Abba is an Aramaic word, found in Mark 14:36, Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6. Mark 14:35-36 says, "Going a little farther, He [Jesus] fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from Him. ‘Abba, Father,' He said, ‘everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I Will, but what You Will.'" Romans 8:15 says, "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.'" Galatians 4:6 says, "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit Who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.'"
In the Gemara (a Rabbinical commentary on the Mishna, the traditional teaching of the Jews) it is stated that slaves were forbidden to call the head of the family by this title, "Abba." It comes near to being a personal name, in contrast to "Father," with which it is always joined in the New Testament, as quoted above. "Abba" had almost become a proper name, so Greek-speaking Jews probably added the Greek word pater, "father," from the language they used.
"Abba" is the word as it would be spoken from the lips of infants, and it indicates, or gives evidence of, absolute and complete trust without any questions or doubts--total love. "Father" shows that the person speaking the word is mature in intelligence and understands fully the relationship between the father and himself/herself. Both words spoken together, "Abba, Father," express the unquestioned love and trust AND the intelligent confidence of the child in all that the father can and will do for the child. It is fully illustrated in the prayer of Jesus in the garden when He prayed that the Father take the "cup of suffering" from Him, but then immediately surrenders His Own Will to the Will of the Father, with full trust that all will be made right by the Father.
In the same way that Jesus could pray to the Father in Heaven, the Spirit of God's Son in the hearts of believers--God's children--calls out "Abba, Father" for us, because believers are "sons of God," having been adopted by God's grace through our obedient faith in Christ Jesus. We may now approach Him as a trusting child, filled with unquestioning devotion, and as an intelligent child, knowing fully His great and awesome power and still confiding in the tenderness of His grace through Jesus, His One and Only Son. We may by prayer petition and make requests of the Father. We may confide in Him and confess our sins to Him. We may seek comfort from Him, ask for HIS wisdom to be in us and offer praise to Him. But we must always surrender our will to HIS WILL, and be thankful for the honor and privilege of doing so. After all, being one with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit assures us that "...we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose," (Romans 8:28). "Abba, Father."
From the Greek words aleipho, an anointing of any kind, and chrio, sacred and symbolical anointings. The chrio anointing is a symbolic showing of something being consecrated, made or declared sacred, and being solemnly devoted to a purpose. The material used for an anointing was either oil, or ointment, as in Luke 7:38, 46. The title "Christ" signifies "The Anointed One." The word (Christos) is translated "His Anointed One" in Acts 4:26. About the believers, the Children of God, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 says, "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." God's children, the believers, are consecrated, made sacred by God, and are devoted to the purpose of worshipping and serving Him all the days of their lives.
(See also Christ, Christian, Church / Assembly, Holy / Holiness.)
See Church / Assembly.
From the Greek word katallage. This word should be translated "reconciliation" in Romans 5:11, Romans 11:15, and 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. The verb, katallasso, should be translated more as "reconcile." "Atonement" is frequently found in the Old Testament. See, for instance, Leviticus, chapters 16 and 17. The corresponding New Testament words are hilasmos, meaning, "propitiation," (1 John 2:2 and 1 John 4:10), and hilasterion, meaning, "mercy-seat," the covering of the ark of the Covenant, (Exodus 26:17-22, Romans 3:25, Hebrews 9:5). These describe the means (in and through the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, in His death on the Cross by the shedding of His blood in His vicarious sacrifice for sin) by which God shows mercy to sinners.
Atonement, then, can be said to be the reconciliation of God and man through the death of Jesus Christ--to make amends or pay back for an offense or wrong. It was for our offenses and wrongs that Jesus paid the price. He was the perfect sacrifice--unblemished, innocent, pure--for our sins. The sins for which we should pay the price were paid for by the blood of Jesus. This is what "reconciles" us to God--brings us back to Him as friends--and we are no longer His enemies. Jesus came as our "propitiation," the One Who gained back the favor of God for us--the One Who took God's righteous anger and wrath away from us. Christ atoned for our sins so that we might be reconciled to God.
(See also Propitiation, Reconcile / Reconciliation.)
From the Greek word exousia, meaning "the right to exercise power." This is the power of rule or government, the power of one whose will and commands MUST be obeyed by others. Not only has God granted Jesus authority over all people, God has given Jesus ALL authority in heaven and on earth. By this total authority, He commands us to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you," (Matthew 28:14-18). See also 1 Peter 3:22. There is no choice about WHOSE authority we obey. Satan has no authority. Jesus has ALL authority. The only choice we have is whether we choose to submit to and obey the authority of Jesus, or, by default in disobedience, join ranks with Satan who is in rebellion against the authority of Christ. Jesus taught as One Who had authority. He did not quote human authorities, as did the teachers of the law, because His authority was directly from God. See Matthew 7:29, Mark 1:22. Jesus had authority on earth to forgive sins, (Matthew 9:4-7 and Mark 2:8-12). By command of His Father, Jesus had the authority to lay down His life for the sins of the world, and He had the authority to take it up again, (John 10:14-18). By God's command, "everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves," (Romans 13:1-6, Titus 3:1). When Christ comes again, He will hand the Kingdom over to God the Father AFTER He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power--including death. When He has done this, He Himself will be subject to God, Who gave Jesus all authority by putting everything under Him, so that God may be all in all, (1 Corinthians 15:20-28). Thrones, powers, rulers, authorities, all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, were created by Jesus and for Jesus, (Colossians 1:15-20). We are to pray for those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness, (1 Timothy 2:1-4). We are to encourage and rebuke with all authority, meaning that we have the Word of God, which is all authority in spiritual things and in how we live our daily lives before God. And we use that authority to encourage each other and to rebuke (a severe reprimand, to show disapproval, with the goal of guiding one back on the right path), (Titus 2:15). God's children are to obey the Elders of their local congregation of the Lord's church and submit to their authority--an authority that comes from God to Whom they must give an account, (Hebrews 13:17).
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