What does it mean "To suffer for his Sake"

[josefnospam]

Philippians 1:29 ......For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake. If you make a comment please include a scripture to support what you believe.

 

[WIP]

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

One thought that comes to my mind is to truly deny one's self and take up one's cross is a challenge we are not so willing to endure. We resist because deep down we are hooked on the things of the flesh. We are not comfortable standing against the world.

 

[Eventide]

Philippians 1:29 ......For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake. If you make a comment please include a scripture to support what you believe.

God has given those who believe in Him an unspeakable gift.. the perfect life of His only begotten Son, born in us, even within these frail earthen vessels.

SO... a Christian is an amazing being... or should I say DUAL being...

We have our OLD MAN which is who we are naturally according to the flesh, and who cannot do anything good.

We have the NEW MAN which is Christ in us, born in us miraculously by the power of the Holy Spirit, after we trusted in Christ, and after we heard the gospel of our salvation. (Eph 1:13) (1 Cor 12:13)

These two are contrary to one another...

SO think about it.... we have the perfect life of Christ in us who can NOT sin... nor do anything bad, it's all good with Him... and we have our old nature in which Paul says there is nothing good.

So where am I going with this..

We are told that God made Him to be sin for us, the one and only one who knew no sin... NOW who could even begin to understand that ?

Well, in a way I believe God wants to show us what He went through on our behalf.. on that forsaken cross where He was made sin for us..

We can see how absolutely wretched we are in the flesh, and how absolutely perfect He is.. and to think that He bore our sins in His own body for us.. once again, the one who knew no sin, did no sin, and had no sin in Him..

Made to be sin for us.

I often say who can even begin to understand these things... although in a small way I think that each and every believer has this experience within their earthen vessel... experiencing the sin which so easily besets us, and experiencing the absolute sinless, spotless, Lamb of God, who willingly gave Himself for us, to bring us back to His Father.

Even within the same lump...

Truly amazing and a question which we can ponder for our entire Christian life.

 

[Messenger]

Philippians 1:29 ......For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake. If you make a comment please include a scripture to support what you believe.

1 Peter 4:1-2
Therefore, Christ having suffered for us in the flesh, also you arm yourselves with the same thought, because he having suffered in the flesh has been made to rest from sin, for him no longer to live in the lusts of men, but to live the remaining time in the flesh in the will of God. -LITV (2 Cor. 7:1)


1Peter 4:12-13
Beloved, (Eph. 1:6) do not be astonished at the fiery trial happening among you for your testing, as if a surprise were occurring to you; but according as you share the sufferings of Christ, rejoice; so that you may rejoice exultingly at the revelation of His glory.

If you are reviled in the name of Christ, you are blessed, because "the Spirit of God and of glory rests on you." Truly, according to them, He is blasphemed; but according to you, He is glorified. -LITV


Just as the Spirit of Jehovah rested upon Christ (Isaiah 11:2), so likewise does He rest upon all His elect children!


1 Peter 5:8-11

Be sensible, watch, because your adversary the Devil walks about as a roaring lion seeking someone he may devour; whom firmly resist in the faith, knowing the same sufferings are being completed in your brotherhood in the world.

Now the God of all grace, the One calling you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, you having suffered a little, Himself will perfect, confirm, strengthen, establish you. (See Acts 9:15-16, speaking of Paul; a chosen vessel of Jehovah; 2Tim. 1:11-12.)

To Him be the glory and the might forever and ever. Amen. -LITV

 

[Jethro Bodine]

And may I add:



3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin..." (Hebrews 12: NASB)

 

[ejected]

Hebrews 12. For sure. Do you not find it interesting that the writer uses the word 'sinners' to describe the number one foes of Christ.....the religious leaders/hiearchy of His day.read Matt.23. Who had Him crucified Him? Give you 3 guesses.
I, personally, have suffered far more abuse, rejection, and wrath from Christian leaders, so called, than from lost sinners.
And this is long before I discovered what the Duce was going on...the very things I've been expounding on this site.
In other words I was in lock step with all the popular beliefs that all of you hold dear. No I was not a big mouth. I kept my mouth shut for all those years....not headstrong.
So why was I getting the snot beat out of me for years by these 'pastors'? After 27 years of asking 'what's wrong with me, what's wrong with me?', God finally showed me. When I got saved, I surrendered all! I made Him Lord. No compromise. That does not set well with established religion. Ask Jesus. Ask the apostles. Ask Paul. Ask all the martyrs. Ask Tyndale. The list goes on.
No I'm not comparing myself with any on this list. Gotcha. I'm just sold out, that's all. 'Are you saying that none of us are not sold out Devon?'
Let me answer you this way. The deeper you surrender, the more rejected and maligned you'll be. You will not fit into churchianity. You will not be welcome.

 

[reba]

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Withheld I am sorry you had a bad experience. It is about time to keep all that negativity to your self... over and over you have complained ....your attempts to sow discord are wearing thin.
Pro_6:14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

Pro_6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Hebrews 12. For sure. Do you not find it interesting that the writer uses the word 'sinners' to describe the number one foes of Christ.....the religious leaders/hiearchy of His day.read Matt.23. Who had Him crucified Him? Give you 3 guesses.
I, personally, have suffered far more abuse, rejection, and wrath from Christian leaders, so called, than from lost sinners.
And this is long before I discovered what the Duce was going on...the very things I've been expounding on this site.
In other words I was in lock step with all the popular beliefs that all of you hold dear. No I was not a big mouth. I kept my mouth shut for all those years....not headstrong.
So why was I getting the snot beat out of me for years by these 'pastors'? After 27 years of asking 'what's wrong with me, what's wrong with me?', God finally showed me. When I got saved, I surrendered all! I made Him Lord. No compromise. That does not set well with established religion. Ask Jesus. Ask the apostles. Ask Paul. Ask all the martyrs. Ask Tyndale. The list goes on.
No I'm not comparing myself with any on this list. Gotcha. I'm just sold out, that's all. 'Are you saying that none of us are not sold out Devon?'
Let me answer you this way. The deeper you surrender, the more rejected and maligned you'll be. You will not fit into churchianity. You will not be welcome.

The important thing is that we resist the status qou with integrity and blamelessness. That is how God wants us to suffer. We have to be careful not to purposely provoke others trapped in their traditions and indoctrinations. This takes tact and sensitivity. I guess we learn that the hard way.

 

[josefnospam]

Thanks to all who responded and will respond. This is an area I am not sure about so I appreciate any input..............I have my ideas but they are simple "MY IDEAS" and I will not push them, nor even state what I think. Sometimes this IS for the best............so keep posting and I will keep reading. But do try to support your conclusions with a scripture and KJV if possible as that is the one I use. If you want to use another translation that's fine, I will see what the KJV says for the verse you qoute.....Thanks.

 

[josefnospam]

To Messenger What does LITV stand for. It is another translation but what does it stand for.. I really don't know . It's not important but I just want to know so I can address those who may use it. Thanks.....................

 

[George Muller]

Philippians 1:29 ......For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake. If you make a comment please include a scripture to support what you believe.

Php 1:12 ¶ But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

The context of Pauls suffering are very well known, and all those who live godly will "suffer" persecution. So this is the suffering we have on behalf of Christ.

 

[George Muller]

After 27 years of asking 'what's wrong with me, what's wrong with me?', God finally showed me. When I got saved, I surrendered all! I made Him Lord. No compromise. That does not set well with established religion. Ask Jesus. Ask the apostles. Ask Paul. Ask all the martyrs. Ask Tyndale. The list goes on.
No I'm not comparing myself with any on this list. Gotcha. I'm just sold out, that's all. 'Are you saying that none of us are not sold out Devon?'
Let me answer you this way. The deeper you surrender, the more rejected and maligned you'll be. You will not fit into churchianity. You will not be welcome.

I find your post, the truth of what "suffering" is, as one who agrees with you, I must also say that if you have this sincere relationship, God will also entrust you with His Strength and power, The Church is ours, it belongs to the sincere. We just have to the understanding of God and endure until the appointed time. For in due season God will exalt the humble.

 

[Messenger]

To Messenger What does LITV stand for. It is another translation but what does it stand for.. I really don't know . It's not important but I just want to know so I can address those who may use it. Thanks.....................

LITV is the acronym for the Literal Tranlation of the Bible:
http://thewordnotes.com/litv/litv.htm

You're welcome.....................

 

[farouk]

[MENTION=96503]George Muller[/MENTION]: Yes, the Epistle to the Philippians puts suffering into perspective, and also includes the believer's great joy in the Lord in the picture.

Blessings.