Category Archives: Bible Study

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

ROMANS…AUTHORITY – 21

Bible Study, ,

“Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul’s words about obedience and submission to Roman authorities must have come as a shock to his readers. They were living under a cruel emperor and a corrupt government. Why should they submit to people who were persecuting them, even killing them and their Christian brothers and sisters? They were in constant danger of being arrested and tortured for their faith. Surely, God didn’t expect them to give in to such treatment!

Paul was not advocating an “it’s okay if they walk all over you” attitude. He was teaching them a principle. God works through a system of order and a chain of command…authority and submission. It is He who has the right to delegate His authority in society and it is our responsibility to submit…not to rebel. 

How does this work in our own situation? How can we submit, in good faith, to people who are not only ungodly but so corrupt that law and order has broken down…the authority of the state has been hollowed out…state funds have been looted at will…people are starving because they have no work…services and infrastructure have collapsed…and politicians still make corrupt laws and carry on as though nothing has happened?

Does God really expect us to live in this mess without protest and resistance? Yes, because there are legitimate ways to bring about change without the violent protests that add to the destruction. 

First…prayer and patience. We need to get our thinking straight. 

God has appointed His king to rule over the nations. 

“For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.” The king proclaims the Lord’s decree: “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Even if it doesn’t seem so, Jesus rules over the nations. He is moving history towards His appointed end. 

“After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Our prayers must not be…” Lord, please fix this mess…” but “Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Our eyes are not on a temporary fix but an eternal kingdom over which Jesus will reign in righteousness forever. Paul instructs…even in the darkest of times…

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Life on this planet as it is now is temporary and transient. God uses our discomfort to discipline us for eternity. He gives grace for our weakness and help when we call on His name. 

Second…we have the courts, and the many civil societies who use them to appeal against injustice. We can support those who speak for us. 

Third…there are many sane-thinking people who speak through the mass media to guide the people towards wisdom rather than rash behaviour. Podcasters are increasing in influence over those who are willing to listen. 

Fourth…in a democracy, the people have the power to remove wicked rulers through the ballot box. Instead of passive protest by refusing to vote, ordinary people can change the course of our country by voting wisely. This takes time, education, and persuasion. 

Yes, the right thing is to submit to the government since God works through order and delegated authority. No, we cannot change things by violent protest and chaos. Our trust is not in the government but in the God who rules, and works, in all things, for our good. 

Yes, we live in a corrupt world but it is temporary and…our sights are on an eternal kingdom over which Jesus reigns in justice, righteousness, and peace. This life is transient and a preparation for the life to come. 

In the midst of cruelty and injustice, God is restoring the image of His Son in us, teaching us, through obedience and submission to His will, how to follow His Spirit in us rather than the old nature that retaliates to evil. These things provoke our sinful old nature but God is using them to prepare us for His eternal kingdom. 

Paul declares…to live in obedience to authority is to do the will of God and to have a good conscience before God and men. 

To be continued

ROMANS…THE WAY – 20c

Bible Study, ,

“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul follows his instructions about serving one another through our spiritual gifts with a string of attitudes and actions that reflect who we are inside. As branches in the vine (John 15), we bear the fruit that reveals the nature of the vine. Real fruit, not plastic decorations, shows that we are in vital union with the true vine. We can’t make this fruit happen. We simply allow the nature of Jesus to come out in our attitudes and behaviour. 

Prayer is the key. Prayer keeps us in vital contact with Jesus, who is our source in every moment of our daily lives. His joy flows through us…giving colour and flavour to our human experiences, even in times of trouble or suffering. Generosity is the evidence of our union with Him…freely giving of ourselves in service to others no matter the cost. 

“Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul’s instructions about how to live as followers of Jesus, and reflects his confidence in a people who have been given a heart transplant…they are no longer sell-absorbed. They see others through God’s eyes and with God’s heart. Persecutors are not to be hated but to be wooed…through love and prayer. 

We also show our togetherness with our fellow believers by participating in their joys and sorrows. We keep our feet the ground by sharing our lives with all people, no matter what their station in life…and we allow others to be themselves…to think, decide, and choose their own way.  We don’t force ourselves on them by a show of superior knowledge or by trying to influence their choices. I say that because we have a tendency to think we know more…or that our way of thinking is better than others. 

Then Paul reaches a point that is a game-changer when we seriously consider and practise his counsel. Don’t retaliate!  This is a bitter pill to swallow because our flesh revolts against unfair treatment of any kind. 

“Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Ae we have already learned from a previous post (15d), when we are wronged, it is the most natural thing in the world to hit back. Why shouldn’t we? We have the right to be angry. We have the right to pay back…and more…for what we have suffered. “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth!” Isn’t that what the Bible teaches?

Jesus always taught and modelled a higher and better way. 

“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭38‬-‭41‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Was Jesus teaching that we must allow people to walk all over us without retaliating? No! There are two lessons enshrined in His words. The first is that we must not retaliate when someone treats us unfairly because retaliation…revenge…is not in our job description.  We are not the judge…God is…and His judgment is just. When we judge, we take matters into our own hands and…we not only keep the evil going but we also, most often, make it worse. 

Second, hidden in this instruction is a reference to the culture of Jesus’ day. He was also teaching that you must not allow your enemy to rob you of your dignity. When you return good for evil, you are forcing your enemy to acknowledge that you are on equal footing with him/her…. like turning the other cheek, going the second mile, or giving up your cloak when your tunic is demanded. These responses go beyond what is required of you. 

Retaliation/revenge in whatever form, perpetuates hatred in the world…between individuals, families, communities, and even nations. Just think of the current conflicts in our world. Death and destruction follow retaliation…big time!

Jesus said, “Cut it off! Let it go before it escalates! Let God take care of it!”

There is a practical way of stopping the cycle of revenge. Eugene Peterson, in his rendering of Romans 12:20-21 in “The Message” says…

“Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭MSG‬‬

In this way, we not only take the wind out of the other person’s sails, but we also treat that person with dignity and respect…recognising a need and doing something about it. 

The real issue is…who are you? If you are God’s child, then act like Him. If you act like an ungodly person, you are denying the God who created you and the person God has made you to be. 

To be continued

ROMANS…THE WAY – 20b

Bible Study, ,

“Watch out!” Paul warns, at this point, “as blessed and privileged as you are, don’t think you can go it alone.”

“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Yes, you have been rescued from death. Yes, you are God’s dearly loved son or daughter. Yes, you are a new person inside…equipped with power to live a new, different life…but…

…never forget that you cannot live this life alone. You are part of a community that functions together as a unit. Each person is part of a bigger picture. Each person stands side-by-side with every other believer to represent Jesus to the world. Like a mosaic, each tiny fragment is essential to the whole. 

Humility means that we recognise our incompleteness on our own. We need each other.  We are only complete as we stand together…humbly contributing to one another on the same level, building each other up, moving together in life to reach spiritual maturity. 

How do we do this?

By doing life together under God’s appointed leaders. 

“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭11-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In His wisdom, God has shown us the way to be a picture of Jesus to the world. By serving one another through our gifts, each community of believers reveals a fragment of the real Jesus that shows the world who He is…the God who loves and reaches the lowest and most broken of people. 

Every gift, every act of service, every sacrifice for one another, everything done for others from a heart of love for Jesus is a powerful witness to His presence in His children. 

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

By lovingly serving one another, we do it for Him.  It’s this loving, caring ministry to one another that sets us apart from every man-made religion. Jesus calls us to give…give…give! He gave all for us. We can no less. 

“…Give as freely as you have received!”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus and His people are so intimately connected…so joined together as one…that we serve Him by serving one another. What we do for each other, we do for Jesus. 

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭37‬-‭40‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative (in the name) of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬

What a motive to live by! 

Jesus Himself taught His disciples that loving one another is one of the most powerful ways of showing the world our connection with Him as His disciples. 

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.””

‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

To be continued

ROMANS…THE WAY – 20a

Bible Study, ,

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Therefore”…! I was taught at Bible college that, when you see a “therefore…”, you must ask what it’s there for…

So, as we have already met “therefore” in previous posts, we know that “therefore” is a bridge between what has gone before and what follows. Paul has spent eleven chapters, at least according to artificial chapter divisions, explaining to his readers the magnitude and scope of God’s righteousness. In the face of the disaster of human sin, God intervened…in perfect harmony with who He is…and set in motion His plan to rescue sinners from His judgment. He reinstated them as His sons and daughters. Included in His plan is the gift of His Spirit who gives them the power to do what He wants them to do and become…to become like His Son and to live in obedience to His will. 

However, nothing in this new life is automatic. God has set the stage for us to co-operate with Him…to work out what He has worked in us who believe in Jesus and have become a part of His forever family.  

“Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This new life begins with an exchange…a sacrifice. I don’t know whether my idea fits the biblical teaching on sacrifice but…I view sacrifice as an exchange. We give to God what He requires… and He gives back something much greater.

Now, since our bodies are very often the part of us through which we indulge in sin, is it not logical that we should give God our bodies first? In other words, should we not hand over the control of our bodies to the Holy Spirit who is in us so that we follow His leading rather than giving in to sinful desires and behaviour? 

Sexual sin, and overindulgence of every kind, is not the way to live in our bodies because our bodies are not ours to use as we choose. 

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!…Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭15‬, ‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬

This is a compelling reason for us to treat our bodies as sacred…God’s temples…not our playground. (Does this not also apply to what happens to our bodies after death? Is it okay to put God’s temple into the fire?)

Why, then, must we give our bodies to God as a sacrifice? Why must we live in our bodies in a way that expresses His ownership? Why should we take care of our bodies? What does God give us in exchange for His right to use our bodies for His purposes?

Look at the outcome of this sacrifice!

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A living sacrifice…just what it says…a gift to God that is alive and responsive to Him! For what purpose?

 Worship! 

Paul says that giving our bodies to God is an acceptable sacrifice and an act of true worship. That’s amazing! We think worship is what we do on a Sunday morning in church. No…worship is much more than that. Worship is what we do every moment, in every day of our lives in our bodies. 

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

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Worship is doing everything we do for God and with Him in mind because…we represent Him here on earth…all the time. 

The second part of this exchange takes effort and work. 

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We were born with minds that soak up everything like sponges. As young children, we absorbed everything as truth. We learned, as we grew older, the difference between what is ťrue or false if we had wise teachers. Unfortunately many, if not most children believe that everything they hear is true, especially from those closest to them or those representing the world around them…and they live accordingly. 

Paul says that, as God’s children, we need to learn to be guided by truth rather than by what the world says and does. This means that we must exchange what we have been taught and absorbed by the world’s influence… the systems and standards set by ungodly people…for God’s instructions for living contained in His word. 

This is not a once-off activity. It takes a lifetime to uncover the false ideas and beliefs we have gathered from our early childhood… and replace them with what God says about Himself, about us, and about the way we relate to Him, to other people, and to the world around us. 

As we take time and effort to do this work…especially learning, by trial and error…how to act and react in our everyday lives as the Bible teaches us… we slowly begin to understand more of God’s will and His ways. As we become wiser in our understanding, we come closer to God and His people in togetherness and fellowship. 

John says it like this…

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

These two verses in Romans 12 set the stage for Paul’s instructions about living our daily lives as God’s children in a sinful and broken world in accordance with the righteousness God has given us by His grace. 

To be continued