SOUNDING OUT:
Tasting and Savoring the Grace of God
We received the new-birth
by grace, and that’s how we continue to walk,
by God’s grace. It’s grace from beginning
to end.
Colossians 2:6,7:
As ye have therefore received, paralambanõ,
Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
6 Rooted and built up in
him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught,
abounding therein with thanksgiving.
“Walk” is
present tense indicating continuous action at the present
time, but “received” is aorist or past tense
indicating that the action has already happened. The
believers had already received Christ Jesus the Lord,
and Paul was using their familiarity with it to explain
how they were to walk at the present time. They knew
exactly how they received him, and understood Paul’s
exhortation to continue to live the same way.
It says “AS” not “IF.”
There is no question as to whether they received Christ
Jesus the Lord. They had, and they had received it by
way of the ministry of Paul. It was the gospel of the
grace of God, the gospel of great mystery of God revealed
(Acts 20:24; II Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6).
Bullinger’s Critical Lexicon and Concordance
lists 17 different Greek words or phrases translated
into English as “receive.” “Received”
in Colossians 2:6 is the Greek word paralambanõ.
Friberg says it means “to accept or receive to
one-self; denoting close fellowship and agreement.”
Thayer says paralambanõ, when used figuratively,
means “to accept or acknowledge one to be such
as he professes to be” or “not to reject”
or “not to withhold obedience.” Paralambanõ
includes accountability or responsibility. It really
connotes and involves commitment, and there is responsibility
involved.
I was taught the new-birth as an “unqualified
commitment.” I like the term “unqualified
commitment.” “Unqualified” can mean
“unfit or lacking the necessary or desirable qualifications.”
In that sense, no one qualified for the new birth. None
of us could have paid the price; Jesus Christ had to
pay it for us. Jesus Christ was the only one to qualify,
and by God’s grace by the accomplished work of
Jesus Christ we qualified when we obeyed Romans 10:9
and 10. However, “unqualified” also means
“not limited or modified; absolute” (as
an unqualified endorsement). Of all the commitments
we have ever made, our new birth is absolute. It is
irrevocable and unlimited.
Let’s look at the first six uses of paralambanõ
and we will see the commitment and close relationship
which paralambanõ connotes. Although
when following every occurrence through the Word I don’t
always see the close fellowship, I do see commitment
and responsibility associated with or to what is taken
or received.
Matthew 1:20-24:
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel
of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph,
thou son of David, fear not to take, paralambanõ,
unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived
in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth
a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall
save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done,
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord
by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall
be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they
shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted
is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised
from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him,
and took, paralambanõ, unto him his
wife:
Matthew 2:13,14,20,21:
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the
Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise,
and take, paralambanõ, the young child
and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there
until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young
child to destroy him.
14 When he arose, he took,
paralambanõ, the young child and his
mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
20 Saying, Arise, and take,
paralambanõ, the young child and his
mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are
dead which sought the young child's life.
21 And he arose, and took,
paralambanõ, the young child and his
mother, and came into the land of Israel.
In these first few occurrences
of paralambanõ we see it used regarding
the marriage commitment and the subsequent responsibility
of caring for one’s family. We have welcomed Jesus
Christ into our lives. Before we accepted him we were
on our own; without God and without hope. However, now
that we have received him, we are new people. We received
a new nature, one that is unlimited in scope and ability,
one that has transformed us into children of God.
When Paul refers to receiving Christ Jesus the
Lord in Colossians 2:6, he refers to something they
have recognized as happening in their lives. It was
an experiential reality that they did not question but
knew to be true. This unwavering acknowledgment was
most likely founded on the experiential reality connoted
by the root word lambanõ. They operated
manifestations, as did Joseph in the accounts we read.
They partook of God’s goodness.
Psalm 34:8:
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the
man that trusteth in him.
“Taste and see”
invites us to a sumptuous feast which has long been
ready. Come sit at God’s table and partake of
His goodness. Make a trial, an experimental trial, of
the goodness of God. You’ll never know unless
you taste it for yourself. You will only know that the
Lord is good, really and personally, by experience.
There are some things which can only be understood by
being experienced and which, even then, are very difficult
to describe or articulate in words. Don’t “wolf-down”
the goodness of God. Use your palate; know and consider
them. Enjoy each savory bite and remember its impact
on your palate. Let it linger; don’t let it be
forgotten or disparaged.
Some say that all that we can obtain of spiritual
consolation or understanding in this life is but a taste,
the real meal is yet to come. Yet what an impression
a simple taste can make.
When we received Christ Jesus the Lord we began
a committed relationship with him. This commitment extends
also to the word of the gospel which made him known
unto us. Enjoy these other uses of paralambanõ.
I Corinthians
15:1-3:
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which
I preached unto you, which also ye have received, paralambanõ,
and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved,
if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless
ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you
first of all that which I also received, paralambanõ,
how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
Galatians 1:9-12:
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach
any other gospel unto you than that ye have received,
paralambanõ, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade
men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet
pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren,
that the gospel which was preached of me is not after
man.
12 For I neither received,
paralambanõ, it of man, neither was
I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 4:9:
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received,
paralambanõ, and heard, and seen in
me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
1 Thessalonians 2:13:
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because,
when ye received, paralambanõ, the word
of God which ye heard of us, ye received, it not as
the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of
God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
1 Thessalonians 4:1:
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort
you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received, paralambanõ,
of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye
would abound more and more.
Let’s
commit ourselves to action. Any one who has tasted that
the Lord is good would surely want to continue their fellowship
with Him and be established in the faith. We have made
an unqualified commitment. It is absolute and unalterable.
As we remain faithful to it we will taste the sweetness
of life God intends for us. Just like we started in and
by the grace of God, we continue to taste and see by the
magnificent grace God bestows upon us.
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