Putting the No into November – Part I
INTRODUCTION – The prefix un- negates the meaning of the root word. Of course, the result is not always a negative word. For example, unbroken is better than broken (except with horses), unerring is preferable to erring, and undaunted is more admirable than daunted. Today, we will consider the three uses of “unspeakable” in the New Testament (translated as “indescribable” or “inexpressible” in newer translations). Let us then describe the indescribable and express the inexpressible. We know that unspeakable is normally used in a negative manner, as in unspeakable horrors or unspeakable atrocities. Because there are such unspeakable things, some believe that God must not be good or that God does not exist at all. Rather, we should see the great contrast between this evil world and the goodness of God, for God is never horrific nor atrocious. Only God can take the negative word “unspeakable” and make it positive.
- GOD’S GRACE IS UNSPEAKABLE
II Corinthians 9:15 – The “gift” points us to God’s goodness day by day (note the immediate context, including verse 8). With our three enemies (our sin nature, the world system, and Satan), the surprise is not that there are bad things in our lives but that there are so many good things. A gift starts not with the recipient but with the giver; in other words, we begin not with what we think we deserve or what we believe we have earned but with the good and giving nature of God. The primary gift is God Himself (see John 3:16; Romans 8:32; II Corinthians 8:9). The most unspeakable horror, the most unspeakable atrocity, is the crucifixion of God the Son, Jesus Christ. He was (and is) sinless (see I Peter 2:22); moreover, He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38); furthermore, He was (and is) fully God (see John 1:1). His death is unspeakable; only God could take what is so negatively unspeakable and make it so completely positively unspeakable, for eternal salvation is now available to all.
- GOD’S WORDS ARE UNSPEAKABLE
II Corinthians 12:1-4 – It seems paradoxical, even oxymoronic, that God’s words are unspeakable. Paul was dumbfounded and dumbstruck by what he saw and heard in his unusual experience of heaven. The learned scholar Paul had no words to describe the words of God in heaven. One day, if we trust in Jesus as Savior, we will see these same things and hear these same words. Heaven will never be boring, for there will always be more to know and more to appreciate.
- GOD’S JOY IS UNSPEAKABLE
I Peter 1:8 – Joy is far greater than happiness, for it is certain rather than changeable. What the world offers is insidious and invidious, hideous and perfidious, unspeakable in the worst sense of the word. The Christian’s joy is based on the character of God, who never changes. He always keeps all of His promises, including the promise of His return (see verse 7).
CONCLUSION – In the death of Jesus, we see the unspeakable, but we see the unspeakable changed from negative to positive. Through faith in Jesus, we experience the gift of grace; we hear the words of God, words of everlasting life; we receive as our portion joy, certain joy. If you have never trusted Jesus as Savior, call to Him right now. What Jesus has done with the Cross, He can do with each one of our lives: He can – and will – change the unspeakable from negative to positive.