Thursday, April 27, 2006
The Doctrine of Suffering (by Pastor Hee Guan)
Suffering
Definition
(12 Heb. Words and 21 Greek words convey such ideas as: to suffer, to endure suffering, suffering, distress, anguish, pain, to cause pain, to be distressed, to be hard pressed, to torment, to permit, to leave or to let alone)
Suffering is a mental distress which may or may not include physical pain. Anguish is intense suffering.
Redemption suffering of Christ
The Principle of Corporate Solidarity says that the action/state of one element of the body can affect the whole body.
Through one man’s sin, death came to all men
Rom 5:12-13a Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- for before the law was given, sin was in the world.
Through one man’s righteousness, all man can be made righteous
Rom 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
The passage that best illustrates the redemptive suffering of Christ is in Isaiah 53.
… He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed… He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken… Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities…
Reasons for Suffering in this world
1 Judgmental suffering
Suffering that come about because of judgement of sin (committed by oneself or by others) - violation of God's law.
* Divine judgement upon 1st sin.
Gen 3:16-19 To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."
*Failure to employ our God given resources in accord with wisdom. Judge for laziness, lack of foresight, companionship of fools & greed.
Prov 19:15 Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry.
Prov 22:3 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
Prov 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Prov 27:12 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
Prov 11:24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
*Suffered as a result of faithlessness.
Num 14:31-33 As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. But you--your bodies will fall in this desert. Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert.
*Israel faced judgmental suffering because of her iniquities.
Psa 107:17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
*Israel suffered for her guilt.
Isa 24:5-6 The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth's inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.
*Judah destroyed because of sin.
Jer 13:22 And if you ask yourself, "Why has this happened to me?"-- it is because of your many sins that your skirts have been torn off and your body mistreated.
Lam 1:5 Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. The LORD has brought her grief because of her many sins. Her children have gone into exile, captive before the foe.
*Jerusalem in ruins and Zion suffered for her transgression.
Neh 9:26-27 "But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they put your law behind their backs. They killed your prophets, who had admonished them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies. So you handed them over to their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.
*Ananias and Sapphira died because they lied to the apostles and the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:1-11
*Judgement for profaning the Lord's body and blood at the communion table
1 Cor 11:29-30 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
*Because of sin, creation is subjected to futility and bondage to decay.
Rom 8:18-21 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
*Those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel suffer from eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of God.
2 Th 1:9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.
2 Testimonial suffering
Suffering for the purpose of bringing glory to God.
*Expected to be partakers of Christ’s suffering.
1 Pet 4:13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may
be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Followers may suffer for
A His sake
Phil 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,
B righteousness’ sake
1 Pet 3:14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear ; do not be frightened."
C the Kingdom of God
2 Th 1:5 All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
D the gospel
2 Tim 2:9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.
E resisting Satan
1 Pet 2:19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.
F being a Christian
1 Pet 4:16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
G His name
Acts 5:41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
*Through suffering, Job gave testimony to the integrity of his trust in God. It is a test
of integrity as a testimony to others and not judgmental for certain sins.
Job 2: 7-10 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
John 9:2 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 work of God might be displayed in his life.
3 Preventative Suffering
Pain may be a warning signal of physical dangers. Without pain people would be subjected to many calamities. Some suffering in a fallen world is a beneficial warning of the danger of more tragic possibilities. Pain is a sign that action should be taken; it implies that if action is not taken, the survival chances of the living thing are going to decrease. Sometimes physical suffering becomes a sign of spiritual need (the need for God). God may also allow physical suffering to keep one from more serious spiritual problems.
*Paul's example.
2 Cor 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
Definition
(12 Heb. Words and 21 Greek words convey such ideas as: to suffer, to endure suffering, suffering, distress, anguish, pain, to cause pain, to be distressed, to be hard pressed, to torment, to permit, to leave or to let alone)
Suffering is a mental distress which may or may not include physical pain. Anguish is intense suffering.
Redemption suffering of Christ
The Principle of Corporate Solidarity says that the action/state of one element of the body can affect the whole body.
Through one man’s sin, death came to all men
Rom 5:12-13a Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- for before the law was given, sin was in the world.
Through one man’s righteousness, all man can be made righteous
Rom 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
The passage that best illustrates the redemptive suffering of Christ is in Isaiah 53.
… He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed… He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken… Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities…
Reasons for Suffering in this world
1 Judgmental suffering
Suffering that come about because of judgement of sin (committed by oneself or by others) - violation of God's law.
* Divine judgement upon 1st sin.
Gen 3:16-19 To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."
*Failure to employ our God given resources in accord with wisdom. Judge for laziness, lack of foresight, companionship of fools & greed.
Prov 19:15 Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry.
Prov 22:3 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
Prov 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Prov 27:12 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
Prov 11:24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
*Suffered as a result of faithlessness.
Num 14:31-33 As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. But you--your bodies will fall in this desert. Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert.
*Israel faced judgmental suffering because of her iniquities.
Psa 107:17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
*Israel suffered for her guilt.
Isa 24:5-6 The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth's inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.
*Judah destroyed because of sin.
Jer 13:22 And if you ask yourself, "Why has this happened to me?"-- it is because of your many sins that your skirts have been torn off and your body mistreated.
Lam 1:5 Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. The LORD has brought her grief because of her many sins. Her children have gone into exile, captive before the foe.
*Jerusalem in ruins and Zion suffered for her transgression.
Neh 9:26-27 "But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they put your law behind their backs. They killed your prophets, who had admonished them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies. So you handed them over to their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.
*Ananias and Sapphira died because they lied to the apostles and the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:1-11
*Judgement for profaning the Lord's body and blood at the communion table
1 Cor 11:29-30 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
*Because of sin, creation is subjected to futility and bondage to decay.
Rom 8:18-21 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
*Those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel suffer from eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of God.
2 Th 1:9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.
2 Testimonial suffering
Suffering for the purpose of bringing glory to God.
*Expected to be partakers of Christ’s suffering.
1 Pet 4:13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may
be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Followers may suffer for
A His sake
Phil 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,
B righteousness’ sake
1 Pet 3:14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear ; do not be frightened."
C the Kingdom of God
2 Th 1:5 All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
D the gospel
2 Tim 2:9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.
E resisting Satan
1 Pet 2:19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.
F being a Christian
1 Pet 4:16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
G His name
Acts 5:41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
*Through suffering, Job gave testimony to the integrity of his trust in God. It is a test
of integrity as a testimony to others and not judgmental for certain sins.
Job 2: 7-10 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
John 9:2 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 work of God might be displayed in his life.
3 Preventative Suffering
Pain may be a warning signal of physical dangers. Without pain people would be subjected to many calamities. Some suffering in a fallen world is a beneficial warning of the danger of more tragic possibilities. Pain is a sign that action should be taken; it implies that if action is not taken, the survival chances of the living thing are going to decrease. Sometimes physical suffering becomes a sign of spiritual need (the need for God). God may also allow physical suffering to keep one from more serious spiritual problems.
*Paul's example.
2 Cor 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
4 Empathetic Suffering
Some suffering arises, not from sin, but love. We may enter fully through imagination and concern into another's feelings. Empathy with others who suffer produces suffering.
*The prophets of old (Eg. Jeremiah)
*Paul
2 Cor 2:4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
*All of us are to weep with those who weep.
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
*God, Himself, experiences empathic suffering too.
Gen 6:6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
*With loving empathy, He entered fully into the suffering of Israel.
Isa 63:9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
5 Educational Suffering
The greatest good of the Christian life is not freedom from pain; it is Christlikeness. God is far less concerned with the comfort than with the character of His people.
*Suffering produces character.
Rom 5:3-4 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
*When we fail to endure, we may require discipline as does any child.
Heb 12:10-11 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, 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
*The follower of the Lord not only passively accepts discipline, but actively disciplines himself. To achieve the higher values in a fallen world requires disciplinary suffering.
1 Cor 9:25-27 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Response to suffering
We need the wisdom of God to determine whether a given experience of suffering is judgmental, empathic, testimonial, preventative or educational.
1 We need to repent in response to judgmental suffering.
2 In response to testimonial suffering,
*Follow Christ’s eg. of endurance
1 Pet 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
*Continue to hope in God
Heb 11:36-38 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned ; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated--the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.
*Moses consider suffering abuse for Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt
Heb 11:26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
*See it as completing the suffering necessary for the building of the church.
Col 1:24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is
still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the
church.
*Know that it assures future glory
1 Pet 4:13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may
be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
*Eternal perspective – present suffering is slight in comparison with eternal glory
Rom 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the
glory that will be revealed in us.
Cor 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal
glory that far outweighs them all.
*Rejoice
See 1 Pet4:13
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
3 Receive preventative and educational suffering for your own good.
Result of redemptive suffering in Christ
a. proven genuine faith (1 Pet 1:6-7)
b. glory that would follow (1 Pet 1:11)
c. commending from God as Christ’s follower (1 Pet 2:20)
d. redemption (1 Pet 2:23-24)
e. blessing for ourselves (1 Pet 3:8-14)
f. opposition for evil human desires (1 Pet 4:1-4)
g. joy when Christ’s glory is revealed (1 Pet 4:12-14)
h. dignity in bearing God’s name (1 Pet 4:15-16)
i. strength, firmness and steadfastness in the Lord (1 Pet 5:10-11)
j. comfort as well as comfort for others (2 Cor1:3-5)
k. character (Rom 5:3-4)
l. produces a harvest of righteousness and peace (Heb 12:10-11)
// posted by The Fragrance @ 7:53 AM 
