Vol.XIV No.V Pg.5
July 1977

With Special Attention To Key Words

Robert F. Turner

God has given us to serve Him faithfully. We should render quiet obedience unto civil government, knowing there is no power but of God. We should receive our weaker brother whose understanding in matters of indifference is incomplete, but who sincerely strives to serve God. We must always act with conviction and good conscience toward God, helping one another to serve Him.

Jews and Gentiles should receive one another, as Christ has received us, to the glory of God. For He became a servant to both, in order that God's promises might be confirmed and His mercies glorified. This is the good news which I have been called to preach, and which I felt compelled to preach, regardless of the cost.

Before I can come to you I must go to Jerusalem to deliver a gift from Gentile saints to their needy Jewish brethren. Such gifts are proper, and may help to heal Jew-Gentile relations. Pray that this gift may be accepted.

Convey our personal greetings, and those of the saints here.

Dedicated to the glory of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Terms Warranting Special Attention:

RIGHTEOUSNESS: once spelled "rightwiseness," refers to the "character or quality of being right or just." As respects man, it means to have right-standing before God. It does not imply absolute perfection, being frequently applied to imperfect men (Heb. 11:4, 1 Pet. 3:12), sometimes on the basis of their doing (Psm. 106:31, 1 Jn. 3:7). In such cases the term has a certain relativity, for man stands right only through the mercies of God and forgiveness in Christ. We should be content to use the term as God has used it in His holy word.

JUSTIFIED: "Just by acquittal from guilt," or simply, "free from guilt." Since "all have sinned" none are free from guilt except as God's plan for making man righteous is applied, i.e. forgiveness, in the blood of Christ: Rom. 3:24-25, 4:6-8, 5:8-9).

PROPITIATION: appeasement of the one wronged (God). In the O. T. type, the place of appeasement was the "mercy seat" (Heb. 9:5, cf. Rom. 3:25). Christ died for us, and lives (the resurrected life, pleading for us at the mercy seat) as our propitiation.

RECONCILIATION: complete change o f relationship, change thoroughly; cf. 1 Cor. 7:11. We must be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20) and to this end the "word of reconciliation" is preached. Christ is our means of reconciliation in that He alone propitiates (Rom. 5: 8-11). "Atonement" (K.J.) should be translated "reconciliation" in v. 11.

GLORIFIED: the ultimate condition, made possible through Christ; contem- plating even the redemption of our body (Rom. 8:11, 13, 17, 18, 21, 23 , 30). First, a body made servant to our spirit, and God's Spirit; and perhaps a reference even to our ultimate state. There is marvelous progression in these terms. Study them!