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I mourn the death of ”unto.” Yes… the preposition. Please don’t stop reading.
There are so many jokes on social media now about the “Grammar Police.” My daughter-in-law even bought me a nice mug with a “Grammar Police” badge emblazoned on the front. But, what if GOD, himself, meant for such a tiny word like, “unto,” to convey to us a very important truth? Should modern translators just decide it is archaic and, then, replace it? The Greek preposition “εἰς” (eis… pronounced “ice”), is used A LOT throughout scripture. If English grammar BORES YOU TO TEARS… you may miss a very important truth God wants us to understand. I will try to be quick… “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit INTO the wilderness…” (Matthew 4:1) “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads TO destruction…” (Matthew 7:13) “Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart UNTO the other side.” (Matthew 8:18) These are just a few verses in which the Greek word “eis” is used. As you can see, it is used to show “movement from one place to another place.” It indicates PROGRESSION TOWARD A DESIRED POINT OR GOAL! Paul uses it when he is teaching us about “yielding” ourselves either to holy living or to sinful living. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin UNTO death, or of obedience UNTO righteousness?” (Romans 6:16) I LOVE how the ESV translates it! It tells it like it is! “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, WHICH LEADS TO death, or of obedience, WHICH LEADS TO righteousness?” That’s exactly what “eis” means! Like when the New Testament writers want to share the idea that certain things “LEAD TO” eternal life. “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him TO LIFE EVERLASTING.” (1 Timothy 1:16) Some new translations use the word “for” instead of “to” or “unto”… but… That MISSES the idea entirely! “FOR life everlasting” connects “believing” and “everlasting life” with a “PURPOSE”… not a “PROGRESSION” toward a goal. (I know… I lost you, now. Lol) It is SAFE to use “unto” in other places in scripture, but as it relates to SALVATION and ETERNAL LIFE, many feel we should just stick with “for.” However, there is so much more proof that salvation is a “progression”… a process. “To this he called you through our gospel, so that you MAY OBTAIN the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 2:14) I want to preach to you an entire, fiery sermon on this next passage, but I will, simply, be happy to plant a seed. Follow this progression… 4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God THROUGH (an ongoing) FAITH UNTO (leading to) SALVATION (from here to there) ready to be revealed in the last time. (We are “being saved.”) (In verses 6 and 7 it speaks of the necessity of great trials THAT our faith “MIGHT BE FOUND … UNTO… praise and honor and glory.” Which is another way of saying… “that God, in the end, may give His divine opinion - His approval - about the worthy and valuable exercise of our faith and give us an accommodation when Jesus appears! And then the passage ends the progression… 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:4-9) “UNTO” is a very important, little word, as it relates to Biblical doctrine! Would you not agree?
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I was having a discussion with a friend and was reminded of a very serious issue of Bible interpretation propagated by Calvinists and Reformed Theologians. I could name names… but what’s the sense?
There are a number of groups mentioned in the New Testament scriptures, and it is VERY IMPORTANT that we separate them and KNOW which group is being referenced. Unfortunately, many well-educated and popular pastors and Bible speakers are MIXING THEM UP. This is resulting in many serious warnings, meant for “The brethren” (true believers), to be ignored. 1 John 2:19 - This is a very popular “Go To” verse for everyone who teaches “once saved, always saved.” Pastors completely pull it out of context to make the point that… Those who serve in the church for years and appear to be such good Christians, but then leave the church and seem to fall away from the faith… THESE WERE NEVER CHRISTIANS TO BEGIN WITH. They were “never a part of us.” And they apply this one verse across the board! Unfortunately, this is NOT what this verse is saying, at all. Actually, the entire passage supports the teaching that John’s “little children,” true believers, can be seduced and can choose to turn away from the faith they embraced in the beginning. 1 John 2:19 is, clearly and unmistakably, referencing “antichrists” (vs. 18)… those who are, and have always been, opposed to Jesus Christ. Of course, they are going to, at some point, “go out” from among the church… IF the church refuses to be seduced! “These things have I written unto you concerning them (the antichrists) who seduce you.” (vs. 26) As you can see, 1 John 2:19, cannot be used to answer the issue of actual Christians falling away from the faith as we read in Hebrews 6:4-6 or 2 Peter 1:4-11. These passages are NOT referencing antichrists. In both of these passages, believers in the faith are those who can choose to fall away. Now... In 1 John 2:24, after being warned about the seducing antichrists, the brethren are warned... ) “Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. IF what you heard from the beginning (continues to) abide in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.” Vs. 25… “You have the promise of eternal life always before you.” (our blessed hope) Vs. 26… “For this reason, do not be SEDUCED!” 1. There are tares in the church. 2. There are antichrists in the church. 3. There are weak and feeble believers. 4. There are strong believers. When Jesus said… “Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity, I NEVER KNEW YOU,” he was, obviously, referencing the “tares” of the church. Please, do not mix up these groups when interpreting the Bible. Warnings will be passed over. Bad things will happen. Your eternal inheritance is at stake. 1 Peter 1:4-9 - God has reserved our eternal inheritance that is waiting for us… AFTER we have suffered with Christ through the fires. And, IF our faith is found unto praise, and honor, and glory (meaning God approves of and assigns value to our personal sacrifice… enduring unto the end) at the appearing of Christ... (As opposed to fearing, or becoming bitter or offended in Christ and turning away)... THEN, you receive the “end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls!” (Please, read the passage again) Remember… “tares” have no faith. They cannot fall from a position they never held. These serious exhortations are written to ”the elect of God.” (Later, we can discuss how election fits hand in hand with the doctrine of apostasy.) I must finish with this... We are NOT working our way to heaven. Jesus already paid the price for that! What are the reactions we get when we try to awaken someone from a deep sleep? Shock? Apathy? Anger? Or, do we get no response at all? Lol
When Jesus tells us many times over, to “Watch,” and when the New Testament writers exhort us to “awaken out of sleep”… it is, undoubtedly, because Christians may choose to NOT go on, actively, watching. Perhaps, we have allowed ourselves to grow spiritually apathetic and unable to hear the still, small voice of God's Holy Spirit attempting to teach us and to warn us... leading us to ACTION in the Kingdom of Heaven! I submit to you that this is a very dangerous position or state of mind to be in. For, when we are comfortably enjoying this physical world, focusing in on earthly values… spiritual weakness sets in and our hands and knees become “feeble.” It is then that we become susceptible to “stumbling out of the way” and “failing of the grace of God.” Because we are not fully awake, we lack spiritual discernment. (Hebrews 12:12-15) It is at this point in our Christian life... DANGER COMES! We are confronted with temptation. We are confronted with attacks against our faith. Our culture changes around us. We aren't supposed to affirm them in their sin - because we profess Christ as our Lord and we stand upon His Holy Word. So, when we try to honor God, we become the enemy of family and friends… and the STATE. It is no longer pleasant to be a follower of Jesus Christ. It is no longer advantageous to proclaim His name. Your comfortable life and family relationships are at stake if you continue choosing to “believe.” But you are WEAK and more in tune with your earthly, fleshly needs than you are with Kingdom values. You can't keep trying to appease both God and man. And, so... you choose to give in to the "fear of man." Can you stop believing in Jesus? Yes… you can. And the weaker you allow yourself to become and the more feeble your spiritual knees are, the easier it will be to “fall away.” You may try to justify it in your own mind and heart… but God knows your heart. He knows you have chosen “another love.” He knows you have chosen to “save your life” and to “return to bondage.” He did everything to “keep you” but you failed to “keep yourself." You failed to run your race. And, you failed to keep the faith. Awaken and Watch, Christian! Watch… and do not allow anyone else to rock you to sleep with the idea that your “perseverance in the faith” is all God’s doing. He drew you and saved you… Yes. But He also provided you with a redeemed free-will to glorify Him by making difficult choices to “die to yourself,” to “carry your cross,” and to “endure unto the end.” For THEN… there is a crown of life awaiting us! And, our eternal inheritance will be made sight! To God be the glory! |
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