One of many popular doctrinal misconceptions that is becoming increasingly rampant on the internet and in the fallen churches today about the Word of God (The Holy Bible): ’Jesus went through it all so we wouldn’t have to’ doctrine, better known as “Easy Believe-ism.”

But sadly this doctrine is not Biblical. The Holy Bible does in fact teach the doctrine of suffering all through out the entire Holy Bible. The Lord Jesus Christ also taught His disciples then and still today:

Matthew 24:9-13 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Even in the Psalms, the Holy Bible shows us the reality of the doctrine of suffering, and how to overcome the world through the Spirit of God. This being one of many Psalms as our great example and testimony:

Psalm 56:1-11 “Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; Fighting all day he oppresses me. My enemies would hound me all day, For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

All day they twist my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather together, They hide, they mark my steps, When they lie in wait for my life. Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God!

You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me. In God (I will praise His word), In the Lord (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

And again Job reminds us today on this reality also: Job 14:1-2 Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.

There’s nothing new under the sun, yet how can the “children of God” miss or ignore this very fact of truth. The mark of true Christianity is not only living holy and right according to God’s Biblical standard, to represent Jesus Christ accurately at all cost. It’s not just being blessed in our obedience to God our Father.

Nor is it just having great and powerful faith to remove mountains and do what Jesus Christ has promised us we can do. Nor is it limited to love the brethren and love our neighbors as our selves.

It’s not just all of the above, it is also to know Jesus Christ and to suffer with Him, both physically and spiritually and be counted worthy of His Gospel to the end.

Philippians 3:8-10 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Philippians 1 (Promised Persecution)

Audio Length: 11:19

Study Highlights:

*01:24   Philippians 1:12-21
Even though we do not look forward to persecution, even to the point of death naturally, but it has been promised by the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore it must happen. But the reason why it must happen is because God ordains it for the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:16-28 & the entire Book of Acts).

So we must get over the fear factor and preach this Gospel even to the point of death. The Lord Jesus went through it all being our greatest example above all other examples, of what to expects, and how to overcome the world as our Lord Jesus Christ has done also.

So must we as promised (John 16:33). In the face of all opposition our attitude in Christ should be “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” We are not greater than our Lord.

Christian beheadings

*04:28   Philippians 1:27-29
It is God’s perfect and holy will to suffer for the cause of Jesus Christ and for the cause of preaching the truth of God’s Holy Word to the point of death. Count ourselves blessed and privileged, for God to choose us as His disciples to preach this Gospel in an increasingly lawless world and be rewarded in all eternity, if we do not loose heart and stay the paths of righteousness for His name sake to the end…

Remember this: (for those who are washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, Born again by the Spirit of God, Whom have an active and close relationship with God our Father and lives holy) “No matter what happens in between starting and finishing our race, in the end, our last breath on earth will be our first breath in the presence and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. And will hear on that day: “Well done My good and faithful servant” for those who continue to abide in Jesus Christ our Lord to the end, Amen!

Be sure to check out our next study, Philippians 2 (A Servants Heart)