Yet in this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God,
Deuteronomy 1:32 (KJV)
Believe – Back to our study about abstract and concrete concepts. Remember that Hebrews are very concrete in their language, so the Biblical concepts and worldviews will be rooted in concrete meanings that appeal to our senses. Greek concepts tend to be very abstract and are intangible. Continue reading “Abstract vs. Concrete – Part 2”
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 3:36 (KJV)
Believeth not – Do you think it mattered if Noah actually believed God was going to open the depths of earth and the skies above to bring a flood? Do you think it mattered if Joshua believed God would mysteriously destroy Jericho after blowing trumpets and shouting at it? The answer is “no”. All that mattered was for them to perform what God instructed. Their job was to listen and obey. They were not asked to take counsel with God on whether or not this approach would work, or how exactly the waters might flood the earth – they were given a command and expected to follow through. Continue reading “Disobedience is Rewarded with Punishment”
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 3:36 (KJV)
Believeth – What does it mean to believe? Greek theology would have you interpret belief as an internal state of cognition. As long as your neurons transmit the correct signals of belief that Yeshua is the Son of God, then all is well. You will receive everlasting life. And thus we have the doctrine of the separation between faith and works – a Greek theological doctrine. But to the Hebrew, there is no separation. Faith without works is dead. Continue reading “Believing is Obedience”