Daily Bread - MAR/02/07

Ephesians 5:18 - "And be not drunk with wine which is as one unsaved but be filled with the Spirit."

The Greek word used here is "asotia" which is a compound word of "a" and "sozo;" this word literally means "not saved" or "unsaved." The Greek word "sozo" is the primary New Testament word used to describe the salvation that comes through the name of Jesus Christ. The Greek letter "a" is used just as in the English language as a negative prefix to emphasize the complete absence of something.

The context of "asotia" in 1 Peter 4:3 leaves no doubt concerning the meaning of this word; it means unsaved referring to those who have not been made a new creation. This word is found one time in the Old Testament, and it translates the Hebrew word 'zala" which means "worthless," "vile." It is found three times in the New Testament: Ephesians 5:18, and then in Titus 1:6 and 1 Peter 4:4 where it is translated "riot" by the Authorized Version.

The idea of drinking alcohol is condemned in the Old Testament as exemplified by these scriptures: "Do not look at the wine when it is red, when it gives its color in the cup, when it goes down smoothly; at its last it bites like a snake, and it stings like a basilisk. Your eyes shall look on strange women, and your heart shall speak perverse things;" also, "But they also have gone astray by wine and have erred through fermented drink; priest and prophet have erred through fermented drink; they have been swallowed by wine; they strayed from fermented drink; they err in seeing; they stumble in judgment;" (Proverbs 23:31-33; Isaiah 28:7 - Greens Literal Translation). Furthermore, no one could come into the presence of the Lord if they had partaken of wine or strong (fermented) drink or they would have been put to death by the Lord (Leviticus 10:9; Ezekiel 44:21).

During Old Testament times, the strongest alcoholic drink that they could make would be equivalent to our modern day beer. The word drunkenness - which is condemned as one of the seventeen works of the flesh - may literally be translated intoxication. Paul announced twice in scripture that those who practice getting intoxicated have no inheritance the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 6:10). Paul tells the church not to so much as eat with someone who practices intoxication (1 Corinthians 5:11). Intoxication is marked as a practice of the children of disobedience a total of 10 times in the New Testament (Romans 13:13; 1 Peter 4:3; 1 Corinthians 6:10; 1 Corinthians 5:11; Luke 21:34; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:7; Matthew 24:49; Luke 12:45).

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org