendent of King David (of the sperm of David).

The expression “according to the flesh” is an interesting one in that it is used of no one in the Bible except Jesus. But why is this never used to describe anyone else? Saying that he came into being with respect to flesh and bone implies that there is another aspect (another nature) of His being that is not flesh and bone that already existed. This is only true of one who existed before He became flesh and blood and that is not true of any man except Jesus, who is eternally God. He has always had His divine nature and He took upon himself a human nature.

And why is it important for Paul to establish that Jesus was a direct descendent of King David? Because the Jews have been waiting for the One who was to come and rule eternally. This One was predicted numerous times in the Old Testament, most notably in David’s instruction to his son Solomon shortly before his (David’s) death which is recorded in 1 Kings 2:1-4. In order for Jesus to be declared the Christ, the Messiah of the Old Testament, He must be a descendent of King David.

According to the nineteenth century preacher Albert Barnes, “To a Jew there could be scarcely any honor so high as to be descended from the best of their kings; and it shows how little the Lord Jesus esteemed the honors of this world, that he could always evince his deep humility in circumstances where people are usually proud; and that when he spoke of the honors of this world, and told how little they were worth, he was not denouncing what was not within his reach.”

Application

And yet we, who have so much less to boast about in our own lineage, find it so hard to be as humble as He who had so much about which He could have boasted!

That’s something to think about!

In God’s service, for His glory,

signature

Copyright © 2009 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, you can call the church phone (618) 614-3070 and leave a message telling us your name and e-mail address or you can send an e-mail to:e-mail address