Mending our Nets
Introduction. Everyone obeying the gospel is “dead in sin” (Eph. 2:1-10) and a “slave of sin” (Rom. 6:17-23). The lusts we indulged in led that portion of our heart to be spiritually torn, emotionally bruised, and mentally broken. It is difficult to avoid this because of the “empty way of life handed down from your fathers,” the “bad company that corrupts good morals,” and being “alienated from the life of God because of ignorance” and “hardness of heart” (1Pet. 1:18; 1Cor. 15:33; Eph. 4:18). As Paul, we were doing “the very thing I hate” and paying a terrible price for it (Rom. 7:15).
While living “in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind,” we “were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest” (Eph. 2:3). As God had testified, “the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest,” for “‘there is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked’” (Isa. 57:19-21). Yet Jesus promised: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” and “you will find rest for your souls” (Mt. 11:28-29). So we came!
Damaged Hearts. After obeying the gospel, our sins were forgiven by the grace and mercy of God. Yet the damage done to our heart remained. The habits we had formed still needed to be broken. Defiled outlooks and perverted pleasure still worked in our flesh. All we needed to learn was how the gospel could give us the power to restore ourselves. This broken and torn heart can be mended!
While Peter was “casting a net into the sea,” James and John his brother were in a boat “mending their nets” (Mt. 4:21). Those who fish know that a torn net can’t catch fish. What does a torn net have to do with our torn hearts? The answer is everything! The word “mend” is used 16 more times in the NT (14 as a verb and two as a noun). It’s use here is only illustrative of the truth that what James and John could do with their nets is exactly what the Jesus gave the gospel the power to do for our hearts.
Mending Our Hearts. The word “mend” is “kat-artízō,” a compound Greek word. Its root is “artízō / ártios — complete, perfect of its kind, suitable, exactly fitted” (Liddell & Scott). This is what a net or heart possessed before it was torn. Both were exactly fitted to do what they were designed by our Creator to do. Yet once torn, the prefix “katá” must be added. It means “-- in succession, in course, one part after another” (Thayer). When these two are blended “kat-artízō” means “— to put a thing in its appropriate condition, refit, repair, mend that which is broken...” “in the proper force of katá — to make a perfect fit, suitable, such as one should be, deficient in no part.” (Complete Word Study Dictionary: NT)
Although these definitions are complex they are important to see exactly what God said about what the gospel can do for us if we zealously work with it. We all deal with the mental, emotional and spiritual problems described in the introduction. Now we can systematically put “one part after another”, be brought back into “appropriate condition,” and “make a perfect fit,” and thus be “deficient in no part.”
Via Scripture. This was the purpose of “Christ’s gift.” “He Himself gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers, for the perfecting/equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:7-12).
Through the writings of apostles and prophets (NT Scripture), along with preaching of evangelists, guidance of shepherds/elders, and instruction from the teachers, we can be brought back into an “appropriate condition” and thus be “deficient in no part.” These gifts, “one part after another,” and “in succession,” can by “reproving, rebuking and exhorting” bring us back to a “perfect fit,” and “such as we ought to be.” The power is in the Scripture and when properly used it will not return void.
Just as James and John mended their nets with twine and knots, Jesus mends our souls with the gifts He gave for that purpose. Obviously it is much more complex to mend a soul than it is a net. To bring emotions, desires, and thoughts back to where they were created to be and ought to be is a life long task. But we can mend our souls with these gifts! “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete(ártios), thoroughly equipped (ex-artízō) for every good work.” (2Tim. 3:16-17).
Because God’s “divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” and with His “exceedingly great and precious promises,” we can again “be partakers of the divine nature,” and “escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Imagine restoring our heart to its pristine condition. This is what the gospel has the power to perform and if we are willing to add to our faith, we can do it! Using the apostles and prophets (Scripture), we can conquer any lust and restore any emotion. We can remove all false teaching and restore truth in our heart. We can change all perverted outlooks to clear and perfect vision.
Conclusion. Although “God made men upright” and “they have sought out many devices,” God has given us to power to undo it all and restore ourselves” (Eccl. 7:29). Scripture after Scripture affirms this!
While living “in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind,” we “were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest” (Eph. 2:3). As God had testified, “the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest,” for “‘there is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked’” (Isa. 57:19-21). Yet Jesus promised: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” and “you will find rest for your souls” (Mt. 11:28-29). So we came!
Damaged Hearts. After obeying the gospel, our sins were forgiven by the grace and mercy of God. Yet the damage done to our heart remained. The habits we had formed still needed to be broken. Defiled outlooks and perverted pleasure still worked in our flesh. All we needed to learn was how the gospel could give us the power to restore ourselves. This broken and torn heart can be mended!
While Peter was “casting a net into the sea,” James and John his brother were in a boat “mending their nets” (Mt. 4:21). Those who fish know that a torn net can’t catch fish. What does a torn net have to do with our torn hearts? The answer is everything! The word “mend” is used 16 more times in the NT (14 as a verb and two as a noun). It’s use here is only illustrative of the truth that what James and John could do with their nets is exactly what the Jesus gave the gospel the power to do for our hearts.
Mending Our Hearts. The word “mend” is “kat-artízō,” a compound Greek word. Its root is “artízō / ártios — complete, perfect of its kind, suitable, exactly fitted” (Liddell & Scott). This is what a net or heart possessed before it was torn. Both were exactly fitted to do what they were designed by our Creator to do. Yet once torn, the prefix “katá” must be added. It means “-- in succession, in course, one part after another” (Thayer). When these two are blended “kat-artízō” means “— to put a thing in its appropriate condition, refit, repair, mend that which is broken...” “in the proper force of katá — to make a perfect fit, suitable, such as one should be, deficient in no part.” (Complete Word Study Dictionary: NT)
Although these definitions are complex they are important to see exactly what God said about what the gospel can do for us if we zealously work with it. We all deal with the mental, emotional and spiritual problems described in the introduction. Now we can systematically put “one part after another”, be brought back into “appropriate condition,” and “make a perfect fit,” and thus be “deficient in no part.”
Via Scripture. This was the purpose of “Christ’s gift.” “He Himself gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers, for the perfecting/equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:7-12).
Through the writings of apostles and prophets (NT Scripture), along with preaching of evangelists, guidance of shepherds/elders, and instruction from the teachers, we can be brought back into an “appropriate condition” and thus be “deficient in no part.” These gifts, “one part after another,” and “in succession,” can by “reproving, rebuking and exhorting” bring us back to a “perfect fit,” and “such as we ought to be.” The power is in the Scripture and when properly used it will not return void.
Just as James and John mended their nets with twine and knots, Jesus mends our souls with the gifts He gave for that purpose. Obviously it is much more complex to mend a soul than it is a net. To bring emotions, desires, and thoughts back to where they were created to be and ought to be is a life long task. But we can mend our souls with these gifts! “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete(ártios), thoroughly equipped (ex-artízō) for every good work.” (2Tim. 3:16-17).
Because God’s “divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” and with His “exceedingly great and precious promises,” we can again “be partakers of the divine nature,” and “escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Imagine restoring our heart to its pristine condition. This is what the gospel has the power to perform and if we are willing to add to our faith, we can do it! Using the apostles and prophets (Scripture), we can conquer any lust and restore any emotion. We can remove all false teaching and restore truth in our heart. We can change all perverted outlooks to clear and perfect vision.
Conclusion. Although “God made men upright” and “they have sought out many devices,” God has given us to power to undo it all and restore ourselves” (Eccl. 7:29). Scripture after Scripture affirms this!
- Therefore, brethren, we are debtors– not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Rom. 8:12-13)
- that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph. 4:22-24)
- I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom. 12:1-2)
- Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy.17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; ' (1Pet. 1:13-17)
- Therefore Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.’ “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’ 1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2Cor. 6:17-18; 7:1)
- But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Rom. 13:14)