Consider This...
Theological Thoughts to Encourage the Heart & Stir the Mind ___________________________________________________
Volume I January 2011 Issue 5
As believers in Christ, there are many words that we use doctrinally and theologically that not only would confuse a nonbeliever, but Christians who are not familiar with them. If they are not explored and studied for their true meaning, one may still be in the dark when hearing these words in a message from the pulpit. In this continuing article on Biblical Definitions, here are a few more terms to be acquainted with.
The first term is “repentance.” The Biblical meaning of repentance is to have a change of mind and heart. It means to turn from the way you act and think and to line up your life with how Scripture commands one must live in order to please God. It is not a statement that you believe in God for the demons believe and tremble. It is not to agree that the Bible is true and only apply it to your life intellectually. True Biblical repentance involves a change of heart that is manifested by lifestyle, attitude, and emotional changes. There are two Greek words used in the Scripture regarding the word “repentance.” In Matthew 27:3, “Judas felt remorse” (NASB) for his betrayal of Jesus. The Greek meaning of the word, “metamelomai” is “a care to one afterwards.” Judas only changed his mind after thinking about what he did. He did not seek forgiveness for the wrong that he did to another individual or to the Holy God. There was no change of life, only a change of mind. The other Greek word, used in Acts 2:38 when Peter declared “repent and be baptized...” is the word “metanoeo.” F.F. Bruce defines this in an excellent way. He writes, “Repentance (metanoeo, ‘change of mind’) involves a turning with contrition from sin to God; the repentant sinner is in the proper condition to accept the divine forgiveness.”1
The second term to consider is “total depravity.” Total depravity is the fallen state of man as a result of original sin. The Westminster Confession of Faith declares, “Man, by his fall into a state of sin, has wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead to sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto...” Psalm 10:4 states, “The wicked man in his pride does not seek God. All his thoughts are ‘There is no God.’” Because we are dead in our sin, God is the only one who can make us alive. Therefore, we are totally depraved of making any conscience decision to follow or serve God. Although many may disagree with these statements, it does not change the fact that the Word of God declares, “There is none who seeks after God” (Romans 3:10). In Acts 16:14 we see that “The Lord opened Lydia’s heart to respond to Paul’s message.” God makes us alive from our spiritually dead state. We have no capacity or desire to seek Him ourselves. He does the work and the keeping.
A third term to understand is “atonement.” Christ’s death was not merely for our benefit, but it was in our stead. Atonement, in its original Greek meaning, is literally the word “reconciled.” We have been reconciled to God by the death of Christ. Blueletterbible.org explains this word as “adjustment of difference, reconciliation, restoration to favor. Another meaning for this word is ‘of the business of money changers; exchanging equivalent values.’” Looking into the meaning of “exchanging equivalent values,” I see the sinless Son of God dying in my place to make me right, to reconcile me to Almighty God. His blood was shed for my sin. This is seen in the Old Testament when an unblemished animal was sacrificed for the offending party. Christ, as an unblemished human being, being also God, gave His life to reconcile my life and spirit to the only Creator.
The final term we are going to look at is “imputation.” The Righteousness of Christ has been imputed to me. What does that mean? It means that because of this transaction (imputation), I am free from condemnation before Almighty God. There was no way available to me to remedy the separation and enmity I had towards God and He towards me until Christ reckoned His righteousness toward me.
“The word imputation is used to designate any action or word or thing as reckoned to a person. Thus in doctrinal language (1) the sin of Adam is imputed to all his descendants, i.e. it is reckoned as theirs and they are dealt with therefore as guilty; (2) the righteousness of Christ is imputed to them that believe in him or so attributed to them as to be con- sidered their own; and (3) our sins are imputed to Christ, i.e. He assumed our ’law-place,’ undertook to answer the demands of justice for our sins.
In all these cases, the nature of imputation is the same (Romans 5:18-9; comp. Philemon 1:18-19).”2
As believers in Christ, there is no “work” that we must do to be acceptable to God. But we cannot help but do good works because we have been redeemed. Christ has done it all. From our repentance to our atonement, even unto our imputation. O what a Savior!
—Ed Delgado
1. F.F. Bruce. The Acts of the Apostles: Greek Commentary. (London: Tyndale, 1952) 97.
2. American Psychological Association (APA): Imputation (n.d.) Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary. Retrieved December 9, 2010 from dictionary.com
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