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Good Courage (θαρρέω)

Often mistaken in translations for confidence, this is the verb form of the word for “courage”. Outside of Scripture it can also be used in a bad sense where a person has an excessive amount of courage; however, typically it is used to express a good courage, based on the reliance of the dependability of someone. Within Scripture this is its only use, in a positive sense.

In Acts 28:15 as Paul is being brought to Rome due to the persecution of the Jews, when he sees the brethren in the area, he thanked God and took courage. Paul was able to depend upon these saints.

“Good courage” is predominantly used in 2 Corinthians referring to Paul’s attitude towards the saints in Corinth. While he is absent from them, he has courage that they will do the right thing, 2 Corinthians 10:1. It is with this courage that he also has confidence in them (2 Corinthians 10:2).

In 2 Corinthians 10:2, many of our English translations imply that Paul was of good courage while with them; however, in the original Greek it is expressing his courage toward them while he is away because he reckoned to them as ones who are dependable – And I implore, while not being present to have good courage in confidence unto you, which I dared to reckon on the basis of some, the ones reckoning us as walking according to flesh. Paul reckoned to them that they were dependable and therefore would do what is right, even though some of them were stating Paul was not walking properly. We also see in this passage good courage being used with confidence, showing they are not conveying the same idea. Confidence is an expression […]

Good Courage (θαρρέω)Luther Walker2023-11-25T07:58:41-08:00

Glory (δόξα)

and exchanged the proper opinion (glory) of the incorruptible God with the likeness of an image of corrupt man and birds and four-footed animals, and crawling things – Romans 1:23.

Glory means, “to have or express a proper opinion”. Its root concept is grounded in an opinion, notion, or judgment concerning someone.

When we express glory to God, we are actually voicing a proper view of Who He is. In the first chapter of the book of Romans, we see the impact on those who reject a proper opinion of God as they change His image to be that of corrupt humans, birds, four-footed animals, and even creeping things, while not giving the Creator glory. That is, not expressing a proper opinion of Who God really is.

Due to Adam’s trespass and sin, we all have fallen short of God’s opinion of us – for all sinned and fall short of God’s proper opinion, Romans 3:23 (Romans 5:12 – Adam’s sin is passed to all of us). God never expects us to live up to His glory, for He shares His glory with no one (Isaiah 42:8). Romans 3:23 is referring to His opinion of us as Humans. When God created Adam, He blessed Him (Genesis 1:28). When Adam ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, his conscience became aware of the difference between what is beneficial and what causes calamity. However, in determining to break God’s law, Adam separated himself from God in his spirit, bending his nature to corruption, which he passed down to all of us (Genesis 5:3). He corrupted what God blessed. Although we have a corrupt nature, we still have a conscience and the knowledge of good and evil; therefore, God’s opinion of all humans involves their ability to […]

Glory (δόξα)Luther Walker2023-11-25T07:58:50-08:00

Regret (μεταμέλομαι)

Regret is a word that comes from a combination of “to care about” and “after”. It is used to express being concerned about something after it has been done, which will result in a change of actions.

While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, the Chief priests and elders came to Him questioning by what authority He is teaching. He responded with a story concerning a man and two of his sons who he asked to go and work in the vineyard. The first one said, “No”, but afterwards regretted it and went (Matthew 21:29). He then rightly rebukes them for not believing the testimony of John the Baptist even though the tax collectors and prostitutes did (Matthew 21:32), for they did not regret rejecting John’s testimony even after seeing others accepting it.

After Christ was betrayed, Judas regretted what he had done when he saw that Jesus was condemned to death and returned the money he had made for betraying Christ to the Chief priest and elders (Matthew 27:3). His regret was not that they beat and imprisoned Him, but that He was condemned to death. This is what caused Judas’ to give care again about what he had done.

Paul expressed his regret for how the first letter to the Corinthians saint had to be written, although he did not regret what was written, only that it caused them grief. However, it was necessary for their benefit and to correct the wrongs they were involved in (2 Corinthians 7:8).

When it comes to the oath that God made with Christ to place Him as a priest according to the order of Melchizedek, He has no regret (Hebrews 7:21). God does not regret His oath with Christ. Therefore, […]

Regret (μεταμέλομαι)Luther Walker2023-11-25T08:00:36-08:00

It is God’s Desire that All Are Saved

This is proper and acceptable before the face of God, Who desires all men to be saved and come to a full experiential knowledge of the truth – 1 Timothy 2:3-4

God has not determined that some would perish, but rather is longsuffering towards all so that they can make room for a change of the mind (Repentance).

The Lord is not slow of promise as some regard slowness, but is longsuffering unto you, while not determining some to perish, but all to make room unto repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9.

However, this does not mean that humans can force God to save them by their works, for salvation is God’s choice, not by the desirous will of humans. He showed this through the selecting of Jacob over Esau before they were born. Rather than giving Esau the birthright to the promise given to Abraham, God chose Jacob before either one had done good or bad for the purpose of showing that it is not about what humans want, but God’s choice (Romans 9:11). This was done to prove a point, it is not the one who desires or the one who runs, but God who chooses to give mercy (Romans 9:16).

How God chooses to provide salvation is His choice, not ours. God states today that to be saved we are to take Him at His Word and believe that Christ died on behalf of our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

God did determine that certain things would happen. He chose that Christ would die and be raised from the dead (1 Peter 1:20). He chose that all who would be in Christ would have their bounds […]

It is God’s Desire that All Are SavedLuther Walker2023-12-14T08:14:28-08:00

Atonement (כפר – koper)

The primary meaning of atonement is “to cover”. Under the Mosaic Law, those who sinned had to make a sacrifice that would atone (cover) for their sin, in addition to a yearly atonement made by the High priest (Exodus 30:10) concerning any sins done unaware, for ignorance of the law was not an excuse for violating it.

In a Psalm of David, he writes of the God Who listens to prayer, covering our transgressions. For transgressions of the law had to be dealt with or death would come upon the one breaking it.

“Words of perversity are against me. Our transgressions You cover.” – Psalm 65:3.

Within the tabernacle, in the inner most chamber, God had the place of atonement where the High Priest would go once a year to offer a sacrifice for the sins of Israel. It is often mis-translated as the mercy seat; however, no mercy was being expressed here, rather, it was the covering place (הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת – kap-po-ret) for sins (Leviticus 16:15).

In the New Testament, atonement is only found in translation, not the original. There is a big difference between the blood of Christ compared to what the blood of bulls and goats could accomplish, for they do not inherently have the ability to send away sin (Hebrews 10:4).

Under the New Covenant, made through the blood of Christ, our sins are sent away not covered up. The Greek language has a word that expresses the same concept of covering as the Hebrew word for atonement; however, it is never used concerning Christ’s cross work. James uses it concerning the one who turns a sinner from his error, coving a multitude of sins (James 5:20). Therefore, if Christ had made an atonement for […]

Atonement (כפר – koper)Luther Walker2023-11-25T08:01:34-08:00

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