When We Say "Amen"

Introduction

1. One of the most well-known words across languages is one that holds powerful meaning.
2. Most of us use it everyday, sometimes without realizing its significance.
3. The many implications of this word allow us to demonstrate what we believe and how we live.
4. The English word "amen" is a transliteration (untranslated, represented by corresponding letters in another alphabet) from the original Hebrew word AMHN, derived from aman, which means "to be firm, steady, trustworthy, faithful."
5. Common translations of the word include "So be it, Let it be, It is true, Right on, I agree, I concur."
6. "Amen" is so much more than "prayer over." It means...

1. To Understand

   1. We must understand what is being stated
      1. We are to do all things with understanding (praying, singing, 1 Cor. 14:15)
      2. We are to make ourselves understood, how else will the listeners say "Amen" (1 Cor. 14:16).
      3. Paul exhorted the Corinthians to be mature in understanding (1 Cor. 14:20).
   2. God expects us to, above all, understand His Word (Pr. 4:7, "Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding")
      1. We shall know the truth (Jn. 8:32) and can know we have eternal life (1 Jn. 5:13).
      2. Hearing and understanding builds faith (Rom. 10:17), and are therefore a prerequisites to salvation.
      3. Infants, young children, and those who lack the mental capacity are exempt since they cannot understand ("Paul was 'alive' once without the law," Rom. 7:9, but law was written long before he was born).
   3. Example: Neh. 8:1-3, 6, 12
      1. The people gathered and told Ezra to bring the law. (v. 1)
      2. Ezra brought the law before all who could hear with understanding. (v. 2)
      3. The people were attentive. (v. 3)
      4. After the law was read and Ezra had blessed God, the people then said "Amen, Amen!" (v. 6) and rejoiced (v. 12).
   4. Christianity is a religion of rational thinking and understanding (Mk. 12:30-33)
      1. Those who do not understand (and are able) are lost (Rom. 1:31, being without understanding is unfitting).
      2. It is unwise not to understand (Eph. 5:17).

2. To Affirm

   1. When we say "Amen" we affirm something as the truth.
      1. Paul speaks of those who have strayed that do not understand what they affirm (1 Tim. 1:6-7).
      2. We need to be careful of what we affirm and approve of (Rom. 1:32).
      3. Hold fast what is good (1 Thes. 5:21).
   2. God expects us to affirm Him (Heb. 11:6)
      1. We should say "Amen" for what he as done (Ps. 72:19; 106:48)
      2. We should say "Amen" for what we know he can do (2 Tim. 4:18; 2 Cor. 1:20)
      3. We must recognize Him as the Amen, the Affirmation of Truth (Isa. 65:16, "the God of truth (amen)"; Rev. 3:14, "The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness"; Jn. 14:6, "The Way, the Truth, and the Life")
   3. God expects us to affirm His Word to be true (Jn. 17:17)
      1. Jesus affirmed many truths with "Amen" (Verily, Most assuredly, 25 times in the book of John, cf. John. 8:51, "Most assuredly (Amen), I say to you, if anyone keeps my word he shall never see death"). He uses "Amen" to affirm His deity (Jn. 8:58).
      2. Notice the "Amens" at the end of many books (Rom. 16:25-27; 2 Pet. 2:18; Jude 25, "To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen"; Rev. 22:21). "Amen" is the last word in the Bible.

3. To Agree

   1. When we say "Amen" we agree to take action based on what we have affirmed.
      1. An woman accused of being unfaithful must take an oath that she will be cursed if guilty, and agrees to the terms with "Amen, so be it." (Num. 5:22).
      2. The nation of Israel was to say "Amen" to the terms of the curses pronounced in Deut. 27:15-26. They were to understand and affirm the terms, and agree to take action accordingly.
      3. Those who were charging excessive interest of their fellow Jews agreed to repent with an "Amen" and "did according to this promise." (Neh. 5:13).
   2. The New Testament is our agreement/contract/covenant that we must understand, believe, and live by (Heb. 9:15-17)
      1. A covenant is a binding agreement. A testament (last will and testament) is a set of instructions left behind by the deceased. The last will and testament of Jesus Christ is a set of instructions telling us how to enter into an agreement with God. In essence, His testament is His agreement. We agree to the terms of His will.
      2. This agreement does not include the Old Testament, it was nailed to the cross and has been replaced by a new, better covenant (Col. 2:14; Jer. 31:31; Heb. 8:6).
         1. Though not obliged to obey it, we must still affirm the old as truth (Ps. 119:160; Rom. 15:4). This is a cause of confusion for many, especially those who try to use the Psalms as authority for instrumental music in worship, and those who contend that a Christian must keep the Sabbath. For more on this see Sabbath handout.
      3. Once we agree to something it is vital that we stick with it. (2 Pet. 2:21; Ecc. 5:5 "better not to vow than to vow and not pay," Jas. 5:12, "Let your yes be yes and your no, no").
      4. Paul (speaking about how the covenant with Abraham was not annulled) points out that even a covenant/agreement/contract between men cannot be nullified or added to, much less that of God. (Gal. 3:15)
         1. How do those in the business world handle the event that someone illegally adds something to or removes something from a contract? How much more so will God deal with those who illegally (cf. Col. 3:17, "do all in the name of (by the authority of) Christ") tamper with His word (Rev. 22:18-19). He has given us everything we need to know, and tampering is unnecessary (2 Pet. 1:3, "all things pertaining to life and godliness").
      5. God expects us not only to understand and affirm it as truth, but to agree to follow His Word (Heb. 5:9; Jas. 1:22-25, "Be doers and not hearers only...he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does" (emp. added)).
   3. "Amen" is not the end, but the beginning (of action).

4. An Example: The Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:27-38)

   1. The eunuch was reading Isaiah and desired to understand, and was able to with the help of Philip. (v. 28-33)
   2. Upon understanding that Jesus was the fulfillment of this Scripture, and the Savior of the world, the eunuch affirmed this good news, which led to his next question. (v. 34-36)
   3. The eunuch was willing to bind himself to the agreement set forth by Christ. (v. 36)
      1. We sign His agreement via repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38).
   4. Philip ensures the validity of the eunuch's decision by making sure he knew what he was doing. (v. 37)

Conclusion

1. "Amen" is not just a word we say, but a decision we make.
2. In using it we show our approval, our endorsement, our agreement to what has been stated.
3. God has written up a wonderful contract for all of us. He sent His only Son to sacrifice Himself so that we may have an inheritance in heaven (Heb. 9:15; 1 Pet. 1:4).
4. It is this contract, this binding agreement, left as the Last Will and Testament of His Son, Jesus Christ, that gives the conditions for obtaining this inheritance. He has told us what He wants us to do, but will we do it?
5. Will you agree to the terms He has set forth by giving your "Amen?" That is, hearing His will so that you understand what He is giving you and what you must do, believing what you've heard, and then signing the contract in repentance, confession, and baptism.
6. "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (Jn. 3:5)

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