Words of Christ

Jesus: Truth and Authority in His Own Words (New Testament) In the New Testament, Jesus Christ reveals Himself as the embodiment of truth and authority through His own words, spoken with divine power and clarity. Unlike human authorities, which can be corrupt or misguided, Jesus’ authority is perfectly united with truth, reflecting His divine nature as the Son of God. This article focuses exclusively on Jesus’ words in the New Testament to illustrate how He declares and demonstrates His truth and authority, emphasizing their inseparable connection and significance for believers. Jesus Declares Himself as Truth Jesus explicitly identifies Himself as the embodiment of truth in His teachings. In John 14:6, He proclaims, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This bold statement establishes Jesus as the ultimate reality, the divine revelation of God’s will. His words are not mere teachings but the very truth that leads to the Father, set...

  Grace and Faith: Not Gifts, but God’s Way of Love and Mercy When we read about salvation in the Bible, terms like grace and faith often come up, especially in passages like Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” At first glance, it’s tempting to think of grace and faith as “gifts” handed to us by God, like presents under a Christmas tree. But a closer look at the Greek words behind these terms reveals something deeper: grace and faith are not mere gifts but expressions of God’s very nature—His love, favor, mercy, and kindness in action. They reflect the way God moves through His Spirit, not just objects He gives. Unpacking the Greek: Charis, Pistis, and Doron To understand this, let’s dive into the original Greek of the New Testament, which sheds light on these terms: Grace (Charis): The Greek word charis (χάρις) means grace, kindness, or favor. It’s...

The Power of a Word: "Framed" vs. "Restored" in Hebrews 11:3 The Bible is a text where every word matters, and translation choices can profoundly shape our understanding of its meaning. In Hebrews 11:3, we read in the King James Version (KJV): "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." The Greek verb behind "framed" is κατηρτίσθαι (katērtisthai), a form of καταρτίζω (katartizō), which carries a range of meanings including "to mend," "to equip," "to perfect," or "to restore." But what if translators had chosen "restore" instead of "framed"? This single word swap would significantly alter the theological and cosmological implications of the verse, reshaping how we view God’s act of creation. Let’s explore the difference. The Meaning of "Framed" in Hebrews 11:3 The choice of ...

  Calling Things That Are Not: Jesus’ Truth and Our Faith In the bustling crowd of a first-century synagogue leader’s home, a grieving father, Jairus, faces the devastating news: his daughter is dead. Mourners wail, their cries confirming the finality of loss. Yet Jesus, undeterred, declares, “She is not dead but asleep” (Mark 5:39, Luke 8:52). The room erupts in laughter—mocking, disbelieving laughter. To them, Jesus’ words seem absurd, a denial of the obvious. But moments later, He takes the girl’s hand, says, “Talitha koum,” and she rises, alive. This moment captures a profound biblical principle from Romans 4:17: God “calls into existence the things that do not exist” (ESV). Jesus’ words are true, not because they describe the present but because they create a new reality. And in Christ, we too can speak truth in faith, aligning with God’s will to see His power at work. Jesus’ Words: Truth That Creates Romans 4:17 describes God’s power to “call into existence the things that do...

  The Power of Circumcision: Why It Fades in Christ Imagine a fire blazing brightly, its flames defining warmth and light—until it’s doused, its power to burn suddenly gone. This vivid image captures a profound truth in Galatians 5:6: in Christ, “neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.” The Greek word here, ischyō, means “to have power or effect,” and it tells us something huge: the once-potent sign of circumcision, central to God’s covenant with Israel, loses its effect in the light of Jesus. But what was circumcision’s power, and why does it vanish in Christ? Let’s explore this transformative shift and what it means for us today. The Power of Circumcision in the Old Testament Circumcision wasn’t just a physical act; it was a God-ordained mark loaded with meaning. Instituted in Genesis 17:10–14, it was the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham, a permanent mark on every male Israelite that declared, “You belong to God.” Its “effect” was real and multifaceted: A Covena...

  Jesus as Lord: How His Use of Kurios Bridges Eastern and Biblical Views of Divine Authority When we hear the word "Lord" in the Bible, it carries a weight that spans cultures, centuries, and divine truth. In the New Testament, the Greek word kurios (G2962) is used to describe Jesus, but its meaning is deeply rooted in both Eastern and Greco-Roman contexts. By examining how the East viewed "lords" as masters of reality, how Greeks and Romans used the term, and how Jesus deliberately included Lord in His teaching (Mark 12:28–34), we uncover a profound truth: Jesus aligns with the Eastern concept of divine lordship while redefining it to reveal His own divinity. The Eastern View: Lords of Reality In ancient Eastern cultures—think Mesopotamia, Persia, and the broader Near East—gods were often called "lords" because they were seen as the ultimate authorities over reality itself. These deities controlled creation, fate, or specific domains like fertility or wa...

  The Art of Dwelling: Exploring Menō in Reading, Tombs, and Truth What does it mean to “dwell” in something? The Greek verb menō (μένω), meaning “to remain,” “to stay,” or “to persist,” offers a profound lens for understanding how we anchor ourselves in places, tasks, or truths. Whether it’s choosing to keep reading one book over another, a man tormented in tombs, or Jesus’ call to abide in his word, menō captures the act of staying put—physically, mentally, or spiritually. Let’s explore how this ancient word illuminates persistence across these contexts. Menō in Everyday Choices: Reading Book A, Leaving Book B Imagine you’re juggling two books. Book A captivates you, its ideas sinking deep, while Book B feels like a slog. You decide to stop reading Book B and continue with Book A. This choice is menō in action. In Greek, menō can describe persisting in an activity, like “dwelling” in the mental space of a book. You might say, egō menō en tē anagnōsei tou bibliou A (“I remain in t...

  Are You Trying to Send What God Has Already Sent? Resting in Jesus’ Finished Work Have you ever told someone to “send it” when you meant “go for it,” only to realize you’d already sent what they needed? I recently reflected on a spiritual version of this mix-up: What if I’m misunderstanding something Jesus already accomplished in the New Testament, trying to “send” it myself when God is waiting for me to receive what He’s already “sent”? Using this analogy of “send” and “sent,” let’s explore how Jesus’ finished work invites us to rest in His grace instead of striving to deliver what’s already been done. The Send vs. Sent Mix-Up In casual lingo, saying “send it” is a nudge to take action—send the message, file, or vibe. But saying “sent” means the job’s done; it’s already on its way. Spiritually, we often act like God is saying “send it”—waiting for us to do something to earn His favor. In reality, through Jesus, God says “sent.” The work is complete, and He’s waiting for us to re...

  The Hidden Role of Chance in the Parable of the Good Samaritan When we read the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37, we’re often drawn to its powerful message about loving our neighbor, no matter who they are. But there’s a subtle detail in this story that’s rarely discussed: the role of chance. Jesus weaves this element into the parable, and it’s a fascinating lens through which to see how divine opportunities intersect with human choices. Let’s dive into this overlooked aspect of the parable, focusing solely on New Testament insights, and explore what it means for us today—whether we’re rolling dice in a game or navigating life’s unexpected moments. Chance Sets the Stage In the parable, a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho is attacked by robbers, left half-dead by the roadside. A priest, then a Levite, “pass by” on the other side, avoiding the man. But then comes the Samaritan, who, as the Greek text puts it, kata sugkuria—translated as “happened to be going” or...

The Miracle of Being Born Again: A New Beginning in Christ The phrase “born again” resonates deeply with Christians, capturing the transformative power of salvation. Rooted in the New Testament Greek word paliggenesia (G3824), this term carries profound spiritual significance, far beyond its ancient origins. Derived from palin (“again”) and genesis (“birth, origin”), paliggenesia means regeneration, a new birth, or a re-creation. In the pages of Scripture, it describes the divine act of God granting believers a fresh spiritual start, a complete renewal of their being. The Ancient Roots of Paliggenesia In classical Greek, paliggenesia referred to restoration or renewal. The Stoics used it to describe the cyclical rebirth of the earth after cosmic conflagrations, likening it to spring’s awakening from winter’s death. The Jewish philosopher Philo applied it to the phoenix-like resurrection of the world or to Noah’s family as leaders of a new cycle after the Flood. These ideas hinted ...