THE NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCE ON AFFLICTION

 SATURDAY, 29TH APRIL, 2023.

Topic: THE NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCE ON AFFLICTION

MEMORIZE: “But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:13-14.

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 5:10-12

“10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

EXPOSITION:

So far we have dealt only with Old Testament teaching on the meaning and purpose of affliction. The New Testament makes no new contribution to the solution of the problem, but repeats and greatly deepens the points of view already found in the Old Testament. 

 (1) There is a recognition throughout the New Testament of the law of retribution (Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”). Yet Jesus repudiates the popular view of the invariable connection between misfortune and moral evil (John 9:2 “And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"”). It is clear that He had risen above the conception of God's relation to man as merely retributive (Matthew 5:45, sunshine and rain for evil men as well as for the good). His followers would suffer tribulation even more than unbelievers, owing to the hostile reaction of the evil world, similar to that which afflicted Christ Himself (Matthew 5:10; John 15:18-20; 16:33 ). 

Similarly the Acts and the epistles frequently refer to the sufferings of Christians (e.g. “strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."” Acts 14:22; “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-- 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh” 2 Corinthians 4:8-11; 

“I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,” Colossians 1:24; 

“But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:” Hebrews 10:32; Also read 1 Peter 4:13; Revelation 7:14). Hence afflictions must have some other than a purely punitive purpose. 

(2) They are probational, affording a test by which the spurious may be separated from the genuine members of the Christian church (“Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:3, 12; 

“That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,” 1 Peter 1:7; 

“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17).

 (3) A means of discipline, calculated to purify and train the character. Apostle Paul said, “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, (Romans 5:3; James 1:3).

 (4) The idea of vicarious and redemptive suffering gets a far deeper significance in the New Testament than in the Old Testament, and finds concrete realization in a historical person, Jesus Christ. A unique place in the Divine purpose is given to the passion of Christ. Yet in a sense, His followers partake of His vicarious sufferings, and "fill up ... that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ" (“I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,” Colossians 1:24; compare Philippians 3:10 “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,”; 

1 Peter 4:13-14 “but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”). Here, surely is a profound thought which may throw a flood of light on the deep mystery of human affliction. The cross of Christ furnishes the key to the meaning of sorrow as the greatest redemptive force in the universe.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  1 Chronicles 21-23.