THE REALITY OF SUFFERING
SUFFERING JUSTLY
Troubles and suffering are our human lot:
Job 5:6 For affliction does not come from the dust, nor
does trouble spring from the ground; 7 yet man is born to trouble,
as [surely as] the sparks fly upward.
Let us notice these words of Jesus Christ in respect to His sufferings:
Lk 9:22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many
things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes,
and be killed, and be raised the third day."
Then, in almost the same breath, He spoke to His disciples of
the need for all who would follow Him to also experience
suffering:
Lk 9:23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires
to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross
daily, and follow Me."
This imagery of Christians following their Master's example and
taking up their cross is an expression of their willingness to
suffer for their faith as He suffered, if necessary even unto
death.
Indeed, the Christian is assured of tribulation just by living
in this world:
Jn 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that
in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation;
but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (See also
Acts 14:22).
It was the apostle Paul who stated that all who desire to live
godly in Christ Jesus would suffer persecution (2Ti 3:12). When
he wrote in Ro 8:36 "For Your sake we are killed all day
long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter", he was
quoting Ps 44:22 to illustrate that godly suffering has always
been part of the experience of the people of God. He described
himself in Gal 6:17 as bearing in his own body "the marks
of the Lord Jesus" as well as "the death of Jesus",
in 2Co 4:10. His desire was to share in Christ's suffering, as
indeed he did, as had been foretold (Acts 9:16).
Php 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection,
and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death
We too must experience and participate in Christ's sufferings
if we expect to share in His glory:
Ro 8:17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and
joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him,
that we may also be glorified together.
SUFFERING UNJUSTLY
Christ suffered unjustly, as the Scriptures tell us:
1Pe 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just
for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death
in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.
This was the apostle Paul's experience also:
2 Tim 2:8 Remember that Jesus
Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according
to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as [though I were]
an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God
is not chained.
Similarly, Moses chose to remain with his fellow Israelites--the
true people of God--even though he knew he would suffer affliction
unfairly:
Heb 11:25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the
people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26
esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures
in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
This is in line with what the Bible defines as suffering for
righteousness' sake:
1Pe 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness'
sake, you are blessed.
Yet millions have suffered and died for the name of Jesus Christ.
Even today people who are far distanced from the true God declare
their preparedness to endure sufferings for their Christian faith.
What of them?
Scripture tells us that it is possible for a Christian to suffer
for reasons that are not according to the will of God. For evil,
for instance:
1 Pe 3:17 For it is better, if it is the will of God,
to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
To suffer God's correction and/or punishment because we are evil-doers
is far removed from suffering for Christ's sake, we would surely
agree. Indeed, Peter warned the Church that there is suffering
that cannot be considered as suffering for the faith:
1 Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a
thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.
As contrasted with:
1 Pe 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian,
let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
Some of us bring suffering upon ourselves--through foolishness,
by failing to heed God's Word, by making bad decisions because
of an inability to discern between good and evil according to
biblical definitions. Scripture clearly tells us that such suffering
is not the will of God and is not accredited to our account, for
we are merely reaping what we have sown (Gal 6:7):
1Pe 2:20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten
for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good
and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable
before God.
How often in our past affiliation have we suffered abuse, oppression
and exploitation because of our folly and lack of discernment,
just as the Corinthians in Paul's day did, and tolerated it because
we believed we were suffering according to God's will?
2Co 11:19 For you put up with fools gladly, since you
yourselves are wise! 20 For you put up with it if one brings
you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if
one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.
How many do we know who still endure such situations, imagining
that they are glorifying Christ through their sufferings, all
the while failing to heed the admonition given by the same Christ
to the Church in the book of Revelation?
Rev 2:2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience,
and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested
those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them
liars [and consequently rejected them]."
CHRISTIAN SUFFERING
Let us not misunderstand: God can teach us lessons through all
our suffering, even if we do bring some of it upon ourselves.
However, how is true Christian suffering--the sufferings of Christ--defined
by the Scriptures?
This was the experience of the apostles after Christ's resurrection
(Ac 5:41).
Mt 5:11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute
you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for
My sake."
1Pe 4:19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the
will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful
Creator.
1Pe 2:20 But when you do good and suffer, if you
take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to
this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving
us an example, that you should follow His steps.
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the
fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing
happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake
of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you
may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached
for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory
and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but
on your part He is glorified.
LEARNING OBEDIENCE
2 Ti 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony
of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the
sufferings for the gospel according to the power
of God.
Jn 15:18 "If the world hates you, you know that it
hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the
world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world,
but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater
than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute
you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But
all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because
they do not know Him who sent Me."
1Th 2:14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches
of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered
the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from
the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own
prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and
are contrary to all men.
We recognise the sufferings of Jesus Christ in us because when
we suffer for godliness we come to a more perfect obedience, just
as Jesus Christ did when He, the perfect Son of God, learned
obedience by the things which He suffered (Heb 5:8).
PROMISES TO THE SUFFERER
1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not
be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the
Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
1 Pe 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the
flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has
suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.
Heb 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the
present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable
fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by
it.
1Th 3:1 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it,
we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy,
our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the
gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning
your faith, 3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions;
for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 For,
in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would
suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. 5 For
this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know
your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and
our labor might be in vain. 6 But now that Timothy has come to
us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love,
and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring
to see us, as we also to see you; 7 therefore, brethren, in all
our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by
your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand fast in
the Lord.
Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into
various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces
patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you
may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
2Co 4:8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the
body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also
may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always
delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus
also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
2 Co 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,
so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as
you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake
of the consolation.
The Christian is honoured to partake of the sufferings of the
Son of God:
Php 1:29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ,
not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.
It is a cause for rejoicing:
1 Pe 4:13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of
Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may
also be glad with exceeding joy.
God the Father further perfected His elect Son through suffering.
If we similarly endure the true sufferings of Jesus Christ God
also promises to perfect and to glorify us:
Ro 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall
be revealed in us.
32 He who did not spare His own Son [let us consider the sufferings
of Christ prepared for Him], but delivered Him up for us all,
how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
2 Ti 2:12 If we endure [these sufferings], we shall
also reign with Him.
1Pe 5:9 Resist him [the Devil], steadfast in the faith,
knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brethren
in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us
to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered
a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.