To understand the Bible – and we can, of course – demands that we know the meaning of the words of the Bible. It is not unusual for men and women to read the Bible but not understand because a certain word is not common in our vocabulary on a day-to-day basis. This article is merely a study of words that must be understood if we are to know God’s will for us. For example, note these:
“Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38
Some of these words, while familiar to some, may be puzzling to others. This word study can help us to better comprehend God’s will for us today.
REPENT
This is a word defined by Webster as “ regret; to grieve for sin or crime; contrition.” While those words are part of it, it leaves the definition incomplete. That English word, repent, means much more than grief or contrition. When the Bible tells us about repentance we find that “godly sorrow”, grief and contrition are the emotions that lead us to repent.
W. E. Vine, respected scholar of the original Greek language, says that to repent means:
“..to change one’s mind or purpose, always, in the New Testament, involving a change for the better.”
Modern man defines repentance as “I’m sorry,” but that’s only the beginning. Note what the Holy Spirit says in 2 Corinthians 7:10:
“Godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation not to be regretted: but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
We learn that to repent means more than being sorry for sin. We learn that being sorry can produce or cause repentance, but that there is more to “repent” than merely saying “I’m sorry.”
When men came to John to be baptized, he told them they must bring proof, evidence “worthy of” repentance, Matthew 3:8. The lazy must get to work. The bank robber must stop robbing banks. The liar must tell the truth. The rapist and the adulterer must stop their sinful acts. Those in sinful relationships must abandon those relationships, whether they are marriage, hobby or profession. The stingy must give.
Consider this as a simple but useful definition of repentance:
“A change of mind, motivated by genuine sorrow, that leads to a change of life or direction.”
FAITH
Skeptics and agnostics enjoy playing games with this word, claiming that “Faith is believing something that no one in their right mind would ever believe.” It is a surprise to no one that atheism is the author of this “definition.”
Superstition and gullibility are synonyms according to the doubters. Christians know that an idea needs more than mere acceptance to be true. We, of all people, must be rational thinkers. We must first examine all the evidence before reaching a conclusion that is valid.
The common definition of superstition is “an unreasoning belief” of some phenomenon. Christians, however, are told not to be “unreasoning,” but “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,” 1 Peter 3:15. Faith is not a “leap in the dark” but a response to the facts. Having done so, one is capable of making a decision that is rational. That’s not superstition! It is true, biblical faith, Romans 10:17.
SIN
This word is clearly a Bible word, found over 400 times therein. But what is sin? 1 John 3:4 states:
“Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law,” 1 John 3:4.
Sin is violating, refusing to live in harmony with God’s law. It can be defined as “..doing what God forbids and/or refusing to do what God demands.” When we realize what sin is we recognize the fact that we are responsible to the law of Christ as revealed in the New Testament.
In defining sin as transgression of law we must also conclude that a law of God exists. Romans 4:15 says:
“…where there is no law, there is no transgression.”
Each time we read the word “sin” in the Bible we are reminded that we are “under law to Christ,” as the Holy Spirit revealed in 1 Corinthians 9:21.
BAPTISM
To be a part of God’s Kingdom one must do what God says. Baptism is just one step leading to “remission of sins” as quoted earlier in Acts 2:38. Peter made it clear that sin existed in that Pentecost crowd, and when they asked how to be freed from their sins, he responded accordingly.
Why baptism? Why be immersed in water to be forgiven of sin? The blood of Christ, the redemption price paid for us, flowed in His death. We contact that blood when we die to sin, are buried with Him in baptism and are raised to walk in “newness of life,” Romans 6:3-6. In so doing we are “calling on the name of the Lord,” and we obey the gospel, Acts 22:16 and 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. What wonderful gifts God gives those who obey Him, Hebrews 5:8-9!
