The 2016 Oxford Dictionary word of the year, “post-truth,” reveals our cultural slide. Let’s be counter-cultural and examine a trustworthy alternative.
Jude, most likely Jesus’ half-brother, steers our boat. Christian, and those who someday will believe, by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration filling Jude’s sails, we take a journey to two destinations. First, we see our natural selves. Secondly, we see who we, by God’s grace, become.
Jude (17,18) wrote: “But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. Theysaid to you, ‘In the last times there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.’”
Three words grab us. During the last times, there are “scoffers” (“empaiktai”) with “ungodly” (“asébeion”) “passions”(“epithumia”). Let’s dive in.
“Scoffers” – “Empaiktai”
This word is used 13x in the NT. The root is “enpais” – “en” = “in” + “pais” = “play.” Surprised?
We love good play/playfulness. But, scoffing — contemptuous ridicule — features dark play — verbally abusing God or others. “Scoff” is Scandinavian for “shove” — “to push away with violence.” Ouch!
Alas, the only time “enpais” is used in the NT describes decadent play. 1 Corinthians 10:7 — “So do not be idolaters, as some of them were, as it is written: ‘The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in ‘pagan revelry’” (Paul quoting Exodus 32:6). Wanting a God-substitute led to ‘pagan revelry.’ And this ‘play’ — promiscuous sensuality — brought God’s judgment. Read Exodus.
Next, eleven of the thirteen times “empaiktai” is used in the NT show we are deeply flawed. Three times, Jesus prophesied he — he! — would be smeared by search and destroy bullying. True enough, Scripture records mockery heaped upon Jesus eight times during his crucifixion. Corrupt man mocking holy God. What desecrating sacrilege.
God, help us turn away from scoffing you and others.
“Ungodly” – “Asébeion”
This word is used 15x in the NT. “Asébeion” is “a” = “the negation of” + “sébomai,” = “to respect.”
In regard to others, “asébeion” neglects or refuses giving honor where honor is due. With God, “asébeion” is boldirreverence — failing to honor him or defying giving him honor. What neglect or rebellion!
“Passions” – “Epithumia”
This word is used 38x in the NT. “Epí” = “focused on,” “intensifying” or “building on” + “thymós” = “passionate desire.”
A longing, causing our souls to stand on tiptoe, beckons us. Passions inspired by our natural ungodliness mean trouble. But, when inspired by faith, God’s in-birthed persuasion, these deep passions pursue loving God and neighbor as well as caring for creation.
Friend, beware. Of 38 uses, only three relate to God’s kingdom. Ungodliness claims 35. What an indictment!
KJV translators found three uses related to ungodliness warranted “concupiscence” (Rom 7:8, Col 3:5, 1 Thess. 4:5). This unfamiliar polysyllabic Latin-based word declares we are not simply sick with sin — sin has corrupted our core.Although we are not as bad as we possibly could be, the Book of Common Prayer calls us to repent of the “devices and desires of our own hearts.” The Westminster Confession of Faith 7:5 – “This corruption and all the motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.”
Contra Concupiscence
However, some teach that, as deep as “concupiscence” is, we have a still deeper place that is not sinful. Two hundred fifty-five church leaders approved these words: “This concupiscence, which the apostle sometimes calls sin, we declare that we have never understood to be called sin” (updated, from the Council of Trent,1545–1563).
Such disregard of Scripture has had grave consequences – the wicked fruit of sexual abuse by church leaders in our own time.
Still, many communicate that having such desires is OK. Only acting on sinful desires brings guilt.
Our sin is deep. Denying concupiscence, we do not deeply warn alcoholics, the greedy, or the self-righteous. And what about those embracing unbiblical expressions of sexuality? Are they OK at heart? Jesus lists sexual immorality second in his list of 13 sins (Mk 7:21). Paul lists it first in his list of 15 (Gal 5:19).
When we deny how bad we are, professor Michael Milton notifies us we celebrate captivity – therapeutically “muttering, ‘It’s alright. I am here with you until the end comes.’”
Considering the Evidence of “Epithumia”
What do you believe? If you pass by the gravity of our sin, study the 35 NT warnings against “epithumia.” Reconsider the necessity for the Word made flesh beginning his earthly ministry with: “Repent.” Cheer up; we are worse than we think.
Friend, although we cannot change our concupiscent core, we can be changed. We need a Savior who transforms us — ungodly as we are.
Among all the NT uses of “epithumia,” only one is intensified — one of the three positive uses! At the Last Supper, a meal signifying deep atonement, Jesus proclaims: “longing he has longed” — “earnestly he has desired” — to eat this meal with his disciples (Lk 22:15). In other words, Christian, and those who will follow him, God’s Lamb profoundly longs to take our polluted ungodliness so that he can lavish on us his pristine connection with God. What?! Yes! Believe his much greater passion changes your ungodly core and its passions!
Scoffing Paul once “breathed out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” (Acts 9:1). Transformed Paul writes: by Jesus’ cross — Romans 4:5 — “God justifies (makes right with holy God) the ungodly” (the “asebia”) — including Paul! Romans 5:6 — “Christ died for (in the place of) the ungodly” (the “asebia”). Wonder of wonders!
Ponder how Jesus deeply altered the cross — the place of unmitigated horror. Today, we fashion crosses into treasured jewelry! Astonishing! As Jesus changed the rugged torture tree, Christian, he will transform you.
Can it be?! Yes! As God gave life to the once sin-battered, decaying corpse of Christ, Christian, new creation, Christ’s heart-throbbing resurrected brilliance promises your own metamorphosis.
Profoundly, eight times in the NT, God calls Jesus “beloved.” Speaking for God, Jude also calls those who have gone through this change, “beloved.” Let “beloved” ring in your ears! Repenting of mockery and ungodly passions, exult in Jesus’ passion. He makes us more than we can imagine — beloved by holy God.
Post-publication:
Note #1 – regarding some “firsts” considering our sexuality:
“Wickedness,” rasha, is used 262 times in the Old Testament. A similar word, ra’a’ is used 98 times in the OT.
The first time these two words are used is NOT with our first parents. They disobeyed God and ate so they could know the difference between good and “evil” (ra’ – a similar but different word from rasha and ra’a’). God brought judgment and made a promise.
Next, they are NOT used during Noah’s time, Genesis 6: 5 tells us: “The LORD saw that the ‘wickedness’ (ra’) of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only ‘evil’ (ra’) continually.” God brought judgment.
The first times rasha is used, Gen 18:23, 25 (twice in v 25), it is used to describe Sodom and Gomorrah.
The first times ra’a’ is used is with Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:7,9).
Next, of the 117x “abomination” (toebah) is used in the OT, the first time it is used in a moral sense it describes homosexuality (Lev. 18:22).
Why did the Holy Spirit have Scripture’s first moral applications of three very significant words, rasha, ra’a’ and toebah, be homosexuality?
From the column above: Jesus lists sexual immorality second in his list of 13 sins (Mk 7:21). Paul lists it first in his list of 15 (Gal 5:19).
Note #2: 6/19/21 PCA AD INTERIM COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SEXUALITY. Note STATEMENT 5: CONCUPISCENCE We affirm that impure thoughts and desires arising in us prior to and apart from a conscious act of the will are still sin. We reject the Roman Catholic understanding of concupiscence whereby disordered desires that afflict us due to the Fall do not become sin without a consenting act of the will. These desires within us are not mere weaknesses or inclinations to sin but are themselves idolatrous and sinful.
