Suffering – Part 2: For what purpose?
Continuing with the extracts from my document on the Scriptural perspective on suffering…
What might be gained from suffering?
Although death entered the world through the Fall, Scripture indicates that tribulation can be used by God for two particular ends…
To reveal the glory of God
In our sufferings the power of grace, the message of the Gospel and the glory of God is revealed
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:10
His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him”. – John 9:2-3
…what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel… And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. – Philippians 1:12-14
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. – 1 Peter 1:6-7
To lead us to perfection
Through suffering God brings us to perfection and holiness.
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word… It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. – Psalm 199:67, 71
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? …God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. – Hebrews 12:5-7, 10-11
But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. – 1 Peter 4:13
[Y]ou know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:3-4
Praise be…the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
That’s it for this series. If I get some time in the next few days I’ll try and write a short post pulling all these posts together.
David thank you so much for putting these together like this! It’s really helpful, I love them! Someday you will actually get me to love reading scripture… if anyone can do it, you can 🙂
Glad to hear it 🙂
I really like this one from 1 Peter as well:
“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls. (sorry if you had this one somewhere else and I missed it :))
It’s already there – last item underneath “To reveal the glory of God” 🙂