Romans 8:17
Romans 8:17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
In this verse, the Apostle Paul continues the wonderful news of redemption through the Holy Spirit. Those who are in Christ Jesus are, first of all, justified in the sight of God. They are then adopted as children of God and walk according to the Spirit. In this verse, Paul tells us that adopted children of God become heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. Here in chapter 8 Paul reveals what each step along the way looks like in terms of having the Holy Spirit dwell in believers. This journey of being in Christ results in a believer walking according to the Spirit, and here in verse 17 Paul mentions that suffering with Christ may be part of this walk. Jesus told of the persecution and suffering that would be part of being his disciple. Paul and the early church experienced severe persecution that included death, and persecution is ongoing in the world today. Christians have always been persecuted and suffered for following Christ.
Many N.T. passages, along with this one, teach that suffering and persecution are sometimes a part of following Christ, and this shows that the health and wealth gospel, so pervasive in America today, is nothing short of a sham. This verse shows, once again, that the carnal Christian concept of being a believer but not walking according to the Spirit is also a heresy.
Praise God that the Holy Spirit enables believers to walk according to the Spirit and endure suffering when it happens in order that we may also be glorified with him.
9 comments:
"This journey of being in Christ results in a believer walking according to the Spirit,..."
That sums it up very well.
Hey Jazz, is that your house? I'll bet the cleaning crew knows suffering.
First, I just wanted to thank you for stopping by Shilohguy and leaving a note. You encourage my heart. Thanks.
You comment very precisely on two of my pet peeves, the health and wealth heresy and the carnal Christian fantasy. Both of these are so blatantly extrabiblical I have never understood how anyone could hold to either of them even though I grew up in a church that often spoke of the dangers of being carnal and losing your rewards!
One of the times I was in India doing ministry I discovered that one of the famous American TV faith healers was in the same town at the same time. (He had thousands of posters and billboards all over the place.) He was holding healing services and preaching his health and wealth stuff. On the second or third night someone brought a group of lepers from the nearby leper colony. They all went up for healing and none of them were healed. This resulted in a near riot. The faith healer had to flee the building for his own safety and then fled the country that very night. He's still on TV here though. Apparently Americans are more gullible than Indians.
Why did I tell you that? (I guess I thought it was comical!)
Dave Moorhead
Mark, Craver, and Dave.,
Thanks for the comments.
Craver,
If it were my house, I would have you by for a mint julip. Actually it is in Natchez.
Dave,
That was funny and unfortunately Americans aren't very discerning which makes them gullible
I'm honored that you have linked to me and I wish to offer you the same honor. You are now linked too!
Dave
Nice study.
From the slightest insult, to being tortured and killed for the gospel, are treasures in heaven.
I wish I could like suffering. I hate it when I am mocked for sharing the gospel, or standing for the truth.
I'm too thin-skinned I guess.
Don,
Thanks for the visit. Are you close to Salisbury, MD? My former pastor is there now.
No. I'm about 2 hours from Salisbury. I live right outside Baltimore City in a small neighborhood called Paradise.
Paradise. Now that sounds like a great place to live.
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