Concupiscence, Covenant, Incarnation, Justification, Mammon

Word Meanings and Definitions

ver.: 23 February 2008

What is : concupiscence, covenant, incarnation, justification, Mammon?

What Is Concupiscence ?

concupiscence : [ < Latin co(m)- (intensifying prefix) + cupere (to desire)] intense desire.

In Christian theology, concupiscence refers to the intense desire each person has for 'sinful' things (especially sex and power) and 'carnal' things (especially wealth and 'ear-tickling' ideas). In popular belief, the word "concupiscence" isn't used because it's way too long. But the idea behind it gets shrunk down to sexual lust, as happens with all talk of sin. These desires are no mere joneses. They act as gods to us, and thus take the place where only the Almighty belongs. They are the engine that propels us headlong into doing things that oppose what God wants us to do. These urges impel us and can drive our actions. Because noone is able to be truly holy under our own power, these intense desires take over. It's here that Christ's work on the cross and the Holy Spirit's work in the believer have their effect : Christ covers the cost of sin, and the Spirit brings us Christ's righteousness and with it the strength not to be ruled by the fervor of these cravings. The Spirit gives the spiritual fruit of self-control and the spiritual virtue of temperance.

You can also check the dictionary.

What Is a Covenant ?

covenant : A contract, pact or agreement. For Jews, it is a contract between God and a specific people, originally made with Abraham, and later expanded with Moses to include God's Law for the people, and then to cover them as a nation under David. This covenant is what created the identity of the Jewish people. Christians have a covenant, too, which is seen as the fulfillment of the Jewish covenant but meant for the whole human race. This covenant was marked by Christ's execution on the cross where our sin was taken away, and by His return from death. This covenant creates the identity of the Christian church. In both cases, the covenant includes promises and responsibilities.

You can also check the dictionary.

What Is Incarnation ?

incarnation : [ < in- + Latin carn- (flesh) + -ation (to become, transform into).] When a divine being becomes human or takes on an animal form of life.

For Christians, incarnation refers to God loving us so much that God chose to become a certain earthly being, Jesus of Nazareth. In doing that, God chose to be born, to live, to die in the manner of human beings, and to experience the good and bad that makes up human life. By incarnating, God gave a new holiness to all that exists, to the earth Jesus walked on, the nature he took part in, the ethnic/religious group he was a member of, the wood he cut and pieced together, the temple he hung out at, the boat he spoke from, the crowds he spoke to, the nation and empire he lived in, the garden he prayed in, the city he was executed in, the tomb he walked out of. Jesus' work doesn't make any created things into God, but makes all created things blessed by God.

You can also check the dictionary.

What Is Justification ?

Justification [ < Late Latin iûstificare (to act justly toward).] the act of rendering someone / something just.

For Christians, justification is God's act of declaring sinners forgiven, or 'not guilty'. A related word : exoneration. This is the key word in the "juridical" approach to what Jesus did. All people break God's Law, which is a deadly thing to do. God declares us 'not guilty', by declaring Jesus 'guilty' in our place. Why would God do it? Because God loves us, even though we keep showing that we are not otherwise worthy of it. Jesus carries out this divine purpose. Jesus takes on your unrighteousness; God gives Jesus' righteousness to those who put their trust in Jesus. Nothing you or I did caused this act of grace. Justification from our wrongs is strictly something God does. It is never partially done, any more than an inmate on death row can be partially pardoned so that the liver, spleen and several vertebrae are still to be executed.

You can also check the dictionary.

What Is Mammon ?

Mammon [ < Aramaic mamônâ (riches)] Material wealth. In English, as in Jesus' use, it bears the connotation of evil influence or ill-gotten gain. The poor classes of Jesus' day probably used it in such a way, as poor classes all over the world often use words of wealth.

Mammon is not so much 'money' as it is 'wealth'. And it's not so much 'wealth' as it is the state of spirit where wealth becomes the reason you do what you do with your life, an idol for whom you warp everything about yourself. Some preachers have covered up for this false god by saying that in using the word 'Mammon' Jesus was referring to anything worldly that draws one away from following God. They've got a point, but it misses Jesus' main point. When Jesus said this, he was talking specifically about the one thing that's more likely to be an idol than anything else : material wealth. It preoccupies our lives the way that God should. When something else gets what only God should get, it is an idol, and thus it was appropriate to use the Aramaic idol-like name of Mammon for wealth as an idol.