TBC 18.07.22 Title: Do Not Grumble Against One Another / Text: James 5:7-11

Title:  Do Not Grumble Against One Another

Text: James 5:7-11                                                                 

Introduction

• ·       Essentially the attitude of the rich that James condemned was: Get all you can as fast as you can any way you can. In the following pericope he counseled a different attitude to urge his readers, rich and poor, to practice patience.”  --Thomas Constable’s Notes
• ·       “Following his firey denunciation of the oppressors, James turn to counsel and encourage his afflicted brothern.”-- Edmond Hiebert

 Read James 5:1-12

I. Patience and the Lord’s Return

⁷ Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.  You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

A. FIRST IMPERATIVE: Be patient

1. Patient: G3114 - μακροθυμέω  - makrothymeō:  to be of a long spirit, not to lose heart

from G3372 - μακρός  - mak-ros': long in distance or time

from G2380 - θυμός - thoo-mos': passion (as if breathing hard):—fierceness, indignation, wrath.

·       Takes a long time to get angry

·       “Be long-suffering, patiently enduring the mistreatment of others, restraining your soul from the passion of anger”^[1]

·       Its basic meaning is "long-suffering." This term is used of God's patience with mankind (cf. Rom. 2:4; 1 Pet. 3:20), and is also one of the fruits of the Spirit (cf. Gal. 5:22-23). --Utley

·       Under the constraint of having to suffer unjustly, μακροθυμία comes to be orientated to perseverance, to expectation of the parousia, μακροθυμήσατε ἕως τῆς παρουσίας v. 7, cf. v. 8. In connection with κακοπάθεια, (endurance of) affliction and ὑπομονή, persistence, it comes to suggest a triumphant steadfastness which does not come from the heroic depths of one’s own heart but from certainty of the proximity of the parousia,97 i.e., of the Lord who is Judge (v. 10). Awareness of His nearness—ὁ κριτὴς πρὸ τῶν θυρῶν ἕστηκεν—quenches all angry feelings against opponents and all overhasty sighings and murmurings against brothers.^[2]

2. The Farmer waits

The farmer is totally dependent on the weather, over which he has no control, but plows and sows in faith and hope.”  --Utley

5:7–8. Harvest here (cf. v. 4) becomes an image of the day of judgment, as elsewhere in Jewish literature (especially 4 Ezra; Mt 13). Palestine’s autumn rains came in October and November, and winter rains (roughly three-quarters of the year’s rainfall) in December and January. But residents of Syria-Palestine eagerly anticipated the late rains of March and April, which were necessary to ready their late spring and early summer crops. The main wheat harvest there ran from mid-April through the end of May; the barley harvest was in March. The main grain harvest came in June in Greece, July in Italy. Farmers’ families were entirely dependent on good harvests; thus James speaks of the “precious” (or “valuable”—NIV) fruit of the earth.^[3]

B. SECOND IMPERATIVE: Establish (your hearts)

1. kjv, nkjv, rsv, esv—establish; Nasb, net, hcsb-- strengthen;  niv, tniv—stand firm; Wuest—stabilize; nlt—take courage

 στηρίζω - stay-rid'-zo: 1. to make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix; 2. to strengthen, make firm; 3. to render constant, confirm, one's mind

“to prop up or support something that is heavy”  --Swindoll

What propped the Lord Jesus up when he suffered injustice?

1 Peter 2

²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.  ²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

²² “Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

²³ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

2."for the coming of the Lord is near" This is perfect active indicative which implies He came once, the influence continues, and He will come again (cf. 1 Pet. 4:7). The NT authors (and possibly Jesus Himself, compare Matt. 16:28 with 24:36) expected the consummation of the Second Coming to happen quickly. The imminence of the Second Coming is meant to encourage every generation of believers amidst worldly pressures. The time is uncertain, but the event is sure! Believers live every day in expectation of their Lord's glorious return. The major NT word to all believers is "be ready and be active." –Dr. Bob Utley  http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL11/VOL11_05.html

This is is literally "until the Parousia" which means "presence" and was used of a royal visit. The other NT terms used for the Second Coming are

               -> epiphaneia, "face to face appearing"

               -> apokalupis, "unveiling"

               -> "the Day of the Lord" and the variations of this phrase   --Utley

II. THIRD IMPERATIVE: Do not grumble against one another

⁹ Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

A.  The Word

Similar words

NOT--G1111 - γογγύζω - goggyzō "to mutter, murmur, grumble, say anything in a low tone" (Eng., "gong"), an onomatopoeic word, representing the significance by the sound of the word, as in the word "murmur" itself, is used of

·       the laborers in the parable of the householder, Mat 20:11;

·       of the scribes and Pharisees, against Christ, Luke 5:30;

·       of Jews, John 6:41, 43;

·       of the disciples, John 6:61;

·       of the people, John 7:32 (of debating secretly);

·       of the Israelites, 1Cor 10:10 (twice), where it is also used in a warning to believers.

Synonyms

·       G214 alalazo - to wail in oriental style, to howl in a consecrated, semi-liturgical fashion

·       G1145 dakruo - to shed tears, weep silently

·       G2354 threneo - to give formal expression to grief, to sing a dirge

·       G2799 klaio - to weep audibly, cry as a child

·       G3602 odurmos - to give verbal expression to grief, to lament

·       G4727 stenazo - to express grief by inarticulate or semi-articulate sounds, to groan

G4727 stenazo:
1. stenázō means “to sigh,” “to groan,” stenagmós means “sigh” or “sighing,”^[4]
2. (a figurative extension of meaning ofστενάζω^a ‘to groan, to sigh,’ 25.143) to complain in an intensive and excessive manner—‘to complain strongly.’^[5]
nkjv, rsv, esv, niv, tniv, net—grumble;  nasb, Wuest, hcsb—complain;  kjv,--grudge: 

“The verb (stenazete) does not mean “mummer” but “sigh” or “groan” because of undesirable circumstances or oppression under which the individual suffers.  Whereas the primary reference is to the inner feelings of loud and bitter complaints, it involves a feeling of criticism and faultfinding directed against others.  The personal feeling reflects itself in smoldering resentment that may display itself in an antagonistic expression of bitter groans.”--Edmond Hiebert

B.The associated concepts

1. “against one another”  “brothers”, exasperation or jealousy with family.

2. be condemned 

·       Believers’ sins are forgiven, but our actions (works) will be judged.

·       “It is a shallow kind of Chritianity that, seeing only God’s grace in the Godpel, forgets inevitable judgment.”—Frank Gaebelein in The Practical Epistle of James

3. "the Judge is standing right at the door"

·       The emphasis is on the immediacy of the Second Coming and its related judgment.”  Utley

·       The comfort to the suffering is also a warning to the sinning.

III. The Perseverance of Job and the End Intended by the Lord

¹⁰ My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. ¹¹ Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

A.The prophets

Suffering G2552 - kakopatheia κακοπάθεια kak-op-ath'-i-ah; from a compound of bad and suffer; hardship:—suffering affliction.

Same as verse 7. à Patience G3115 - makrothymia - μακροθυμία - mak-roth-oo-mee'-ah; similar to v. 7; longanimity, i.e. (objectively) forbearance or (subjectively) fortitude:—longsuffering, patience.

Endure G5281 - hypomonē - ὑπομονή hoop-om-on-ay'; From ὑπό under and μένω abide; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:—enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).
emphasis on "remaining under a load."

B. Example of Job

James 5:11 reminds us of You have heard of

1.  the perseverance of Job and   

·       In studying the experience of Job, it is important to remember that Job did not know what was going on “behind the scenes” between God and Satan. Job’s friends accused him of being a sinner and a hypocrite. [6]

·       Job is numbered with Noah and Daniel in Ezek. 14:14, 20.^[7])

2.  seen the end intended by the Lord

“intended” Genesis 50:20  “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, in order to...”

What was good about Job’s end?

1. MATERIALLY:  Chapter 39 rehearses how God tangibly blesses Job generously in his family and businesses.  --the restoration of his family and vast wealth[8]

2. REFINING:

Job confesses that he has learned a fundamental lesson about the majestic sovereignty and goodness of God^[9]

3. GLORY TO GOD: Satan challenged the Lord and alleged that Job did not loyalty love Him because of who He was, but just because of the blessing the Lord gave Job.  When Job stayed true to the Lord he magnified Christ.

3.  that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

What did Job’s story mean to the believers James wrote to, and what does it mean to us today? It means that some of the trials of life are caused directly by satanic opposition. God permits Satan to try His children, but He always limits the extent of the enemy’s power (Job 1:12; 2:6). When you find yourself in the fire, remember that God keeps His gracious hand on the thermostat! “But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).^[10]

Nehemiah 9:17

They refused to obey,
And they were not mindful of Your wonders
That You did among them.
But they hardened their necks,
And ^[d]in their rebellion
They appointed a leader
To return to their bondage.
But You are God,
Ready to pardon,
Gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger,
Abundant in kindness,
And did not forsake them.

Psalm 86

¹⁴ O God, the proud have risen against me,
And a mob of violent men have sought my life,
And have not set You before them.
¹⁵ But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

¹⁶ Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me!
Give Your strength to Your servant,
And save the son of Your maidservant.
¹⁷ Show me a sign for good,
That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
Because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Joel 2:

¹² “Now, therefore,” says the Lord,
“Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
¹³ So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.
¹⁴ Who knows if He will turn and relent,
And leave a blessing behind Him—
A grain offering and a drink offering
For the Lord your God?

Exodus 34:

⁵ Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him [Moses] there [on Mt. Sinai], and proclaimed the name of the Lord. ⁶ And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, ⁷ keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”

⁸ So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped.

---

^[1] Kenneth S. Wuest, The New Testament: An Expanded Translation (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1961), Jas 5:7–8.

v. verse.

v. verse.

⁹⁷ The στηρίξατε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν is controlled by the ὅτι ἡ παρουσία τοῦ κυρίου ἤγγικεν of v. 8. Cf. Hck. Jk., ad loc.

v. verse.

^[2] Johannes Horst, “Μακροθυμία, Μακροθυμέω, Μακρόθυμος, Μακροθύμως,” ed. Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964–), 385.

NIV New International Version

^[3] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Jas 5:7–8.

^[4] Gerhard Kittel, Gerhard Friedrich, and Geoffrey William Bromiley, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1985), 1076.

^[5] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 432.

^[6] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 380.

^[7] D. A. Carson, “James,” in Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI;  Nottingham, UK: Baker Academic;  Apollos, 2007), 1011.

^[8] D. A. Carson, “James,” in Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI;  Nottingham, UK: Baker Academic;  Apollos, 2007), 1011.

^[9] D. A. Carson, “James,” in Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI;  Nottingham, UK: Baker Academic;  Apollos, 2007), 1011.

^[10] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 380.

HSPE -- Four Key Sects in the Gospel TIMES

HERODIANS--
https://www.gotquestions.org/Herodians.html
The Herodians held political power, and most scholars believe that they were a political party that supported King Herod Antipas, the Roman Empire's ruler over much of the land of the Jews from 4 B.C. to A.D. 39. The Herodians favored submitting to the Herods, and therefore to Rome, for political expediency. 

SADDUCEES--
https://christiananswers.net/dictionary/sadducees.html
The origin of this Jewish sect cannot definitely be traced. It was probably the outcome of the influence of Grecian customs and philosophy during the period of Greek domination.  They denied the resurrection and angles.

PHARISEES--
https://christiananswers.net/dictionary/pharisees.html
In the time of our Lord, they were the popular party. They were extremely accurate and minute in all matters appertaining to the law of Moses. Paul, when brought before the council of Jerusalem, professed himself a Pharisee.  There was much that was sound in their creed, yet their system of religion was a form and nothing more.

ESSENES--
https://christiananswers.net/dictionary/essenes.html
a Jewish mystical sect somewhat resembling the Pharisees.  They affected great purity. They originated about B.C. 100 and disappeared from history after the destruction of Jerusalem. They are not directly mentioned in Scripture, although they may be referred to in Matt. 19:11, 12, Col. 2:8, 18, 23.

LOGIC – Sean McDowell

https://awanaym.org/journey-curriculum/advocates/journey-advocates-logic 

When you think of logic, who comes to mind?  Probably someone like Sherlock Homes who uses his wit and mind to outsmart his opponents.  Maybe you feel this way when you’ve had a conversation with someone with a different belief system or when you’re sharing your faith.  It’s as if you’re jockeying back and forth trying to outsmart each other with logic.  Well, this can certainly happen, but technically, logic is just the careful and proper use of reason.   Logic is important for Christians so we can arrive at truthful beliefs ourselves, but it’s also important in conversations with other people so we can help them arrive at truth in a loving manner.

Let me share a story that might help.  Some time ago when I was a graduate student studying philosophy I had a memorable conversation with a professor from an Ivy League school.  He said to me, “I think it’s great you’re studying philosophy as a Christian.  Maybe you’d want to study Buddhist philosophy because all religions are true.” 

Now that struck me as very odd.  I thought for a minute, “How can all religions be true when they contradict on such fundamental teachings about God, the afterlife, and how you get salvation.”  So I simply asked him a question.  I asked, “How can all religions be true, namely Islam and Christianity?  Muslims say if you believe Jesus is God, you’ve committed the sin of Shirk, and you’re certainly going to Hell.  I say Christians say that that you can’t get to Heaven unless you believe Jesus is God.  How could both of these be true?” 

He kind of fumbled around a little bit, and we kept talking.  Eventually, he looked at me and said, “Here’s the deal.  Religion aside, what is really true is cultural relativism.  Therefore, you should be tolerant.”

Now stop and think about this.  Use your mind and your logic to analyze this claim.  He said he believed in cultural relativism which says morality and truth depend upon the culture.  But then he turned to me and said, therefore, because morality is relative, I should be tolerant.  Now, do you see the inconsistency?  If morality is relative, he can’t turn to me and say I ought to be tolerant because he’s appealing to tolerant as if it’s a universal truth claim that everybody should follow.  On the flip side, if he says that everybody should be tolerant, then he doesn’t actually believe morality is relative because he’s appealing the universal principle or standard of tolerance.

Friends, people hold a lot of different views about God, religion, and morality.  One important thing to do is to listen to their views and draw it out.  What we often see is that their views will lead to inconsistency and sometimes even to logical absurdity. 

For example in Matthew 22:41- 45[1] Jesus uses the known logical principle of reductio ad absurdum.  Now that sounds really fancy, but essentially what it means is reducing a position to absurdity.  In this passage in Matthew Jesus is having a conversation with the Pharisees and he asks them, “Who do you think the Messiah is? Is the Messiah the son of David?” 

And they say, “Yes, the Messiah is the son of David.”  And what Jesus said was to draw out their view, to show that it leads to absurdity.  Now how does he do this?  He quotes from Psalm 110:1[2] in which David, who wrote that Psalm, says that Messiah is his Lord.  And Jesus said, “Wait a minute.  You just said that the Messiah is the son of David, but now we have David calling the Messiah Lord.  How can that be?”  Jesus is saying that if you think the Messiah is merely the son of David, then that leads to absurdity.  But, rather, it’s more reasonable to conclude that, yes, the Messiah is the son of David, but He’s more than human.  He actually is LORD as David himself says in Psalm 110:1.  In my conversation with the Ivy League professor, I was trying to show that he held two views in contradiction that when drawn to their logical conclusion led to absurdity.  This is exactly what Jesus was doing with the Pharisees. 

This is why the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:14-15 says, “We are not to be like children in terms of our thinking tossed to and fro by different waves of doctrine.”  Rather, we are to grow up and be mature in the way we think.  Paul also says in this passage that we are to speak truth in love.  In other words, we are called to speak truth.  We can’t compromise truth.  We don’t speak truth just to win arguments.  We don’t speak truth just to prove people wrong.  We do it because we know that it is only truth that can set men free.  

And keep in mind that your conversations will not always go as smoothly as it seemed to go with mine with the Ivy League professor.  In fact more often than not, after I have a conversation with somebody I will step away and go, “Oh, I should have said this.  Oh, next time I’ll say that.”  Learning to love God with our minds and learning to use logic is a lifelong process.  

You’re learning some powerful stuff about truth and defending the faith in this entire study that we’re going through.  It’s easy to think, “I’m going to write this down.  I’m going to go online.  I’m going to go in person to my parents, my friends, and other nonbelievers and win some arguments.  If that’s what your thinking, you are missing the point.  The point of this is not to go out and win arguments.  The point of this is to, number one, know the truth for ourselves and then second to speak that truth in love—to use reason, to use logic to love people.  That way as people draw closer to you, learn more about your faith, they will find something genuine and real that is not easily put out.   

---

[1]  

⁴¹ While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, ⁴² saying, “What do you think about the Christ?  Whose Son is He?”

They said to Him, “The Son of David.”

⁴³ He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:

⁴⁴ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’?

⁴⁵ If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?”

[2] 

The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

John 3 Being born of water and the Spirit

Additional note: Being born of water and the Spirit

There have been four main ways in which this expression has been interpreted:
1. Baptism in water by John the Baptist and baptism in the Spirit by Jesus. In support of this view is the fact that all previous references to ‘water’ in this Gospel relate to John’s baptizing ministry (1:26, 31, 33), and in 1:33 his baptizing ministry with water is compared to Jesus’ baptizing ministry with the Spirit. Accordingly, Jesus is saying that entrance to the kingdom involves submission to John’s baptism with water for repentance and Jesus’ baptism with the Spirit.
2. Christian water baptism and spiritual regeneration. In support of this view it can be said that the original readers of this Gospel would have seen in the reference to water an allusion to Christian baptism (rather than John’s baptism), and so the reference to being born of water and the Spirit would denote submission to Christian baptism, which in the early church was connected with the reception of the Spirit (Acts 2:38).
3. Natural birth and spiritual regeneration. Being born of water is a metaphor for natural human birth, water being an allusion either to amniotic fluid or semen, so Jesus was saying that to enter the kingdom one must be born spiritually as well as physically; by the Spirit as well as by water. In support of this view is the fact that in 3:6 Jesus contrasts being born of the flesh (physical birth) with being born of the Spirit (spiritual regeneration).
4. Spiritual regeneration alone is depicted with a double metaphor. In support of this view is the fact that elsewhere in this Gospel water functions as a metaphor for the Spirit (4:10, 13–15; 7:38) as it also does in places in the OT (e.g. Ezek. 36:25–27). The expression ‘water and the Spirit’ is a hendiadys, a figure of speech using two different words to denote one thing, something suggested by the fact that both ‘water’ and ‘Spirit’ are anarthrous (without the article) and governed by the one preposition (lit. ‘of water and spirit’, ex hydatos kai pneumatos).19 Jesus is saying that to enter the kingdom one must be born of water, i.e. of the Spirit. This view is also supported by the fact that in this passage Jesus uses a number of parallel expressions that are all related to seeing and entering the kingdom: 3:3: ‘born again / from above’; 3:5: ‘born of water and the Spirit’; 3:7: ‘born again / from above’; 3:8: ‘born of the Spirit’. If all these expressions are in fact parallel and synonymous, then to be ‘born again / from above’ and to be ‘born of water and the Spirit’ mean the same as to be ‘born of the Spirit’.


Colin G. Kruse, John: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 4, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 108–110.

What is truth?

https://www.str.org/blog/what-truth#.W0GGptVKj4J


Three Views on Truth by Aaron Brake

Historically, there have been three dominant theories of truth put forth by philosophers:[1]

First, there is the pragmatic theory of truth: truth is what works. 

Second, there is the coherence theory of truth: truth is logical consistency (coherence) among a set of beliefs an individual holds. 

Finally, there is the correspondence theory of truth: truth is when an idea, belief, or statement matches (or corresponds with) the way the world actually is (reality).

Our belief in the resurrection is not true simply because it works for us (the pragmatic view) nor because it is consistent with our web of Christian belief (the coherence view). The Christian belief in the resurrection of Christ is true because it is an objective fact of history that corresponds with reality! Indeed, how could the early Christians point to the empty tomb as verifiable evidence of the resurrection unless, in fact, the tomb was empty?

TRUTH - Sean McDowell

advocates.awanaym.org/truth

Journey: Advocates – “Truth” by Sean McDowell

2,000 years ago Jesus said, “I am one of the ways, one of the truths, and one possible life.  If you want to come to the mother or the father through me that’s cool.  Go forth and live according to whatever feels right to you.”  Clearly, Jesus didn’t say that.  In fact, he said quite the opposite.  If you look in the New Testament you will find at least a hundred verses that make it clear that Jesus is the only way to God and the only way to experience an eternal relationship with the Father.  Truth is vitally important because eternity is at stake. 

Now philosophers use a term that seems fancy but I think you will find common sense, what’s called the correspondence theory of truth.  All this means is you have essentially a belief, an idea you hold about the world.  But then you have the world over here.  This is reality.  Now, truth is not a belief.  Truth is not a reality.  Truth is when your belief matches up with reality.  That’s what we mean by truth.  Have you ever noticed how much you base your entire life down to details, daily decisions on what you think is true? 

What if somebody says it is cold outside?  Have you checked whether that is true or whether that is false?  You can look at a weather app and see what information it gives you, or you could actually walk outside and see it for yourself.  If it is cold outside then your belief is truth.  If it is not cold outside then the belief is false.  We do this with historical issues such as the claim that Jesus rose from the grave, and we do this with scientific matters such as the claim, the belief that the universe had a beginning.  We actually do this on all sorts of issues.  We have a variety of beliefs and then we go see if the world is the way we take it to be.  If our beliefs match up they are true and if they don’t match up they’re false.  Remember our beliefs don’t create reality, but rather our beliefs should reflect reality. 

But, you might be thinking, "Wait a minute, when it comes to religious beliefs can’t you have your beliefs and I have mine?"  Aren’t your beliefs true for you, but my religious beliefs are true for me?  Not too long ago my father was speaking at a leadership event for about four hundred high school students, and in his session, my dad decided to walk out into the audience and interact with the students.  And he started by asking a simple question to a student that was there.  He said, “Do you think the Bible is true?” 

The student jumped in and said, “Yes, I think the Bible is true.” 

My dad said, “You think it’s scientific and historically accurate in everything it teaches that we properly understand.” 

And the student looked back at him and said, “Of course.” 

Then my dad looked back at him and said, “Why?”  And the student had no answer.  My dad went around the room and not a single student had a thoughtful answer about why he or she believed the Bible was true. 

Well, the session was done and my dad was walking toward the door in the back of the auditorium and the student comes running up to my father.  He goes, “Josh, Josh, I know the answer.  I know why the Bible is true.”    

He said, “Great. Why is the Bible true?” 

He looks at my father and says, “The Bible is true because I believe it.” 

My dad says, “Wait a minute.  The Bible is true because you believe it?  What about a Quran and a Muslim who believes the Quran?” 

This student looked my dad right back in the eyes and said, “If a Muslim believes the Quran is true then the Quran is true for him.” 

Now my dad gave back to the student a memorable and powerful response.  He said, “Here’s the difference between me and you.  You think the Bible is true because you believe it, but I believe the Bible because I think it is true.”  You see nothing is true or false because we believe it.  Our beliefs don’t change reality, but given how important truth is, let’s hope our beliefs match up with reality.

We’ve been talking about why truth is important, but let me share a story about my mom to help make this point really sink in.  So, my mom has come a long way with technology, but she honestly used to be afraid of anything technologically speaking.  When my mom picked up new technology, she would read the instructions letter by letter and follow it the best as she can.  Well, she got a computer up pops something that says close all windows.  So my mom decides to, and I think you see where this is going, get up from her chair, walk around the house, and close all the windows in the house.  When she told this story, I was a little bit embarrassed. We realized that truth has consequences.  In this case, I realized that truth has consequences.  But in many cases, confusing truth can lead to devastating consequences.  But when we know the truth, we are set free.  A computer is created to function in a certain way.  When we use it according to its design we are set free so we can accomplish things.  When we don’t know its design like in the story with my mom, what happens?  Confusion, frustrations, and sometimes significant consequences. 

I think one of the greatest lies and confusion of our age deals with the question of “What is freedom?” Have you ever thought in your life “What is real freedom?”  When I ask students to define freedom, they will say to me, “Freedom is being able to do whatever you what to do so long as no one is telling you how to live your life.  If it feels good, do it, and you’re free.”  Friends, that’s not freedom.  Living according to whatever feels good is going to enslave you to your passions.  Real freedom is when we embrace God’s design for our life which is to love him and to love other people.  That’s why Jesus said in John chapter three that if we live according to his design for our life, we live according to His truth.  Our works will be known to the world.  Real freedom is not living according to whatever we think is right but embracing God’s design for our life.  Real freedom is when we live in light of truth. 

Greek to Me

I recommend both of these as supplements to help you memorize endings and vocabulary even if you are using a different textbook.

GREEK TEXT BOOK:
For many students in seminary and Bible colleges, as well as self-taught students, Greek is the language of never-ending endings as well as being the seemingly impossible requirement of ans inflexible curriculum. The grammar in Greek to Me aims to encourage and motivate students to learn both grammar and vocabulary of Koine Greek in a new and productive way. The approach is new, yet it has been tried and tested with hundreds of students and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Greek to Me-by Lyle Story on Amazon 

GREEK VOCAB CARDS WITH MNEMONIC PICTURES:
I don't think that the physical cards are available anymore, but you can access them on the iPhone App "Biblical Greek Flashcards."  Each card has a picture that creates a mnemonic connection between the pronunciation and meaning.