PROMISES OF APPROVAL

By Steve Seibel

I. The Concept of Approval.

A. The Definition of Approval

1. Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary states that the word “approval”, means: to prove or attest; to have or express a favorable opinion for; to accept as satisfactory. It also can mean to certify, which implies official endorsement attesting to conforming to a set of standards.

2. Lexical evidence for dokimon and dokimazw, by and large has the same idea as our English word “approve”.

a. Louw-Nida says that dokimon, means to try or learn the genuine character of something by examination and testing after actual use.

b. Thomas Green says that dokimh means to prove by trial; to test, assay metals so as to approve or verify worth.

c. Moulton and Milligan say that dokimoV was used of a testing to set a gold standard. It is used twice with arestoV i.e., pleasing. This shows a testing that meets ones expectation.

* The root for arestoV is ar which means to join or to fit together.

* Arithmetic means that which is brought together, a quantity, total,

number, extent amount or an assessment of numbers.

* Harmony means when two or more things are brought together.

It is used mostly of music, where different chords are joined into a

single unified composition.

* By using these two words in the same context the emphasis is a

double dose of acceptance. The test results met a standard which also satisfied ones expectations, I Thes. 2:4.

d. Thayer cites the Septuagint in order to illustrate the idea of approval for

dokimon.

* In Prov. 27:21 dokimon is used to translate ( ), which

means a refining pot or crucible.

* In Ps. 12 (11):6 dokimon is used to translate ( ), which

means to fuse metal, refine, cast, goldsmith, melt pure, purge away

or try.

3. Biblical evidence shows that various forms of dokimazw are used for

approving many things.

a. It is used to describe the assaying of ones faith by temptations, I Pt.1:6-7.

b. It is used of testing and approving a decision for activity, Rom. 14:21-23

c. It is used of testing doctrine to see if it is from God or not, I Jn. 4:1-3.

d. It is used of testing all things, I Thes. 5:21.

e. It is used of testing good works and those works which do not pass the test are adokimoi i.e, disapproved, I Cor. 3:13-15; Titus 1: 12-16.

In summary, we have seen that dokimazw in its various forms means to test, try or assay a thing or person to see if a set standard or standards has been met or exceeded. Therefore anything or anyone that passes the test is declared to be approved and anything or anyone which fails the same test is declared to be disapproved.

B. The Direction of Approval can be Overlooked.

1. In the use of grammar.

a. Objective approval describes you being passive.

b. Subjective approval describes you being active.

2. In the understanding of the standards for approval.

a. Secular approval has a set of standards.

* Wealth

* Power

* Knowledge

* Beauty

* Ancestry

b. Godly approval has a set of standards.

* God…Theology Proper, Rom. 3:9-22

Outside of scripture, you can’t know God apart from that which is

revealed by creation i.e., that He is real strong and that He is real

smart, Rom. 1:20. Left with this revelation, men make God an extension

of themselves or creation, Rom 1:20-23.

* The word of God i.e., His thoughts, I Corn. 2:9-13; II Pet.1:20-21

Inspiration is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit matching God’s thoughts

to human words. He chose words from the human author’s vocabulary, then moved

men to write down exactly what He had determined to reveal. This was done

without compromising the human author’s style or personality. This is why

scripture has the quality of being God Breathed, II Tim 3:16. Hence the Word of

God reveals God’s standards for approval.

3. In the unveiling of God’s standards for approval, II Tim. 2:15.

a. It is necessary to have the right attitude…be eager

b. It is necessary to be accurate…cut the word straight

c. It is necessary to be active…a workman

d. It is necessary to anticipate the results…approved and unashamed before God!!!

In summary, we have seen that one can be the active force in the approving of someone or something. We have also seen that one may be passive in the action of being approved by someone or something. This approval whether objective or subjective, may be according to man’s standards or God’s standards. The human standards for approval change like the seasons but God’s standards for approval never change. Therefore accuracy in the interpreting of scripture is the key to obtaining God’s approval for without it one has no hope of meeting God’s standards for approval.

II. THE CONNECTION OF APPROVAL TO HOPE

A. The Rationale of a Promise in Scripture.

1. A promise is the declaration by God to another, that He will do something for them

or to them in the future, Jn. 8:24.

2. A promise is the basis of hope, Acts 26:6-8.

B. The Relationship of Hope with Faith and Promise in Scripture.

1. All three relate to future realities, I Cor. 13:13; Heb. 10:35-37.

2. All three are part of one package, Titus 1:1-2.

C. The Revelation from Scripture Concerning the Promises of Approval in Romans 5:1-11.

1. The context is looking at the results of salvation.

2. The clarification by Greek grammar enables one to understand God’s perspective of

approval.

a. As seen in the use of the two prepositions i.e., dia and en, Rom. 5:1.

b. As seen in the use of a disjunctive clause, Rom. 5:2.

c. As seen in the absence of a definite article before approval and hope emphasizing

character and quality, Rom. 5: 4.

3. The connection of Greek words with Greek grammar unveils God’s promises of approval

which enable Christians to continually boast, Rom. 5: 2-11.

a. Tribulations i.e., qliyesin has the idea of pressures.

* Friberg says that qlipyiV means literal pressure, a pressing together and is

found only in a figurative sense in the N.T. referring to suffering.

* Fritz Rienecker and Cleon Rogers say that qlipyiV refers to pressures,

hardships and sufferings.

* Moulton and Milligan in their book The Vocabulary of the Greek

New Testament examine a secular papyri that describes a woman

being oppressed by her conscience because she wrongfully appropriated.

* H. L. Schafer in his booklet The Christian’s Thought Life, calls tribulations

trials. In of itself a tribulation cannot result in sin; unless a spiritual enemy taking advantage of a tribulation baits a Christian with a lust. When this individual makes this lust his own then he has entered into temptation which can lead to sin, James 1:14.

* T. Childs says that tribulations refer to those circumstances in life that bring

pressure. These tribulations are experienced by all i.e., they are part of

everyday life. They can involve mental pressures as well as physical

pressures, Jn. 16:21. He goes on to say that Christians can expect an extra

dose of tribulations because Jesus Christ promised them more tribulations than

the lost while they are in the world, Jn 16:33. The promise of tribulations is

just as real as the promise of salvation to those who believe the gospel,

I Cor. 15:1-4.

Why?... Because God made both promises!!!

In summary tribulations refer to those circumstances in life that bring pressure. These

tribulations are experienced by all people i.e., they are part of every day living. They can involve mental pressures as well as physical pressures. All tribulations do not result in sin but they can become part of a temptation which can lead to sin. Christians can expect more tribulations than the lost because they are promised more by God. These tribulations can include persecution (II Thes. 1:4), poverty (II Cor. 8:2), stress (I Cor. 7:27-28) or anything that brings physical or mental pressures, (Jn. 16:33).

b. Patience i.e., upomonhn has the idea of remaining under a circumstance without

complaint until the circumstance ends, I Pt. 2:18-23.

* Thomas Green says that upomonhn comes from the verb upomenw meaning

to abide or remain under, patient, endurance…an enduring of affliction.

* Colin Brown says that upomonhn has been found since the time of Homer.

It is formed from the preposition upo under and menw to remain or stay.

It means to remain behind, stand one’s ground, survive or remain steadfast.

In summary patience is that ability to remain under or stand one’s ground in the face of adverse circumstances without complaint. In light of the context of Romans 5, we who are Christians through Christ’s work and by faith can boast in our tribulations because we know that there is an upside to tribulations i.e., we anticipate a benefit or benefits. Tribulations work out as a result a quality of patience and patience works out as a result a quality of approval.

c. Approval i.e., dokimhn that which has been tested and has met or exceeded a set

standard or standards and is now declared to be approved. Approval can be either subjective or objective i.e., you can be the one approving or you can be the one who is approved. Since dokimhn in Rom. 5:4, is anarthrous i.e., there is no definite article,

Paul is emphasizing a quality of approval which would include both subjective and objective approval. In other words a Christian can be approved by God and he can also approve God, both of these approvals are found in Scripture. Notice these approvals

have hopes because they are tied to promises. This is why approval works out a quality of hope.

* A Christian is approved by God when he endures one temptation and as

result he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to the ones

loving Him, Jas. 1:12.

* A Christian is approved by God when his works are assayed by fire at the

behma seat of Christ, for those works that pass the test he shall be rewarded,

Rom. 14:10-12; I Cor. 3:10-15; 4:5.

* A Christian is approved by God when he determines to use his spiritual gift

to edify the Body of Christ despite opposition in order to please Him,

I Thes. 2:1-8; Eph. 4:11-12; Acts 26: 9-23; Eph. 2:10.

* A Christian can approve what is well pleasing to the Lord by walking as

a child of light by using his position in the Lord, Eph. 5:6-11; II Tim. 1:1.

* A Christian can approve that God’s desirous will is good, well pleasing

and complete by offering his body as living and by using his renewed mind,

Rom, 12:1-2; I Cor. 2:15-16.

d. Hope i.e., elpida is that earnest expectation which comes from a promise and is the basis of faith, Heb. 10:23; 11:1. Hope disappears when that which is hoped for is seen, Rom 8:24-25.

In summary approval refers to that which has passed a test by meeting or surpassing a set standard or standards. God sets the standards for His quality of approval which are always based upon His character. Therefore it is impossible to obtain God’s approval by meeting the standards of men. God’s quality of approval can be subjective or objective but regardless of which, it works out a quality of hope. This quality of hope can be linked to promises concerning future tense salvation or to promises concerning present tense salvation. Regardless of whether this quality of hope from approval reaches forward to our heavenly rewards or to our next breath, it still is a hope coming from a promise from God. Therefore since there is more than one promise of approval it is scriptural to classify them as Promises of Approval!!!

III. THE CERTAINTY OF APPROVAL

A. It is Based upon God’s Character.

B. It is Based upon God’s Word.

C. It is Based upon History.