Lesson Seven: Stop Acting As Though You Were Ignorant TEXT: I Peter 1:13—14 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: Introduction: Our text for this study begins with the word, “Wherefore,” translated from the Greek word, ‘Dio.’ “Dio” is inserted here to take us back to that which we have priviously studied in this great epistle. Peter is about to give some instruction which requires our knowing what he has previously taught. Some of the doctrines we have examined that are foundational to our carrying out the instruction Peter gives us in this study passage are: (1) Apostleship; (2) Election; (3) Sojourners; (4) Dispersal; (5) Foreknowledge; (6) Sanctification; (7) Obedience; (8) Propitiation; (9) Grace; (10) Peace; (11) Rejoicing; (12) Testing; (13) Character Definition and Refinement; (14) Commendation; (15) Faith; (16) Salvation; (17) Love; (18) Investigation of Grace By The Prophets and Angles. So, our previous study has prepared us for what we find here in I Peter 1:13-14. Let’s look at it.... I. EXEGESIS OF VERSE 13: “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ Those of you who are joining us on Sunday evenings in our pursuit of an RMA (Relaxed Mental Attitude) have recently been through I Peter 1:13-14. However, we will study it now in its natural setting in our Series on I Peter. We are instructed here to gird up the loins of our minds. “gird up” (an-adzo-sah-menoi) make it a principle to gird up... Participle— matter of purpose Aorist Tense— in a point of time Middle Voice— subject participates and is affected by the result Nominative Case— case of designation Masculine Gender— act of initiation not response Second Person— you do it Plural Number— all of you do it This participle means to gather up the hem of your skirt and tuck it into your belt in preparation for action.. In those days they wore long clothing and when they had work to do or needed to flee they would pull the hem up between their legs and tuck it into their belt. Peter tells us to follow this procedure with the loins of our mind. “the loins of your mind” “the” (tas)= the.... Definite Article— specific Accusative Case— case of limitation Feminine Gender— a response “loins” (osphuas)= seat of generative power.... Noun - Used of preparedness for service which results in spiritual generation The loins are considered to be foundational. So we are to prepare the foundations of our minds, that part of our mind where thought is processed, for work or activity. “of your” (humon)= of your.... Pronoun— personal Genitive Case— case of description and possession Second Person— your Plural Number— all of you “mind” (dia-noias) = faculty of knowing, understanding, reflecting and processing thought.... Noun - thing Genitive Case— case of possession Feminine Gender— the mind is a responder Singular Number— one mind Ah, you see? The focus is on our thought processes. We are what we think. We are to have our thought processes girded up, prepared for activity. Paul identifies this for us in Ephesians 6:14, “...stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth....” Truth is the Word of God. So, we have to have the foundation of God’s word in a readiness for activity. “be sober,” (nae-phontes) = remaining continuously free from intoxicants or outside influence.... Imperative Participle— a commanded principle Present Tense— continuous action Active Voice— You do it Nominative Case— case designating what you are to do Masculine Gender— act of initiation Second Person— you be free from outside influence Plural Number— all of you The Greek word that is normally translated “sober” is “so-phron.” It means to be sound of mind. But Peter uses a different word - nae-phrontes. It means to be free from intoxicants! Christians often base their lives on emotion and experiential circumstances. Emotion and experience can be intoxicating. The majority of Christians today are under the influence of emotion and experience. We are to be free from those and allow the Spirit to dictate. Remember the words of Paul in Ephesians 5:18. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” “and” (Not In Greek Text) “hope to the end” (teleiohs)(elpisate) maintain complete confidence.... Verb- expresses action Imperative Mood - a command Aorist Tense - repetitive aorist Active Voice - subject produces the action Second Person— you Plural Number— all of you We are to repeatedly maintain that perfect confidence till the end “for” (epi) upon.... “the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” What is the grace that is to brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ? God’s Realm At Christ’s Expense. It is at the revelation of Jesus Christ that we will at last be free from this body of sin and death with its natural orientation in apposition to grace! Note: it must be observed that we do not have to wait for the full revelation of Jesus Christ which will occur at the rapture. But Christ is being revealed to the believer that seeks him today. EXPANDED TRANSLATION OF VERSE 13: “Because of this, gather up the skirt of the seat of the generative power of your minds and tuck the hem into your belt in order to be prepared in a readiness for your deliverance; make it a matter of principle to constantly be free from outside influence, and maintain complete confident expectation upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” II. EXEGESIS OF VERSE 14: As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: We are to live as obedient children of God “as” (hos)= in the same manner and lifestyle of.... Subordinating Conjunction “obedient” (hupakoes)= obedient... Noun - thing Genitive Case - genitive of quality Feminine Gender - response “children” (tekna) children by birth (born ones)..... Noun- person Nominative Case - designation Neuter Gender - (Children can either be male or female) Plural- “not” (me)= not... negative adverb “fashioning yourselves” (suschmatidzomenoi) continually participating in developing a disguise... Imperative Participle - a command concerning principle Present Tense - continuous action Middle Voice - they were participants (with their Old Sin Nature) Nominative Case - designating what they were doing Masculine Gender - initiating the action This word refers to disguising oneself outwardly to hide what one is inwardly “to the” (tais)= according to the... Definite Article - specific Dative Case - dative of disadvantage Feminine Gender - responder Plural - “former” (proteron)= previous.... Pronominal Adjective Middle Voice - subject participates in action with the Old Sin Nature Accusative Case - limitation “lusts” (epithumiais)= lust pattern (in Old Sin Nature).... Noun- thing Dative Case - dative of disadvantage Feminine Gender - responds to baited trap with free will “in” (ehn)= in the sphere of.... Preposition Locative Case - in sphere of your ignorance “ignorance” (agonoia)= willful lack of knowledge..... Noun - thing Dative Case- disadvantage Feminine Gender - response Singular - This word is to be distinguished from the Greek word “agnoema” which refers to unwitting ignorance (not knowing because you haven’t been exposed. The use of the feminine gender here helps us understand that this is a willful act of ignorance. Unfortunately, a lot of people choose to remain ignorant of the things of God. In Romans 10:3 Paul indicates the Jews were willfully ignorant of the knowledge of God’s righteousness. It wasn’t because they had not heard - it was because they chose to ignore the gospel of grace. EXPANDED TRANSLATION OF VERSE 14: “In the same manner and lifestyle of obedient children by birth. Not continually participating in developing a disguise according to the previous lust pattern in the sphere of a willful lack of knowledge.” Romans 1:18-32 identifies the unbeliever who makes that choice to be willfuly ignorant.... 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. {more: or, rather} 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind {a mind void of judgment} , to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Then, on the other hand you have believers that choose to remain ignorant. Either their minds are made up and they don’t want to be confused with the facts, or they are so experience oriented that they have no desire for the truth. For some folks, ignorance is bliss - However, in this passage in I Peter we are instructed to stop ourselves according to our lust pattern as in our former ignorance. Now that we have the truth there is no excuse for living in ignorance. SUMMARY OF DOCTRINE 1. Have the seat of the generative power of your mind dressed in readiness. 2. Make it a principle to be free from outside influences. 3. Maintain complete confident expectation concerning the grace that is going to be revealed at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 4. As obedient children, make it a matter of principle to not disguise what you are inwardly, by assuming an outward expression which conforms to your Old Sin Nature.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:53:25 +0000
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