In A Word: IF!

In A Word: IF!

CAUTION. In this era of amazing advances in technology, there are sometimes unexpected consequences that turn out to be harmful to our Christian faith. One of these harmful improvements is the flood of believers who read scripture online, on the smart phone, on the computer screen. I’m convinced there should be a warning label on every one of the online Bibles… CAUTION: SKIM AT YOUR OWN RISK. So many of us now read the Word like we would read our emails or social media or the daily news. We skim the material hurriedly, superficially, carelessly. We skim the Scripture. Skim-reading the Bible doesn’t really bury the seed very deeply, of course. And in our skimming, we would be more likely to just skip over an important word or phrase without thinking, a word that could be vital to the whole passage. The fact is, the Bible is full of single words or short phrases that are too important  to simply gloss over as if it wasn’t there. There are times in the Word when single words are intended to feed us, nourish our faith, stimulate us to think at a deeper level about the biblical text.

There are single words in Scripture that are like stop signs asking us to stop and consider carefully, to pause before moving forward in the reading. This series on my blog will try to unpack some of these power-packed words or phrases in Scripture… Words like: Behold; Rejoice; Truly; Woe; Blessed; Beware; Come; If. And I will attempt to also explore the meanings of some short phrases that are single words in the original biblical language, such as “Himeni” (Here I am); “Shema” (Listen and Do’); “Splagchnizonai” (deeply moved with compassion); “pistence” (believe), and “kal-v’chomer” (How much more).  If it is poetically possible to “see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wildflower, and hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour,” as William Blake once imagined, then certainly we readers of Scripture can find a world of meaning in a single word, we can grasp something profound in a simple phrase.

‘IF’  is maybe the biggest little word in Scripture, and quite possibly is central to our discipleship of Jesus. Used over 300 times in the New Testament alone, the Greek word here is “ean” and can also mean unless. “If” is not a word to skip over, because it is often followed by a “Then.” Jesus makes many promises in the Gospels, and many of them have an “If” attached. If you do this, then I will do that, says Jesus. He seems to offer many conditional promises, what seem to be promises with strings attached. Conditional promises highlight the fact that we need to do our part in our relationship with Christ. We need to accept our responsibility as we cooperate with Him. We are active participants in our walk with the Lord. God offers us unconditional love, but we do have obligations if we expect to receive what He has promised. When we do our part, we are not earning salvation. We instead are putting forth effort as we live into our life of deliverance. We are doing our part in order to receive God’s promises. Obedience to Christ often translates into actively fulfilling on the “IF” so that God can fulfill the “Then.” This is another way we are working out our own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in us both to will and do for His good pleasure. (Phil. 2:12-13).

Conditional Promise. Often enough, the Lord offers a classic “if you do this, then I will do that” promise to the Israelites. If you live this kind of life, I will bless you: break the chains of injustice; get rid of exploitation in the workplace; free the oppressed; cancel debts; share food with the hungry; invite the homeless into your home; put clothes on the naked; be available to your own family; stop your slander and gossip; be generous with your resources; help those who are in trouble. That’s the kind of fast I want, says the Lord, the kind of compassionate self-sacrifice that will get noticed by Me.

Blessing. If you live your lives like that, says Yahweh, then I promise I will bless you in many wonderful ways. Your light will increase, spreading your spiritual influence everywhere; old wounds will heal; My glorious presence will guard you as you move forward, keeping you safe in righteousness; I will guide you and protect you and strengthen you; your discouragement will be replaced by joy; I will make you flourish in shalom like a lush garden, always fruitful and beautiful; I will help you rebuild your lives, building on the foundation of your spiritual heritage. And most importantly, I will hear your prayers. I will be approachable and say to you, Here I am! I will listen to you and honor your words of faith, and I will respond to the cries of your heart.

Some conditional promises in the New Testament:

If we believe. “How long has this been happening?’ Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, ‘Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.’ ‘What do you mean, ‘If I can?’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, ‘I do believe, but help my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:21-24).

If we forgive. “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15).

If we open the door. “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” (Revelation 3:20).

If we enter. “Truly, truly, I say to you, I AM the door to the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I AM the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved.” (John 10:7-9, NASB).

If we obey. “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” (John 15:12-14).

If we dwell in Him. “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free… If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:31, 32, 36).

If we live into His word. “Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word he shall never see death.” (John 8:51).

If we abide in the Vine. “I am the true Vine, and my Father is the gardener. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in Him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples.” (John 15:1-8).

If we continue in His word. “Jesus said to them, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23).

If we serve Christ. “If anyone serves me, let him follow me, and where I am, there shall my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12:26).

If remain obedient to His orders. “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love; just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:10).