This afternoon I want to extend the morning’s message just a few more steps. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 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. 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.” Question: Did the suffering and death of those missionaries prepare for them the glory that shall be revealed in them? Question #2: If a Mary-worshipping Roman Catholic is tortured by a Muslim all because of his faith, does that prove him to be a child of God? Question #3: If you were struck down by a drunk driver and rendered a quadraplegic for the rest your life, does that necessarily enhance the glory that you shall be given by Christ?
Perhaps you have no trouble answering those questions. But, specifically, where do these verses fit in to those questions and the program of God. As I suggested this morning, there is some misinterpretation of this passage.
There are many scholars who, upon adding these things together, say that the suffering which is not to be compared with our future glory is only that suffering which is done “with Christ.” They says that it is not suffering generally, as with a broken toe, broken ribs, or the birth of a baby. And it is not Christ’s suffering with us in our afflictions, which is certainly true – but different. They say that this is talking about our suffering WITH Christ.
Okay then, what is that? When our Lord Jesus died on the Cross, physically speaking, He was absolutely alone in His pain. What is more, that suffering and sacrifice are now history and never can be repeated. You cannot endure the suffering that Jesus did, even if you were nailed to a cross. And the Catholic ritual of the mass is a mockery, and certainly not a replication of Jesus’ death. “Once for all, O sinner receive it….” No one can, or needs to, suffer for their salvation, because the Lord Jesus suffered it all.
But, what is the meaning of Colossians 1:24? In that verse Paul says that he was filling up in his flesh that which was behind in afflictions of Christ. Most scholars say that they are at a loss to fully explain that verse. But clearly, the Apostle was referring to suffering with Christ through his service for the Lord.
OK, then we have to ask: why does suffering even come up among all the positive things in Romans 8? It is because suffering and persecution were very real parts of the Christian life in Paul’s day. The Jews hated the Christians and persecuted them. The Romans, Greeks and heathen often hated the Jews and considered Christians as a part of them. The saints of God, along with enduring the pain common to all humanity, were suffering as Christians. Paul was not a professor of theology sitting up in his ivory tower, looking down on the rest of the world. He was a pastor knowing that his people were enduring great pain because they were children of God. He knew their pain, because he was enduring just as much pain as they were, if not more. But the Jews had been teaching for years that trials and troubles proved God’s displeasure. If you are poverty-stricken, if you are in pain, obviously, God is angry with you. You Christians are suffering because you are heretics – they said. In Rome and around the Mediterranean there were many saints hurting as a direct result of their faith in Christ, in addition to the troubles and trials that day to day life has always presented this cursed creation. And then Satan was creeping in, whispering that either God was not good, or they were not good. They were not really the children of God, because of their problems. Paul felt that he had to reply to this.
And he does reply by pointing out that just as our Lord Jesus suffered, we can expect the same. But, it was not confined only to the cross, where the Lord was wounded. Christ fought with the Devil and the world, just as we fight must against them. Christ was tempted like as we are, albeit without sin. He knew the contradiction of sinners throughout His earthly ministry. Jesus knew what it was to hunger and thirst after bread and water. He knew what it was to be so tired that nothing could keep Him awake.
Unlike those scholars to which I referred a minute ago, I think that the suffering of verse 18 refers not only to things that we endure because we are Christians, but also to those things which we endure as Christians. Christ Jesus’ sufferings were not confined to the cross, and they were not entirely about the battle between sin and righteousness. And the same it true of the saint. True Christians are still in the fight and still struggling against enemies of Christ. Sometimes they are victorious, but often they are victims, suffering at the hands of various enemies. And obviously, in some times and places there has been actual blood-letting persecution. In John 15 Jesus said: “The servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” So Peter and John in Acts 4 were arrested and beaten. James was murdered in the service of Christ. Paul was beaten to the point of death in Lystra and other places. These histories can be repeated again and again in different men. And there is a sack full of prophecies and statements about suffering for Christ. John 16:33 – “These things have I 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.” II Corinthians 4:17 – “Our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” James 1:2-3 – “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (trials); Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” II Timothy 3:10-12 – “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 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. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Of course, there is still persecution, but then there are other kinds of suffering as well. What about the sufferings described by the Lord on the Sermon on the Mount? “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.” “Blessed are the meek; blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is Kingdom of Heaven.” “If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into Hell.”
Every professing child of God needs to look at his life and ask: Is there any suffering with Christ in me? Do I battle against sin and temptation? Have I been hurt taking a stand upon the clear declaration of scripture? Are there bruises in me as I resisted the unchristian urges of my sinful flesh? Have I ever lost a friend because I refused to join him in his sinful frivolity? Do I suffer with Christ for His glory?
And as you look at your life, remember that in our affliction Christ is afflicted. There is a sense in which if there is a mote in your eye, the Lord feels the pain. He accused Saul of persecuting him, when the man persecuted the saints in the Jerusalem church. Christ feels our pain when we suffer with Him. But the question is: do you feel the pain?
But, is Paul implying that if we don’t suffer there shall be no glory? Let’s not take this verse, or any other verse, out of the context of the entire New Testament. We are not saved from sin and prepared for glory by our suffering over anything. We are saved from sin by Jesus’ suffering. So don’t look for bruises and pain in order to prove your conversion to Christ. Rather, the things that we should look for in ourselves, include things like the witness of Holy Spirit. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” I look for faith – a soul-dependent depending on the sacrifice of Christ. I look to see if I have an all-consuming love for the Christ, who I trust died for my sin on the cross.
Suffering does not make us fit for Heaven. But in a way suffering develops the fitness that grace gives us. And herein was Paul’s ministry to the Romans: “I know that some of you are bond servants and slaves to cruel and wicked masters. And I know that some others of you are hungry and sick. And most of you are struggling for Christ and against sin in the face of severe persecution. But is your love of Christ and your faith in His goodness growing or dwindling? Are you drawing nearer to Christ or are you becoming more carnal and worldly? Do you long for more of the things of Lord, for your translation, your departure. Or do you just complain of your pain? Are you dissatisfied when you don’t possess the material things the worldlings get to enjoy?”
No matter what the extent of your sufferings, they cannot match the glory which shall be revealed. Like a pendulum the more it swings to one side the more it swings to the other. And this is where the verse leaves the subject of actual persecution. You’ve probably heard the fictitious story about the little boy who was banging his head against he wall. “Why are you doing that?” “Because it feels so good when I stop.” No matter what the source of our worldly suffering, when it is over, and we are glorified and enjoying the blessings of the Lord in purity and holiness, Heaven’s joy will so greatly exceed life’s broken toes and ribs that they will not be worth comparing. In fact, the greater the pain on earth, the better we may “feel,” when it is gone.
There was once a poor Christian lady walking to the House of God, when she noticed a group of boys beating up a little boy whom she recognized as a member of her church. They had really done a number on the little guy, and he had a badly bleeding nose – all because he, too, was going to church. Immediately she pulled out her only handkerchief, the handkerchief which happened to be the last thing that her mother gave her before she died. It was a beautiful hand-made handkerchief of exquisite quality. Quickly she dabbed the blood from the face of the boy and comforted him as best she could. When she was done she tossed the blood-stained cloth into her purse, planning to wash it out at church. But they still had quite a walk, and when they arrived, the service had already started. The usher led her to a seat, and she didn’t get to wash out her heirloom handkerchief. After the service she rushed to restroom, but it was too late – the stain was permanently set. The lady was heart-broken. Another member of the church saw her tears and asked permission to take home that handkerchief. And the next week she brought it back, with the stain still there. But she with pen and brush she had turned the stain into the basis of a beautiful picture of the owner’s mother. What had been a cause of pain, in the service of the Lord, became even more precious than it had ever been before.
What Paul is saying in these verses is that you simply cannot go wrong in serving the Saviour.