To My Beloved Daughters in Him,
Paul is writing this epistle from Rome where he was imprisoned for his faith sometime between A.D. 60-62. The suffering he was experiencing was suffering that was intended for Christ. Paul probably understands this better than anyone having been, prior to his Damascus Road encounter, a great persecutor of the church.
“Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 8 So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’--Acts 22:6-8
Did you get that last part?
‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’
The church is the body of Christ...it was Jesus Himself Paul was persecuting. The enemies of Christ never get their fill of inflicting injury on Him...the cross was not enough...they want more. They can no longer persecute Christ in His physical body so they turn their hatred on those who bear His image and preach His word here on earth...His church.
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 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. 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.--1 Peter 4:12-14
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
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, --1 Peter 3:13-18
Christ Himself also warns us of this so we remember when the time comes.
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 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. 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. --John 15:18-20
“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.--John 16:1-3 (italics for emphasis - mine)
Paul's motivation for enduring suffering was to benefit and build the body of Christ...the church. He trusted in God's faithfulness and love and demonstrated this trust by continuing to preach the word fearlessly in the face of MUCH suffering and persecution. This in turn encouraged others to be more bold and the message of the Gospel went forth with power. God's grace was sufficient for Paul and is also for us who believe today. Paul took "pleasure" in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, and in distresses for Christ's sake because he understood that when he was weak, Christ was strong. He knew that the suffering he was experiencing in the present were not worthy to be compared with the glory that would be revealed in him.
Look at the following verses written by Paul at the inspiration of the Spirit of God for our edification, comfort and hope:
so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.--Philippians 1:13-14
For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.--Philippians 1:29-30
For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain--Philippians 1:21
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.--1 Timothy 1:12-17
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 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. So then death is working in us, but life in you.--2 Corinthians 4:7-12
But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.--2 Corinthians 6:4-10
Beloved, the most convincing proof that God is real is a changed life. Paul went from being a persecutor of the Body of Christ to a man who lived for His God and rejoiced that he was being poured out for others as a drink offering for the sacrifice and service of their faith. Paul suffered long and never gave in to negative circumstances...His endurance during persecution was cheerfully hopeful! His hope remained firm to the very end and as a result he not only strengthened and encouraged those around him to do the same, but is the same kind of encouragement to us who are alive today...His spirit testifying with our spirit, almost 2000 years later, that we are indeed children of God.
We do not fight the battle for the souls of men with earthly weapons. Only the power of God can liberate men from the satanic grip of darkness and bring them to full maturity in Christ. Our God's ways are not our ways, neither are His thoughts our thoughts. The message of the cross IS foolishness to those who are perishing. The heart of the Gospel is the self-sacrificing love of Christ that conquered sin and death. The darkest moment in history was eclipsed by the light of the love of God for His creatures manifested in His Son's sacrificial death on the cross. Foolishness to the world but the power of God to those who believe. Christ willingness to suffer and die for us is the greatest proof of His love for us.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.--John 3:16-17
If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?--Romans 8:31-32
Beloved, this same self-sacrificing, self-donating love is what is required of us and what should be reflected in our own lives...We, like Christ, are to overcome evil with good and owe no one anything but love. This is the kind of love that will speak "Christ" to the hearts of those around you. Let the evidence of the love that the Holy Spirit has shed abroad in your heart magnify your Lord and point others to your God who is mighty to save!
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.--2 Timothy 2:1-10
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