I know that the title I have chosen for this article does not have the appearance of being very spiritual, edifying or profitable for the believer in Christ and His church. I pray that you might read it through anyway.
You may or may not know what a hyperbole is. But even if you don't, I'm sure that you are likely to have heard and/or used them. They are common in our everyday conversations. Webster's defines hyperbole as an "extravagant exaggeration". Another definition says that a hyperbole "is any rhetorical device or figure of speech that employs exaggeration. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally." As you look at the following examples of hyperbole's you will see more clearly what they are, and undoubtedly recognize their usage.
Examples of hyperbole's:
"I'm so hungry that I could eat a horse."
"She cooked enough food to feed an entire army."
"That part of the country is as flat as a pancake."
"My brother is as big as a barn."
"His jokes were so funny that we almost died laughing."
"He's as strong as an ox."
"That hamburger was piled mile high with toppings."
The list could go on and on, but I hope I've help make it clear what a hyperbole is. I never thought I would find myself writing about a figure of speech or any other matter related to the use of the English language. I will now endeavor to explain why I have done so.
Some time ago, in my adult Sunday school class, while I was teaching out of the book of Galatians, I used what many would consider to have been a hyperbole. I used it in reference to Galatians 2:21, where the Apostle Paul wrote, "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died needlessly." As you may recall, Paul had been addressing the matter of "another gospel" that had been spreading throughout the churches of Galatia. He went on to teach that it was not "another gospel" at all, as there was only one true gospel, the gospel of grace. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. But there were those who were teaching that righteousness came through Christ AND observance of the Law. This was, of course, a perversion of the true gospel message.
This passage in Galatians 2:21 suggests a most tragic conclusion by asserting that Christ had died needlessly "if righteousness comes through the law". Of course, we would not just be speaking of his physical death but the entire matter of His death. If He died needlessly, we must conclude that He bore our sins needlessly if He bore them at all. If He died needlessly, His agonizing separation from His father was needless as well. If He died needlessly, He tasted death for no purpose. His agony in the garden, the thorns on his brow, the nails in his hands and feet. All would have been needless. If He died needlessly, He was needlessly born of a virgin.
But what I said during that Sunday School class was that nothing could be farther from the truth. Some might have described my statement as having been a hyperbole. But was it? Was it an extravagant exaggeration? No. Had I used it as an exaggeration to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression without intending it to be taken literally? Absolutely not!
It was no exaggeration at all. It was meant to be taken as entirely literal. With no doubt in my mind, I absolutely meant that nothing could have been further from the truth than the notion that Christ had died needlessly. The exact opposite is true. The need for His substitutionary death is proclaimed throughout scripture. Christ's death was not needless, but altogether necessary.
All of our efforts to obtain "righteousness" or to rectify our sin problem, "fall short of the glory of God". It is an error to believe and/or teach that we must add something to our faith in Christ to obtain righteousness. God reckons Christ's righteousness to us through faith. We are complete in Him! Praise God for the all sufficient sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.
