Featured The Binder

Pistis is the transliteration of the Greek term translated in the KJV as "faith" Pistis is formed from two roots, "Piq" meaning bind, and "tis" having the same function as "er" in English. So fundamentally, the Greek term means "binder" or that which binds.

Now lets look at how the Bible defines the term contextually. Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The word translated "substance" comes from the Greek hupostatis, which means "under" "stand" having nothing to do with comprehension, but rather with what undergirds what we stand for. So "faith" is what undergirds our hope for the realization of the promises of God. The next word of interest, "evidence" comes from the Greek elegchos, which means that which brings to light what is not easily seen. For example, in 2 Timothy 3:16, the AV translates it "reproof" indicating scripture is profitable because it brings to light our sins.

In summary, Faith (Pistis) refers our heart-felt conviction that Jesus is the Son of God and the Messiah sent from God, and this conviction binds us such that our subsequent attitudes, hopes and deeds are tied to the reality of Jesus as our Savior.

As Paul liked to say, referring to Habakkuk, the righteous man lives by faith. Do we live like someone indebted to the one who saved us, a bondservant of Christ, or like some ungrateful twit?

Jesus referred to some as "oh you of little faith" having to do with the strength of the bond, rather than its size. Quality rather than quantity. James spoke of "dead" faith which did not result in subsequent attitudes, hopes and deeds tied to the reality of Jesus as our Savior.

A biological seed reproduces the original, faith which binds us to all Christ taught, reproduces Christ-like thoughts and actions.

 

Lip service faith as espoused by Easy Believism is therefore dead faith unlikely to be credited as heart-felt and deeply rooted.

 

If our faith is not deeply rooted, little adhesion to Christ allows following Christ to slip away into compromise. An early test for many believers is when our commitment to Christ costs us something. From going to the ball game rather than to church, to being ostracized due to our public stand for truth.

Ike said leadership is getting others to do what you want because they want to do it. A lack of leadership is demonstrated by those who "mandate" their doctrine and engage in cancel culture compulsion.

Men of little faith lack a trust in God's provision, and seek not to wait on the Lord. They might suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

Hebrews 11 provides a picture of many individuals who trusted God and His promises, even in the face oft the risk of great hardship.

 

Just because some words come to mean something other than the original meaning, does not mean that the original meaning does not apply in every case.

Here is a published definition of "faith"

Definition

1. conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it
   1. relating to God
      1. the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ
   2. relating to Christ
      1. a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God
   3. the religious beliefs of Christians
   4. belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same
2. fidelity, faithfulness
   1. the character of one who can be relied on

 

In summary, Faith (Pistis) refers our heart-felt conviction that Jesus is the Son of God and the Messiah sent from God, and this conviction binds us such that our subsequent attitudes, hopes and deeds are tied to the reality of Jesus as our Savior.

 

Does ignorance of the word meaning for word meaning method of translation elude some? What the words meant when used, rather than how the meaning has changed since is key.

Faith was used in the NT to address the strength of the bond indicated by our walk with our claimed belief. Dead faith is not actually faith.

Those of "little faith" doubted the word of God. Thus a lack of conviction results in "little faith."

 

Yet another off topic post aimed to change the subject away from the nonsense posted by JOJ. Did he show that the meaning of faith was not as the OP claimed, or did he provide any alternate meaning, or did he ignore I addressed the contextual meaning? Nope three times.

Is providing a citation in quotes plagiarism? Nope again. I made no effort to pass the citation off as something I created. The claim that I did however is a material false statement calculated to disparage me. Accepted rules for submissions to academic authorities do not apply to on-line posts.

Why these off topic posters are not called out for sabotage is beyond me.

 

Ask yourselves, what percentage of citations meet academic standards?

The assertion they need to in my case, but in not the other cases tells a tale of sabotage.

And LOL, JOJ demonstrated my citation was easily sourced using modern technology. Then he had the unmitigated gall, the unabashed temerity to claim that I claimed to have written it. I kid you not. This guy posts seem driven by animosity.

 

So just what is it that causes our characteristics to bond to Christ's commands. Faith! Our deep seated conviction that Christ and His promises are true and worth whatever the cost to stick with HIm.

One of His commands is to do unto others as we would have others do unto us. Thus to treat us and our friends one way, and others another way violates the Golden Rule of Christ.

Currently in the News the issue of "Equal Justice under the Law" has been raised. If a DA enforces laws selectively, is that equal justice? Nope

Now here is a link to a quote from JOJ.
Gail Riplinger

Did the quote in his own post have a citation? No of course not. Did the other claims have references for support? Nope.

 

LOL now quotes only need to be sourced if real. Where is the citation for that bit of nonsense.

JOJ selectively enforces his own rules. Make of that what you will...

 

Returning to topic:

So just what is it that causes our characteristics to bond to Christ's commands. Faith! Our deep seated conviction that Christ and His promises are true and worth whatever the cost to stick with Him.

One of His commands is to do unto others as we would have others do unto us. Thus to treat us and our friends one way, and others another way violates the Golden Rule of Christ.

Currently in the News the issue of "Equal Justice under the Law" has been raised. If a DA enforces laws selectively, is that equal justice? Nope Therefore selective enforcement of rules violates Christ's commands and demonstrates a lack of faith.

God bestows His blessings upon those with deep seated conviction that Christ is true and His promises are valid. Abraham springs to mind.

In his book, JFK wrote of Senators whose courage was demonstrated by choosing a course of action that would have a high price. One was Bob Taft who denounced the Nuremberg Trials as "ex post facto" which means retroactively imposing requirements.

Thus the binder causes Christians to be people of courage and integrity.