Phil. 3:8-16, Perfection: Becoming What God Intends (2)

Paul:

1. Rom.12:2: refers to God's "perfect" will.

1. 1 Cor 2:6: wisdom spoken among the perfect; opposite of “carnal” in 3:1.

1. 1Cor.13:10: perfect contrasted w/"partial"; when we mature is Christians we will understand love; for now we know and prophesy in part, as the “child” in v11).

1. 1 Cor.14:20: be mature in your thinking, not children

3. 2Cor.12:9: God's power made perfect in weakness (again, process idea; we may have an ideal knowledge of God’s power but in life we come to prove it and know it experientially).

1. Eph.4:13: we attain to be perfect men

3. Phil.3:12: Paul had not become perfect, yet pressed on

1. Phil.3:15: Paul speaks of those who are perfect, inferring believers

1. Col.1:28: Paul admonishes, teaches so as to present all men perfect

2. Col.3:14: love is the perfect bond of unity. (Eph. 3:14-19 is a prayer to become mature in love; 2 Pt. 1:5-11 also speaks of that process that ends at love; 1 John in the next post also speaks of being “perfected” or matured in God’s love).

1. Col.4:12: prayer that they would stand perfect in God's will (presently)

Note: Paul almost always has idea we are striving for perfection now, that it is something to reach for. The 2 verses in Phil. are significant for they use the same word in 2 diff. senses: I am not yet perfect, yet I am perfect. The term cannot have the idea of "sinlessness" or it would not be flexible enough to be used in both ways. Paul seems to speak of experiential and positional perfection.

James and Peter:

11. 1:4ab: patience (endurance) must have its perfect end that we may be perfect & complete (holokléros, complete in every part, sound), lacking nothing

1. 1:17: perfect gifts come fr. Father of lights

1. 1:25: the perfect law is the law of liberty (this law is a NT law; perhaps he is saying the OT law finds maturity in the NT law; Jesus demonstrated this in the Sermon on the Mount, saying, e.g. it’s not enough to not kill, you must not hate).

3. 2:22: as a result of works Abraham’s faith was perfected (this is a major illustration of “perfection;” Abraham was a believer from Gen. 15:6 on, but his faith matured and was then proven at Mt. Moriah).

1. 32:2: a perfect man does not stumble, and he bridles his tongue

4. 1 Pet. 1:13: fix your faith completely on grace to be brought at revelation of Christ.

Note: the idea of maturity (lacking nothing) or completion & the idea of an end are present in 1:4. The law of liberty is perfect in that it is the completion of the law of Moses & the old dispensation. Perfection is also tied to conduct in 3:2.

Heb. 5:5-14, Perfection: Becoming What God Intends (1)

In the study of Hebrews, and in all the NT, there is a word family we must master to understand God’s will for believers.  It is often translated “perfect” or “perfection” which can cause difficulty for the typical English reader.  Better terms might be “complete” or “mature,” but even then we might not get the essence of the NT teaching.  Let’s begin with Hebrews, and then we will go to the rest of the NT.  There are 6 Greek words in this family so we will list them accordingly.  Keep this list in mind as we will not repeat it on the following pages.

1.    teleios (adj): perfect, mature; having attained the end

2.    teleiotés (fem noun): perfection, completion

3.    teleioō (verb): to complete, perfect (see P136)

4.    teleiōs (adv): completely, perfectly

5.    teleiōsis (fem noun): perfection, completion

6.    teleiōtés (masculine noun): perfector

Hebrews

3.2:10; 5:9: Christ was made perfect through suffering.  (Immediately we see the problem with “sinlessness.”  Christ was sinless; He was not made sinless.  And when we are the subject, having sinned we can never become “sinless.”  So what does this mean but that Christ came to the conclusion the Father had in mind for Him.  He became “mature” or “complete.”  And it was His earthly life that brought Him to that conclusion.)

1. 5:14: strong meat is for the mature.  This passage is crucial in seeing the “maturity” idea.  We grow as Christians from infancy to adulthood.

2. 6:1: perfection here is a state beyond the basic doctrines of Christianity

5. 7:11: seems to refer to perfection of 6:1. Writer talking about how to gain perfection; it doesn't come thru the Levitical system.

3. 7:19: Law made nothing perfect (10:1)

3. 7:28: the Son was made perfect forever.

3. 9:9: gifts, sacrifices of OT can't make one perfect in conscience

1. 9:11: Christ entered greater, more perfect tabernacle

3. 10:14: Christ in one offering perfected for all time the sanctified ones

3. 11:40: the OT saints can't be made perfect apart fr. us bec. God provided a better way (the completed work of Christ which the OT saints looked forward to).

6. 12:2: Christ the author and finisher/perfector of our faith.

3. 12:23: speaks of "righteous men made perfect" in heaven now

Note: in Hebrews there is a process towards perfection (5:14; 6:1; 2:10; 7:19). And “perfection” is the culmination of the process (5:9; 10:14; 12:23; 11:40). The idea of completion is also evident, notably in 2:10; 5:9; and the idea of maturity in 6:1ff.  The witnesses of Heb. 12:1-2 had completed the process (finished the race), and Christ to whom we look was the first to complete the process (Heb. 6:20).

1 Cor. 2:9-16, Don’t Be Ignorant of This

1 Cor. 12:1 says in many translations: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant (NKJV).”  It seems to me that adding the word “gifts” increases the possibility of being ignorant of these things.  Youngs Literal Translation is correct to say “spiritual things” although I don’t understand why it is not proper to just say “spirituals.”  Inserting “gifts” I suppose is because of what the chapter talks about, but even in that increases ignorance because the chapter is not simply about “gifts” but also includes ministries and activities (12:4-6).  Further, the word for “gifts” (charisma) is a grace word and I think for accuracy would better by “grace gifts,” or literally “grace things.”  The list is not long.  Consider the nature of “spirituals.”

pneumatikos (adv): spiritually

·       1 Cor. 2:14: the things of the Holy Spirit are spiritually discerned

·       Rev. 11:8: Jerusalem is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt

pneumatikōs (n): spiritual, pertaining to spiritual; caused by, filled with the Spirit

·       Rom. 1:11: Paul desired to impart a spiritual gift to them (“gift” is in this text)

·       Rom. 7:14: the law is spiritual, I am carnal (fleshly)

·       Rom. 15:27: Gentiles partook of spiritual things, Jewish bros. partake of material

·       1 Cor. 2:13ab: the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual

·       1 Cor. 2:15: he who is spiritual judges all things, judged by no one

·       1 Cor. 3:1: Paul could not speak to them as spiritual but carnal, babes in Christ

·       1 Cor. 9:11: Paul had sown spiritual things, he could reap material things

·       1 Cor. 10:3-4: in wilderness all ate same spiritual food, drank same sp. drink

·       1 Cor. 12:1: concerning spirituals, don’t be ignorant

·       1 Cor. 14:1: pursue love, desire spirituals, but especially to prophesy.

·       1 Cor. 14:37: those who consider selves spiritual should accept Paul’s words

·       1 Cor. 15:44ab,46: body sown natural body, raised spiritual body; there is a natural & a spiritual body; the spiritual is not first but the natural

·       Gal 6:1: you who are spiritual restore the one overtaken in trespass

·       Eph. 1:3: we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies

·       Eph. 5:19: speak to each other in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs (Col. 3:16)

·       Eph. 6:12: we wrestle not against flesh and blood but … spirituals of wickedness

·       Col. 1:9: filled w/knowledge of His will in all wisdom & spiritual understanding

·       1 Pt. 2:5: living stones, being built up a spiritual house

The entire 12^th chapter of 1 Cor. is about “spirituals,” not just “spiritual gifts.”  The whole way the body works together is a spiritual matter.  Spirituals are the opposite of natural things, fleshly things, material things.  Concerning “spirituals” we must not be ignorant!

2 Cor. 3:12-18, Morphing Biblically

Without exception, Christians are changed people.

metamorfoō: transform, change in form

·       Mt 17:2; Mk 9:2: Christ "transfigured" before 3 disciples

·       Rom 12:2: be transformed by renewing of mind

·       2Cor 3:18: as we look at glory of Lord we're transformed into same image, from glory to glory

In the Gospels we get an illustration of transformation.  Jesus had a completely different appearance.  In the Epistles we get instruction as to how this happens in our lives.  The “renewing of the mind” by the Word and the Spirit is essential.  Can’t happen without the Bible.  But also understand, the renewal of the mind is not the end result.  It is rather that we gaze upon Christ.  The transformation comes by constant looking upon the One into whose image we are being transformed.

morfé: form, outward appearance, shape

·       Mk 16:12: Christ appeared in another form to the two on the road to Emmaus. 

·       Phil 2:6-7: Jesus in form of God, took on form of servant

Paul gives us significant understanding of this term.  The theologians concluded that Jesus was in substance God, which is fine, except that it still leaves us in the dark.  God is a spirit and has no physical form; substance usually involves physical form.  The point is that Jesus was what God is, and then came to earth and was what a servant is.  However you want to talk about it you cannot deny this.

morfoō: to form, shape

·       Gal 4:19: Paul pains for them until Christ formed in them

We are born with a form.  When we are born again, there is the seed of a new form that must grow to maturity.  What a grand and deep thought.  (Heb. 5:12-14; 1 John 2:12-14; 3:9; 1 Pt. 1:22-2:3 and other places.)

morfōsis: embodiment, outward form, appearance

·       Rom 2:20: Jews who have form of knowledge but don't obey it

·       2 Ti 3:5: in last days men have form of godliness but deny power

If we are hypocrites, all we can ever achieve is a visible form that looks something like what we want to convince people is our reality.  Without the new birth Christ can never be formed IN us, so that which is OUTSIDE will not by Christ.  May the Spirit led, Bible fed transformation be continuous in each of us!

1 Tim. 6:1-5, Word Battles

There is a collection of terms we want to consider in this post that are all used in today’s passage.  They address how Christians ought to treat each other.

kataphroneō (v): to contemn, despise, disdain, think little or nothing of

·       Matt 6:24; Lk. 16:13: can’t serve 2 masters, you will love one & despise other

·       Matt. 18:10: don’t despise little ones, their angels behold the Fathers face

·       Rom 2:4: do you despise the riches of His goodness that leads to repentance

·       1 Cor 11:22: in abusing Lord’s table you despise the church of God

·       1 Tim 4:12: Tim not to let anyone look down on his youth

·       1 Tim 6:2: slaves not to look down on believing masters

·       Heb 12:2: on cross Christ despised the shame

·       2 Pt. 2:10: false teachers walk in flesh, despise authorities

The love-relationships in the Body of Christ call us not to think little of others in the family of God.  Lord, help us!

logomacia (n): a word-battle, dispute about words

·       1 Tim 6:4: heretical teacher interested in disputes about words from which come envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, constant friction

·       Tit 3:9: shun ... disputes about the Law; they're unprofitable, worthless

logomacheō (v): to dispute about words, to wrangle about empty & trifling matters

·       2 Tim 2:14: charge them not to wrangle about words; useless, ruins hearers

This is a tactic used by heretics, to engage people in arguments about some “word.”  It makes the heretic seem quite intelligent but look what it leads to.  Even if these “words” come from the OT law!  It’s interesting.  “logo” is Greek “logos,” a message, and a title of Christ in Jn. 1:1, “the Word.”  “Macheo” is to make war.  So two Christians, who believe the gospel, might get into a dispute about the exact means of “justification” or “foreknowledge” or “faith,” and at some point realize they are at war with each other even though they fully agree on the gospel.  What is at stake is not orthodoxy but winning an argument. 

tuphoō: to be puffed up, conceited

·       1 Ti 3:6: new convert who is an elder becomes conceited

·       1 Tim 6:4: heretical teacher is conceited

·       2 Tim 3:4: last days, men to be ... conceited

Christian relationships, like any relationships, are ruined by conceit, by the lack of humility, unwillingness to have a submissive attitude to each other.

Meditate on these things as you consider Jesus’ command to love one another (Jn. 13:34-35).  Are we being divided by things that are trivial, that do not keep us from worshiping and serving Christ together.

Psalm 74

This Psalm is a great lesson in how to make our problems God’s problem.  We are not suggesting that we try to trick God into doing something about our problems by making Him think it’s his problem.  It is actually the opposite: it is seeing that we don’t in fact have a problem unless it is God’s problem.  The difference between whining at God and pouring out our burdened hearts is that in some way His Name and glory are at stake in what we are enduring.

Let us note the flow and symmetry of this Contemplation of Asaph. 

·         74:1-2: Why? (Why have you cast us off forever?)

·         74:3-8: The enemy causes perpetual desolations (describes the problem)!

·         74:9-10: How long? (How long will You let this go on?)

·         74:11-12: Why? (Why do You withdraw Your hand?)

·         74:13-17: You are the omnipotent God (describes God)!

·         74:18-23: Arise, O God (plead Your own cause)!

The Psalmist has a problem.  He and God’s people have been cast off by God.  It is a severe time and seems hopeless; he wonders how long this will go on.  But throughout he calls God to remember.

·         74:2: Remember who we are (Your congregation which You purchased, Your inheritance which You redeemed.  Israel is His turtledove and His poor, v19).

·         74:18,22: Remember what the enemy has done (blasphemed Your name; reproached You daily).

So the Psalmist has come in the right way to God.  He has seen how God’s name and glory is besmirched by the problem he faces.  He recognizes that Israel belongs to God and exists for God’s glory and to serve Him as His witness.  Believers today have the same truths to call upon.  We are the people who belong to Christ, purchased by Him for His glory (1 Cor. 6:19-20).  We are left here to testify of Him to the world (2 Cor. 5:18-20).  This kind of praying has the added benefit of elevating our hopes and aspirations above the temporary to the eternal things that befit God’s people (2 Cor. 4:16-18).

This week in the office at the Garden Tomb where we are serving we had some old gospel music playing (it’s a bit slow, and the Norwegian lady at the reception desk loves gospel music as do I).  Vestal Goodman was singing God Walks the Dark Hills and I was wondering, where does that idea come from?  Maybe the answer is in Psalm 74:20.  For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty.  We all know the fear one can have hiking the hills through a dark forest.  It is a great picture of life in an increasingly sinful world where God’s people walk.  Even as I write this I have seen in the news an American pastor in jail in Iran has been freed; AND an American missionary in Burkina Faso has been killed in a terrorist attack.  In both, and in every case, what comfort to know: God walks the dark places!  He is among the people He has redeemed!

1 Tim. 6:11-19, Lay Hold of Eternal Life

This phrase appears twice, in 6:12 and 6:19. “Lay hold on eternal life.”  If eternal life is the free gift of God through Christ (Rom. 6:23) why do I need to “lay hold” on it?  Excellent question.  Let’s look at the word.  Most of the uses are in narrative stories (Gospels, Acts, Heb).  But those stories will give an idea of the kind of action involved in laying hold of eternal life.

epilambanomai (verb): to lay hold of, take possession of

·       Mat 14:31 Jesus caught Peter, saying “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

·       Mar 8:23 Jesus took the blind man, led him out of the town, gave him sight.

·       Luk 9:47 Jesus, concerning the “greatest,” took a little child and set him by Him.

·       Luk 14:4 Leaders kept silent, so Jesus took man in synagogue and healed him.

·       Luk 20:20,26 Leaders sent spies that they might seize on His words, … But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people.

·       Luk 23:26 they laid hold of a certain man, Simon, to bear Jesus’ cross.

·       Act 9:27 Barnabas took Saul, brought him to apostles.

·       Act 16:19 Masters of demon possessed girl, they seized Paul and Silas.

·       Act 17:19 Greeks brought Paul to the Areopagus.

·       Act 18:17 Greeks took Sosthenes, synagogue ruler, and beat him.

·       Act 21:30 Jews seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple.

·       Act 21:33 Roman commander took Paul, bound him, questioned him.

·       Act 23:19 Roman commander took Paul’s nephew by the hand, questioned him.

·       1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called & have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

·       1Ti 6:19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

·       Heb 2:16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. (Various translations maintain the “lay hold” idea; He did not lay hold of angels but laid hold of the seed of Abraham.  If you review these passages the “seizing” or “taking” was to accomplish some purpose.)

·       Heb 8:9 The Lord took Israel by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt.

This “laying hold” of eternal life is a vigorous, aggressive seizing, not unlike Lk. 13:24, “Strive to enter at the narrow gate;” or Mt. 11:12, “the violent take it (the kingdom of God) by force.”  What is hard is not God!  He is gracious and has made entrance by faith in Christ, all of grace.  What is hard is me!  Laying aside my good works and just desserts which are empty and useless, and receiving Christ by the empty hand of faith.  We must be ruthless in this.  The two uses in 1 Tim. 6 are in the context of money and riches (6:10,17).  Nobody struggles with simple faith more than the man who thinks everything has a price and he can pay any price!

Psalm 62, Say it Emphatically!

Jesus said, “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” (Mt. 5:37).  He was, of course, forbidding the kinds of oaths by which Jews could make deceitful statements with no accountability.  I have heard, for example, that the Koran encourages deceit (telling lies) for good causes.  That’s what Jews did.  If they affirmed their words with a proper oath then you could believe it.  If they didn’t, then who knows what agreements would stand. 

Today’s word study begins in Psalm 62 where the Hebrew “ak” is used 6x.  In the NKJV it is translated truly (v1), only (v2,4,6), alone (v5) and surely (v9).  Regardless of where it appears in your Bible translation, in the Hebrew it is the first word of the verse each time, meaning it is emphatic.  It is a word of affirmation.  It is used 161x in 157 verses in the OT so we are not going to list them all, although I would suggest to you that you might want to know when this word appears in a passage you are studying.  It is asking you to stop and think about what it affirms.

Let’s begin with just Psalm 62.

·       v1: Truly my soul silently waits for God.  Have you ever told someone you would pray for them and then it slipped your mind?  Or has anyone questioned whether you were really trusting God because they did not “see” you praying or you did not share the need with others?  David says, “my soul which you cannot see, is waiting on God silently so you cannot hear.  Truly!  Believe me!”

·       v2: He only is my rock and my salvation … my defense/strong tower.  His trust in God is total.  He trusts no one else.  ONLY God!  Ps. 62:6 repeats this verse.

·       v4: They only consult to cast him down from his high position.  David affirms that the attack of his enemy is baseless.  He has done no wrong.  They are merely jealous of his position.

·       v5: My soul, wait silently for God alone. What he affirmed in v1 he know encourages his soul to continue to do.  He calls the soul to be whole-hearted.

·       v9: Surely men of low degree are a vapor, men of high degree are a lie.  Whatever kind of men are involved in this attack (those valued as important in society of those considered weak by society), their attack will fail because they are all without substance.  He is confident of this, and affirms this to his soul.

Do you see what is important about this term?  If you are telling a story of praying a prayer this word helps you to be single-minded, to allow no room for variation.  Here are a few appearances of this word.

·       Gen. 7:23: Only Noah & those who were with him in the ark remained (1^st use).

·       Ps. 23:6: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

·       Jer. 30:11: Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you,
Yet I will not make a complete end of you.

What is going on in your soul, your life, that needs emphasis attached to it?

1 John 4:20-5:5; Rev. 5:5, Nike! Victory!

Here’s a study of “overcoming,” the Greek term “nike.”  It’s not what  says but what we have in Christ!

nikaō (verb): overcome, conquer

·       Lk.11:22: one stronger than he (Satan) will overcome him

·       Jn.16:33: I have overcome the world

·       Rom.3:4: that you may overcome when you are judged

·       Rom.12:21ab: be not overcome w/evil but overcome evil w/good

·       IJn.2:13: you have overcome the wicked one (v14 also)

·       I Jn.4:4: you have overcome bec. greater is he that is in you

·       I Jn.5:4ab,5: whatever is born of God overcomes the world; this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith; who is he that overcomes the world but he who believes

·       Rev.2:7: to him that overcomes (also 2:11,17,26; 3:5,12,21)

·       Rev.3:21b: even as I also overcame

·       Rev.5:5: he has prevailed to open the scroll

·       Rev.6:2ab: he went forth conquering & to conquer

·       Rev.11:7: beast will overcome them

·       Rev.12:11: they overcame him by blood of Lamb

·       Rev.13:7: beast given power to overcome saints

·       Rev.15:2: they that had gotten the victory over the beast

·       Rev.17:14: the Lamb shall overcome them

·       Rev.21:7: he that overcomes shall inherit all things

Westcott (on I Jn.4:4): in the conflict w/false prophets the Christian must claim the fruits of a triumph which has been already gained (Jn.16:33).

Wuest (on I Jn.4:4): perfect tense indicates a past completed victory & a present state of being a conqueror.

nikos (neuter noun): victory

·       Mt.12:20: Isaiah said of Christ he'll be gentle until he brings justice to victory

·       I Cor.15:54,55,57: "Death swallowed up in victory"; where death, is your victory? Thanks to God who gives us victory through Lord Jesus Christ.

nikē (feminine noun): victory

·       1 Jn. 5:4: the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

2 Cor. 10:1-11, Spiritual Truth is REALITY (2)

·       Rm 4:3-6: Abraham believed, counted as righteous; he that works for salvation a debt is counted for him rather than grace; he that believes & works not it is counted for righteous; he to whom God imputes righteousness is blessed. (The accounting idea is obvious, but still the issue is reality of what is spiritual. This quotes Gen. 15:6 where the Heb. term is hasab, defined as to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count.  In 1 Ki. 10:21, 2 Ki. 22:7 and elsewhere it has the “accounting” sense.  The doctrine of imputation is a correct way of thinking, contrary to N. T. (Tom) Wright’s ‘future justification.’)

·       Rm 4:8-11: he to whom God does not impute sin is blessed; faith reckoned to Abraham for righteousness; When? it was reckoned when he was uncircumcised; he is father of all who believe so righteousness can be imputed to them also.

·       Rm 4:22-24: Abraham believed God would fulfill promise so it was imputed for righteousness; it is written in OT about this being imputed to Abraham; written for us to whom it will be imputed if we believe.

·       Rm 6:11: reckon selves dead to sin, alive to God thru Christ.

·       Rm 8:18: I reckon the suffering of this present time is not worthy to be compared to future glory

·       Rm 8:36: we are accounted as sheep for slaughter.

·       Rm 9:8: children of promise are accounted as the seed.

·       Rm 14:14: he that esteems something unclean, to him it is unclean.

·       1Co 4:1: let men account of us: we are ministers & stewards.

·       1 Co 13:5: love doesn't "think" evil (attribute false spiritual realities)

·       1Co 13:16: when a child I thought as a child.

·       2Cor 3:5: don't think of us as sufficient of ourselves

·       2 Cor 5:19: in Christ God was reconciling world, not imputing their sin

·       2Co 10:2ab,7,11: Paul's confidence which he thought to be bold; some thought Paul walked acc to flesh.; let a man relying on himself think again; let them think that Paul's words will be deeds when he comes.

·       2Co 11:5: Paul supposes he is not a whit behind chiefest apostles.

·       2Co 12:6: Paul held back lest men think of him wrongly.

·       Gal 3:6: Abraham believed God, it was accounted as righteous.

·       Phil 3:13: Paul counts not himself to have apprehended.

·       Phil 4:8: we are to think on good, profitable things.

·       2Tm 4:16: Paul prays men who forsook him won't have it laid to their charge

·       Hb 11:19: Abraham & Sarah considered God to be able to give them Isaac.

·       1Pt 5:12: Peter considers Silvanus a faithful brother.

This is such an important study.  Don’t leave it too soon.  Meditate on these things!

Rom. 4:1-12, Spiritual Truth is REALITY (1)

A. W. Tozer, in The Pursuit of God, (Ch. 4) defines two terms: reality and reckon.  His point is that spiritual truth is as “real” as physical truth, but that spiritual truth is not known through the five senses but must be “reckoned” to the soul.  Our life in Christ is real, not just a theological statement. 

As you consider the 41x of the verb and 2x of the noun, keep in the back of your mind that someone is saying that something you can’t see is nevertheless real.  This word is the “impute” term, an accounting term, where Christ’s righteousness is counted to us and our sins to Him.  I am fine with the “impute” term, but even then, what we are saying to our soul is that a real spiritual event has taken place.  We are not just calling things real, as if we were deluding ourselves.  We are saying they are real!

logismos: calculation, reasoning

·       Ro 2:15: their thoughts accuse & excuse one another

·       2Co 10:5: casting down imaginations (false reasonings about spiritual reality!)

logizomai: Strong’s definitions: 1) to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over; 2) to number among, reckon with; 3) to reckon or account

·       Mk. 11:31: leaders reasoned among themselves, if we say “from heaven” He will ask why we didn’t believe him.  (What they are reasoning about is spiritual truth, something not visible to the eyes, as to whether or not John the Baptist was from heaven.  I.e. “which answer will we reckon to be real?”

·       Mk 15:28: Jesus was numbered w/the transgressors (Lk 22:37; the physical eyes saw Jesus on the cross; the spiritual reality was he was being counted as a transgressor.  This is a quote from Isa. 53:12, Hebrew mana, which is first used in Gen. 13:16 in the numbering of Abraham’s descendants.  In other words, it is appropriate to use logizomai in an accounting sense.  Even then, what is being put to the soul’s account is a spiritual reality.)

·       Jn 11:50: Caiaphas reasons this & that.

·       Ac. 19:27: Demetrius was concerned that the goddess Diana would be despised,  and her magnificence destroyed (This is an unusual translation.  Young’s Literal Translation says, reckoned for nothing.  This makes sense, but “for nothing” is not in the Greek.  It’s as if the sin against Diana would be to “reckon” her at all.  She should just be worshiped, which everyone did, without discussion.)

·       Rm 2:3: do you think you will escape judgment

·       Rm 2:26: if uncirc. keeps the law, his uncirc. is counted as circumcision.

·       Ro 3:28: we conclude a man is justified by faith.  (What a grand spiritual reality.  Again, the point is, we don’t operate out of myths.  We don’t just “say” we are justified by faith.  We reckon it; we count it as real to the soul.)