Secret Christian Word

There are some subjects that authors of the past have written about that are so special that a new word must be coined. This happens when a brand new concept is being introduced to the minds of people. Paul wrote about one half of the New Testament and at times he talked about new spiritual ideas that Jesus had given to him. Because no one ever had these thoughts before Paul had to push the Greek language to the extreme limit. In other words, Paul used a word that has never been found anywhere else in the world of written languages. This word means a sort of super assurance in the Spirit. Some Christians know this word as a feeling that they express by saying “I know that I know, that I know, etc.” Of course, the world could never feel or understand this word because it is only given by the Spirit of Jesus when He is living inside a person. It must have been difficult for Paul to figure out how to tell people about this brand new feeling. We will discover that this word only applies to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Nouns can refer to the state of a person. This beautiful Greek noun, pronounced “plee ro pho ria” describes the absolute full persuasion that can be found only in the Spirit of Christ and nowhere else. For example, this is the happy state of a martyr like Stephen when Paul watched him die. The world can never explain or understand the mental state of a happy martyr. Most of us know what euphoria is but to have this feeling while being tortured to death for the Gospel is a supernatural gift from God. The point is that every Christian can have this feeling about Jesus even though we are not being physically tortured. Plerophoria is only used four times in the Scriptures. It is used in two books by Paul and twice in the book of Hebrews. Maybe Paul started thinking about needing a word for this state of a Christian after considering how Stephen had died. The song that describes being filled to overflowing comes to mind as we think of the state of being fully persuaded. When Christians are absolutely persuaded to this level of confidence it can overflow and influence others.

Christians are all about trust and this is something every person must settle in their heart. Paul said; And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. Heb 10:19-22 (NLT) The words “fully trusting him” are translated from the word “plerophoria.” No one could possibly be a Christian and not be fully persuaded that the blood of Jesus guarantees a path into the presence of God forever. The fact that Jesus opened the way through “the veil” is the foundation of all Christianity. With the covering of Christ’s blood over us we can become clean enough to live with God but we must believe it to the point of euphoria. God desires that we trust Him until, we know, that we know, that Jesus will represent us to the Father. This confidence can result in our living forever as a part of God’s family.

As with many of the ways of God it is difficult for us to describe the way the Spirit makes us feel.  Here Paul say’s; For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. 1 Thess 1:4-7 (NLT) In this passage, plerophoria has been interpreted as “full assurance.” We can see here that when the Spirit brings this “super” persuasion into our life we receive the special power of God to make it a part of our everyday life. The Good News has been endorsed by the Spirit. Our confidence in what the Spirit gives us is a form of imitating Jesus who always relied on the Spirit. Obeying the word of God can cause us to have great assurance in God Himself. We can certainly depend on the love of God when we obey His word and have absolute trust in Him.

In this next verse we are being encouraged to love each other because of our growing knowledge of the plan of God. Paul explains another benefit of plerophoria.  I want you to know how much I have agonized for you …and for many other believers who have never met me personally. I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col 2:1-3 (NLT) “To have complete confidence” is the interpretation of plerophoria that is given here. These different ways of trying to explain the same word begin to shape our thoughts on this subject. The mysteries of God are referred to several times in the Bible but the Scriptures are alluding to an unsaved person. A Christian will have great confidence because they can understand the plan of God. People who have a lack of persuasion are limiting what God can do in their life.

Living for Jesus takes a lifetime of our trust and obedience. We must stay active in the new life that the Lord has given us or risk running out of oil for our lamp. This passage is to encourage us in the life we have chosen.  For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance. Heb 6:10-12 (NLT) Every Christian hopes to please God and then to live with Him forever. This message wants us to know that with our love, our endurance, our faith and our hope, we can be absolutely and fully persuaded that we are pleasing God. Isn’t it a wonderful feeling to be in the will of our God and know His secrets?