Category Archives: Bible Study

PAUL’S HAPPY LETTER…FINALLY – 16a

Bible Study, ,

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”…

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ NIV‬‬

Paul’s “final” instructions often have the most important information in them for his readers and us. However, before we examine the “finally” of this letter, let’s do a quick overview of the “happy” letter. 

Paul was happy because the Philippian church was his faithful partner in preaching, in prayer, and in providing for his needs. 

Paul was happy because, despite his imprisonment, his colleagues were encouraged and continuing to preach the gospel and…he himself was also reaching out to the people in the very jail that kept him locked up. 

Paul was happy because he knew that God will always finish what He started. 

Paul was happy because the Philippians also played their part in suffering with Jesus, just as he did. 

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul was also happy not only about…but also to…to remind and encourage them to keep doing and being who they were. Jesus was the model of humility. He has the attitude of a slave, being obedient to the Father even to death. 

Paul was not only happy about the way his readers were maturing in their faith and in their loving service to one another, which would preserve the unity in the fellowship as they followed Jesus. 

Paul was happy to share with them his own journey…from self-righteousness, which amounted to garbage, to the righteousness of Jesus which he pursued with relentless energy. 

Now, Paul arrives at one of his most profound remedies…for anxiety…something that no doubt hounded his readers because of their uncertain circumstances. He begins with a repetition…First…

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” 

Joy was a legacy from Jesus, not just joy but His joy. 

“If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What was the foundation of Jesus’ joy? I think that joy and hope are tied together. It’s difficult to rejoice when the world around is topsy-turvey, and one never knows whether one will be alive tomorrow but…if one’s tomorrow is secure in the purposes of God, then the anxiety about the way one arrives there loses its grip. 

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus’ joy lay in His anticipation of the outcome. His hope was anchored in God’s purpose for Him. He rejoiced in the Father’s presence…pleasure…love…because His heart was set on doing the Father’s will. He would not allow the way to the end…the suffering and the cross…to deter Him from gaining the reward. 

Jesus’ legacy…His love, His joy, His peace…was the promise of restoring everything Adam and Eve lost in the garden through their disobedience. Union with Jesus by faith, and obedience to His “new commandment” would bring back what was missing. 

To be continued

PAUL’S HAPPY LETTER…CITIZENSHIP – 15

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“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ NIV

Now, let’s talk about citizenship. Some countries allow dual citizenship. People are allowed to carry two passports…one from the country of their birth, and one from their country of adoption. This means that they have the rights and privileges of both countries and can travel freely between them without hindrance. 

In the spiritual realm, those who have been born from above also have dual citizenship. We are citizens of the earthly realm and are subject to the systems and government in whichever part of this realm we live. 

Some of us reside in countries where the government rules with moderation… others under tyranny and cruelty. Paul instructed that,

…whatever the nature of the government…it has God-ordained authority, and we are obliged to submit…unless the laws oppose the law of God. 

Where we live and under what kind of authority we function in this earthly realm are part of our training for our citizenship in God’s realm. We can never separate the two. In this life, we fall under hostile powers in two ways… the one operates under Satan’s influence in the world systems…and the one inside us that pulls us towards Satan’s influence…called “the flesh” or “the old nature”. 

God planned it that way! Yes, this is part of His strategy to train us for the realm in which He reigns supreme and in which in we live now and will continue to live in the age to come…in the world, because we live under its authority here and now… but not of the world because our loyalty and obedience is to God. 

Jesus prayed…

“I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

First, Jesus gave us new birth into His kingdom by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

“Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When this happens, we acquire dual citizenship and the training begins. 

Second, under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit who now lives in us, we must learn to navigate the world system in which we live without becoming a part of its evil ways. We must also learn, under the Spirit’s personal guidance and instruction, to live in the kingdom of God, applying its laws to our everyday lives in place of the ways of the world. 

This training is lifelong, difficult, and sometimes costly…as Paul had discovered…hence his imprisonment in Rome. The world is hostile to God’s kingdom. Its standards are designed to function under Satanic influence by deception, in rebellion against righteousness, justice, and truth. 

Our role as citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom is to keep walking in God’s ways in obedience to His Word…and to suffer the consequences of civil disobedience or the injustice and hostility of the world’s people without anger or hatred, and without retaliating. 

This is the place where we learn to live as dead people to the treatment that attacks our very person. Love your enemies. Do not take revenge. Give to those who cannot give back. Rejoice when you are persecuted. Be merciful…like your Father in heaven is merciful. 

These requirements are the real test of our citizenship…not a passport…not church membership…not a baptismal certificate…or even “the sinner’s prayer” prayed at the altar! The real test is fruit…the life of Jesus that flows into the vine to which we are attached…producing the character of Jesus in increasing measure and showing, by our fruit, the nature of the kingdom to which we belong. 

Living as citizens of God’s realm takes power…not will-power but His power working in us. This power is given to us through the Spirit in us when we focus on living where we are supposed to live and keeping our eyes on Jesus, our model and mentor. We live under God’s authority moment by moment…decision by decision…choice by choice…word by word…and action by action. Every minute of every day, we choose in which dimension and under whose authority we will operate and who we will obey…the Spirit in us or the flesh that rules our appetites. 

Now let’s see what Paul says…not what just happens, or over which we have no control…but what is real…what is fact…and where we live here and now. 

Fact number one… “our citizenship is in heaven”. We are only passing through this life, not a permanent part of it. “Living as foreigners…” said Peter. 

“This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Fact number two…”we eagerly await a Savior”. Our attention is on Jesus, not on our circumstances or on the world around us. We have a hope and a motive…and we live accordingly…

“Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Fact number three…we have a destiny…a kingdom in which everything will be restored to its original perfection…

“…who, by the power that enables him (Jesus) to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

…including the bodies that were corrupted by sin. 

For everyone who believes in Jesus…our future controls our present. 

To be continued

PAUL’S HAPPY LETTER…DOGS – 14

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“Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In this ongoing battle against the ravages of the old selfish nature, Paul boldly offered his readers two models…himself and his associates who lived under the authority of Jesus…and those who lived for and served themselves. 

Having shown his readers what his model was like…working hard to bring his old, rebellious nature to heel…submitting with joy to the unjust suffering his testimony had attracted…living in fellowship with God and one another…Paul reveals the model of those in the opposite camp. In this exposure, he shares the grief of his Master…not gloating about the punishment they deserve but deep sorrow for wasted lives. 

God has created every person on this earth, from the beginning of time, to express His image by the way they live…to live unhindered in His presence…and to enjoy the blessings that accompany union and fellowship with Him. 

After Adam’s rebellion, God provided a way for fallen humans to return to His original plan. By removing the sin barrier, He calls us back to Himself and restores His plan for us to live in unhindered fellowship with Him again. 

What we do with His invitation is our choice. Some return to the Lord… others turn their backs on Him, and carry on nurturing their selfish nature. Eventually…God gives them what they want. He confirms their choice to be  treated as trash. How tragic is that! 

Now let’s be honest. Apart from avoiding the damage selfishness does to us…denying the satisfaction of our bodily passions…avoiding alienating ourselves from others by tramping on them to get our own way…rejecting our inclination to inflate ourselves by our pride and arrogance…and of course, not cutting ourselves off from God by our stubborn rebellion…there is another reason for choosing to live God’s way. 

This is the reason the Bible urges us to follow the way of wisdom. 

“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Scripture teaches us that all of history is divided into two “ages”…this present age and the age to come. “This present age”…the world as it is now, with its sin and death, is an invasion, an interruption in God’s perfect plan.  This world system is transient, temporary…and will finally give way to “the age to come”, the one God prepared for His people from the beginning of time. 

The true meaning of “eternal life” is “life of the age”, that is, life in the permanent age…drawing our life from God and living under His rule… that is already here and still to come. This sounds contradictory but it isn’t. 

Jesus came to earth…lived as a servant, died a humiliating death, rose again, and returned to the Father…to give us access to His life by faith in Him. This union begins now when we are born into it by faith in Jesus…while this transient age is still here where we live now and will continue to live in until Jesus returns. Hence, we who believe in Jesus, are living in two “ages” simultaneously…this present evil age which will pass away…and the age to come which is already here in part.

If we choose to live fully under our own authority…making our own rules and satisfying our own desires…we will perish along with this age when Jesus returns to purify the earth from the effects of sin. He will set up His perfect rule on a renewed earth, ruling over those who have already submitted to His authority, in union with Him and sustained by His life. Those who refuse to submit to Him will be cast out into darkness. 

Paul uses derogatory language to describe those who are foolish enough to choose death…a permanent state of separation from God and all that He is. He calls them “dogs”…not the pampered pets we have in our homes…but the filthy, wild creatures that roam the streets and feed on garbage. 

“Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬

Where will these creatures live?

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…outside the city of God…in the darkness…forever cut off from God…from light, comfort, and peace. 

Paul’s warning is serious and real. Anyone who tries to lure people away from trusting Jesus alone for salvation…anyone who lives for self alone…is a “dog”… despised and worthless…part of this present age…transient and soon  to be discarded with the corrupted earth. 

The wise alternative is to submit to God’s rule, live under His authority, and become a citizen of His eternal realm.

Our destiny is our choice!

To be continued

PAUL’S HAPPY LETTER…THE GOAL – 13e

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“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For Paul, the path to the prize was simple…but not easy. He had to navigate a host of obstacles on his way to the podium. Like a competitor in the Olympic Games…the only way to win was to stay in the race and keep his eyes on the medal. If he became distracted by what happened around him, he would lose focus, fall away, and forfeit the prize. 

Paul’s strategy was carefully planned. 

Paul’s resolve…to finish the race, no matter what! “I press on…” he said…through dark and difficult days…over and past obstacles and hindrances…never giving way to temptation, or folding under suffering, fear, loneliness, opposition, persecution…

Paul refused to slow down. “I press on…” he repeated. He didn’t slacken off at the half-way mark…take a break when he was tired…need a holiday from his calling… take a “Sabbatical” to regroup…He pressed on, mile after mile, towards the prize that lay just ahead. 

Paul recognised that, to win the prize, he must finish the race. The prize was his only goal. Everything else must bow to his purpose. The prize was always ahead. He must reach the winning post. He must not stop before the end.  Those who had gone ahead of him awaited his arrival…at the finish line…to applaud his faithfulness. 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

There is a prize at the end of the race…but only for those who complete the race. We have the supreme example to follow…Jesus…who ran right through death to gain His prize…all of us who finish the race. His prize is us…and our prize is Him. 

One more thing…

Paul chose never to remember his past. He never looked back. He never allowed his past to influence, hinder, or affect his future. Jesus had obliterated his past. It was blotted out by the  blood of the Lamb. God had chosen to forget every sin and every failure…we call it “selective memory!” Paul had a clean slate. He could run…unhindered by guilt, shame, or fear. 

Paul had taken to heart the one great truth of the gospel…the perfect love of God. 

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This truth was his covering…his companion…and his energy. 

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our )Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Armed with this reassurance, and strengthened by God’s love, Paul knew that his prize was secure. 

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Are you still running or taking a break? Only those who keep running to the end will gain the crown. 

To be continued

PAUL’S HAPPY LETTER…THE PRIZE- 13d

Bible Study, ,

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 Paul was passionate about one thing…eventually to arrive at the same place that God intended for him…and he was clear about the steps he would take to get there. 

When Paul let go of the all his qualifications and achievements, his reward was pain, suffering, and struggles. Unlike some other religions, that urge conquest over their enemies in this life by whatever means possible, including force and violence…and sensual pleasures as the reward… Paul’s battle was not against enemies outside himself, but the enemy within. He discovered that he was his own worst enemy, his selfish old nature demanding to be satisfied at the expense of others….which would end in death. 

As Paul gradually gained the upper hand over himself, so winning the prize at the end of the road became more real and more compelling. What was Paul’s aspiration? What was the promise towards which he strained with all his attention and effort? 

Paul does not identify the prize in this letter but he gives it shape and colour in some of his other communications. However, unlike any earthly prize, that is displayed unwrapped…beckoning the contestants by its value and beauty…he discovered that this prize was wrapped in the strangest of covering…not the promise of conquest and victory in this life… but suffering…not just suffering…but  the way he processed the suffering. 

“…So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

…not just the usual consequences of life on a fallen planet. The  way to endure the suffering is the way to win the prize, which is as specific as the prize itself. In his letter to the church in Rome,  Paul wrote…

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For the children of God, suffering has a specific purpose. It is a condition and a preparation for receiving the prize that awaits us in the age to come. The prize follows the purifying process of suffering and qualifies us to receive the prize. 

In broad terms, Paul explains both the process and the prize…

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Did you get it?

It’s not about the suffering. It’s about the way the suffering is handled and what the suffering produces! The “all things” that life dishes up to us, are not random but specific…controlled and orchestrated by a loving God…

…and the prize? Exact replicas of Jesus! God’s glory…the weight of who God is, reproduced in us…Jesus the blueprint…His image restored!

John explained it like this…

“Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

That’s the prize! 

Now, let’s explore the process.  Peter reveals to us that there is one form of suffering that replicates the suffering of Jesus…the one temptation He suffered and overcame that qualified Him to be the atoning sacrifice for sin. 

“For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬-‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Suffering injustice without retaliation! That is the worst and most difficult temptation for any human to endure. Rebellion against God, in all its sinful expressions, is essentially the way we react to what we perceive as God’s “unfairness” towards us. It started in the Garden of Eden. 

Jesus showed us the way to win this one!

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus took everything that sinful humanity could throw at Him without reacting in a sinful way. He remained true to who He was…the submissive and obedient Son of God. 

“He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth…Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭3‬-‭5‬, ‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

That’s the blueprint, the model, the process. Obedience wins the prize!

To be continued