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Bible Study -
Bible Study
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Contributed by Phil Spadaro
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Thursday, 16 August 2007 |
 Satan cannot create, only pervert what God has created. Sexual desire
for our spouse turns to unbridled lust for others. Ambition inward
becomes selfish ambition. Faithful confidence degrades into pride and
arrogance. Loving one another cheapens into co-dependency. Each of
these reflects the evil one making something loathsome from something
pure. So it is with convicting of sin and accusation.
Perversion of the truth is subtle. A word changed here, an intent modified there; these can change righteousness to sin. Elegchō (transliteration from Greek) and diabolos (transliteration from Greek) both include accusation as part of their definition. However, one seeks to help an individual understand their sin and the other merely to point it out. Both may produce guilt, but one desires repentance (metanoeō) and the other self pity, faithlessness and defeat.
 Elegchō is what we (or the Holy Spirit, Jn 16:8) say or do to convince someone else of their sin. It is not merely pointing out the fault, but explaining and proving to the individual the iniquity committed. The individual should leave the interaction with a sense of wrong doing but also a knowledge of why and corrective steps. Ultimately, repentance is the goal.
Diabolos is accusation. It beats down the recipient. It does not allow for repentance. Accusation is from the devil and his aim is self-pity, doubt, futility, hopelessness and faithlessness. There are no “times of refreshing” (Acts 3:19) with diabolos. The difference is subtle, but powerful. It is the difference between eternal life or punishment.
When we approach our brothers concerning sin, is it with a spirit of elegchō or diabolos? Do we have a goal of restoring them or playing the “sin sheriff”? Matthew 18:15 (as well as many other scriptures) says we are to approach each other with elegchō. In Revelation 3:19 we learn that God's approach is elegchō not diabolos. John 16:8 says the Holy Spirit also comes to convict (elegchō) the world of sin. Only Satan assaults us with accusations (diabolos). Accusation for the sake of destruction. Once again, when we approach our brothers concerning sin, is it with a spirit of elegchō or diabolos? Let us consider the goal and faithful outcome of our interactions with our brothers and the lost. Let us convict one another with the desire for repentance. Let us let God and the Holy Spirit convict us and enjoy the times of refreshing. Let us love one another with elegchō.
Sources
Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for elegchō (Strong's 1651)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996- 2007. 16 Aug 2007. <http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1651&Version=kjv >
Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for diabolos (Strong's 1228)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996- 2007. 16 Aug 2007. <http://cf.blb.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=1228 >
Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for metanoeō (Strong's 3340)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996- 2007. 16 Aug 2007. < http:// cf.blb.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=3340 >
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 16 August 2007 )
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