“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 the things we do in this body, we do not use law; rather, we live by grace. Under the Mosaic law what you ate impacted your sanctification before God. Under grace the only restriction concerning food that we have is to be thankful, 1 Timothy 4:3. However, although we are free to eat whatever we desire, we should not permit food to exercise control over us. Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will render ineffective both of them in the resurrection. What we do in this body matters. It is not for the fulfillment of the desires of the flesh and should be held in honor and sanctification. Our freedom is not to allow the desires from the flesh to exercise control over us, for the body is not made for fornication. Therefore, we are to flee this sin, which is against our own bodies, for we are the Holy of Holies and are not our own, 1 Corinthians 6:12-19. Therefore, let us not live a life based upon law, but out from faith where there is freedom to walk in this newness of life we have in Christ; liberty to walk in a righteous manner out from faith.
The imputation of Christ death and resurrection to those who believe the gospel for salvation (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) renders the sin nature within us ineffective, Romans 6:6. Although we still get desires to do wrong, we are now able to walk in newness of life by reckoning our fellowship with Christ’s death and resurrection to be true and therefore seek to yield our members to righteousness, Romans 6:4-13. This freedom is not through law. The law of marriage is used to show how we are free from the Mosaic law because of our death and resurrection in Christ. For just as the woman is released from the law of marriage when her husband dies, so are we who have died in Christ freed from the Mosaic law so that we can serve in newness of spirit, not by the oldness of the letter, Romans 7:2,6.
God has chosen the base things the world considers foolish to render ineffective the world’s wisdom and to bring to shame its wise, 1 Corinthians 1:27-28. The wisdom of the world involves regulations according to the teachings of men based upon self-imposed religion, humility, and neglecting of the body, which have no value against the indulgences from the flesh, Colossians 2:20-23. The wisdom from God is in Christ Jesus through Whom we are righteous, sanctified, and redeemed so that all have a proper opinion of God, negating any fleshly boasting anyone should think they have before Him, 1 Corinthians 1:29-31. True wisdom belongs to the mature, for the world and its rulers have been rendered ineffective. This mystery that we speak of concerning Christ is where true wisdom abides, for although it was hidden it has now been revealed to us through His Spirit, 1 Corinthians 2:6-10.
Although prophecy is of value to the Church, our love for one another is greater. For Love never falls; however, now that we possess the entire revelation from God, the Spiritual gift of prophecy has been rendered ineffective. The full revelation renders ineffective that which is out from a part, and prophecy is necessary when only part of the revelation has been revealed. Now is the time to put away the things of an inarticulate babbler for we no longer know out from a part. We have the full revelation and now abides faith, hope and love, the greatest of these is love, 1 Corinthians 13:8-13. Therefore, let us not seek after prophecy, which is no longer of value to us because God has given us all the details about what He will do; rather, let us seek to walk in love towards other saints, expressing our love for God through loving the brethren.
By faith, law has been rendered ineffective; therefore, we now live by grace out from faith. Through Christ’s death and resurrection our sin nature can no longer bring to completion what it intends through its cravings for the desires from the Spirit are in contrast to the desires from the flesh. Through the wisdom from God, the wisdom of this world has been shown to be foolishness, for through self-made religions, humility, and abuse of the body the desires from the sin nature are not overcome to produce righteousness; rather, our righteousness is in Christ. Through the full revelation of the mystery of God, prophecy has been rendered ineffective. Therefore, let us not be ashamed of our testimony of our Lord and the gospel which is according to the inherent ability of God to save, for we are called with a “set a part” calling for His purpose and grace in Christ Jesus, who rendered ineffective death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 2 Timothy 1:8-11.
