Category Archives: Useless

Bible, Empty, Power, Powerless, Righteousness, Scripture, Useless

EMPTIED

ROMANS 4:14

“For if those who are of the Law are heirs, then faith is made void and the promise is nullified;”

As I read this verse today, a picture came into my mind of a car. I just got back yesterday from a day of driving to and from another city. It was about a two hour drive each way. Did you know that the speed of my truck had nothing to do with how hard I pressed the gas pedal? That’s right. How fast I went was determined by the fuel that was in the tank. If my truck did not have any fuel, I could press that pedal through the floorboard and it would not go anywhere. But when the source of the power is present, the engine fires, the transmission kicks in and the tires turn. Fuel is the key, not the pedal.

That is a very rough analogy for today’s verse. Our justification goes nowhere without faith in Jesus. All the works we accomplish (pressing the pedal) will get us nowhere. But when the power source (faith in Jesus) is present, we have the righteousness of God upon us. We reach our destination (heaven) because of the source that is in us.

APPLICATION

“Paul warns that reliance on Torah observance would kekenotai (“render empty”) both faith and promise. The term stresses how human works cannot coexist as instrumental causes of justification; introducing law-keeping would drain the gospel of its power and make God’s covenantal word ineffective. This verse undergirds the Reformation emphasis on sola fide, demonstrating that grace and law-merit are mutually exclusive avenues to inheritance.” (Topical Lexicon) Pretty clear explanation of the word “void” in today’s verse.

This word for “void” is found in four other locations in the New Testament (all by Paul). In 1 Corinthians 1:17 we read, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made of no effect.” There’s the word again, this time translated as “no effect.”

My favorite use of the word, however, is found in Philippians 2:7. Look at the verse in context in verses 5-7. “5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.”  He “emptied” Himself. He gave up His glory to become man for us. Wow! What can you empty yourself of today?

More of You and less of me, dear Lord. Help me empty myself of my own power and allow Your power to flow through me.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard
Battles, Bible, Futility, Mind, Scripture, Useless, Walking

FUTILITY

EPHESIANS 4:17

“So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds,”

What exactly does “futility” mean? Well, according to the dictionary it means “pointlessness or uselessness.” Let me give you an example. It is futility to try to stop the ocean waves with a sandcastle. You can build as big of a one you like, but the crashing waves will bring it down and claim it once again to the ocean. It is useless. It is pointless. Why even try?

Paul is pointing out the unbelieving Gentiles, from which these Ephesian believers came. He is exhorting them to stop doing the things they used to do before coming to Christ. Remember, they all probably came out of pagan worship. Paul says that way of thinking is pointless and useless. It is futility. Pretty bold words, don’t you think?

APPLICATION

Paul uses this word in Romans 8:20 when he writes, “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope.” Even the perfect creation God created fell to the futility of man when he ate of that fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Creation will never be perfect again until Jesus brings a new heaven and a new earth.

Then Peter uses that word in 2 Peter 2:18. “For, while speaking out arrogant words of no value they entice by fleshly desires, by indecent behavior, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,” You see, this kind of thinking, these words are of no value. They are pointless and useless. Why do we waste so much time trying to do things on our own? God has the answer if we will just turn to Him.

Paul is telling us in today’s verse to walk with Christ, not with the world. Stop emulating and embracing all these things. They are futile. Nothing that this world emphasizes will draw you closer to Jesus. Rely on His Word. Come to Him in prayer. Get your mind right each day so you can walk with purpose, serving the One who gave you life.

Thank You, Lord, for giving me a new mind when I came to Jesus.

Standard