Suffering for Christ

Romans 5:1-5

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope” (Rom. 5:3-4, NIV).

There is a lot of suffering in this world. No one escapes suffering because sin is in the world, and sin brings about suffering. Suffering knows no age, gender, race, nationality, socio economic status, and any other human status and condition. In the past several weeks the news media has been highlighting the suffering that is caused by natural disasters. Hurricanes with winds over one hundred miles per hour along with record setting inches of rainfall has devastated large areas of lands. The effects of hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Hosea, and Maria make us aware that suffering cannot be prevented by human effort. Those who believe in God know that human beings cannot predict what God will do, when He will do, and where He will do. We cannot out think God, and we cannot control what God does.

We also suffer injustices at the hands of other people. Laws are written and interpreted in ways that make it possible for the powerful to inflict unjust acts on the weak. Young women are raped on college campuses and their rich assailants are given little or no punishment. The policies and procedures of police departments are written by the police; interpreted by the police in ways that allow police to shoot and kill innocent unarmed people; especially Black men. People inflict suffering on those whose religious beliefs and lifestyles are different from their own.

In the book of Romans the apostle Paul writes to persecuted Christians in Rome. He wants to encourage them. He tells them that God enables them to endure suffering and their suffering makes them stronger in the Lord and gives them hope. Paul states that all have sinned. All live in a world of sin, and all people suffer because of sin’s effects. All persons are guilty of sin, both by their nature and in their behavior. Although we cannot escape suffering, Paul says that those who know Jesus have glory while they suffer in this world. Paul says that we can rejoice while experiencing the trials and tribulations of life. Does this mean that I am happy when bad things happen in my life? Do I act as if nothing bad takes place in my life? Am I supposed to suffer in silence? The answer to these questions is a resounding, “No!” Paul does not say that knowing Jesus make us immune from suffering. Believing in Jesus does not cause God to help us to escape from suffering. Rather, Paul writes that those who believe in Jesus can glory in God even as they suffer. Let us look at Paul’s reasoning.

As stated earlier, Paul writes in the book of Romans that we live in a world in which the physical world and its inhabitants suffer. This suffering is the result of sin which makes the world the enemy of God. In God’s relationship to people Paul writes, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). In relationship to the physical world Paul writes, “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now” (Rom. 8:19-22, NASB). However, God was not content to allow sin and suffering to have a permanent place. So, while we were still sinners Christ died to redeem us from our sins. His death changes our relationship to God if we believe in Jesus.

The world is the enemy of God; separated and estranged from God. Without God we are His enemies, but we are friends with the world. Thus, Paul explains in chapter four that faith justifies us giving us a right relationship to God. Paul quotes Genesis 15:6 by writing “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (4:1, NASB). Chapter five begins with the word “therefore.” It is a transitional preposition in which Paul is connecting what was said previously to what he is about to say. Verse one says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:1, NASB). Jesus died to redeem us from our sins.

All who believe this truth are justified with God. Our relationship to God and the world are reversed. Those who have faith in Jesus are no longer friends with the world and enemies of God. They are now friends with God and enemies of the world. Thus, our friendship with God causes us to rejoice with hope in God. Our new relationship with God causes suffering at the hands of the world. Since we live in a sinful world we continue to suffer from the effects that sin has on the world. But, we have hope because we have peace with God that enables us to rejoice in our trials and tribulations whether from nature or from people. This hope is based entirely upon the grace given to us because of the resurrection of Jesus. We will lose this life through physical death, but even as we suffer now we have life in the Spirit. In God’s own time the dead in Christ will rise to eternal life to live in a new world of new heavens and new earth. Our hope of the resurrection enables us to face our trials and tribulations with rejoicing.

Paul writes that trials and tribulations do not destroy us. Instead, our sufferings brings about perseverance; the ability to endure suffering. The process continues. Perseverance brings about proven character, and proven character brings about hope (vv. 3-4). Notice how the KJV translates verses 3-4. “And not only so, we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us” (vv. 3-5, KJV). Let me state this more simply. When we glory in hope of the glory of God we continue to experience tribulations. God gives us His Holy Spirit so that we can wait patiently with joy as we experience sufferings. Our experience with Christ builds our character. This character brings not despair; rather it brings hope. Hope is the expectation that God keeps His promises. He promises eternal life to all who believe in Jesus.

In conclusion, suffering is a reality for all people. Those who believe in Jesus suffer just as those who do not believe in Him. The difference is that the believer waits patiently with joy and hope, expecting that God’s promise of resurrection and eternal life with Him is certain.