SUFFERING PERSECUTION
(PART 1)
The New Testament is truly “a better covenant, which was established upon better promises” (Heb. 8:6). It contains “exceeding great and precious promises” (2 Pet. 1:4). But not all of those promises may seem to be “great and precious” on the surface. For example, 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” A diligent study of God’s word will provide us an opportunity to understand that even the promise of persecution for righteousness’ sake is indeed great and precious.
Nothing new
First Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” No, being persecuted for righteousness’ sake goes back to the beginning of time. In Genesis 4:3-8, Cain killed his brother Abel “because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous” (1 John 3:12). Isaac, the heir of God’s promises, was mocked by Ishmael (Gen 21:8-10). Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers (Gen 37). Job was falsely accused by his friends and rejected by his own family when he had done no wrong. Moses was rejected by his own people and fled to the wilderness (Exod 2:11-15). And how many prophets were persecuted and killed? Jesus testified of the city of Jerusalem’s long association with persecuting and killing God’s prophets (Matt 23:37; Luke 13:33). Stephen was stoned to death for preaching the truth, and a major part of his sermon was reminding the Jews of their long history of persecuting the prophets, which culminated in their murdering of God’s own Son (Acts 7:51-52). And Christ told his disciples that what happened to him would happen to them. In Matthew 10:24-25, he said, “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?” In John 15:18-21, he said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” Again, we have been promised that we will suffer for doing what is right in God’s sight. Philippians 1:29 says, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.”
A reason to rejoice
How should we respond to what may seem at first glance to be a strange promise? The response we are told to have may also seem just as strange. Romans 5:3-4 says that “we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope.” We glory in tribulation? Yes! And when we understand the reason why we should, then we should also understand why it is promised in the first place that we must suffer for righteousness’ sake. It is how we grow spiritually. Similarly, 1 Peter 1:6-7 says, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” Paul was told that Christ’s strength is made perfect in weakness. For this reason, Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” These are the very steps that Christ walked. “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Pet 2:19-23). We must remember that Jesus grew spiritually as well as physically (Luke 2:40, 52). And he grew spiritually to be perfect (literally, complete) through his sufferings (Heb 2:10; 5:8-9). We reach the same goal that Christ did in the same way that he did. James 1:2-4 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Understanding the purpose of these trials on our faith will enable us to rejoice when they come, and enable us to endure them so that purpose can be fulfilled. And growing spiritually in the image of Christ is a blessing that we are partaking of now, while we are enduring the trials on our faith!
SUFFERING PERSECUTION
(PART 2)
Jon Macon
Nearly every book of the Bible, especially the New Testament, teaches on the subject of God’s people suffering tribulation and persecution as a result of serving and obeying Him. Indeed, we are promised that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:12).
The crown of life
From the teachings of the scriptures, we know that we reap immediate rewards for enduring trials on our faith. This is how we grow spiritually to be more like Christ (Jas 1:2-4). But there is also the ultimate heavenly reward, eternal life, that is in store for those who endure suffering for righteousness’ sake. This is yet another reason we are taught to rejoice when we are being persecuted. While preaching “The Sermon on the Mount,” in Matthew 5:10-12 Jesus Christ said, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Paul also preached “that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Revelation 2:10 says, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” This is actually teaching that the crown of life is a reward for those who are faithful in enduring tribulation to the point of being killed for it. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
Endure to the end
But these “exceeding great and precious promises” of growing spriritually to be complete like Christ and then of receiving eternal life are only for those who endure the sufferings for righteousness’ sake. Romans 12:12 commands us to be “patient in tribulation,” which literally means “to stay under,” or endure it. Part of enduring is obeying God’s commandment to love our enemies and do good to those who are evil to us (Matt 5:38-48; Luke 6:27-36; Rom 12:19-21). In the parable of the sower, Christ taught that some of the seed “fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away” (Matt 13:5-6). What does this mean? The Lord explains in verses 20-21: “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” These ones who are “offended” are described in the parallel account in Luke 8:13 in this way: “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.” Falling away (i.e. quitting), or returning evil for evil, is the opposite of enduring. Matthew 10:22 says, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (see also Matt 24:13; Mark 13:13). That is why Luke 21:19 says, “In your patience possess ye your souls.” Once again, this is not a new process. James 5:10-11 says, “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” Timothy taught the Thessalonian brethren “that no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know” (1Thes 3:3-4). We have these very comforting words from our Master in John 16:33: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Romans 8:18 says, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor 4:17). This is why 1 Peter 5:8-10 reminds us: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
