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Romans 8:36 – His Targeted Children

Posted on May 1, 2018 by Will

As it is written: "For your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered."

Truth to Learn

The reason that faithful Christians suffer in this life is not because of disobedience, but because of family lineage.

Behind the Words

The word translated “it is written” is the Greek verb graphō, which literally means “to engrave.” By modern application it means “to write.” It is expressed in the Greek perfect tense, which implies past completed action with an ongoing effect, but the emphasis is on the effect.

Meaning Explained

Paul has just asked the rhetorical question, “What shall separate us from the love of Christ?” He then listed a number of afflictions that can occur to man. He now seems to abruptly change thought and quotes a passage from the Old Testament (Psalms 44:22). If you read through the 44^th Psalm, however, you will see that it is neither abrupt nor a change of thought.

In Psalms 44 the writer is recounting first the way that GOD has fought for the Israelites and how their enemies have been scattered. In the second part of this Psalm, he recounts the shame suffered by the Israelites when God apparently abandoned them. The third portion of this Psalm is the author’s commitment to GOD in spite of the calamities that have overtaken them. At that point the writer proclaimed:

“Surely, for Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” (Psalms 44:22)

The reason for the afflictions of the Jewish people was (and is) not because of sin; rather, it is because they are the chosen people of GOD.

That’s the point that Paul is making here and the reason that he quotes this Old Testament passage. In the previous verse he recited a number of afflictions that befall Christians today. He is saying now that the reason for these afflictions is not because of disobedience or sin, it is because we are obedient, and we are the children of God. That’s the reason we are (and will be) attacked by our enemy.

Keep in mind what Christ told His disciples in John’s gospel:

"If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you …” (John 15:18-20)

Application

We will suffer in this life because we are Christians! In fact, the greater our testimony, the more likely it is that we will suffer. Paul, however, is about to offer a word of encouragement and a glorious truth for us all to know when we are in the midst of those trials.

The key to understanding Christian persecution and suffering is not to focus on what we have done, but what He has done – and what He will always do.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 3:10 – No Not One!

Posted on September 21, 2017 by Will

As it is written: There is none righteous, not even one;

Truth to Learn

None of us meets God’s standard of righteousness.

Behind the Words

The words “it is written” are translated from a single Greek verb, graphō. This word literally means “to engrave,” that is, “to write.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense. This tense in Greek indicates past completed action with an ongoing effect, but the emphasis is on the effect. Hence, we could express this as “It has been written and, therefore, is now in writing.”

“Righteous” is from the Greek word dikaios. It is based on the word dikē, which originally referred to a tendency. Gradually, this word came to mean “an established standard or custom.” So, dikaios refers to someone who has met an expected standard. The standard referred to here is God’s standard of behavior, always doing what is right.

Meaning Explained

Don’t you just hate it when someone starts quoting Scripture at you, especially when you know they’re right? Well, that’s just what Paul is doing here. He is talking to Jewish Christians in Rome who very likely know the Law and the Prophets (what we call The Old Testament). He has been skillfully showing them that whether they are Jews or not, they are no better in God’s eyes than anyone else. He now drops the other shoe!

He is quoting from both Psalms 14 and Psalms 53, which are nearly identical. His quotation, which comprises verse ten through eighteen, is really a chain of quotations and paraphrases. Here’s what Psalms 53 says:

The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and have done abominable wickedness; there is no one doing good. God looked down from heaven upon the sons of mankind, to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Every one has turned aside; they have together become corrupt; there is no one doing good, not even one. (Psalms 53:1-3)

Up to this point in Paul’s discourse it still would have been possible, though improbable, that some of his Jewish Christian readers might have thought themselves better than others and acceptable to God because of their lineage and their possession of the Scriptures. Now they have no leg to stand on, so to speak. Their own Scriptures clearly condemn everyone as having turned from God and having become wicked. Paul will use this and other scripture verses from the Old Testament to show these Jewish Christians that the Scriptures which had been entrusted to them by God declare even Jews to be without righteousness.

Application

Let us now stop here and consider that before accepting Christ as Savior, none of us could have stood before God innocent in any way because we haven’t measured up to His standard. When we believed His gospel message and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we were credited with the righteousness of Christ. Without this righteousness credited to our account we are all destined for hell!

In other words, without the blood of Christ, none of us deserves heaven, not a single one of us!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Peter 1:16 – Total Submission

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Will

for it is written, "Be holy, because I am holy."

Truth to Learn

God wants us to be completely set-apart to Him.

Behind the Words

“For” is from the Greek word dioti, which is made up of dia, meaning “through” or “for” and hoti, meaning “that.” So literally it means “for that reason.”

The word translated “written” is a form of graphō, which means “to engrave” or “to write.” The word is used here in the perfect tense indicating past completed action with an ongoing effect where the emphasis is on the effect. That is, it was written and therefore is now written down for all to see.

Meaning Explained

In the previous two verses we were admonished to not be conformed to our former lusts which we followed in our ignorance, but instead to be holy (set-apart and pure) in our behavior because it is the Holy One who called us. Now, in order to explain why we need to be set-apart, Peter quotes from the Old Testament, where God said:

For I am the LORD your God: ye shall consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy (Leviticus 11:44)

The word translated “consecrate” is the verb form of the same word that is translated “holy” in this Old Testament passage. As we mentioned in the previous verse, one of the key elements of sanctification, or holiness, is the notion of being “set-apart.” A sanctified vessel is one that is set-apart for service in worshipping God. To sanctify oneself, therefore, also carries with it the notion of setting oneself apart. But how do we do that?

In Romans 12:1,2 the Apostle Paul put it this way:

Therefore, brothers, I call on you through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove what is the good and pleasing and perfect will of God.

According to this passage, the way we are to become a holy, living sacrifice is to present our bodies to God. Our body becomes a sacrifice because we give up control over the use of it and commit to letting God choose how we use it. Then, Paul says we are to set ourselves apart from the world system. In other words, instead of allowing ourselves to be controlled by the world system; instead of learning to think and act like we are constantly being pressured to think and act, we need to allow our minds to be renewed by God. And the only way that can happen is by reading and studying the Bible.

Let me repeat that: the only way we can renew our mind and become set-apart to God is by reading and studying the Bible.

Application

On a scale of one to ten, where one is not at all set-apart and ten is completely devoted and committed to God, where are you right now? (Hint: God wants you to be a ten. Anything less means you have more submitting to do.)

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians 3:19 – Wisdom or Foolishness?

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Will

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness";

Truth to Learn

Good’s foolishness is better than the world’s wisdom.

Behind the Words

Kosmos is the Greek word translated “world.” It refers to “order” or “arrangement.” It is a reference to the world system, that is, the people and society of this world as opposed to God’s people and His system.

“Foolishness” is translated from the Greek word moria (based on moros) which refers to foolishness, folly, or absurdity.

The word “with” is from para, which expresses a physical nearness or an abstract relationship (with respect to).

“It is written” is the translation of the verb graphō, meaning “to grave” or “to carve.” The most ancient writing was done by carving the letters out of stone or clay tablets; therefore, graphō nearly always refers to writing. The verb is expressed here in the perfect tense, indicating past completed action with an ongoing effect.

The word “catches” is from drassomai, which means “to grasp, take, catch, or seize.” This verb is always written in the middle voice, indicating action done by the subject to, or for, himself.

Panourgia is the word translated “craftiness.” It is made up of pas, meaning “all or every” and ergon, meaning “work or a deed.” Literally, this word means “the ability or willingness to do anything.” It is often used to refer to “craftiness, cunning, or unscrupulous behavior.”

Meaning Explained

In 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Paul contrasted the wisdom of the world (which is foolishness) with the foolishness of God (which is wisdom). Having rejected God altogether, the people of the world have fashioned their own wisdom to explain away any notion of an all-powerful God. In Paul’s time there were great orators, called sophists (wise ones) who used fancy words and enticing language to persuade their audience that they were speaking “truth.” In reality, especially when laid next to God’s wisdom, these sophists were proclaiming foolishness.

Since Corinth was such a worldly city, the people there were easily caught up in this worldly “wisdom.” Even the teachers within the church had come to believe that they were wise and gifted because they had successfully emulated the oratory skills of the sophists. Unfortunately, in learning the tools and techniques of the sophists, some of the teachers in Corinth had left the true foundation. As a result, they had become proud of their skills instead of becoming humble in their service to God.

To emphasize his point, Paul now quotes from the book of Job. In this passage Eliphaz the Temanite is describing to Job how the wicked of this world are always punished by God’s justice.

He catches the wise in their own craftiness, And the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them. (Job 5:13)

Likewise, teachers within the church who rely on earthly wisdom are fools teaching foolishness to God’s people.

Application

Listen carefully to those who teach in your church. Are they teaching “worldly wisdom” or “the foolishness of God?” God’s “foolishness” is better than the world’s “wisdom.”

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians 2:9 – They Can’t Understand

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Will

But as it is written: "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him."

Truth to Learn

Natural man can’t understand the mystery of salvation.

Behind the Words

The words “it is written” are translated from the Greek verb graphō, which literally means “to grave,” that is, to carve or to write. It is written here in the perfect tense, so it means “it was written in the past and, therefore, it is written (as a confirmed statement of fact).”

“Seen” is from a form of the verb horaō, which means “to see” or “to perceive.”

“Heard” is from akouō, which means “to hear something.” It is often used metaphorically, as it is here, to refer to someone understanding the truth of what is said.

The words “entered into” are from the verb anabainō, which literally means “to go up.”

Eis is the word translated “into.” It literally means “into.”

The word “prepared” is translated from hetoimadzō. This verb means “to make ready” or “to prepare.”

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse is one that is often misunderstood. Many people think that it is a reference to the things in heaven which God has prepared for believers. This is precisely the problem that occurs when we quote verses out of context. If we look carefully at the context of this verse, we learn that Paul is not talking about heaven, but about something entirely different.

Upon looking at the preceding verses, we see that Paul is talking about the mystery of God’s wisdom regarding the gospel. He even contrasts that mystery with the secrets of some false religions. The difference between the mystery of God’s wisdom and the secrets of the mystery religions is the fact that this mystery is now openly revealed. In tomorrow’s verse, Paul will tell us that the things spoken of in today’s verse have already been revealed by the Holy Spirit.

The glories of heaven had not yet been fully revealed. There is a brief description of the heavenly scene found in Revelation chapters twenty-one and twenty-two, but the book of Revelation had not yet been written when Paul wrote these words. So, Paul is not referring to heaven in today’s verse; he is talking about the wonder of salvation through faith and the glorious fellowship we have with God as a result.

He tells us three things about the mystery that is now revealed. The first is that the eyes of natural man have not perceived it, the ears of natural man have not understood it, and the deepest part of natural man’s being (the heart) has not received it. The reason that the natural man (one who has not accepted the gospel message by faith and, therefore, does not truly love God) is explained by Paul in tomorrow’s verse.

Application

The gospel message and fellowship with God cannot be grasped by human intellect alone. This understanding only comes once we have believed God’s truth about what Jesus Christ did on the cross. We can’t logically argue anyone into believing. We can only witness and pray. The rest is up to God.

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians 1:31 – Where’s Your Focus

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Will

that, as it is written, "he who glories, let him glory in the Lord."

Truth to Learn

The focus of our life needs to be on God, not the things of man.

Behind the Words

The words “it is written” are translated from the Greek verb graphō , which literally means “to grave,” that is, to carve. It is the most ancient form of writing. In first century common usage, it refers to any kind of writing. It is written here in the perfect tense, so it means “it was written in the past and, therefore, it is written (as a confirmed statement of fact).”

The words “glories” and “glory” are both from the verb kauchaomai. A couple of verses back we learned that this word means “to boast, brag, or have pride.”

The word “Lord” is from kurios, which is based on kuros, meaning “might, power, or control.” Kurios refers to someone who has supreme authority or control over someone else.

Meaning Explained

The divisions within the church in Corinth sprang-up primarily from people bragging about who their leader was:

For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." (1 Corinthians 1:11-12)

This greatly troubled Paul. He was not troubled because some of them claimed to follow someone else rather than him. That would have indicated selfishness on his part. Paul was troubled because it showed that the Corinthians were more focused on things of man than things of God. It also meant that they were following after men of wisdom, power, and eloquence, which is not what Paul wanted nor is it what God wants.

Paul may have seen in the Corinthian Christians what God saw in the Israelites. After all the miracles that God had performed for them and after all the blessings that He bestowed on them, they turned their backs on God and began following after the false gods and idols of the people in the land into which God had led them. They had utterly turned from the one true God and placed more importance on wisdom, power, and riches than in God. As a result, before God judged the Israelites and had them carried off into Babylon, he sent them a warning through the Prophet Jeremiah, who said:

Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

This is the passage that Paul is quoting to the Corinthians and it is a stern warning to them, and to us.

Application

What is the central object of your life? Is it to gain wealth, power, or wisdom? Or, is your life singularly focused on serving God to demonstrate how grateful you are for all that He has done for you? That’s a question that we all have to answer!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians 1:19 – Worldly Wisdom?

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Will

For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."

Truth to Learn

The wisdom of the world is foolishness to God.

Behind the Words

“Written” is from the Greek word graphō, which literally means “to grave,” that is, to carve. It is the most ancient form of writing. In first century common usage, it refers to any kind of writing. It is written here in the perfect tense, so it means “it was written in the past and, therefore, it is written (as a confirmed statement of fact).”

Apollumi, is the word translated “destroy.” It is made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from,” used as an intensifier, and ollumi, meaning “to destroy.” Thus, apollumi means “to completely destroy. Today, we might say annihilate.

Both “wisdom” and “wise” are translated from a form of sophos, which refers to “wisdom, skill, tact, or expertise in an art form.”

The words “bring to nothing” are from atheteō, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “without” and thetos, which refers to something that has been put in its place. Therefore, athetheō means “to cause something to be without a place.” In other words, it means “to get rid of” or “to abolish.”

Both “understanding” and “prudent” are from forms of the Greek word suniēmi, which refers to “perception, understanding, or intelligence.” It generally refers to the ability to understand concepts and see relationships between them.

Meaning Explained

Paul is making his comments with regard to the gospel message. In the previous verse he said that the good news of Salvation in Jesus Christ is laughable, even absurd, to those who reject it, those who are on death’s road because of such rejection. However, to those of us who believe the salvation truth, it is the life-giving power of God. To further emphasize his point, Paul quotes from the Prophet Isaiah, who said:

Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work Among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden. (Isaiah 29:14)

This message was delivered to the Israelites because they thought they could rely on the strength of the Egyptians to protect them from a coming invasion by the Assyrians. In spite of all the miracles that God had done to save them and protect them, the Israelites rejected God and relied on their own wisdom and understanding. After all, at that time the Egyptians were the richest, most powerful nation in the world. It seemed like the wisest, most prudent thing to do, to make an alliance with Egypt for their own protection.

One thing we often miss when we read about the Israelites and their Egyptian neighbors: Egypt is a type (a symbolic picture) of the world system that we live in today. The world system will not save you. Only God can do that.

Application

How many Christians today are so caught up in the world around them that they come to depend on it instead of God? Are you one of them? We have to live in the world, but we don’t have to follow it. Where is your heart?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 4:23 – Old Truths for Us

Posted on January 24, 2010 by Will

Romans 4:23

Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him,

Truth to Learn

The Old Testament declares important truths for Christians.

Behind the Words

In Greek there are two different words translated “not.” One is ou and the other is mē. The second of these, mē, indicates a conditional negation or when denial is a matter of thought, not fact. The word ou, on the other hand, indicates absolute negation as a matter of fact. In the current verse, the word “not” is translated from the Greek word ou. Hence, it is a matter of fact, not opinion, that “it was not written for his sake alone.”

Meaning Explained

Since the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the predominantly Jewish Christians in Rome, they certainly were familiar with their ancestor, the patriarch Abraham. Paul has been demonstrating in a series of logical arguments that justification (God’s declaration of our righteousness) does not come from obeying a series of laws or church ordinances. Rather, justification comes of God’s free will (not our free will) to those who believe the promise(s) made by God as recorded in the Bible.

In Abraham’s case God promised that he would be the father of many nations and that he would have descendents as the sand of the sea or as the stars of the heaven, and Abraham believed God. As we have seen in the past few verses, this belief occurred even when Abraham was past child producing years, and he held firm to this belief for more than 20 years even as his body was getting older and less able to produce children.

Moses documented all of this in the book of Genesis, chronicling the life of Abraham in chapters 12 through 25. The specific reference in the current verse is to Genesis 15:5,6 where it says:

And He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your seed be.” And he believed in Jehovah. And He counted it to him for righteousness.

What Paul now tells us in the current verse is that Moses’ documentation of this event absolutely was not for Abraham’s sake alone (the fact that Abraham was declared righteous because of his faith). In fact, it was not written for Abraham’s sake at all, given the fact that Abraham had been dead more than 300 years when Moses wrote it. When this was written about Abraham, it clearly elevated Abraham in the eyes of all who read about this, more so than if it had simply been handed down as an oral tradition. So, in a sense, it may have had some benefit to Abraham but more so to his descendents who now had “bragging rights” about their ancestor.

Paul’s point, however, is that there is another (more important) reason that this was written about, and he will state that in the next verse.

Application

The things written in the Old Testament were not written just for the Jews. These things were also written for Christians who are the spiritual descendents of Abraham.

In God’s service, for His glory,

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