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The Inarticulate Babbler

When I was an inarticulate babbler, I spoke as an inarticulate babbler, I framed the mind as an inarticulate babbler, I reasoned as an inarticulate babbler. When I became a man, I rendered ineffective the things of the inarticulate babbler. 1 Corinthians 13:11

Nepios (νήπιος), is a word that describes a stage in a child’s life when they lack the ability to speak in an understandable and intelligent way. This concept is then taken further to those who have grown up, but still act as though they are a child because they have not learned how to discern right from wrong. This is not restricted to how a household or business is managed, but also to the person’s own lifestyle.  We have many people today that are coming out of schools and colleges of higher learning that lack the basic abilities to discern right from wrong; what is good from what is bad. They have not learned critical thinking skills; therefore, they accept ideas that go against truth and reality, against logics, against what is rational, and always lead to destruction, while ignoring facts and modifying history to justify their childish behavior.

This same lack of discernment plagues the Church, even though those in Christ have been given all things pertaining to life and godliness. Yet, so many reject God and follow after the next teaching of men that is always based upon trickery and deceit to manipulate the follower through ignorance. We mature through the exercising of our senses to discern right from wrong, while seeking truth through our relationship with the Holy Spirit as we learn to identify and pursue His desires. As we mature, we put away the childish ways of thinking and develop […]

The Inarticulate Babbler2023-12-14T08:12:07-08:00

Washing (λουτρόν)

Water is related to the refreshing and sustaining of life. In most conditions a person will only survive a few days without water. This same concept is used concerning our spiritual life having its source and refreshment from the Holy Spirit. This does not associate water baptism with salvation or the Holy Spirit, for water immersion is not for the removal of the filth of the flesh, but for a good conscience towards God, 1 Peter 3:21. Even Paul stated he did not come to baptize with water, but to proclaim with authority the gospel of Christ, 1 Corinthians 1:17.

Jesus spoke of living water that will flow from within the heart of a person. Anyone thirsting that comes to Him in belief will have rivers of living water flowing out from his heart, John 7:36-38. Although the Holy Spirit had not yet been given when He stated this, the revitalizing and sustaining of spiritual life by the Spirit is what Jesus was talking about, John 7:39. Just prior to His death and resurrection, Christ reveals to the disciples that a change is coming in the relationship with them and the Holy Spirit. The Spirit was with them, and will soon be in them, for He will indwell the saints of the coming Church, John 14:17. It is through this revelation that we understand the relationship with the concept of rivers of living water and the Holy Spirit concerning spiritual life.

Jesus spoke of this renewing related to the Holy Spirit with Nicodemus. He explained that a person must be born of water even Spirit to enter the kingdom of the God.

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly I say to you, except someone is born out from water even […]

Washing (λουτρόν)2023-11-25T07:45:14-08:00

Render Ineffective

“Render ineffective” (καταργέω) describes how something is not producing what it was intended to yield. It is not working properly and therefore returning nothing of value.

We first see this word in Scripture in a parable concerning a fig tree that is not producing fruit. It is rendering ineffective the ground, which should be producing for the owner. Luke 13:7 … cut it down, in order that why also does it render ineffective the ground? The space this tree is taking up could be used to produce fruit.

In discussing the advantage of the Jews, for the oracles of God were committed to them, Paul brings up a question concerning those who do not believe. Did their unbelief render ineffective the faithfulness of God, Romans 3:3? No, in fact, it does not. As it is written, God is true and every man is a liar because He will be justified in His Words and victorious when He judges, Romans 3:4, for He will save a remnant of Israel. Although faith does not negate the value of the law, the promise is not through law, for if it was, then faith would be rendered ineffective since the law is not out from faith, Romans 3:31; 4:14. However, those who seek to be justified out from law have rendered ineffective the Christ in their lives and have fallen from grace, Galatians 5:4, for through the law the sin nature is fully known, not righteousness. The law does not render ineffective the promise that was given four hundred and thirty years before it, Galatians 3:17. Rather the law was added because of the transgression until the faith in Christ should come.

When it comes to how we govern our lives and […]

Render Ineffective2023-11-25T07:46:01-08:00
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