Unrighteousness (ἀδικία)
Unrighteousness (ἀδικία) encompasses both the evil determinations within the mind and the resulting actions that violate standards of right conduct. Therefore, unrighteousness is the bigger term, including both trespasses and sins. A trespass happens within the mind when a determination is made to do something that a person knows is against God’s standard. It is from this desire that sin is birthed, James 1:14-15. Scripture specifically defines sin in 1 John 3:4 as lawlessness and exterior to the body in 1 Corinthians 6:18. Since sins and trespasses are different, for we were dead in both, the trespass happens within the mind when a determination is made to sin and therefore the sin is working out that desire, Ephesians 2:1.
In the first chapter of Romans, we are given a list of unrighteousness. In this list is mental attitudes and actions that are both unrighteous in their nature. “And just as they did not approve worthy to have the God in full experiential knowledge, the God gave them over to an unapproved mind to do what is wrong, being filled up where they lack in all unrighteousness: fornication, malignant evil, covetousness, lacking in character, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, bad character, secret slanderers, backbiters, haters of God, insolent, haughty, arrogant, inventors of wrong, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, without natural affection, irreconcilable, not merciful.” Romans 1:28-31.
In these last times, there are many false teachers among us who bring in destructive heresies, denying the Lord, 2 Peter 2:1. Their ways are of destruction, they blasphemy the truth and by covetousness exploit with deceptive words, 2 Peter 2:2-3. Many of these go after the way of Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, 2 Peter 2:15, which is the willingness to manipulate Christians into destroying themselves for profit, such as with tithing, or allowing perverted behavior within the assembly. Do not be fooled, God is not mocked, Galatians 6:7. They will receive in full the wages of their unrighteousness, 2 Peter 2:13.
When the man of lawlessness comes, all those who did not believe the truth and took pleasure in unrighteousness will be under strong delusion to believe the lie and will be condemned along with him, for he will deceive them in all unrighteousness because they did not receive the truth that they should be saved, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12.
When it comes to overcoming sin in our lives, we must use the truth, which is a specific doctrine for how to have victory over our sin nature, John 8:32. The sin nature has been rendered ineffective in Christ because His death and resurrection have been imputed to us; therefore, we are able to walk in newness of life, Romans 6:4-5. In order to apply this to our lives we must know that the sin nature has been rendered ineffective in Christ because one who has died to sin is no longer a slave to it, Romans 6:6. We then must reckon the fact that being co-crucified and therefore raised with Christ we are no longer a slave to the sin nature, Romans 6:11. What value will the truth have if we do not take God at His word and apply it to our lives? And then finally, we are to yield our members to God as alive from the dead unto righteousness and stop using them for unrighteousness, Romans 6:13. Rejecting unrighteousness in our lives involves not only our actions, but our frame of mind, for what goes on in the mind always impacts our activities. Therefore, we are to set our mind on the things above, Colossians 3:1-2, for the mind set on the flesh works out death, but when set on the Spirit it produces life and peace, Romans 8:6.
All sin has a quality of unrighteousness, 1 John 5:17. When we verbally agree with God concerning an action that is sin because God calls it sin, He is faithful to forgive that sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, 1 John 1:9. As we walk in the light and apply the truth to our lives, we have victory over darkness, which is a manifestation of our sin nature, and therefore have fellowship with other saints and the blood of Christ keeps on cleansing us from all sin, 1 John 1:7. The longer we walk in the light and apply the truth (Know, Romans 6:6 – Reckon, Romans 6:11 – Yield, Romans 6:13) the less we sin, for when we are not yielding to unrighteousness within our minds we will not produce sin.
Wrath (ὀργή)
Wrath(ὀργή) is an outward expression of anger.
There are many times recorded in Scripture and human history of God’s wrath coming upon a people which brought their destruction, such as with Sodom and Gomorrah. Therefore, the concept of the wrath of God is often focused on the coming tribulation period, in which His wrath will be poured out in full upon the ungodly, Revelation 11:18, or swift destruction coming upon the unrighteous. However, this is not the only way in which the wrath of God is manifested. An aspect of God’s wrath is being displayed today upon the ungodly and unrighteous men who hold down the truth in unrighteousness, Romans 1:18. God is permitting them to continue in their corrupt ways, turning them over to an unapproved mind and to the uncleanness of the lust of their hearts to dishonor their bodies among themselves, receiving in themselves the punishment for such an immoral lifestyle, and filling up to the full their judgment. Therefore, in reality, they are not getting away with their corruption. This is in stark contrast to how God deals with a Christian who is acting in an unbecoming way. He will discipline us, allowing sickness, being crippled, and even death if we continue in a sinful lifestyle, for He will not allow us to be condemned with the world; therefore, when we are judged we are child-trained to correct our actions, 1 Corinthians 11:30-32. As Christians, we are not appointed unto any quality of God’s wrath, 1 Thessalonians 5:9. However, those who reject the truth are by nature the children of wrath, Ephesians 2:3.
Although the wickedness of this world today makes us very angry, especially when they lie, cheat, and use deception and unrighteousness to take advantage of us and others, bringing in harmful policies and seeking to force everyone to accept and glorify their corrupt lifestyle, the wrath of man does not work out the righteousness of God, James 1:20. Therefore, we are to lay aside all immoral filth and the abundance of wrong, receiving with an objectivity of mind the implanted Word while putting away all bitterness, inner burning anger, wrath, blasphemy, along with abusive language by clothing ourselves with the new man in Christ who is being renewed according to the image of the one who created it, so that we are a luminary to this corrupt and perverted generation, Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8. Vengeance belongs to the Lord, Romans 12:19. We have been given the ministry of reconciliation, not wrath, 2 Corinthians 5:18. And the reality is, the wrath of God is coming in a very visible way upon all those who reject the truth. They will receive in full, without mercy, the punishment for their works. However, this does not mean His wrath is not evident today, for He is not showing them any mercy for the unrighteousness by correcting them. Therefore, our focus needs to be on not having anything in common with the unfruitful works of darkness, but to expose them, Ephesians 5:11. For the things they do in secret are shameful and need to be brought to the light, Ephesians 5:12-13.
In response to their wickedness, let us lift up pious hands apart from wrath, 1 Timothy 2:8, and as children of the light, walking in a manner that shows the hope that we have in Christ so that we truly are a luminary to this corrupt and perverted generation, exposing their wickedness and demanding justice by those who have been given the duty to punish the wicked. And when they refuse, let us stand firm against them, not sharing anything in common with their unfruitful works of darkness, for we are not to sin in our wrath, or let the sun set on our indignation so that we give the Devil an opportunity to deceive us, Ephesians 4:26. Rather, let us give place to God’s wrath and show no mercy to those who seek to push their perverted way upon our society by exposing them for who they really are and giving them the opportunity to be reconciled to God. For in their rejection, they only heap more coals of fire upon their own heads.
Vow (εὐχή)
A vow is a type of communication in which a promise is made to correct a wrong committed when the circumstances make it possible.
In the book of James, the author writes concerning a person that is having a mental issue due to them wronging someone else.
And the vow of the faith will save the mentally weary and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has done a sin, it will be forgiven him – James 5:15.
Unlike the previous sickness (ἀσθενέω), which is a physical aliment that a person was to call the elders of the assembly to communicate in worship and anoint them, this type of sickness (κάμνω) involves a weariness of the mind. It is used in exhortation for us to not become mentally weary or discouraged in our souls when facing persecution by considering Christ who endures such hostility from sinners against us, Hebrews 12:3. In the book of Revelation, the assembly of Ephesus is commended for bearing up and being patient against those who claim to be apostles that were not, for they labored for Christ’s sake and did not become mentally weary, Revelation 2:3.
When James talks about the vow of faith, there is the possibility of a sin being involved. However, remember not all wrong is sin; nevertheless, it is always an aspect of unrighteousness, which also has a negative impact on us and others. It is important to only call an action sin that God calls sin. Sin is specifically defined in 1 John 3:4 as an act of lawlessness. However, unrighteousness is the bigger term and can involve acts that are not in and of themselves sinful, but are still wrong, 1 John 5:17. As sons of God we are to train our senses to discern between what is proper and what lacks in character (wrong), Hebrews 5:14. Often it is the lacking in character that we do that negatively impacts others. Like not standing up for someone, or not assisting them when we had the means. Since we are to do good to all, and love the brethren, failing to do this can cause us mental weariness because we know we failed to do what is proper. This is when a vow of faith comes in to correct the issue. And also, if a sin was actually committed, because we knowingly acted in a lawless manner, the sin will be forgiven. Therefore, to recover from a mental weariness caused by our actions that negatively impacted others, when communicating a vow of faith, if sin is involved then we may also involve confession of sin in our prayer, for when we agree with God concerning our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us of that sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness as we walk by the truth, 1 John 1:8-9.
Therefore, when a person vows to correct a wrong they did that is causing them weariness in their mind because of their failure to do what was proper and the negative impact it had on others, it is a commitment that is not to be taken lightly, and if the opportunity is given, full restitution according to the vow is to be made. For it is through this vow of faith that the mental weariness is lifted.
To Reckon (λογίζομαι)
“Reckon” expresses the concept of a determination made by a mathematical process and therefore taking into account or calculates in a logical manner, making a conclusion based upon this process.
In the fulfillment of Scripture, Christ was reckoned (numbered) among the transgressors, Mark 15:28. Even after being examined showed that no unrighteousness was found in Him, He was counted to be a transgressor by the leaders of Israel and the Romans so that they could justify putting Him to death.
The Chief Priests and scribes calculated their response to Jesus’ question concerning if John’s immersion was from men or heaven. In considering this they discussed among themselves the ramifications of saying it was from heaven and what the Messiah’s response would be, concluding to answer that they did not know rather than expose their hypocrisy, Mark 11:31.
One of the craftsmen called Demetrius, a silversmith who made shrines of Diana, called together his fellow tradesmen to stir up the city, for their profits had plummeted as a result of the truth of the gospel of the resurrected Christ taking root in Ephesus. Directing his accusation at Paul, for he had persuaded many people that there are no gods which are made with hands, Demetrius expresses his concern over their trade falling into disrepute so he calls upon them to consider Artemis and her supposed magnificence, Acts 19:26; therefore counting how much they would lose if she was not considered to be glorious.
For those who teach others the law, but then put themselves in a position where they are above the law, Paul encourages them to calculate the evidence that they will not be able to cause themselves to escape the judgment of God for doing the very things they are instructing others not to do, Romans 2:3. For they should consider the fact that if in uncircumcision a man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, his uncircumcision is counted as circumcision and therefore this one will judge them as transgressors of the law, Romans 2:27.
After going over the facts concerning righteousness, for it is clearly by faith not works, it is then logical to conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law, Romans 3:28. God is not just the God of the Jews and therefore He will justify the circumcised out from faith and the uncircumcised through faith, Romans 3:29-30. In further consideration of how a person is justified apart from Law, Paul quotes the Scripture concerning Abraham, for he believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness, Romans 4:3. If someone works then he is reckoned a wage and therefore his payment is not a benefit given without consideration of merit (grace), Romans 4:4. However, to the one who is not working, his faith is counted as righteousness just as even David, a man who lived under the Mosaic law, understood and expressed in the Psalms. For if a man is reckoned by God that apart from the law he is righteous, then this one is happy, Romans 4:5-6. God imputing righteousness to Abraham because he believed Him concerning his offspring was not written for his sake, but for ours, the ones that will be imputed righteousness by believing Him who raise Christ from the dead, Romans 4:23-24.
When we were children, we framed our minds in the manner of an inarticulate babbler and therefore reasoned in this way; one who is not mature enough to know what is right and wrong and therefore how to do things properly. However, as we matured, we put away the things of a child, for we developed in our thinking and through education and experience became ones who are able to discern the proper way to do things so that good is the outcome, 1 Corinthians 13:11. When a person refuses to grow up and see things as they really are, they must remain under tutors and governors to manage their lives and therefore no one considers them to be of any value. They are seen as people who do not understand what they are saying, speaking gibberish to justify childish activities and attitudes that are contrary to the truth. In the Christian life, these are the ones seeking to live by law rather than out from faith. For living by faith requires us to train our senses to know the difference between what is right and wrong so that we maintain a mind framed on the Spirit and our actions show maturity in living out the righteousness we have in Christ.
When it comes to the Christian life and having victory over our sin nature, we need to calculate the implication of being immersed into the death of Christ. For since God imputes to us Christ’s death, it is only logical that we are also considered to be raised with Him and therefore can walk in newness of life. One who has died to the sin nature is no longer bound to serve it as a slave, for just as the law of marriage is released when one of the spouses dies, so is the law of the sin nature when we die. Therefore, it is only logical that we count ourselves to be dead to the sin nature and alive unto God, Romans 6:11.
We are not to be anxious in anything, but in everything by worship and supplication after thanksgiving we are to let our request be known before God, for it is His peace that will surpass the mind while guarding our hearts and the workings of the mind. Therefore, let us take the time to logically calculate the things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy and to do the things we have learned and received through Paul so that we have an unruffled mind in all things, Philippians 4:6-9.
Submission (ὑποτάσσω)
The Scriptural concept expressed by the word translated as “submission” communicates a type of yielding that relates to being under the authority of another in an orderly fashion. This has a military emphasis along with governmental structures, for both require submission in order to bring order and provide benefits to those under their authority. This is not the same concept as serving as a slave and therefore submitting is not servitude, Titus 2:9. In many cases, this type of submission has to be done voluntarily.
Christ submitted to His earthly parents because it was the right thing to do according to the law and righteousness, Luke 2:51. He was in the right in what He was doing, but at that time Joseph and Mary did not understand that Jesus would be about His Father’s business, for He had stayed in the Temple listening and questioning the teachers, so He submitted and went back to Nazareth, for the benefit it would bring to them.
A fleshly framed mind will not submit itself to the law of God, for it does not have the ability to submit. Romans 8:7. This is not referring to the Mosaic Law, but the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:2. A carnal mind will want to submit to the Mosaic Law so that it can justify itself through works, for it is not out from faith, Galatians 3:12, but a Christian is to live out from faith, Galatians 3:11, which requires a mind framed on the Spirit, Romans 8:5. Therefore, when we are Spiritual we will submit to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus which will produce righteousness in our lives through faith. We see the impact of a carnal mind with Israel. Due to the Israelites seeking their own righteousness, they did not submit to the righteousness from God, Romans 10:3. For this righteousness does not say who will go to heaven and bring down the Messiah, or into Hades to bring Him back up, but rather it is the word of faith, that a Jew verbally agreeing that Jesus is Lord (God) and believing that He was raised from the dead, just as the Scripture stated He would be, Romans 10:6-10. We today can learn from this, and pay attention to what God is doing, submitting to the truth, especially when it comes to salvation, for salvation comes by believing that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures, not by our works, willingness to accept Him, or good character, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 9:13.
The subjection to authorities is often misunderstood and abused. Authorities are setup by God for the purpose of punishing the wicked and rewarding the good, Romans 13:3. In order for an authority to function in a beneficial way, the people must submit to its rules and regulations. However, this does not give those in the government the right to rule over the people in a lawless manner, for they are God’s ministers for good, Romans 13:4. We are to submit to authorities for our conscience’s sake and so that we are ready in every good work, Titus 3:1.
The seventy that were sent out by Jesus to the Jews came back astonished that even the demons submit to His name, Luke 10:17. This type of submission still has to do with yielding to those in authority. For the angels do not blasphemy those in authority over them, 2 Peter 2:11. Jesus responds to their joy with instructing them rather to rejoice that their names are written in heaven over the demons being submissive, Luke 10:20.
Creation was submitted to futility because of Adam’s sin, yet not without hope, for God has promised He will remove the curse from the earth when the sons of God are manifested, Romans 8:20.
Within the marriage structure, the wife is to submit to her husband, Ephesians 5:22. This submission has to do with God’s direction in their lives and seeks the best for her, not putting her under his authority in every aspect of her life. She is actually to serve as the despot (master) of the house, 1 Timothy 5:14. Therefore, a wise husband will also submit to his wife, for within the Christian marriage they are both to yield to each other when necessary for order, Ephesians 5:21. If the husband is stepping on her all the time she will not be able to oversee the household and he will not be ensuring everything is orderly by properly managing the house, 1 Timothy 3:4. Therefore, it is a suitable thing for the wife to submit to her own husband, Colossians 3:18.
Submitting within the local assembly is also necessary for order, for all things are to be done in a proper manner and for the edification of the saints, 1 Corinthians 14:26. We are to submit to those who dedicate themselves to the service of the saints,1 Corinthians 16:16, for how can those who work and labor for us provide the benefits they seek to supply if we are not willing to submit? Within the local assembly the women are to submit to the teaching and remain silent. This is not saying that a woman cannot speak; rather, she is not to be running her jaw, but to be still so that she can learn. This has to do with the women spending time talking amongst themselves rather than listening, for it will interrupt the order of the assembly and distract from learning, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. The younger men are to submit to the elders and we are all to submit to each other as necessary within the assembly so that we are being built up and knit together in love, 1 Peter 5:5. With this type of attitude and care for each other we will all stand together against heresy, not submitting to those who speak false things for even one hour, Galatians 2:5, for the assembly is for the edification of the saints to bring them to a oneness of the faith unto a mature man in Christ so that they are no longer tossed around by every wind of teaching, Ephesians 4:14.
When it comes to overcoming Satan, we are to submit to God, putting on the armor He has provided for us, and resist the Devil, which will cause him to flee, James 4:7.
Submission (ὑποτάσσω) is necessary within our lives to maintain order. Being subject to another’s authority is for the benefit that it brings and is not a position of servitude; rather, it is working together with others and allowing them to lead so that through their leadership we are able to benefit. Within the assembly we should be wise enough to know when to submit to each other, not holding on to a false authority by attempting to lord over the assembly, 1 Peter 5:3, but in humility yielding to one another so that we are all built up and edified.
Filled and Filling
There are two terms in Scripture used for filling that uniquely describe how something or someone is filled. The differences between these two concepts for filling are very important to understand concerning the Christian life and how the Holy Spirit interacts with us today compared to saints prior to the dispensation of grace.
Pimplemi (πίμπλημι) describes filling in a way that controls or saturates. It is used of the sponge filled with wine given to Christ on the cross, Matthew 27:48, of a King having his servants fill his wedding hall with guests, Matthew 22:10, a woman’s time for giving birth, Luke 1:57, and even the completion of days of service for a Levitical priest, Luke 1:23. All of these occurrences are describing a permeating of what is filled. It is this type of filling that describes how the Holy Spirit interacted with Old Testament saints, such as John the Baptist was mentally controlled by the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb, Luke 1:15; however, once his ministry had finished the Holy Spirit no longer filled him, which can be seen with him questioning Jesus if He is the One coming, Luke 7:18-20. In the upper room, on the day of Pentecost when the Church began, the Holy Spirit filled (πίμπλημι), mentally controlled, the disciples making it possible for them to speak in other dialects the wonders of God, Acts 2:4. This is not the Spiritual gift of speaking in tongues, which was given to the early Church as a sign to the unbelieving Jews along with other gifts for signs, wonders, confirmation, and edification of the body of the Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:10. The gifts given to the Church are not from a filling of the Holy Spirit, but placement in the body of the Christ and are controlled by the one having the gift, 1 Corinthians 14:32. Rather, what happened in the upper room was a filling that controlled the minds of the disciples to give a sign to Israel. And there is no indication that they all continued to speak in tongues after this event. This sign was prophesied of in Joel concerning Israel and the tribulation period, Joel 2:28, which would have come about if Israel had accepted Christ as the Messiah, Daniel 9:26. However, upon their rejection, the dispensation of grace paused the prophetic calendar while the Church is being built up to completion. Therefore, this was an Old Testament type of filling that was signifying to Israel that God is doing something new, not for the Church. In the beginning of the Church the Holy Spirit uses this type of filling with the Apostles, namely with Paul on a few occasions such as when Ananias was sent to give Paul back his sight, Paul was mentally controlled by the Holy Spirit so that he would go out to Arabia to meet with Christ and be trained by Him, Galatians 1:17, and when Elymas the sorcerer apposed Paul and Barnabas on the island of Paphos, the Holy Spirit blinded Elymas, Acts 13:7-11. However, this type of filling transitions to a different type of filling for those who are members of the Church, going from a mental control or saturation to a filling up where lacking.
Pleroo (πληρόω) is a type of filling that describes the filling up of something where it lacks. It is used of the fulfillment of Scripture, Matthew 1:22, and of righteousness, Matthew 3:15, concerning Christ’s ministry. Christ did not come to destroy the Mosaic law and the Prophets, but to fill up where lacking, Matthew 5:17, fully complying with the law and the Prophets. Unlike Pimplemi (πίμπλημι), which completely takes over, Pleroo (πληρόω) fills up where something is missing, such as with grief filling (πληρόω) the minds, but not such a grief that overwhelms (πίμπλημι) the mind, John 16:6, like the Jews losing (πίμπλημι) their mind because of envy against Paul, Acts 13:45. Pleroo (πληρόω) is how a Christian is filled by the Holy Spirit today, Ephesians 5:18. As members of the body of the Christ we do not live by law; rather, the righteous requirements of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus are fulfilled (πληρόω) in us when we walk by the Spirit, Romans 8:4. As we seek to fulfill the desires we now have from the Holy Spirit indwelling us, He manifests fruit in our lives that produces righteousness, filling us in a way that makes up for our lack in ability to manifest a quality of the Divine nature that we now have because we are born of God and are in the body of the Christ, yet do not have our complete redemption until our bodies are resurrected and our soul is saved, 2 Peter 1:2-5; 1 Peter 1:9. One who walks by the Spirit can then be filled up where lacking in joy and peace, Romans 15:13, goodness and knowledge, Romans 15:14, and the fruits of righteousness, Philippians 1:11, while knowing the love of Christ so that we are filled up where lacking with the fullness of God, Ephesians 3:19, for it is in Christ where we are filled up where we lack, Colossians 2:10.