All posts by Luella Campbell

ROMANS…PLANS – 26a

Bible Study, ,

“But now I have finished my work in these regions, and after all these long years of waiting, I am eager to visit you. I am planning to go to Spain, and when I do, I will stop off in Rome. And after I have enjoyed your fellowship for a little while, you can provide for my journey.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul had plans! Rome was in his sights. For many years he had laboured in Asia Minor, moving on to Europe but always with his eye on Rome, the capital city and hub of the Roman Empire. Why Rome? 

Rome was where everything started and ended…the imperial city, the seat of government…power and control. If Paul could preach the gospel in Rome, especially as close to the seat of power as possible, perhaps the influence of the gospel in high places could change the way God’s people were being treated. The message of Jesus would spread out from Rome in all directions, carried by His followers to every city and town in the empire. 

Of course, Paul had no idea that God also has plans for Rome…not the way that Paul anticipated but through his imprisonment in the very precincts of the emperor himself. Paul’s longing to go to Rome would be fully satisfied and even the means to travel there, not supplied by the church in Rome as he thought, but at government expense! Not only would he get free passage to Rome but he would be housed in the palace itself, albeit imprisoned and chained to a Roman guard…a captive audience if ever there was one!

Paul was incorrigible. Even in his darkest moments, he found joy in what God was doing through his pain. He saw light in the darkness. Every trial was God’s opportunity to further the spread of the good news of salvation through Jesus. Paul was dispensable for the sake of the gospel…and he rejoiced in being the vessel God used to pour out His love on a broken world. 

“And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives…But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭15‬, ‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul acknowledged, in his  last letter to Timothy, that he would never escape from the clutches of the emperor. His time was up…but he was prepared. 

“As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul anticipated his death with joy. Death held no terror for him…but only the prospect of meeting his Lord face-to-face and receiving from Him his reward…and for those who served Him faithfully. 

“For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

With an attitude like that, how can anyone lose? 

Paul’s circumstances, uncomfortable as they were…could not dampen his joy. His letter to the Philippians,  written from a Roman prison to one of his favourite churches, was the most joyful of all his letters…full of gratitude for the people who loved, prayed, and served him faithfully, and for the place where God had planted him to shine in the darkness. 

Despite Paul’s discomfort and the prospect of execution, he didn’t flinch. He turned his suffering into celebration. Yes, he had experienced his portion of hardships…physical, financial, and even spiritual. Yes, he had even pleaded with God for release from his struggles…but…instead of becoming bitter and resentful, he had learned…what?

“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on hardly anything or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

With Jesus at the core of his being, giving him the power to overcome, Paul has learned to treat his circumstances as irrelevant. Not that he didn’t experience difficulties and trials, but that they made no difference to his inner life. The three most important and significant attributes of Jesus, lost to the human race at the Fall, but bequeathed and restored to His disciples on the eve of His death…His love, His joy, and His peace…held him steady and immovable. 

A story on YouTube deeply moved me. An African American woman gave this testimony…after her husband and two sons were shot dead at the bus stop, waiting for the school bus, her response was…“Let’s have church!”

Can we, like Paul, express our trust in Jesus with such conviction that we can say, in the darkest times of suffering…”Let’s have church!”?…and really mean it?

Pain and sorrow are real but…Jesus’ joy can carry us through, if we see Him…above and beyond our earthly suffering…as always with us and always working, in all things, for our good and for His glory. 

To be continued

ROMANS…HOPE – 25

Bible Study, ,

“Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote: “For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name.”…I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭8‬-‭9‬, ‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Jews could never claim Jesus for themselves. They were the bridge between God and the nations. 

All distinctions, differences, barriers between Jews and Gentiles have been swept away through Jesus. Old enmities no  longer apply. They are one new race…one family of faith descended from their spiritual father, Abraham. Exactly as God planned before time, His family has been born through Jesus…and now, in unity, they grow together in faith and hope. 

The Gentiles now had a reason for their hope…a solid foundation of truth upon which they could build their future, both in this world and in the next. 

We have explored the meaning of faith. Not let’s look at hope. 

Hope! What is hope? 

It is important that we understand what Biblical hope is because hope plays a significant role in our lives as believers…. True for the Gentiles then and for all believers, Jew and Gentle…for all time.  Without hope, we would suffocate in this wicked and uncertain world. Hope is the air of heaven we breathe that keeps us going until we leave and join God’s eternal family. 

I cannot give a better explanation  of hope than Google AI’s…

“In the Bible, hope is not a “fingers-crossed” wish or wishful thinking. Instead, it is a confident, unwavering expectation of future good based entirely on God’s character and promises. While secular hope looks to chance, biblical hope is a guarantee. 

The concept of hope in Scripture branches into a few distinct categories:

1. The Core Meaning

  • Confident Assurance: In the original languages (Hebrew: Tikvah; Greek: Elpis), hope implies a firm certainty. It is the steady anticipation that God will fulfill His word. 
  • An Anchor for the Soul: The New Testament describes hope as something steadfast that keeps believers secure during life’s storms. As stated in Hebrews 6:19, hope is “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure”(NIV). 

2. The Relationship Between Faith and Hope

Faith and hope work together as two sides of the same coin:

  • Faith is grounded in the reality of the past and the present (e.g., trusting that God’s promises are true and that Jesus lived and was resurrected).
  • Hope looks to the future, eagerly anticipating what God has guaranteed will happen next. 

3. What Believers Hope For

Biblical hope is almost entirely future-oriented, specifically centered on the ultimate culmination of God’s redemptive plan: 

  • The Return of Christ: The New Testament frequently refers to the second coming of Jesus as “the blessed hope” (Titus 2:13).
  • Resurrection and Eternal Life: Believers look forward to the resurrection of the dead and a new creation free from pain, suffering, and sin (Revelation 21:4).
  • God’s Faithfulness: In the present, hope rests in the expectation that God’s grace will sustain believers through any trial.”

Can you see how important our hope is? The Bible says that the Gentiles were “without hope” until they became a part of God’s new family. 

“Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We were dead in sin, cut off from God, and without hope. What a horrible life! What a horrible place to be in!

But God…without His intervention, we Gentiles would be lost forever. 

“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So, Paul’s prayer…

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

With God’s joy and peace in control of our lives, the hope we have that anchors our hearts to a secure future, will steady us in life’s trials, tests, and troubles. The Holy Spirit at work in us, will keep us steadfast…faithful…and persevering…

“I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them. Even so, I have been bold enough to write about some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder. For by God’s grace, I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul was never reluctant to teach and remind. No matter how long we have been on this road, we need the constant reminder to persevere…to keep going…to live this life against all odds because…there is an eternal reward for faithfulness that is worth all the struggles and suffering we endure in this life. 

Hope in God’s faithfulness to His promises is the bright light at the end of the road that keeps us moving on towards the goal. We  never give up against all odds until we reach our heavenly destination. 

“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT

To be continued 

ROMANS…CONTROL – 24

Bible Study, ,

“We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭3‬, ‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Hidden in Paul’s conclusion…about eating or not eating food offered to idols or celebrating or not celebrating a special day…is a principle that applies to the way we relate to people in every part of our everyday lives. It’s about control!

Jesus stated, in His “Sermon on the Mount”, that people must not judge one another. Judging others is a form of control. The danger is that when we set the standard for someone else, we fall under the same standard as we use to measure other people. 

Paul takes this prohibition and applies it to the attitudes we take up when people don’t measure up to our standards. We try to force them to conform to our standards. 

“So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭10‬, ‭12‬-‭13‬, ‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is so much more to this life as followers of Jesus than simply applying a set of rules. God did not give us the mandate to play policeman to one another. We are responsible for our own behaviour, not for the behaviour of others. 

 Living in God’s kingdom is about lovingly taking care of one another…not just in our behaviour in a mechanical sort of way but from the depth of our hearts because we belong to each other.  We are part of one body. We are responsible for each others’ welfare…physical, emotional, and spiritual…when we interact with them. 

This aspect of doing life together as the body of Christ is a two-way street. We are responsible for our own behaviour and attitudes…and we are participants together in promoting love and preserving unity. 

Let’s talk about control. When God gave His mandate to Adam in the garden, to manage the earth, He said nothing about people controlling one another. To everyone He gave the gift of free will…to make their own choices and decisions without coercion from anyone else. However, after Adam’s defection, God added another dimension to the marriage partnership…because, perhaps, Eve was as guilty as Adam for misleading her husband…and was, therefore, part of the consequences. 

“Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control (have dominion, rule, control) your husband, but he will rule over you.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So it seems, at face value, that control was introduced into the most intimate of human relationships at that point.  Control of one person over another appears to be an imposition because of sin…and the cause of the conflict and power struggles that happen everywhere, and especially in families, when people try to control one another. 

So, Paul says, there is an overriding consideration that must govern the way we relate to each other. We are not to want or force our own way but rather to submit to each other because…and here’s the most important reason… each of us is accountable to God for our own attitudes and behaviour. 

This puts another important dimension to the way we think and live. A community of people can only live in harmony if they care more about the others than about themselves. This requires God’s grace to love because our old selfish ways are always ready to intrude. 

Let’s go back to what Paul said in a previous chapter. 

“Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law…Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬, ‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So, you see that the even smallest detail in our lives together needs God’s grace, which He provides through His Spirit in us. We must loosen our grip on the idea that we are everyone’s policeman. Jesus is Lord, not us. We are ultimately accountable to Him, not to each other. We must trust Him to work through each of us to fulfil His purposes without our help. 

When we really get hold of the truth that…

“…We don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭7‬-‭10‬, ‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

…we will come closer to His desire for harmony and co-operation in His human family. 

As always, we must look both ways…inwardly to guard our hearts…and outwardly to protect our fellowship. If we do that, we will please the Lord, and we will keep our Christian family intact and free from conflict. 

To be continued

ROMANS…FOUNDATION OR FELLOWSHIP – 23

Bible Study, ,

Faith is also about what we do about essentials and non-essentials. 

There are truths in the gospel we must cling to because our faith needs the solid foundation upon which we stand and which makes the difference between life and death. Our foundation is Jesus and His work on earth for us, from beginning to end. This is non-negotiable. 

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There are also practices we engage in that don’t affect the foundation of our faith but do affect our fellowship with other believers. Paul addresses these non-essentials in the next section. These considerations were mostly cultural in Paul’s day but have their counterpart in our day. 

In Paul’s day, a big issue for God’s children in a pagan society was idolatry. How were God’s people to navigate life in which pagan sacrifices dominated everything, including shopping for their daily food? Paul said, in broad terms, that idols were nothing. Eating meat offered to idols had no impact on Christians except…and here was the catch…how it affected what they believed and, subsequently, how they treated one another. 

Here’s how it worked. If some Christians believed that eating meat offered to idols was wrong…to do so would offend their conscience. If others, who had no such scruples, ate so-called “contaminated” meat in their presence, the sensitive ones would be offended. So, Paul counselled, it would be unloving of a brother or sister, who had no issues with eating meat offered to idols, to do so in the presence of someone with a more sensitive conscience. 

Which is more important…to protect love and preserve peace…or to insist on one’s own rights? The answer, for the sake of fellowship, is obvious. Eating or not eating meat offered to idols does not affect one’s salvation but it does affect the harmony among believers in the body of Christ. 

Similarly, there are traditions that form part of our belief system, for example, the celebration of Christmas and Easter with the pagan beliefs and practices that have crept in over many centuries. Some people cling to these practices as a part of their faith in Jesus. Others recognise their pagan origins and refuse to participate in pagan celebrations…sometimes even making such a big thing of it that it becomes a contentious issue between believers. 

“In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭5‬-‭6‬, ‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul says “Wait a minute! Take a step back and look at the bigger picture.” In a letter to the Corinthian church, he had

written…

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is not about the nitty-gritty of what you do or don’t do. It’s about serving the Lord in whatever you do or don’t do. If Jesus is your Lord, your supreme authority, do whatever you do in a way that honours Him. We honour Him best when we waive our rights out of love for others. We dishonour Him when we fight for our rights at the expense of loving others. 

These are day-to-day issues that don’t affect our salvation but they do affect what our salvation should produce…a loving, serving body of people who honour Jesus by honouring one another. 

To be continued

ROMANS…TAXES – 22

Bible Study,

“Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul calls his readers to swallow another bitter pill…pay your taxes! However, he was quoting…not from Roman law but from the highest authority possible…Jesus Himself. 

The Jews groaned under the Roman government’s heavy taxes. This was a hot potato for them…and the Pharisees cashed in on the issue. They tried to trick Jesus into committing treason by asking whether it was right to pay taxes to Caesar! Clever move…except that Jesus was always one step ahead of them. It was the image on the coin that decided the issue. Whose image was on the coin…?Caesar’s, of course! Then give to him what belongs to him! It’s that simple!

The other side of the coin…pardon the pun…is…whose image is on us! God’s image! Therefore, we are to give to God what belongs to Him…bodies…ourselves… our love, submission, and obedience.

Now, since God requires obedience to delegated civil authority, He includes our paying taxes because a government needs resources to carry out its mandate…and those resources come from its citizens. Therefore, we are obligated to pay taxes as part of our obedience to God, through His delegated authority. 

However, much as it is imperative that we obey the government…we owe God a greater debt…to keep on loving one another for one big reason…

“Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Loving each other through humble and loving service…especially as we use our spiritual gifts to encourage and build each other up…we fulfil God’s law in the best way possible…not from obligation but from hearts that have been transformed by His mercy and grace. 

Even in the first century after Jesus, there was an expectation that He would be returning soon. With this hope burning in them, Paul encouraged his readers to live with the thought that Jesus would come back at any time. “Don’t live carelessly. Live responsibly.”

“This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Don’t be part of the world’s wickedness.” What wise counsel for us today! Our world is getting darker by the day. People are throwing off restraint and indulging in every form of rebellion just because they can…and they think that God doesn’t notice or the He doesn’t care. 

God may seem to be indifferent but…He never forgets. Much as He chooses to forget our sin because of Jesus, He remembers and stores up for judgment those who sin in defiance of His holiness. 

“But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How important, then, that we live out who we are in a wicked world…God’s people, recreated in His image…indwelt by His Spirit…and witnesses to His mercy. He has made this possible so that, in the end, it’s His presence in us that shines as light in the darkness…for all to see…in our obedience to the Father when we pay our taxes, when we serve each other in love, and when we live clean lives in a dirty world. 

“…Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

To be continued