Message: There is a tension of good and evil in our lives, both being the result of our faith or non-faith in Christ.
Time: Written sometime in AD 57-58, probably from Corinth, at the end of Paul's third missionary journey. Chapter 2 seems to be written to the Jew though the Jew is not addressed till verse 17.
What the Lord is Saying:
Verse 9, There will be:
Tribulation - crushed by a weight; suffering brought on by outward circumstances; the Greek word thlipsis is used 45 times in the New Testament.
Distress - literally a narrow place and the painfulness associated with being in that narrow place, such as being in a tight corner with no way out. The idea is that the person will not know where to find relief.
4 terrifying words found in verses 8 and 9
- Wrath - Orge - God's attitude toward sin (verse 8)
- Indignation - Thumos - The expression of that attitude (verse 8)
- Affliction - Thlipsis - The result (verse 9)
- Distress - Stenochoria - The realization of entire helplessness (verse 9)
The word "does" in verse 9 may be the most significant word in this entire verse because it expresses the tenacity in which a person engages in evil acts. The work of this person is not just momentary, but it is consistent and continual until the evil is achieved. And I know this because of the Greek word that is used. It is katergazomai. Ergazomai means to engage in an activity with considerable expenditure of effort. The kata prefix of this verb means that the intensity of that activity is greater. Evil behavior is thorough.
This same word is also used in Philippians 2:12 where it states "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Katergazomai is also used here, but instead of the English word "does" we see the English word, "Work out."
The idea when we go to the gym to "work out" is we do something hopefully in a repetitive way in order to change something in us. In both verses, the working out or doing is speaking of intensity and repetition.
The word evil or kakos is used 50 times in the New Testament.
The Good and Evil Tension
The contrast is clear. Man either does the work of salvation, sanctification, or does the work of evil, separation. Man either desires obedience to God or anything else, is disobedience.
The Bible repeatedly shows us clear contrasts, and yet, we just don't like living in those clear contrasts. We much more prefer standing in the middle between the two. We desire to borrow a little from each in our lives and then believe that we are safe as long as we have more of one than the other.
In addition, the chasm between the two is growing to the point that each opposite is a little less distinguishable. Gone are the days when most stores were closed on Sunday's. Now, it is rare one is closed. Chick-Fil-A is one that is always closed and there is almost this oddity about it. And because of this, the sabbath day has become more blurry and really not even distinguishable from other days. People no longer attend church with the same frequency. More and more the sins of yesterday are now seen as acceptable behavior. Atheism appears to never be more rampant than it is today and it should be because the presence of God in our lives is being pressed out. It is being overpowered.
Looking at the contrast between good and evil, right and wrong, holiness and worldliness, righteousness and unrighteousness, I need to be happy that the Bible speaks so clearly of the distinction because our lives in the world are much more grey. As the Leslie Phillips song voiced, "Black and White in a Grey World." The church needs to recognize this and train people to walk close to God and continue to live in Christ.
It amazes me how we think we can dance in both worlds and not be affected. Why do we do it? Because we love both worlds. And we think that we can.
Verse 10, and:
Glory - means to think highly of or give a proper opinion or estimate of something. The Greek word is used 166 times in the NT.
Honor - the worth or merit of an object; pay respect.
Peace - to bring together that which has been separated. Without peace there is division. It always conveys an inner rest. Peace or eirene is used 91 times in the NT. Eirene. Pamela's grandmother was named Irene.
Does - Once again this is katergazomai. A person's habitual conduct, whether good or evil, reveals the true condition of their heart.
Good - Greek word agathos. These are deeds done to benefit others.
Paul is not saying here that good works merit salvation nor is he saying that evil results in separation from God. But, we can clearly see that when a person does good, it is a testimony of who that person belongs. In the same manner, doing evil testifies of that person's allegiance. In both instances the deeds are habitual. And so the rewards that come are a result of habitual action, of which people have a heard time achieving (rather it is impossible) on either side of the fence.
Why does Scripture seemingly go back and forth? Why does it seem that one verse is speaking of being saved by God's righteousness through Jesus Christ alone, while other verses speak of living a life of good deeds. The problem thinking that it is a joint effort between God and man is then there are other scriptures that have to be punted. What I see is our obedience is part of our reward, but it isn't what brings us to the podium. We arrive at the podium solely on the basis of the perfect righteousness of Christ.
Promise: There are always clear results to the way we live.
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