03 March 2008

Correction to commentary on Ephesians 4:5

Looking back at the post I made on Ephesians 4:1-6, I have realized that I was mistaken about the Greek word mia (mia). It is a form of the word eiV (eis), only it is the dative case. Here is the revision I have made in light of this:

One faith. The word mia (mia) is the dative case of eiV (eis). The dative case is read to include a preposition such as "to" or "for." So, what Paul's saying here is this: Christ is the only Lord to one faith. There is no faith that can claim Him as Lord other than the one that is united with Him. The Buddhists believe He is one of many "gods." Mormons believe He is one of many "Gods." But only the faith that worships Almighty God--in spirit, and in truth--can claim Jesus Christ as their Lord and their Savior. All others are false religions, false faiths, all following a false Christ in a false gospel. In 1st Corinthians 8:5 he tells us there are lords many and gods many. And these are the ones the world worships. But for us there is one God, the Father…and one Lord, Jesus Christ. Time does not permit me here to go into the treatment that verse deserves, but it is not saying that Jesus Christ is not God. What he is saying is that we worship one God—singular. And in Him alone we share in the only true faith. Any other faith you may find in anyone else is not faith. It is death.