God's Elect or World's Elite? XVI

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." 

(Rom. 5: 6)

Being by nature and practice "ungodly," all men are "without strength" (Greek "asthenon"). It is the same Greek word translated as "weak" and means "to be weak, feeble, without strength, powerless; to be weak in means, needy, poor; to be feeble, sick." When the Gospels speak of "impotent folk," it is the same Greek word. (John 5: 3, 7)

"Weak" is also sometimes translated from "adunatos" (without dunamis) as in Romans 15: 1 where Paul says "we who are strong (dunatoi) ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak (adunaton)." Notice how the weak are they who have "infirmities." The Greek word for "infirmities" is "asthenemata." The contrast between "strong" and "weak" is thus a contrast between power and powerlessness, between potency and impotency, between sickness and health. It is also a contrast between those who are "weak in means" and those who are "strong in means." It is also a contrast between those who are "needy" and "poor" and those who are rich.  

There are other Greek words for "strong" such as "stereoo" and the adjective "ischyros," used as near synonyms of dunamis and asthenon, denoting might and strength. (See Vine's NT Words - here)

The ideas of health and soundness of body and mind are also included in what it means to be "strong"; And, the lack of such is what it means to be "weak." When Christ healed the sick of their "infirmities" he was healing them of their weaknesses, of their lack of strength, of their sicknesses. When persons are improving in health we say that they are "getting their strength back." When a person is failing in health, we say he is "losing strength." There is in this experience the concept of "life force." The word "force" is another word that denotes power or energy. People today often speak of having "no energy" when extremely fatigued. In fact we have today food and drink that are advertised as being energy boosters, energy drinks. The word "sick" is often the translation of "astheneo." In the KJV it is also translated as "diseased." In the Book of Acts we have this recorded of the healing of a lame man:

"And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength...And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." (Acts 3: 7, 16)

Here is a good word picture for what is involved in being either weak or strong. Weak was the word for the lame man. He was impotent, without power to walk. He was also not "sound" or healthy. His healing is described as his being "made strong," of his "receiving strength." If conversion be a spiritual and moral healing (and it is), analogous to physical healing, then the believer is made strong, yea, is to be labeled as "strong," and not "weak" or impotent, therein and as a result of it. He instantly becomes "perfectly sound" and "in his right mind" (as the Gadarene from whom Jesus exorcised demons). Conversion to Christ makes a man spiritually "hale and hardy," a healthy specimen of the salvation that is in Christ Jesus the Lord.

Who is the real "strong man"? Who is the real "man of means"? Who is the truly healthy, robust, perfectly sound human? The "man of the world"? Or, "the man of God"? (II Tim. 3: 17) No man wants to be weak, powerless, sick and disabled. Thus we find these words of Lucifer, after his being cast down to Hell, as given by John Milton in "Paradise Lost":

"Fallen Cherub, to be weak is miserable, Doing or suffering: but of this be sure, To do aught good never will be our task; But ever to do ill our sole delight: As being contrary to his high will Whom we resist." (I, 157–162)

The problem with Lucifer and all other rebels of the divine government is that they want the wrong kind of power, or perhaps we should say, they want power for the wrong reasons and ends. Sinners do not know real power. They define power (and its cognates) as they define other words. As they "call evil good" and "call good evil," and as they "put light for darkness" and "put darkness for light," so what they call strength is weakness, what they call power is impotence, what they call unhealthy (sick, unsound) is healthy (hale, sound). (See Isaiah 5: 20) 

Paul shows in the opening words of his first Corinthian epistle that what infidel men call "foolishness" (the Gospel) is actually "the wisdom of God"; And, What the world's gospel rejecting power elite (the Sophists, Stoics, and other philosophers, etc.) call "weakness" the apostle calls "the power of God." Likewise, what the world's elite calls "power" the apostle calls "weakness" (or impotence), and what they call "wisdom" God sees as "foolishness." Truly, "the devil is in the definition" in these things.

Unbelievers (the unsaved) are in their depraved character and condition spiritually impotent. They are as the text at the heading of this chapter affirms, "without strength." It matters not how much physical strength a man has if he has no moral strength to resist evil. It matters not how much economic power a man has if he is bankrupt in spiritual assets, or is poor in character and towards God. It matters not how much intellectual power (or academic credentials) one has, from his vast knowledge of things, if he is sick and unhealthy in his religious beliefs, or if he lacks the power of self control. Lots of the rich and power elite are slaves of their lusts, alcohol, drugs, pleasures, etc. 

It is almost always from among "the weak" of this world (those without wealth, power, and influence) that Christians come, and yet they are the real power elite, having been chosen by God and empowered as his sons and daughters. When they become one with Christ by faith they then become strong through Christ, receiving from him strength to overcome natural depravity, temptation, and the enemies of God and righteousness. He gives the believer will power, and the power to do and overcome, the strength to succeed. 

Aristotle talked about the morally weak (Greek word "akrasia") versus the morally strong. That is no doubt one of the backdrops of Paul's discussion of weak versus strong in his Corinthian epistles (Romans too). The morally and spiritually strong person is the believer in Jesus. The morally impotent are the unbelievers, even among those unbelievers who are "in this world" among "the power elite." The sinner, outside of Christ, is unrealistic about his power to will and to do. He does not know his own weaknesses and infirmities of mind, soul, and spirit. 

Christians Are Strong 

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (II Tim. 1: 7)

Unbelievers are weak, impotent, sick, and spiritual paupers. Believers, on the other hand, are the truly strong, powerful, healthy, and wealthy in Christ. If we have shown that it is the unsaved, the unbeliever, who is "without strength" morally and spiritually, and is diseased in mind and spirit from moral depravity, then we also show that the saved, the believer, has power, might, and strength, being the one who is truly healthy and rich in means. 

It is an oxymoron or a contradiction in terms to refer to "sick believers." It is not appropriate to refer to believers as "impotent folk," "diseased" minds, spiritual "wimps," etc. It is like saying "unsaved saved people" or "living dead." Therefore, "the weak" in Paul's mind are not novice Christians who supposedly do not know the ABCs of the Gospel but are rather Pagan neighbors who are yet polytheistic in faith and practice. "Weak (sick, diseased, impotent) brothers," spiritually and morally speaking, are not believers. Therefore, "weak brothers" cannot design new converts to Christ, no more than if Christians say "our Muslim brothers." We do not always use "brother" to designate members of the family of God, but use it sometimes, as did Paul, to refer to neighbors and friends, members of the same human brotherhood. 

When one sees how these Greek words are used in the new testament, he cannot help but see how they are applied to unbelievers, those who are "ungodly" and "without strength," and not to Christians. Paul denies it, saying that believers are they who have been given the "spirit of power" and the "spirit of a sound (healthy) mind." Paul contends that the believer, in receiving Christ and the Holy Spirit, in being "born again" and "renewed," receives "power" and a "sound" or healthy "mind." Of this empowerment in conversion and Christian growth Paul wrote elsewhere in one of his prayers:

"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness." (Col. 1: 10-11)

Notice how "the knowledge of God" is connected with being made strong (in every way) and mighty. We have already well considered how the believer is the truly wise and knowing, the true Gnostic. But here Paul includes the attribute of power or might. Therefore, two of the standards for judging true elite or elect status, knowledge and power, more appropriately describe those whom God has chosen, believers in Christ, even though they come from the present world's lower classes. When it comes to power, the world's unbelieving power elite are the real weaklings and cowards. They are the sick and diseased in mind, soul, and spirit. They might be examples of power by their wealth and titles, but they have no power over their depraved lusts, over temptation and enticement, over their phobias, anxieties, etc. 

The believer has power because he is, as it were, "plugged in" to the source of all energy and power. He has a conduit into the very power of God, of Christ, of the Holy Spirit, of the word of God. He also has "the power of means" in his possession, having access to the "whole armor of God" (Eph. 6), to "spiritual gifts," to "powers" supernatural, etc. Thus Paul concludes with his discussion of the believers weapons and other heavenly "means" by saying: 

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." (Eph. 6: 10)

Notice the three words "strong" and "might" and "power." All combined to speak of the power available and ordained for the believer in Jesus. If these are the adjectives that describe truly saved people, then their opposites cannot be used to describe them. Thus, to refer to "the weak" as believers is not apropos. Though believers have not yet been empowered to the extent they will be after their glorification, nevertheless they are even now "strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man." (Eph. 3: 16) If that is true of the believer, how could he be styled "weak brothers"? Weak brothers are lost neighbors, particularly our lost religious friends and associates. Power, like all other gifts, is now only received "in part," being partial, a foretaste or down payment (earnest), as we have already observed, the full empowerment yet unrealized. Wrote Paul:

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (II Cor. 4: 6-7)

Notice again the coupling of "the knowledge" and "the power." Notice also how the weakness of the body is alluded to by "earthen vessels," being that which is fragile and easily broken, what is frail. But, nevertheless there is what is "the excellency of the power of God" at work within the bodies of believers, that is, within their hearts and minds, or within their souls and spirits. This power works exceedingly in the lives of believers in amazing ways and degrees, enabling them to overpower nature's depravity, to overthrow the rule of sin, Satan, and the world (as they make war as good soldiers of Jesus Christ), and yet they have not all weakness and infirmity removed in this life. Wrote Paul in his second Corinthian epistle:

"For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (II Cor. 12: 8-9)

Paul suffered greatly from what he called a "thorn in the flesh." Many believe with good reasons that it referred to an eye affliction, and one so bad that it caused his eyes to seep a mucous kind of fluid, the kind that crusted around the eyes, and which made him partially blind. Christians, though made strong in mind, soul, and spirit, by the power of faith, by the power of God, nevertheless suffer their bodily sicknesses, their various weaknesses, their lack of means. But, it is in these things that the power of God is most evident, for it shows itself in the endurance and patience of the believer in coping with adversities. "If you faint in the day of adversity," said Solomon, then "your strength is small." (Prov. 24: 10) But, if Christ be the believer's strength, then it is not small. If the believer trust himself, in his own wisdom and strength, then his strength indeed is small. Christians, as Paul said, have "no confidence in the flesh." (Phil. 3: 3) Wrote Paul in a word of praise:

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Eph. 3: 20-21)

So, we can conclude that the believer is strong where the unbeliever is weak; And often, where the unbeliever is strong (in this world) there is where the believer is weak. 

In closing this chapter let us consider another text from Paul's Corinthian epistles that speak of both weakness and power.

"Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you." (II Cor. 13: 3-4)

By "the weakness" of Christ Paul refers to the humanity of Christ. Christ was not weak in any other way. Christ hungered and thirsted. He became weary. Those are weaknesses and infirmities. But, he triumphed over them all through his power as the Son of God. The human body of Christ, after its resurrection and glorification, no longer knew those weaknesses and neither will the bodies of the those who are of "the resurrection of the just." But, "in him," or "with him," or "like him," we too suffer with such human weaknesses, but also, "in him" or "like him" we shall be resurrected "by the power of God" and then "we shall live," truly live, truly be alive, healthy, and strong as exalted "sons of God," "with him."  

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." (Phul. 3: 10-11)

The believer becomes a believer by "the working of his (God's) mighty power," the same kind of power that was exercised in raising Christ from the dead. (Eph. 1: 19-20) The moment of belief in Christ is the moment when the believer first experiences "the power of his resurrection," being when he is raised up from spiritual death "in trespassess and sins" (Eph. 2: 1) to spiritual life in Christ. The power of his resurrection is also always at work in the life of the believer, preserving him and making him to persevere. The power of his resurrection will be also finally and wonderfully be known when the bodies of the saints are made immortal.

The believer is sustained in his new life also by the power of God, as Jude said:

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (1: 24-25)

Said Peter of believers:

"Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (I Peter 1: 5)

Believers are born again by the power of God. They are kept from falling by the same power. Every good they have, or will have, is owing to God's power graciously exercised on behalf of his elect. Wrote Peter again:

"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." (II Peter 1:3)

Need strength to overcome sin? To believe and turn to Christ? Then seek the power from him and from his word. There is no other place to go. You will be glad you did.