Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Sometimes it Hurts!

 


Sometimes my devotions are just too down right convicting. Basically Paul warned Timothy about the degenerating attitudes and actions of false teachers and evil men in the days leading up to Christ's return. OK, got it.

But, the convicting part derived in the application process is that many times we (me) as believers are more concerned, or fear, how these evil men/false teachers will affect us (me) rather than how they will affect God's people and cloud God's character and nature. (2 Timothy 3:1-9)

You (me) see this today in light of COVID, 2020 election, and the political process; we (me) are more afraid of how those things will negatively affect us (me) and our (my) way of living rather than on the destructiveness of evil men and their evil hearts.

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Yes, Blessed Are the Peacemakers


At the risk of giving what is holy and/or throwing pearls, the bible student in me is compelled to comment: as much as the accomplishments of Trump's peace accords are, this is not the peace nor peacemaker spoken of in Matthew 7:6.

I am not denigrating his accomplishment or his person but I have a hard time when Scripture is misquoted/applied. He will not be called "a son of God" because of his record.
That which is spoken of in Matthew 7 is concerning those who share the gospel and are used by God to reconcile sinners with a holy God, those who know the gospel are sons of God and thereby share the gospel with those in need of being reconciled.
Those who have been reconciled share the truth with those estranged from God and thereby are called the sons of God because they experience the favor/approval of God.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

Friday, November 20, 2020

Live Free to the Glory of God!

 

I know that the un-redeemed will be sent a strong delusion and they will believe the lie. My heart is grieved by wondering if the church is being deluded?

1. We are not citizens of this world. We are pilgrims waiting and searching for the heavenly city of God.
2. We are children of a sovereign God who has already determined the means and the moment of our death. Stop worrying about those two things and live every moment as if it is your last moment. Covid-19 will not take your life one nano second sooner than God has already determined.
3. Stop hanging on to a world that is decayed, destructive, and doomed. Hold possessions lightly. Live for and long for heaven.
4. Set your affections on things that are above.
5. There is no need to fear disease or viruses. God is sovereign over them. Common sense precautions yes! Fear? No! Fear is bondage.
6. Pray for all men, particularly those who are in governmental authority in order for us to live quiet, holy, and productive lives, peacefully sharing the gospel, not muzzled, in fear, locked down, separating us from those who need us most.
7. Remember, whether we live or die, it is for the glory of God! (Romans 14:8). What is the worst that could happen to us? We will be translated into the presence of the living God, to experience the lavish grace of God through the Lord Jesus Christ forever!

Saturday, October 3, 2020

Do Not Be Dismayed!


Believers, as Paul reminded the Thessalonians, do not be, 1) deceived, 2) dismayed, or derailed in these last days. The events of today should not surprise any genuine believer, nor should they give you cause for alarm or fear, and especially, they should not cause you to be inactive or unfaithful to

your Lord. The prevailing wickedness that is developing faster than we can comprehend, the persecution of the body of Christ, and prevailing opposition of anything moral, holy, or Godly by gross immorality, filthiness, and godliness is right on time in God's calendar of events as the time of His Son's return to this earth and the establishment of His Kingdom of Righteousness approaches. Therefore, do not be soon shaken in mind or troubled, let no one deceive you by any means. Before Christ can be revealed there must be the removing of the church, the rebellion of the created, and the revealing of the corrupter. May the Lord of peace give you peace always and in every way. Amen!

 


Monday, September 28, 2020

Do No Harm

 As shepherds we must strive to never wound the precious lambs of God. If we find it necessary to wound a dear child of God, we must not neglect, nay, we must rush to bind up those wounds. We must never leave a wounded, bleeding, or injured precious one until the lamb we found necessary to wound has been treated and on its way to mending. Wounds are at time necessary for the good of the these precious ones and for the glory of God.

Saturday, September 19, 2020

No Escape

 


Thursday, September 17, 2020

Rule Number One

Gregg Metcalf
9-17-2020

Chorus:
Daddy, last night you broke rule number one
It’s the most important one you said
You might break a few before your done
But last night you broke rule number one
Rule number one, come home to mom and me
It’s a rule that should never have to be
But in the blink of an eye your shift was done
Daddy, last night you broke rule number one

I knew you came in my room last night
You kissed my cheek and turned off the light
It was time for work like every night before
I whispered I love you as you closed my door

Daddy, you know that I’m so proud of you
And I know how much you love what you do
You look so brave and strong in your uniform
Protect and serve was why you were born

You told me about the rules you go by
To keep you safe so nobody has to die
But my favorite rule was for your son
Come home to me was rule number one

This morning your best friend stopped by
Momma opened the door and began to cry
With his head bowed low he said to her
A robbery went bad in a great big blur

Chorus:
Daddy, last night you broke rule number one
It’s the most important one you said
You might break a few before your done
But last night you broke rule number one
Rule number one, come home to mom and me
It’s a rule that should never have to be
But in the blink of an eye your shift was done
Daddy, last night you broke rule number one

Recitation:

Now you’ll never come home to mom and me
You did a job nobody wants to do or see
I’ll always be proud of everything you’ve done
Even though you broke rule number one

Chorus:

Daddy, last night you broke rule number one
It’s the most important one you said
You might break a few before your done
But last night you broke rule number one
Rule number one, come home to mom and me
It’s a rule that should never have to be
But in the blink of an eye your shift was done
Daddy, last night you broke rule number one

Friday, August 7, 2020

Word Study - Reprobate Mind

 

WS20-001

 

What Is a Reprobate Mind?

Romans 1:28

           



The Intended Goal:

To determine the meaning of a ‘reprobate’ mind within its biblical context

Two Important Guidelines:

1) Word studies must be based on the original language, not merely on the English text

2) The context must be the final determiner of the precise meaning and usage of the word being studied, not necessary the root of the word

1A Choose the word to be studied – Reprobate

“And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.”

 [Romans 1:28, KJV]



2A Compare the word to be studied

Scholars will try to translate the original language, in this case, the original language is Koine Greek, into English words that most clearly convey the its meaning. It is extremely important to compare the different English words that are used to translate the chosen word. This enables you to get a better understanding of the word in the text.

(I recommend a bare minimum of three (3) different English translations. The more translations used will increase your understanding of what the author wanted to convey with the choice a particular word. If you are able, I would consult at least a dozen different English translations.

BTW, you don’t have to go out and buy a dozen or so different translations. You can simply go to the different bible studies on the internet and have a multitude of English and multi-language translations at your fingertips, and keyboard.

· Bible Gateway

· Bible Study Tools

· Blue Letter Bible

· Crossway

· Study Light


KJV

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

NKJV

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

NLT

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.

NIV

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

ESV

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

CSB

And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right.

NASB

Drag to re-order

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,

NET

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done.

RSV

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct.

ASV

And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

YLT

And, according as they did not approve of having God in knowledge, God gave them up to a disapproved mind, to do the things not seemly;

DBY

And according as they did not think good to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind to practice unseemly things;

WEB

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

HNV

Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

MGNT

καὶ καθὼς οὐκ ἐδοκίμασαν τὸν θεὸν ἔχειν ἐν ἐπιγνώσει παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς ὁ θεὸς εἰς ἀδόκιμον νοῦν ποιεῖν τὰ μὴ καθήκοντα

TR

καὶ καθὼς οὐκ ἐδοκίμασαν τὸν θεὸν ἔχειν ἐν ἐπιγνώσει παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς ὁ θεὸς εἰς ἀδόκιμον νοῦν ποιεῖν τὰ μὴ καθήκοντα

So, we have compared various English Translations and discovered that our word has been translated into English as reprobate, debased, foolish, depraved, corrupt, base, and disapproved. The majority of translations chose the word “reprobate,” with “depraved” coming in a close second.

3A Consider the Word to be Studied

It’s time to consider the meaning of the English word. To define an English word, we must use an English Dictionary.

Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary (1969) defines reprobate as:

1: to condemn as unworthy

2: to foreordain to damnation, morally abandoned, depraved

3: to refuse to accept

Keep in mind, that this is not an attempt to define the Greek word that Paul used in his letter. At this point, we are simply trying to gain insight into the meaning of the English word that was chosen to translate the Greek word that Paul used.

4A Chart the Word to be Studied

1B Through an Exhaustive Concordance


It is time to get a tool from your tool box. Find the word chosen to be studied in an exhaustive concordance. You can either use a physical concordance or use one that is on line.

The task is to discover any and all additional places that the writer used this word in the particular book that you chose your word. We want to see all the placed and how Paul used this word in his letter to the Roman congregation.

Any additional texts can help shed additional light on the meaning of the word under your microscope. Sometimes you will find the author used the same word a number of times, but sometimes the author may have used this word one time in his entire writing.

Other bible authors may have used this same word, but at this step we only want to see how Paul used this word in his letter to the Romans. Other writers may have used the same word, but they may have used it in a different sense or with a different meaning.

Normally a writer will use the word in the same way in a particular book. That is not always the case. In our case however, Romans 1:28 is the only time Paul used this particular word in his letter to the Romans.

2B Through an Exploitable Lexicon

Use a lexicon if you are able or another tool such as Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. (A lexicon is a dictionary of the original language; Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic) Most exhaustive concordances contain lexicons, or an original language dictionary.

You really don’t need to know Greek in order to use a lexicon. Some lexicons are English/Greek and contain instructions on how to use it to accomplish your task.

You can also use what is called “A Readers Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.” It’s kind of like DOS for Dummies. It gives you the English passage by book and chapter in English and lists words by verse numbers. Then it gives you the English meaning.

New Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, (p. 12) tells us that reprobate in Romans 1:28 translates the Greek Word “ἀδόκιμος” It gives the meaning as “not standing the test, not approved.” The word was used of coins or metals.

A New Readers Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, (p. 282) gives the meaning as “unqualified, worthless, base.”

The root is dokn - ”watching.” The idea is watching a person or object to see if it is what it says or is purported to be. It came to be used to describe something “tested in battle”, or “as reliable, hence trustworthy.”

When used of a man it implied or signified “recognized, esteemed, or worthy. An object would be considered tested, genuine, or valuable. As stated, it was primarily used in reference to metal products or coins to signify whether the coins which were watched or tested proved to be reliable, trustworthy, and of value.

When you add the alpha privative (the prefix a- or, before a vowel, an-, used in Greek and English to express negation or absence) it signifies the exact opposite.

Now the meaning is “failed the test, unreliable, untrustworthy, or no value. It is used to describe someone who is depraved, or disreputable. A reprobate person is not known for his inner goodness. In fact, reprobates are considered to be "rejected by God."

In the King James Version, our Greek word is used eight (8) times. It is used as “reprobate” six (6) times, “castaway” one (1) time, and as “rejected” one (1) time.

Vines Complete Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words (p.526-7) tells us that ἀδόκιμος signifies “not standing the test, rejected.” When used of persons – “is a mind that God cannot approve and which must be rejected by Him.”

Upon completion of this step you should have a good lexical definition of the word being studied. Keep in mind that a bible writer, such as Paul, may have used a word in a strict lexical sense, but the context is the final determiner of the precise or exact meaning meant by the author.

First, not to throw a monkey wrench at you and create confusion, but some of the bible writers, including the Apostle Paul coined words, or made some up that didn’t exist at the time of writing.

Second, words changed in usage over time. Strictly depending on the lexical or root of the word is not always reliable. Meanings changed with their use. The context in which the word was used is the final determiner of the meaning of the word.

Interpreters, including pastors, preachers, and teachers often make the mistake of imposing a meaning on a particular word every time it is used in the Scriptures.

The lexical meaning is important to get a basic meaning or idea of a word or words. Don’t skip this step. Just don’t use it as the final arbiter or determiner in your interpretation.

5A Chase the Word to be Studied

In order to fully understand a word, it is always good to chase, or trace the word from its origin through its historical development. This chasing or tracing is what is known as etymology. Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.

The Dictionary of New Testament Theology (p.808) states that Paul always used the word dokimos where the root or lexical sense is “to accept” From this root comes two words that is defined as “to appear” or “to expect.” Meanings from the first derivative, to accept became known as trustworthy, reliable tested, recognized and used as a technical term for genuine, or esteem.

It also states that in the New Testament Paul used dokimos mostly in the sense of recognized or accepted. He used adokimos to mean worthless, rejected, and as something that is unsuitable because it wasn’t what it purported to be hence it was a sham, and was to be rejected.

The people who suppressed the truth of God, rejected his general revelation, refused to acknowledge God as God and worship him, and who resorted to worshiping idols were deemed to be worthless and to be rejected by God.

Paul in Romans 1:28 related how God punished people by abandoning them to their sin.

Paul used this word in 2 Corinthians 13:5, 6, 7; 2 Timothy 3:8, Titus 1:16. The other two times Paul used this word was in 1 Corinthians 9:27 where it was translated the one time as castaway, and in Hebrews 6:8 where it was translated as rejected.

6A Confirm the Word to be Studied

Now, and only now is the time to turn to and consult commentaries. Commentaries can shed additional light on the word that you chose to study. Commentaries can be valuable tools in your study in order to help you confirm what you have discovered and determined.

Be careful, just because so and so said it, or wrote it, doesn’t always make it true. Many commentators and commentaries are heavily influenced by denominational theology. Many times, they don’t do the work themselves, many copy commentaries that have come before theirs. Don’t rely on must one commentary. I recommend that you have at least three (3) commentaries on each book of the bible.

So, what do the commentaries say about our word?

First, let me say that I have over 20 some, maybe 25 commentaries on Paul’s letter to the Romans. Unfortunately, I don’t have all that would like to have on this great letter. Romans is undoubtedly the greatest piece of literature ever written.

Second, for time’s sake and for your sake I am not going to run through all of them. I am going to consult the best of them. I think this will gives us a good idea of the meaning of our word and confirm what we have already determined.

The New International Commentary on the New Testament by Douglas Moo says this:

“In vv. 22-24 and 25-27 Paul has shown how the sexual immorality that pervades humanity has its roots in the rejection of the true God in favor of gods of their own making. In keeping with the relation between human sin and divine retribution in the previous two sections, the first clause in this verse might have a causal force, ‘because they did not see fit to retain God in knowledge, God handed them over to a worthless mind.’ People who have refused to acknowledge God end up with minds that are ‘disqualified’ from being able to understand and acknowledge the will of God. The result, of course, is that they do things that are not ‘proper.’…Paul stresses that people who have turned from God are fundamentally unable to think and decide correctly about God and his will.” [1]

The Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament by Thomas R. Schreiner writes:

“God handed over to an ‘unfit mind’ (adokimon noun) those who ‘did not think God was qualified to be retained in their knowledge.’ An unfit mind is he fruit of seeing God as unfit.” [2]

The New Testament Commentary: Romans by William Hendriksen writes:

“…he gave hem over to (their) worthless disposition, to do what is improper…” Note that an evil ‘disposition’ or ‘mind’ or ‘attitude’ results in evil deeds.” [3]

Just a couple more, so please bear with me…

The New International Commentary on the New Testament by John Murray says:

“The corresponding retribution is that ‘God gave them over to a reprobate mind’, to a mind that is rejected because deemed worthless. A reprobate mind is therefore one abandoned or rejected of God and therefore not fit for any activity worthy of approbation or esteem. The judgment of God falls upon the seat of thought and action. ‘to do those things which are not ‘fitting’ is explanatory of what a reprobate mind entails…” [4]

Romans, by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones writes:

“Wherefore’ (because of this) God also gave them up.” He gave them up, left them to themselves. They abandoned God; God abandoned them. God gave them over to a reprobate (a rejected) mind – a foolish mind, a mind that is fooling itself constantly, and going round and round in circles, and which has really lost its power of apprehending truth. He (man) cannot think straight. That is why he tries to justify vile things… Reprobate mind! And when a man’s mind has become reprobate, there is no hope for him, there is nothing to appeal to.” [5]

These commentaries confirm what we have discovered, reprobate means worthless, foolish, rejected, unfitting, unable to think from and/or with a godly perspective. And really, unable to think from any type of normal, rational, intelligent perspective at all.

7A Conclude the Word to be Studied

Why do people think, say, and do the most unintelligent, irrational, foolish, and even wicked things? Why is that most political leaders and political platforms one hundred and eighty degrees (180) opposite of moral, legal, common sense, and/or intelligent thinking? Why do they think, say, and do things that are seemingly so stupid or vile?

Truth be told, many politicians and political platforms are immoral, illegal, and imbecilic.

· Immoral 

We have gone from the sexual revolution of the sixties (60’s) that we called free love, sex with no strings or morality, to today where pedophiles want to be reclassified as a sexual orientation in order to normalize and legalize it. Murdering unborn babies in the womb, selling body parts.

· Illegal

Suppressing constitutional rights in order to overthrow the current government. Discriminating against the church and/or believers with restrictions. Burning and bombing churches. Rioting, looting, burning down cities, beating fellow human beings.

· Imbecilic

Mandating masks to enter a restaurant but removing them when seated. Shutting down the greatest economy in history. Restricting people from vitamin D by ordering people to remain inside and out of the sunlight & fresh air. Shutting down churches but packing an airplane full of people in an unventilated tube.

So, reprobate means ‘not standing the test, not approved, that which does not prove itself such as it ought, unfit for, unproved, spurious, reprobate’

The conclusion is tragic but clear: because man has chosen to reject God, even becoming a judge of God and deeming God as unworthy to be worshiped, God has rejected man and given him over to a mind that is reprobate, rejected, foolish, worthless, and unable to think clearly or rationally.

This is how you conduct a word study. There are many, many words in the bible that need to be studied carefully. The bible is replete with important and strategic words.

· Redemption

· Reconciliation

· Justification

· Sanctification

· Worthy

· Righteousness

This list goes on and on and on. Don’t cheat yourselves of deepening your understanding and appreciation of Scripture by failing to study significant words in various passages as you come across them. Don’t ignore important words. Learn to do word studies and do them often.

Select a word, compare English translations to see how translator dealt with the word, define the English word with an English dictionary, use an exhaustive concordance to see if the author used the same word and if he did, how did he use it in hour current writing, define the word in its original language with a exhaustive concordance or lexicon, trace the word from its origin through history, and finally consult commentaries to confirm your findings. Thank God for your new understanding.

[1] Douglas Moo, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1996), p. 117-118


[2] Thomas Schreiner, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1998), p.90,93


[3] William Hendriksen, The New Testament Commentary: Romans, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1980), p.79-80


[4] John Murray, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1959), p. 49-50


[5] D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Romans, (Carlisle: Banner of Truth Trust, 1985), p. 391-392

Sunday, August 2, 2020