Why Christians Suffer.htm

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WHY CHRISTIANS SUFFER
PERSECUTION FOR THEIR FAITH.
It is through righteous sufferings that one progressively puts on an everlasting spirit nature, in anticipation of the gift of everlasting spirit life in the heavenly paradise of God after one's earthly death. (1 Cor 15:42  49).

As to the sufferings we must endure for righteousness' sake, the exemplar we should imitate is our Lord   Jesus Christ, the good examples he gave and the spiritual principles he taught his disciples. (1 Peter 4:1,2 NEB). Without this opportunity of everlasting salvation through the wonderful grace of our Heavenly Father Almighty God Jehovah, we would all die without hope.

For any individual to begin spirit regeneration through a new spirit "birth", they need God's forgiveness that they may no longer be held accountable for past sins while they walk in a "newness of life". (Rom 6:4) (1 Peter 1:3  5). This is accomplished through heartfelt works befitting one's repentance, and a genuine approach to God according to spiritual need. Active spirit regeneration follows, as one prayerfully searches for, and is subject to, progressive spirit sanctification. We must accept we may suffer physical and spiritual pain to achieve a sanctified spirit of God's creating.

The objective of this mandate is our love for God out of a clean heart and through faith that has been tested. (1 Tim 1:5 NWT). To realize this, it necessarily involves various sufferings, patient endurance, and complete trust in God. In accepting The Christ's subjecting of us to the Will of God, and the gradual removal of our inborn impulses to evil, we put on a holy nature. Living according to the expressed Will of Almighty God and not according to the reasoning of Godless men, brings sufferings for believers. (1 Peter 4:3-5). But this progressive subjection of us, without hypocrisy, while suffering trials of one's faith, brings about our transformation and a tested love for God.

UNBELIEVERS HATE THIS INSTRUCTION:
"Everyone that pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of The Christ does not have God. He that does remain in this teaching is the one that has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. For he that says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works." (2 John V.9-11 NWT).

(1)
The "teaching Of The Christ" is that he is the Son of God, that he was born in the flesh, and that through his perfect sacrifice we may be forgiven for our sins and obtain salvation. (See 2 John V.7).

(2)
One who claims to be a Christian but does not bring the teachings of The Christ or live in accordance with them is a liar. (2 John V.9).

(3)
One who does not remain in the teaching of The Christ, but "pushes ahead" with apostate teaching and "lying signs and portents", has gone beyond what is written in the inspired Holy Word of God. (2 Thess 2:9-12).

All unforgiven unbelievers, self-deceivers and antichrists will be judged according to their wickedness. Because Christians obey the instruction from our Lord through the apostle John, unbelievers and antichrists hate and persecute them. Especially so, when they learn that true Christians do not greet, befriend, or allow deceivers and antichrists into their homes and company, for such ones do not confess Jesus Christ as Lord.

The consequence of this is that in the Judgement of God, true Christians will not be condemned as sharers in the wicked works of unbelievers and antichrists, nor will they be judged with them as self deceivers. (2 Esdras 15:3,4 NEB).

22/5/04.