Perfect Tense
In reference to yesterday’s devotional on communication, a friend of mine, MK, thought he would share an insight into Biblical Greek. He points out that the Greek, a language few speak, “has a unique tense that refers to a once and for all time completed action. Therefore while the action is in the past, it continues to reverberate and echo down through the centuries. What has occurred in this “perfect” moment can never be duplicated or undone. While past, present, future, and all the combinations thereof are used often, the perfect is a rarity. However, the NT writers use the perfect tense exclusively with any comments regarding the resurrection. They do not use any other tense to discuss this act of grace and mercy on God’s part. So today we explore the Perfect Tense.
Scripture: For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being;
for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (NRSV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—
Ephesians 2:8 (NRSV)
and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Romans 5:5 (NRSV)
for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16 (NRSV)
[The Lord] put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Psalm 40:3 (NIV)
Message: Generally speaking, the perfect tense is used to emphasize the present results or state of being that is ensuing from a completed past action. And when this is the focus on the resurrection in becomes a little clearer that we must believe that Christ is alive….that our Savior lives. Here we discover that the life changing power of the resurrection is indeed perfect. Friends, when it comes to the resurrection it might be helpful to realize that scripture mentions four and that each calls us to be more alive. There is the bodily resurrection of Jesus. There is the resurrection of believer’s bodies. There is the resurrection of sinners and saints. But all that aside, if you are a Christian, you have been raised from the dead! You have been made new in Christ. Never ever forget that you are alive in Christ. There is no other safe place to be.
Pray we are not dormant to the opportunities, responsibilities and living power of saintly resurrection. Pray we are a continuation of God’s completed action. Pray we breathe in God’s blessings and out God’s praise as God makes our lives new songs.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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