The Truth in Print Vol. 21 Issue 12, Jan. 2016
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
You
Were Pagans Carried Away Unto Dumb Idols (I Cor. 12:2)
Paul plainly states that Gentiles addressed
were pagans: “Ye know that ye were
Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led” (I Cor.
12:2).
Their idols were
“dumb” - mute, without the faculty of speech thus without significance — and they were led
by the false beliefs attached to them. But there’s more here — he’s made them
pagans in their past. In fact the NKJV
and NAS translates the word “Gentile” with “pagans” — Thayer says concerning
the word “ethnos” (G1484) that “Paul uses the term for Gentile Christians.”
Obviously the word
“pagans” here refers them back to their beliefs prior to obeying Christ in
baptism (cf. Acts 18:8 for the conversion of those at Corinth) — it carries
more with it than just meaning Gentiles as a race for they are still Gentiles,
non-Jews, though now Christians. The word “Gentiles” is used of foreign nations
not serving the true God.
So folks, how would
the P.C. crowd react to you calling the world full of idolaters “pagans” like
Paul did? He did not say, “Oh what a beautiful culture of idolatry you’ve all
had!” Now is there anything wrong with calling a pagan a pagan? Only when it
comes to being politically correct, but certainly God’s word was not written
for those who want to be politically correct. Some translations even use the
word “heathen” here. In Northern Ireland I read where an evangelical preacher
is being prosecuted by the state for saying Islam is heathen and Satanic.
Our politicians are
working hard to put a non-idolatrous face on Islam. In spite of their “black
rock” myth and crescent moon symbol. Look at the slaughter of those trampled at
the hajj. The history of Islam shows it was born in idolatry.
Compare now another
instance where Paul used the word “Gentiles” for Christians: Rom 11:13 “For I speak to
you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine
office:” He spoke to Gentiles now Christians.
Usage of the word “heathen”
Paul said he was
chosen to preach Christ among the heathen: Gal 1:16 “To reveal his Son in me, that I might
preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and
blood:” Here you have the same word “ethnos” (G1484).
He described his ministry
with going unto the heathen: Gal 2:9 “...they gave to
me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the
heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”
Jesus used the word.
He said to His disciples concerning prayer: Mat 6:7 “But when ye pray, use not vain
repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for
their much speaking.”
Strong’s definition:
G1482 ethnikos—From G1484; national (“ethnic”), that
is, (specifically) a Gentile: - heathen (man). Thus one reads what Jesus said
and concludes that the foreign nations who did not worship the one true God
wasted their time with “vain repetitions.” Look at the traditions / religions
of various nationalities and with little difficulty you will find such vain
repetitions today. And even among those calling themselves Christians some
entrance themselves with the repetition of Mary’s name.
When Jesus was
brought to Jerusalem the prophet Simeon took Him and said God had let him see
His salvation that was for all people: Luk 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the
glory of thy people Israel.
The idea that a race
or any number of individuals can be “outside” of Christ and be right with God
is contrary to God’s plan for all nations (Cf. Jesus’ ministry in Galilee of
the Gentiles, Matt. 4:12-16; also Jo. 14:6, Mk. 16:15-16, and Gal. 3:23-29
concerning both Jews and Gentiles).
In Matt. 6:32 Jesus
said the Gentiles “eagerly seek” the material things of this world (see
context). Again the word Gentiles is used here of “foreign nations not
worshipping the true God, pagans, Gentiles” (Thayer def. 4.).
In Romans chapter
three Paul states plainly that God will save both Jews and Gentiles the same
way i.e. through obedience to Christ. He says, Rom 3:29 “Or is He the God of
the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles
also,” — here he shows the Jews are not saved by the Mosaic Law (vs. 28) but
like the Gentiles are through Christ. Just as stated in Rom. 9:24 “even us whom
He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?” They were to accept
one another in Christ’s church (Rom. 15:7).
The Church as a holy nation
What kind of nation
is the church? 1Pe 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of
darkness into his marvellous light:” — here the
spiritual Israel, citizenship is in heaven — the church made up of both Jews
and Gentiles. There is no praise here for “man” from a physical, ethnic or
national background (cf. Rom. 2:28-29).
If one is not in Christ he is “without” or “outside”
Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom
toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Strong’s def.: “outside” - exō
(G1854) — out (side, of doors), literally or figuratively: - away, forth,
(with-) out (of, -ward), strange.
Thus it is like
being where? Being outside of a door rather than having entered the door and
among things inside. Jesus is the door: John 10:9 “I am the door: by me if any man enter
in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” The wisdom we walk in is from the Father
through Christ (Col. 1:28, 2:3). All other “world religions” and religious
beliefs fall under the category of “human philosophy” and “empty deception”
according to the “traditions of men” (Col. 2:8). When it comes to the total
population of the world there are only two divisions: Christians and the whole
world that lies in the power of the evil one, Satan ( I
Jo. 5:19).
In Col. 4:5 Paul
refers to non-Christians as being “outside” of
Christ — not “your mothers were harlots” as seem to recall it reported
that some were yelling as they wrongfully beat a man to death thinking he was a
terrorist — such phrases catch your attention because people often are prone to
think one of another “race” as a worthless person.
Unbelievers
Sometimes non-christians were called “unbelievers.” Paul made reference
to visitors that might come in to an assembly of the church and said: 1Co
14:23 If therefore the whole church be
come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in
those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
The word “unbelievers”
[G571, apistos] denotes one who disbelieves the
gospel of Christ, an unbeliever.
The word is in two parts “without” and “believing,
faithful.” Using that word doesn’t
bother too many people — in fact far too many of proud of being a part of them.. The word can mean “Not worthy of confidence,
untrustworthy” — but consider Cornelius’ reputation (Acts 10), or the way the
chief Captain eventually helped Paul in Acts chapters 22-23.
Are there at times
“unbelievers”’ who are more reliable than “believers”? They had a case of
sexual immorality in I Cor. 5:1 where something practiced by a member was not
even named among the Gentiles. In I Tim. 5:8 a
Christian who does not provide for his own is worse than an infidel. A Christian can act in certain ways “worse than
an infidel.” But this by no means puts unbelievers in Christ where salvation is
found. It only emphasizes the times when “believe” or “belief” in scripture
stands for faith with obedience —
note that the obedience in Heb. 11:36 goes with the living by faith in
Heb. 11:38-39.
Infidel
In 2 Cor. 6:15 you
find the word “unbeliever” [G57] translated as “infidel.” 2Co 6:15 says “And
what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part
hath he that believeth with an infidel?”
What do you think the P.C. would say about that
description of those who are NOT
“inside” the body of Christ? Would that offend today?
In the first part of the verse it says there is no “union”
between Christ and Satan. What question is asked in the next part? “What part has a believer with an infidel
(unbeliever)?” — “part” [G3310, meris] -
a portion, that is, province, share or (abstractly)
participation: - part (X -akers). That’s what
fellowship is! Joint participation in spiritual things. Thayer’s def.: 2) an
assigned part, a portion, share -- fellowship with one 2 Cor. 6:15.
These points from 2
Cor. 6:15 go with Col.1:12 where the Father through Christ “has qualified us to
be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” Friend you don’t
do the qualifying, God does! God qualifies the entire whole as the church of
Christ — there is “one body” and it is “the church” (Eph. 4:4, 1:22-23).
Jesus is the door (Jo. 10:7, 9)
You enter that door
by baptism into Christ (Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:26-27). People often
weigh what they think the benefits will be for them if they do not obey in
baptism against what it will cost them if they do. What happens to
“unbelievers” in Rev. 21:8? If one has
not been baptized into Christ they belong with all “unbelievers” and it makes
no difference if one says they believe in God, Christ, the Bible, Creation,
etc. – the vast majority of the World Population i.e. some 7B+ are
“unbelievers.”
By Bob Lovelace
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