ὁποῖος Hopoios - What manner of person are you?
What kind of Greek question is this?
This is really the question ...
To be or not to be ...
Being a human-being or being a human-doing
James, The brother of Jesus says we've got to be doers of the Word and not just hearers. Remember our post on Emphutos Logos - here? Well, we dealt with what exactly James was saying there talking about being doers of the Word (not the commandments), meaning we should appropriate and apply the Word (Jesus) instead. In living like this we then don't forget what kind of victorious person we have become because of Jesus.
Living a life of victory in Jesus!
But, what if we don't?
James also provides the answer for this question if we read further.
So, let's have a look:
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Jas 1:23-25
In light of what we already know ... lets understand James
He says that should we by any measure hear without applying the Word (Jesus), we have seen only a reflection of our own being. You have looked deep into the Law-of-Perfect-Liberty and chose to be indifferent, You have seen perfection and Jesus, your Mirror Image and could not care less.
You forget, epilanthanomai - to loose out of your mind.
You go your own way ...
You straightaway forget or neglect (shift out of your mind) what manner of man you have just seen (were made).
What manner of man?
Hopoios!
Hopoios is what kind of excellent, great and magnificent nature of a being.
Hearing Jesus and applying Jesus makes us to abandon and disregard what magnificent beings we are in Jesus.
Simple.
Not applying Jesus renders us powerless!
So, what's the good news?
The Good News is that not being forgetful hearers and applying Jesus and beholding Him, we take up our true image and being in Jesus and become constantly aware of our magnificent, excellent and powerful nature so that we can truely be as He is in this world! (1 Joh 4:17)
God made you.
And when He completed you He saw that the work of His hands was VERY GOOD!
You were made in His image.
With excellence.
With greatness.
With magnificence.
You were given dominion on earth ...
... NOW RULE!
Your image has been restored.
Now, apply Jesus!
NOW RULE!