| 2. Fundamentals vs. New Age -> Believing vs New Age Believing -> Commit, Not Merely Affirm. |
Commit, not Merely Affirm
Believe means to commit oneself to another,
not mentally affirm or trust.
The American Heritage Dictionary states among several definitions that commit means: "to do, perform, or perpetrate...entrust.....and to bind or obligate, as by a pledge." Of all its synonyms, it says, "commit has the widest application and means to deliver a person or thing, physically or figuratively, into the charge of another." This is the legacy of our New Testament word pisteuo translated in the King James, "believe."
But lest we take this historically derived human definition of the term which would be deriving a false doctrine by definition, let us see from the scriptures how the Holy Spirit uses the Greek word pisteuo. This is the Greek word used throughout the KJV version from which we get the doctrinal word "believe" used today. If one would look into some of the New Age versions of the Bible you might find any number of meanings given to pisteuo, so that the doctrine of "believing" used throughout Christianity loses its signification and identity.
This has definitely happened to pistis, the Greek word for faith, which is now being uniformly and falsely translated as trust in the latest McReynolds English Interlinear of the Nestle Aland 26th Edition Greek New Testament. This makes "faith" a man originated, man centered, man controlled operation called "trust." Total humanism. And, incidentally, this is the way the "grace" regardless teachers use the word faith. Our modern translations are going to support them.
UNFORTUNATELY, because of adherence to the KJV in the early years of this country and also in the inventions of the present day Dispensational "grace" doctrines by Dallas Theological Seminary (actually Cemetery) and other dispensational schools, we still have the words "believe" and "faith" still used, however badly. In a few years, I fear that any doctrinal discussions based upon the New Age "translations" will be impossible. This is the result of using "double speak" today,1 giving the same word numerous different meanings in the different translations so that nothing can be denied or confirmed. Then each person can believe his own truth, there will be no universal single absolute Truth in the minds of men. This is what all the very poor many translations are doing.
Nevertheless, how does the Holy Spirit use this word pisteuo in context throughout the New Testament KJV? I find that it is used 151 times and consistently translated "believe" in all instances but 8 times, where the context demands that it be translated commit or entrust to make any sense. In all the other 143 times it is used, the word believe could be translated as "commit" within all contexts used. For instance, "God so loved the world that whosoever is committing for the purpose or result of Him might not be perishing but be having everlasting life." John 3:16 This is not a head affirmation to a promise or even a committal or entrusting oneself into a promise. The scriptures clearly teach the committal is to Him and Him alone, Personally. The Reformation cry was not only by grace alone, through faith alone, scriptures alone; but also first and foremost, in Christ alone, and glory to God alone. These are true if defined properly, which few people do.
Let us look at the eight instances in which pisteuo is translated commit or entrust oneself to another. The bolding will be the translation of pisteuo used in context.
But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 1Thes 2:4
"What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God." Rom 3:2
According to the glorious gospel of the Blessed God, which was committed to my trust. 1 Tim 1:11
But hath in due times manifested His word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour. Titus 1:3
But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter. Gal 2:7
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 1 Cor 9:17
But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men. John 2:24
If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? Luke 16:11 From looking at these verses it is obvious that pisteuo cannot mean to simply "believe" or even trust something in your head. From the various contexts in which the Holy Spirit uses the word, it means to commit to or to entrust your whole being to another. This means, physically or figuratively, to put into the charge of another. And this does not refer to some future time promise of Heaven, but continuously from that moment forward into Him Personally.
The very use of this term implies that the person entrusting or committing himself is not looking to a promise but to a Person of ability to take charge and care of them and fulfill His promises to the present tense "committing ones." Who in their right mind would entrust or commit to a dead letter promise. No, the person can only entrust or commit to Christ Himself, who only is able to save or to fulfill His promise. He saves, not His promise to save. "In Him is Life." The issue throughout the scriptures is what will you do with Jesus, not a promise. And His promise is only to the present tense "committing ones."
All the scriptures make Jesus Christ Himself our hope, not a promise: Christ in you the hope of Glory (Col 1:27), As many as received Him (Jn 1:12), whosoever believes into Him (Jn 3:16), as "this is Life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God , and Jesus Christ, whom Thou has sent" (Jn 17:3), if Christ be in you...the Spirit is Life (Rom 8:10). The Gospel is the "good news of Jesus Christ" not a promise. "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." 1 Cor 1:30
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