samedi 13 juin 2015
A Lexicon of a Pure Faith
Introduction
A “lexicon”
is something like a dictionary, but does not go into as much detail as the
definitions; it is essentially a word-list of terms. These are often useful tools for translators,
because they show how particular words in a foreign language are used in
specific settings.
A number of things prompted this topic, for example a
discussion of the word “jealousy” at a recent meeting brought about the idea
that a word generally meaning something negative can be applied to Yahweh. Also, as I have continued to work on a
Baptismal Guidebook The Highway of Holiness, I have found it necessary
to include a number of lexicon notes to promote a full understanding of
Biblical doctrines. In addition, someone
asked me a question sometime ago about the way the word “Remember” is
used in the Bible, and so we’ll get to that as we go through this study.
What I am presenting to you here is a list of words that appear in the Bible. These words were chosen because they are
often misunderstood by even sincere students of the Scriptures, and this has
led to some unfortunate misunderstandings of doctrine, some errors in the
development of character, and the rejection of much light.
I want to make it clear to you that this is no fault of
the Scriptures, and no fault of even the translators (for the most part) who
were writing to an audience that would have understood the terms used in a
manner often different than we now do.
In other words, language does change over time; the meanings of words do
change over the years, and if we wish to have a pure speech in this last
generation, and be the light of the world, we must understand the “mind of Christ” as it is expressed in the
Bible record.
Now, the Word tells us that when the Almighty assembles
His people and gathers the faithful nations, “then will I turn to the people a
pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Yahweh, to serve Him with
one consent.” (Zeph 3:9) This brief
statement contains a number of important concepts.
First, we see that we are to have a “pure language,” and the word for pure there has the connotations of: select, polished, chosen, purged, cleansed or made bright, tested or proven. Second, we see that the result of such a manner of speech will lead men to “call upon the name of Yahweh” in a proper way, to praise Him and to seek His will. Third, we see another effect, that those with such a language “serve Him with one consent.” Now literally, and this is interesting, the word for “consent” there means “shoulder.” The people of Yahweh with a pure language serve the Almighty with one “shoulder.”
What kind of picture Does this raises in your mind?
As some you may be suggesting, it is a leaning
in together against something... not so much on each other, but against a
common burden.
Like if you want
to move a boulder, a big rock, you put your “shoulder” to it. And all the people here described are as one
“shoulder.”
Actually, in the Bible, the word “shoulder” has two
uses. It means to work with a burden, to
carry something, (Psa 81:6, Isa 9:4) and is also a measure of height. Today we would say that someone is six feet
tall; in the days of the Kingdom of Israel, to indicate that someone was very
tall they would say things like, “from his shoulders and upward he was higher
than any of the people.” (1Sam 9:2)
So the people of Yahweh in the last days have a refined
speech, and as a result they call on the name of their Father in Heaven in a
holy manner, and they serve Him with one “shoulder,” with a unified effort to
take “the burden of the word of Yahweh” (Mal 1:1) – another word for the Divine
message – to the world. It is a measure
of their stature.
Here is the list of words, with associated meanings by use, and a short explanation of why a proper understanding is important; and please keep in mind that this is not a exhaustive list. If a word or a synonym occurs to you that you believe is often misunderstood, and not covered, make a note of it to me.
Cannot
In matters of moral weight, if it is said that one
“cannot” do something, it means that this is a self-imposed restriction. We
know this, because humans were created in the “image” of God, (Gen 1:26 freely
able to choose whom they would serve, whether to sin or to righteousness. (Josh
24:15, Rom 6:16) In other words, a
Christian “cannot” commit sin because he has chosen to walk in the spirit, and
not in the flesh, “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Rom 8:4)
Just as it was with Christ, it is theoretically possible to do some known, wrong act, but it is a practical impossibility. Luke was speaking with someone recently about the Victory message, and he shared with me some of how the conversation went. The individual with whom he was speaking put it very well. He said, essentially, “There is no way I would commit a known sin.” That is exactly what the Bible means by “cannot;” that, “there is no way.” We may just as correctly say, “There is no way I would ever drink poison.” Of course we have arms capable of lifting a vial of poison to our mouths, and we have mouths and throats to swallow, but our very human nature restricts us (unless we are suicidal) from knowingly doing something that will result in our deaths. We may, theoretically, do such a thing, but there is “no way” we ever would. This is how the Bible, when speaking of moral issues, uses the term “cannot.” Are there any questions on this entry?
Conversation
In other words, when the Scriptures say, “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation,” (1Pet 1:15) it does not refer merely to the spoken word (although this idea is definitely included) but to all manner of dealings including social, business and casual.
Ability
A person’s “ability” is what he is able to do, what he
can do. What we need here is to
understand how this word is used in its immediate context, because some
confusion may result if various verses are not harmonized. For example, “I can do all things
through Christ which strengtheneth me,” (Phil 4:13) and, “Yahshua said unto him, ‘If thou canst
believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.’” (Mark 9:33)
And then there are verses that read, “There hath no
temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who
will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with
the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
(1Cor 10:13)
And again, “And over it the Cherubim of glory shadowing
the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.” (Heb 9:5)
And famously (for our ministry), “Whosoever is born of
God doth not commit sin, for His Seed remaineth in him; and he cannot
sin, because he is born of God.” (1John 3:9)
The first verse from Matthew, and various others like it,
tell us that Yahweh will give men gifts according to their “ability.” But then there are verses that tell us we can
do “all things” through Christ as we believe.
And then we followed that up with several statements that would indicate
there are limits to what we are able to bear, what we are able to understand,
and what we are able to do.
In a more general sense, we read that there are things
even Yahweh “cannot” do. He “cannot” be
tempted by evil, or even behold it without covering Himself, (James 1:13, Hab
1:13) for example. So how do we
understand this?
In the Scriptures, the word “ability” is used according
to one’s sphere. By that I mean, when it
says that we “can do all things,” this is within the sphere of
Christianity. We can do all things necessary
to maintain the standard Christ has set for us…it is not promising unconditional
omnipotence to those who believe some arbitrary thing. For example, a man who believes he can fly
may injure himself before too long. A
man who believes he can swim across the ocean may find that his body disagrees
with him when he is a few miles from shore.
But a Christian who believes, he is capable of doing all
that is necessary to perform the will of the Father in Heaven. If Yahweh wishes us to fly, He can take us up
to Heaven in a whirlwind. (2Kings 2:1)
If He wishes us to cross the ocean from one continent to another, He can
place us where He wishes. (Acts 8:39, 40)
It is not the will of the Father that humans should sin, therefore
abiding in Christ we “cannot” sin; and of course we will cover that more fully
when we discuss what sin is. We are
“able” to overcome every sin, but not in our own power, because our sphere is
limited by our humanity (as was Christ’s in human form) but… just as He did it,
so may we, by constant connection to the Father, and by trusting in the providences
of His grace as described in 1Cor 10:13.
Now from the perspective of Yahweh, He is certainly
“able” to do all things, but He restricts Himself based on His Own
character. In other words, His character
is holy, therefore He will not act in a manner that is unrighteous. His character is love, and He will not act in
any way motivated by hatred. His
character is so opposed to evil that there is no possibility of Him being
“tempted” to do something contrary to His nature.
Ability, therefore, in regard to both men and Yah, is
never used Biblically in an absolute sense, but always with consideration for
the character of those involved, and the sphere of power in which he or she
operates.
Now, I had considered writing “Anger” here, but I will
cover that under Wrath later on. So we
move on now to a word that was mentioned in our first entry:
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