Qualified for Undeserved Suffering
I feel that an exposition of the following passage of
scripture is warranted in order to divulge necessary doctrine to match
with pressing circumstances; for in matching doctrine with circumstances,
one will be able to keep things in their proper perspective, which in
turn can have a calming effect on the soul, and engender the confidence
and courage needed to weather the storm.
“Now since the Spirit of God that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells
in you, he that raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also animate your
mortal bodies through his indwelling Spirit that is within you. So then,
brethren, we are not indebted to the carnal nature, to live according to
the carnal nature; For if you live according to the carnal nature you will
experience the effects of temporal separation from God; but if by the Spirit
you put to death the foul practices of the body you will have capacity
for life. For as many as are forcibly directed by the Spirit of God, these
are the mature sons and daughters of God. For you did not receive a spirit
of slavery again for fear, but you received the Spirit of adult son/daughter
placing by which we cry, Abba, Father! The Spirit itself witnesses with
our spirit, that we are mature children of God. And since mature children,
then also heirs; on the one hand heirs of God, and on the other joint-heirs
with Christ; if it is so that we suffer with him in order that we may also
be glorified with him. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed
in us.” Romans 8:11-18.
Christians who frequently or habitually follow after the carnal
nature as believers, have not yet reached that place where God can trust
the maintenance of his reputation to their care. To do so would compromise
his reputation of integrity. Therefore, they do not qualify for the special
privileges that come only with faithfulness and trustworthiness. God knows
if he can trust you to toe the line when the going gets tough. You may
think that you can or will, but God knows for sure. Just remember the
over-confidence and zeal of Peter, just before he denied knowing his Lord
three times. Most Christians suffer deservedly, for bad decisions made
from a position of ignorance (no doctrine resident in their soul due to
negligence) and/or weakness (when allowing themselves to be controlled by
the carnal nature), and for divine discipline which ensues upon those believers
who habitually reside outside of the fellowship adjustment to the justice
of God by failing to keep their accounts with God short in utilizing 1st
John 1:9 regarding confession of their sins.
Those believers who habitually maintain their fellowship adjustment
to the justice of God through habitual application of 1st John 1:9, and
consistently apply themselves to the duty of growing in The Faith, allowing
themselves to be inculcated with truth, who habitually choose to allow
themselves to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, and who remain faithful
in all circumstances: these qualify for special privileges within God’s
divine system. One of these privileges is called divinely appointed suffering
for the purpose of approval and blessing for the believer, while glorifying
God both in time and in eternity. Those who suffer for blessing are a privileged
people because both they, and others within their periphery, (blessing by
association), benefit exponentially from the believer’s spiritual maturity,
and greater capacity for life is realized:
1.) through the intensification of the mortification process
of the carnal nature of the suffering believer, which thus renders ineffective
the mastery of the old sin nature over the believer’s life;
2.) and the regular application of relevant Bible doctrine resident
in the believer’s soul, obtained as a result of diligence in edification,
to the believer’s circumstances of suffering.
Due to both of these things the believer is then able to make
right decisions in life from a position of strength (knowledge and control
by the Holy Spirit), rather than from a place of weakness (ignorance
and dominance by the old sin nature). The soul is cultivated and matured
and the believer is then able to glorify God in his life; for it is not
so much what we "do" for God that glorifies him as it is what we "are"
or become in him. If what we are is right, what we do will be right. The
highest good of God for us all is that we become all that we can be in
Christ Jesus for the glory of our God - and we reap all the benefits. God
can trust the mature believer to be a witness to humanity, and a witness
to unseen angels, principalities and powers, as was Job, in the circumstance
of undeserved suffering in this life. What a glorious privilege for the
child of God!
So, how can we allow ourselves to be judged by others, considered
unfortunate, be pitied, and forsaken by those who don’t understand, when
an omniscient God knows all the time what’s best for us? You can say in
the face of opposition with Job, “He knoweth the way that I take, and
when I am tried, I shall come forth as gold.” He knew his God, and his God
knew him, and that he could be trusted to follow through in his resolve to
glorify his God. Our confidence in God is predicated upon how well we know
him; and how well we know him is determined by our diligence in taking in
the Word of God on a regular basis, in order to maintain our momentum on
the line to spiritual maturity as believers.
Now qualification for the privilege of divinely appointed undeserved
suffering comes about in the believers volitional choice over time on
a daily basis to consistently take in God’s Word, be obedient to God, and
be constantly controlled by his Holy Spirit, thus accelerating his growth
toward spiritual maturity. This daily habitual “modus operandi” hastens
the believer on the momentum line to spiritual maturity, thus making him
available for intensified service to God for his glory more quickly. The
difference between the immature carnal believer, and the mature spiritual
believer is evidenced and emphasized in verse 14 of Romans 8 where in
the context of this passage the Greek word, “teknon” - “children” is contrasted
with “huios” - “mature sons.” In other words here we have children of
God, all of which are born again believers, as opposed to mature children
of God, of whom there are relatively few who qualify by contrast - about
two percent of all of Christianity.
Verse 16: “The Spirit itself (himself) beareth witness with our
Spirit, that we are the children of God.”
The Spirit that God has put within us as born again, saved, washed,
blood-bought off-spring testifies to us inwardly that these things are
so. We have the “know.” It is a know-so salvation that we enjoy. Our faith
is based upon credible facts and evidences. Unlike other so-called spiritual
leaders, our Saviour undeniably did miracles. These are the credentials
providing authority and veracity to his claims. Jesus has said, “I will
not leave you comfortless: I will come to you [John 14:18].” Jesus as
the person of the Holy Spirit comforts us as an inward witness of his
presence. It follows then that being born again by the Spirit of God, we
are children of God. The fact that we can call God our Father implies a
birth relationship. We are born again by the Spirit of God and are thereby
his children. Since, then, we are God’s children by birth, it is therefore
his responsibility to comfort us, care for us, and meet our every need.
This includes the exercise of our faith through suffering in spiritual
maturity. We may not think it necessary, desirable, or even beneficial for
us to be suffering at all, let alone, unjustly or undeservedly; but he knows
what is best for us, and that includes the building of character and maturity
in his children. Character, faith, toleration, patience, perseverance, and
endurance usually can only be learned through the pressure of trying circumstances,
and thus once these virtues become a part of the believer, he is better
equipped for meaningful service that will truly glorify God.
We can always rest assured that our heavenly Father is with us
and in us, and that he will never, no never, leave us nor forsake us, even
in the direst of circumstances - even when going through the valley of the
shadow of death. He is our Father, and we can “hide in him,” deep within
his embrace, as we go through the storm of adversity. He gives us greater
grace for greater requirements - even dying grace for when we must do so.
The way through a valley is easy, and a shadow passes with barely a notice.
Verse 17: “And if children, then heirs: heirs of God, and joint-heirs
with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
together.”
Now the use of the particle, “if” here is in the first class condition
and therefore should be rendered, “since.” “And since we are children
(of God), we are heirs.” As children of God we have also been adopted through
the agency of the Spirit of God, since we all had earthly fathers. In
this sense we are the adopted children of God, thus the reference to the
Spirit of adoption regarding the believer. It follows then, that since
we are his children, and adopted, we are heirs to the promises of God.
We are the “heirs of God” and heirs of heaven. The salvation which is
ours, effected by our savior, Jesus Christ, on our behalf, guarantees every
believer the prospect of heaven. Adopted children by law cannot be written
out of a will. We will all go to heaven as the heirs of God through Christ
Jesus.
Now when it comes to being “joint-heirs with Christ,” we have quite
a different picture here. In order to be joint-heirs with Christ, and
share in his glorification, we must also suffer with him. Not every believer
is qualified nor capable of doing this, so that is why we have the above
distinction between children of God, and mature sons (and daughters) of
God. Tie this mature believer concept together with the very intensive
conditional particle in the first class condition of verse 17, “if so
be,” and you have the interpretation of mature believers qualifying for
the privilege of suffering together with Christ in order to share in his
glory.
We as believers can be heirs together with Jesus Christ, but only
if we suffer with him; and in order to be able to suffer with him, we must
have resident within us the capacity to endure undeserved suffering so
that we can qualify for being glorified with him. In order to be glorified
together with Christ we must fellowship in his suffering as the apostle
Paul did - and avoid compromising with the world system in order to avoid
the pain, discomfort, and inconvenience of unpleasant circumstances. Every
believer has the opportunity of trying to qualify as an heir of glory with
Christ, but the privilege of suffering undeservedly belongs only to the
mature who eventually do qualify for that suffering. Heaven is definitely
not the issue here. All believers who trust in Christ alone for salvation
will go to heaven, and are heirs of heaven. The distinction is in the function
of mature believers in the enhancement of the glory of Christ in knowing
the fellowship of his sufferings intimately.
God always seeks our highest good with eternity in mind. Misfortune
does not always come to hurt the believer, but can be for his benefit.
If we had blessings all the time and pleasant circumstances always, we
would concentrate on the blessings rather than on the source of those
blessings, and they would then be a distraction to the believer from his
momentum line to maturity and future glorification with Christ. Both blessing
and adversity come from the justice of God through God’s grace pipe-line
to the believer. It is the grace of God for the maturing believer.
Blessing can come from both pleasant and painful circumstances.
When in the crucible of affliction, our first and most natural reaction
is, “Lord, stop the pain!” But if he listened to us, we would always
ask for the easy way out - the path of least resistance - and not amount
to very much as persons in the economy of God when it comes to the building
of character. Stormy weather strengthens the trunk of a growing tree.
With the blessing of painful circumstances we look to him more, and the
things of this temporal existence begin to pale by comparison. Undeserved
suffering is a blessing for the believer both in time and eternity. Suffering
acts as an ignition system to crank up our confidence in the future,
blessings, rewards, and benefits. It teaches us not to drive our tent-pegs
too deeply in this earth. Therefore, divinely appointed, undeserved suffering
is not a deficit, but a benefit.
The omniscience and sovereignty of God can have a positive effect
on our time of testing and trial. Knowing that he knows gives our volition
the fortitude to hang in there and ride it out. As Job said, “He knows
the way that I take, and when I am tried, I shall come forth as gold.”
When you are criticized and misunderstood by your peers, you can console
yourself that God is fully aware of the circumstances surrounding your
trial, and that he will work out all the details in the end to a satisfactory
conclusion [Romans 8:28]. Knowing that God is in control of your circumstances
gives you confidence, comfort, and encouragement in your trials [Romans
8:29-30], for we know assuredly that nothing happens to the believer
by happenstance. Nothing catches God off-guard, or by surprise. Everything
that happens to you as a believer is appointed and given by God for your
own benefit, or allowed to happen by virtue of his permissive will. He
puts a package on your doorstep each day and you open it with anticipation,
saying, “I wonder what God has for me today?” So, apprehension is diminished,
and encouragement and confidence are established in the maturing believer
as he trusts God; thus God deals with the mature almost exclusively in
the area of undeserved suffering for his glory, for they have the developed
capacity, and will be well able to handle it in their maturity.
Undeserved suffering is potentially applicable to all believers,
yet it is not for all believers, for one must qualify for it. To glorify
God is quite a different thing from being glorified with Christ. One must
be able to do the former before enjoying the latter.
We glorify God in our spiritual maturity. It is not so much what
one "does" for God, as it is what one "is" in God. If what you "are" is
right, what you "do" will be right, and God then is properly glorified
in your life. Church is for edification unto spiritual maturity. If what
you are is spiritually mature through diligently applying yourself to growing
in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ over time, then what
you will be able to do is qualify for undeserved suffering, and then you
can enjoy future glorification with Christ as a result. Church is not
to be the venue for evangelism. It is to be the spiritual boot camp leading
saved believers unto spiritual maturity and on to service for God. Evangelism
belongs outside the Church bringing the lost to a saving knowledge of
the Lord Jesus Christ - then they are to come in to the Church to grow.
Many preachers evangelize their people weekly in an attempt to get those
few stubborn lost souls in the Church saved, while the entire flock entrusted
to their care is starving to death, and ending up as spiritual casualties,
unprepared for the onslaught of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Jesus said, “In the world you shall have tribulation, but fear
not, for I have overcome the world.” We were not promised a bed of roses
once we were saved. Anyone who says that we are is divorced from reality.
Jesus is our model, our mentor, and our master. He overcame the world,
and in him, we can overcome it also. He would never steer us wrong or
lead us astray. Our target is to reach the goal line. Our objective is
to finish well - not come in first - but just to finish the race. You must
lay hold of your future faithfully and successfully in order to live today
faithfully and successfully, day by day. Live your trial one day at a
time, and when that is insufficient, live it one moment at a time, trusting
all the time in him. Your God must be more real to you than your suffering.
Our living hope assures us that trials will not last forever; and the omniscience
and sovereignty of God knows how much you can bear; and he will not put
on you more than you are capable of bearing; but he will empower you to
be able to endure to the end what you must. You may think it is unbearable,
but he knows your limits. He gives greater grace for greater requirements.
You must look beyond the afflictions of this life to the blessed hope of
being glorified with your Lord. God, Jesus Christ, and heaven must be more
real to you than your pain. That was the mental attitude of the early Christians,
and it must characterize your mental attitude as well. Our suffering is
but for a moment when compared to the confident expectation of eternity
with Christ. Our stay on earth is like a grain of sand, and our eternity
is as all of the sand on the beach, and more
Verse 18: “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.”
The word “reckon” is a mathematical term used by Paul to engage
the mind of the believer in the following comparison. He reckons that
the sufferings of this present time (this life) are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us. This is a cost/benefit analysis.
Paul is saying that the cost of present suffering is worth the future
glory we shall enjoy, but avoiding it is a bad deal; so don’t try to avoid
qualifying for suffering, for it is a paying proposition. It is not a
deficit, but a low cost benefit. As a mature believer, the cost of your
present suffering is way less than the benefit of your future glory with
Christ; and it is a necessary calculation, for it is one way you are able
to parlay your sufferings into future benefits, both in time and eternity.
One second of glory with Christ will be worth a lifetime of suffering and
adversity in this world.
So don’t question the sovereignty of God, and don’t throw
in the towel. The mature are able to endure suffering to the end; the
immature would spin off and quit if there was no relief from it due to
their inherent core of spiritual weakness. This is why a distinction is
made between mature and immature believers, and qualification is a prerequisite
to undeserved suffering for the glory of God. God will not put any more
on you than he knows you can endure. He will give you dying grace when the
time is right. He is never too early or too late. You may not think that
you can handle it, but he knows for sure where your threshold is. Your faith
must be continually stretched and exercised for the development of spiritual
muscle, and to avoid atrophy.
In 2nd Corinthians 4:16-17, Paul says, “...though our outward
man perish, yet the inward is renewed day by day. For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weighted glory.”
Who is Paul to talk of Glory? Are we to visualize glory and feel
relieved of our suffering? In 2nd Corinthians 12 Paul intimates that he
was caught up to the third heavens and saw things which are not lawful to
speak of with any man; and he glories in the suffering he received as
a result so that he would not become lifted up in pride and arrogance; for
God’s strength in him was made complete in his weakness. The eternal weighted
glory is what Paul saw - that which bolstered his confidence and earnest
expectation of those things which are to come, and which also served as
motivation for him to endure many life-threatening sufferings for the
cause of Christ. He said, “To live is Christ - to die is gain.” If you
can recall, the Revelation of John speaks of heaven as having streets of
gold and buildings made of precious stones - the things men esteem most
valuable here on earth are mere building materials in heaven. Eye has
not seen, nor ear heard, of the glories of those things which God has prepared
for them who love him.
Suffering day by day - one day at a time - is all you can bear.
Don’t carry tomorrow’s sticks today; and yesterday’s sticks have been
carried already. Renewal of the inward man is accomplished in the renewing
of our minds by applying Romans 12:2 to ourselves, and the renewing by
the Holy Spirit has already been done in us, as we are never alone. But Paul
is saying that by comparison, the afflictions of this life are transient,
but the glory which shall be ours after we endure, will exceed the affliction
in scope and kind, and be eternal in duration. Not only this, but also
it is weighted - heavy - a good measure of glory which goes back to our
cost/benefit analysis again, and says that its value is beyond description.
Also there is the contrasted comparison of the “light” affliction with
the “weighted” glory. Most of our afflictions seem heavy, and grievous to
bear, but they can be comparatively light if you are under God’s appointment
and providence. And they are surely light in comparison to what we richly
deserve as sinners saved by grace, let alone being compared to the sufferings
of Christ in our stead. Count it a glorious privilege to serve your God
in whatever way he brings to you, and count on him for support, as you endure
the race and finish the course. There are laurel wreaths of victory for
all those who finish the race well.