1) When words begin with “mono,” they are typically associated with the idea of “one.”
2) There is the idea of something being single or alone.
3) When we open up the New Testament, we find a word called “monon.”
a) This is an adverb and it means “alone, only.”
b) Mt. 5:47 is one illustration of the point we want to make
i) A little later (Mt. 8:8 this word is used again), only this time not by the Lord.
ii) Here “only” really means “only” (alone, just this one thing—nothing else required).
c) Listen how Jesus responded to this man’s request – verse 10 of Mt. 8 – READ
i) Why did Jesus command this man’s faith?
ii) It was because this man said just one thing was required.
4) Mt. 9:21 – READ
a) The word “but” is our little adverb that is translated “only” in the passages we are citing.
b) In the ASV and the KJV, the text says “but.”
c) In the NKJV, NASB and NIV, the translators used the word “only.”
d) This woman was thinking there was only one thing—just one thing—she she had to do to get well.
5) It is therefore no wonder why Jesus commented about the woman’s faith – verse 22 – READ
6) Acts 18:25 – READ
a) Rom. 3:29. Here Paul asked a question: is God the God of the “Jews alone”?
b) Is God “only” God for the Hebrews?
c) 1 Cor. 7:39. Paul spoke of a widow and said she may want to remarry.
d) He said in a case such as this she could ONLY remarry “in the Lord.”
e) If this passage means what some say it means (she must marry a Christian), ONLY means ONLY.
f) Marrying a non-Christian cannot be done under any set of circumstances.
g) A better explanation is that “in the Lord” means in harmony with the Lord’s will.
h) If a person is divorced, Mt. 19:9 says that only the party not guilty of fornication can remarry.
i) If a widow or anyone else wants to marry, it must be ONLY in the Lord – in harmony with God’s will.
j) That marriage must comply with God’s plan outlined in places like Mt. 19.
7) 1 Cor. 15:19 is a second key passage in the First Corinthian letter with the word “only.”
a) What if Christianity would turn out to be untrue?
b) That would mean all of our hopes are false and everything we have believed is a lie.
8) 1 Thess. 1:5 is my next text. The gospel did not come in “word only.”
a) Without a written document miracles were needed to “confirm the word” (Mk. 16:20).
b) Our next verse is 1 Tim.5:13.
c) He said these women could become “idle” (lazy).
d) God said this is not the “only” sin they could commit.
e) They could go from house to house and spread gossip—God does not like gossip.
f) When people choose to engage in one sin, this text suggests that others soon follow.
g) Jas. 1:22 says do not be “hearers of the word only.”
9) Jas. 2:24 and this verse will be read – READ
a) God says a person is NOT saved by “faith alone.”
b) What does the word “only” mean in Jas. 2:24?
c) Throughout the Bible we see that alone means “only, by itself, nothing else involved.”
10) Rather than saying man is “saved by faith alone,” it says we are NOT saved by faith alone.
11) Something besides personal faith in God is required. What else is necessary?
Find the truth about God and become a New Testament Christian. Find out more about New Testament Christianity by running some Internet searches for “church of Christ” and “churches of Christ.” You may also want to visit http://www.abiblecommentary.com for Bible study information.
Remember, in order to be saved and enjoy all God’s blessings (not the least of which is salvation), a person must have faith (Jn. 8:24), be willing to repent (Lk. 13:3), and after confessing Christ as Lord, the final step is water baptism (Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 12:13; 1 Pet. 3:20-21). Bible baptism is by immersion only (“burial,” Rom. 6:4), and once it is done, heaven puts that person “into Christ” (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3). After proper baptism a person has their sins forgiven (Acts 2:38).