Righteous & Unrighteous Suffering, Christian Suffering Pt 3

Last week we discussed our role as a soldier for Christ, enlisted in His army to bring the Gospel of salvation & His Kingdom into the world. This week, we will discuss suffering sources: from doing His work in His kingdom and from sin - both our own and others' sin.

1. There is absolute truth and moral uprightness. Everything short of this is wrong, otherwise known as sin. What are ways our culture sidesteps this? Why do you think that is so?

Read the passage below:

2 Thessalonians 1:4-8 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

According to this Scripture, persecutions and tribulations against God's people prove that the coming judgement is righteous and good. The final judgement will look a lot like Noah's flood. Scripture states:

• the present world is reserved for fire and perdition (a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unrepentant person passes after death).

• The day of judgement will come swiftly and abruptly.

• The elements will melt and the earth and all the works done on earth will be burned up.

• Everyone will be resurrected: the just to eternal life and the unjust to eternal damnation. ( 2 Peter 3:5-12, Acts 24:15, Hebrews 9:27)

1. When we share about Jesus, we are giving people an opportunity to respond to the call of salvation, which is the deliverance from eternal judgement (Mark 16:15-16, John 3:17-18)

2. Some will accept (Peter preaching, 3k saved Acts 2:37,41) and some will remain in hard-heartedness (Stoning of Stephen Acts 7:51,54). In what ways does this challenge you? See also Acts 13:48-14:6, Acts 17:10-12

3. What should our response be to those who persecute us? Romans 12:17-21, 1 Peter 3:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, Matthew 5:44

4. Why is it so important to remain soft and prayerful for those who seem to respond in hard-heartedness?

Read 1 Peter 2:18-25

Suffering for Unrighteousness

This passage occurs in the context of a culture that is different than ours today. The passage does not condone slavery. Today, the equivalent is bosses/managers and employees.

1. What does "taking it patiently" in v.20 mean? What supports (social and personal) are needed to do this successfully?

2. When we sin, our "conscience toward God" experiences burden. We call this conviction. Following that are the outward consequences of sin. Sometimes God will deliver us from the consequences of sin and sometimes He will allow us to experience it. (David and Bathsheba 2 Samuel 12:16-23) Name a time when God allowed you to suffer for doing wrong.

3. What is the difference between conviction and condemnation? What is the role of Jesus' blood in those differences? Heb 10:1-4, 14, 22 , Jn 3:17-21

4. 1 Peter 2:23 what does it mean that Jesus "committed Himself to Him who judges righteously?" (word study) What does it mean to follow Jesus in unfair suffering?

For Deeper Study: Jesus unfairly suffered on the cross and died for us. Before His crucifixion He directed His followers to take up their cross and follow Him. It seems we were are all heading to Calvary. When we take Communion, we are taking Christ's body broken for us; accepting His broken body for our healing. But just like a bone that wasn't set correctly after a break, there are things in our souls that need undoing, or "rebreaking" in order to heal. This is our cross in action. During Communion we are interacting with broken flesh and welcoming it in our lives as an active force. One facet of Communion is our acceptance of invitation to allow our cross to work crucifixion into our lives (daily sacrificing of self/sarx) so that we may put to death the deeds of the body and live (zao, see also psuche, zoe, and chay, as seen in Genesis 2:9, implying this is the way back to the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden, see also John 14:6) Romans 8:13, Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:6, Matthew 16:24-26

"Others May, You Cannot" -J.D. Watson

"Being a Shepherd Leader" -BUILDING CHURCH LEADERS© 2015 Christianity Today

Read 1 Peter 3:8-17

Suffering for Righteousness

1. What does this say about suffering for righteousness sake? Matthew 5:10-12

2. What does it mean to be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks for a reason for the hope that is in you? Give examples of verbiage that upholds "meekness and fear."

1 Peter 3:18, 4:1-2  For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit... Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

1. What does it mean to "arm yourself also with the same mind?" To "arm" means to wield a weapon. Why is this a weapon?

2. Suffering. Crucifixion. Death. Life. Scripture has a progressive revelation available to us on these words. How do you think suffering transforms the way we live?

3. Name a time when your suffering changed the way you followed or interacted with Jesus.

** Suffering References

Christ In Our Suffering, Pt 2

He understands frustration with injustice Jn 2:15-16

He understands acts of injustice committed against us Mt 27:23-26

He knows physical exhaustion Jn 4:6

He knows how God's people can be stubborn Lk 13:34

Prayer: Thank you God for Your encouragement through Your Word. Help us to not loose heart. Even though we may suffer and our bodies decay, we trust that our inward man is being renewed day by day. We know that troubles we face in this life, which are temporary, are working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Help us to not gaze upon the things which are seen, which are temporary, but at the things which are unseen, which are eternal. 2 Co 4:16-18 Help us press ahead, reaching for the upward call of Christ. Phil 3:13-14 In Jesus' Name.

Part 2