Romans 8:16-18
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
You’ve got to be kidding me, there’s a second part to that verse? I didn’t even know there was a second part to this verse. Normally we just stop after “we’re co-heirs with Christ”. “provided that we suffer with him”.....What does that mean? What could that possibly mean?
But the Apostle Paul says, you know what, being with Christ means I suffer now, but compared to the glory revealed to me in heaven, all this stuff in present life is going to look insignificant, not even worth comparing. He’ll say it again in 1 Cor.
1 Corinthians 15:19,30-32
19If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
30Why are we in danger every hour? 31I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."
He says, man if this life is all there is to live for, we’re like the world’s biggest suckers. We would’ve gotten beaten up, spat at, imprisoned, all for nothing. If this life is all there is, forget Christ, eat, drink, just spend everything on ourselves. Enjoy it all.
But then he says you know what, I know there’s a next life. So I’m living hard for God and I’m running the race not for the temporal for the eternal prize.
Funny thing is, how many of us would say that about our lives? I mean for most of us, even if heaven didn’t exist, we’re building for ourselves lives that would be pretty good. Are we sure we’re on the path for the eternal crown?
2 Corinthians 1:5-7
5For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
Galatians 6:12
12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
So there are people who won’t get persecuted. Just to give you a little background, converts being circumcised appeased the Jews, who still cling to the law as salvation, who still cling to being circumcised as being converted to a Jew, and they’ve applied that to being Christian. Apostle Paul will speak out against this multiple times in his letters.
So there are people who won’t be persecuted, they’re the ones that avoid it. They’re the ones who just want to make a good showing, be bold when it’s convenient but otherwise not ruffle any feathers, or step on any toes. They’re the ones who don’t stand up for what’s right in God’s eyes.
Ephesians 6:11-12
11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Apostle Paul says that when you live for God, Satan is going to come after you. So you better put on the whole armour of God, everything that God gives for us to stand, ‘cause your life for Christ is going to be a battle against all of hell. How many of us feel this in our lives? Does the evil one even consider us worth targeting? Or is my allegiance so ambiguous, so watered down, that Satan doesn’t even need to bother.
Philippians 1:29
29For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
Put that on a bump sticker. Why isn’t this in the 4 Spiritual Laws? I barely even read this passage before this sermon. When we share the gospel, why don’t verses like these come up? Oh yeah, cause that’s really gonna ruin the success rate. Come be saved! Come suffer. But that’s what it says. Is Jesus, is the Cross, worth it?
Colossians 1:24
24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
Man, such an embodiment of love. Paul says that he rejoices in suffering, because if you can’t can’t see, can’t relate to Christ’s affliction, Christ’s love for you, then you can at least see mine. My love, my affliction, compelled by Jesus, for your sake. The love that compelled Christ to give his own life, I’m living out.
1 Thessalonians 3:4
4For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.
(1 Cor 8, says that the churches in Macedonia, Thessalonica is a republic in Macedonia, went through severe affliction). Apostle Paul kept telling the Thess, you’re going to suffer affliction for what you believe. You’re gonna get outcasted and beat up for proclaiming the name of Jesus.
He kept telling them, this is going to hard, all of hell is going to come after you. And I bet you the Thessalonians weren’t surprised when crap happens, not as some of us are. You read the rest of the letter and you see that they gave beyond their ability even in their affliction, ‘cause Paul told them, and they knew, they were running towards the eternal crown.
2 Thessalonians 1:5
5This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering
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