The broad view of God’s will for mankind is Heaven on Earth. He created it that way in the Garden of Eden and he’ll put it back that way after the Resurrection. The time in between is the result of mankind allowing sin into the world with death as the result.

What’s at stake is the character of God when we talk about suffering, persecution and tribulation (I have another article on trials and temptation here). We must clarify the context of His relationship with believers under the New Covenant.

God doesn’t change but the covenant did.

In the process of awakening unto righteousness we must learn to detach from the flesh anything that is given as a gift by God in Christ.

There is a notion that we are made holy through suffering. The problem is that’s actually never taught in the Bible. There are some passages where it’s inferred by certain denominations and schools of thought but when you examine the passages that discuss suffering you find it’s not from God for his own purposes related to salvation. When studying this topic we must also not forget how holiness and righteousness come under the new covenant.

In short, when we put our faith in Jesus (become born again of the spirit) we are cleansed (sanctified) by the eternal, sacrificial blood of Jesus. This leaves us holy or set apart for the masters use. God then presents us to himself as holy and unblamable in Christ. He gives us a new heart and makes us one with himself. In this process we become his children, joint-heirs with Jesus and accepted in Christ. In this process we gain the same standing with God as Jesus because he shares everything he has with us. We’re not god or becoming a god, we’re just given the righteousness of Jesus. His spirit then emits grace into our hearts to transform our mind, soul and actions to match what he’s done in our spirit.

All that’s left is to yield to his spirit because he’s already made us holy and unblamable. In no way can we add to that by our efforts, good or bad. In no way can we take credit for any aspect of this unmerited salvation that we receive as a gift in Christ.

Where do you get your beliefs?

We must make sure our beliefs are based on the Word of God rather than our interpretation of our circumstances. We often learn the hard way from our mistakes or adverse situations and come away with the conclusions that God crafted the experience because in the end it drew us closer to him. That’s a dangerous process that may lead us into error. Review these passages at face value and see if you’ve been reading anything into these ideas that are not present in the actual passages that address suffering.

Our foundation for salvation must be firmly planted in the fact that we’re saved by grace through faith alone, the works of our flesh or the endurance of our patience has nothing to do with it.

Romans 3 19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

Tribulation

To press or afflict.
A word study on this reveals tribulation comes from the world or from God toward his enemies. Believers will never experience tribulation from God but we may experience it from his enemies.

Persecution

Galatians 3:12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

2 Timothy 3:10 But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Persecution comes from the world as we display our faith.

Suffering

Acts 5 ESV 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor (atimazō 818 – verb – to dishonour, insult, treat with contempt) for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

God sends Ananias to Paul at his conversion.

Acts 9 ESV 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer (paschō 3958 – to undergo, to have an experience – can be applied in a good way or bad way) for the sake of my name.”

The suffering they experienced was because they preached the name of Jesus. It was not a test from God for them to earn favor, blessing, holiness or righteousness.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer (sympaschō – 4841 – to suffer or feel pain together) with him in order that we may also be glorified with him (syndoxazō sün-do-ksä’-zō). 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Look at Young’s Literal Translation for more clarity.

YLT 17 and if children, also heirs, heirs, indeed, of God, and heirs together of Christ — if, indeed, we suffer together, that we may also be glorified together.

If we’re to suffer with Christ we must ask a few questions about his suffering.

Q: Where did Jesus’ suffering come from?
A 1: The religious who wanted to kill him
A 2: From God on the cross on your behalf

So which kind of suffering can you expect? We will not suffer like Christ on a cross under God’s judgment because that was only for the Messiah to endure on behalf of mankind, so the only suffering that Jesus experienced that we may experience os for our faith in him…not from God.

“To be glorified with him” is not talking about salvation. When you do a study on glorifying God it’s talking about your life putting the focus on Jesus or exalting Jesus. Jesus is glorified when you remain faithful in the face of persecution and suffering which comes as a result of your declaration of faith in Christ.

Persecution, hardship, suffering, loss, death and illness are not methods God uses to develop you into the person he needs or wants you to be. They also do not produce the spiritual fruit in/through you that he desires you to develop. His desired fruit in you is from his spirit within you and his word abiding in you. Your flesh and what you do in the body do not produce God’s spiritual purposes but your endurance in the face of such things can point to him and bring him glory. When you declare the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ you may encounter hardship and even death but those results have nothing to do with what God is doing in you by his spirit.

Philippians 1:27 Only let your manner of life be as it becomes the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Remaining in faith in Christ is “to you of salvation,” not the enduring of suffering.

2 Timothy 2:11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abides faithful: he cannot deny himself.

This is a completely different Greek word for suffer which means: remain, to persevere: under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one’s faith in Christ. Also, he does not deny us for not suffering properly, he denies us if our faith is not in him. This passage is a perfect example of erroneous doctrines which teach that salvation is related to suffering. In fact we clearly see that faith is the issue in this passage.

So how are we cleansed and made holy?

This is where an understanding of the Old COvenant rituals and ceremonies are beneficial. A garment, table, lampstand, cup, bowl and even a human was made holy through the proper type of cleansing or sanctification. The right kinds of oils, spices, garments and blood were to be applied to set apart (make holy) a garment, dish or even human. Even under the Old Covenant no human or thing were made holy through works of any kind.

1 Corinthians 15:50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

No works of the flesh, including enduring suffering gain any aspect of the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

It is God who cleanses us with the sacrifice of Christ and presents us holy to himself. We do not endure suffering or pass tests then go to God to present ourselves for acceptance.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Every aspect of salvation, righteousness and holiness that God requires from humans is by grace through faith, not endurance through suffering. Just because there is instruction about how to handle suffering doesn’t mean it’s from God to accomplish his spiritual purposes. We must not read into scripture something that isn’t there. The fact that you learn patience or perseverance in a trial doesn’t mean that God crafted the trial for you. Patience is a fruit of the spirit. The process is this, while enduring suffering, remain patient because patience (spiritual fruit from God) is what produces the aspect of salvation we attributed to the trial itself.

I pray that this article helps you sort out areas where you still have the flesh, and anything you do in it, connected to the spiritual attributes God requires from you. This of course does not invalidate holy living, it just places the credit where credit is deserved, squarely and fully on Jesus and his death, burial and resurrection.

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