Sufferings And Comfort In Christ
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Over the last several weeks we have been studying through the theme “In Christ” wherein we have been looking at the specific passages within the New Testament that have the phrase “in Christ.”
The goal of these lessons has been to see the many blessings and benefits of being “in Christ” through those precise passages.
Today we continue looking at that theme with our lesson today coming from 2 Corinthians 1:5.
Let’s read God’s word through the inspired writer Paul to the church in Corinth.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
Now I know I’m taking a bit of liberty concerning this passage in light of the other passages we have looked at but never-the-less this passage is directly talking to those in Christ.
So how exactly do we, who are in Christ, share in sufferings and comfort in Christ?
Shared Sufferings
Shared Sufferings
Christ’s Sufferings.
Christ’s Sufferings.
When the only begotten Son of God came to this earth there was no doubt he would “suffer.”
The prophecies declare as much.
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
These prophecies, as you all know, came to pass just as they stated.
We can read any of the four gospel accounts to see this clearly demonstrated.
However, while Jesus was in the flesh (John 1:14) he also declared we too must suffer as he did.
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
This suffering should be daily as well.
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
So, it is abundantly clear we must…
Take Up Our Cross.
Take Up Our Cross.
If you noticed in each of those verses we just read Jesus didn’t say “take up ‘my cross’ and follow me,” no he said a person must “take up ‘his own cross’ and follow Christ.”
Remember, as we talked about in our lesson on “how to get into Christ,” before we obey the gospel through baptism which enters us into Christ (Romans 6:3-5) we must first crucify that “old man of sin” (Romans 6:6).
Okay, so what does that have to do with “taking up our cross daily?”
Every single day we are to “die to self” and “live for Christ” or as Paul would declare…
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
In other words every day we are to suffer the death of self to live for Christ.
What does this accomplish in our lives; what benefit is it to us to suffer in such a way. The Hebrew writer helps us in this.
8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
By taking up “our cross daily” or “suffering death daily” for Christ while in Christ we learn obedience and that God’s grace is sufficient in our lives that we may be glorified with him.
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.
Summary
Summary
So when we obey the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus by being baptized to have our sins washed away (Acts 22:16), we embark on a journey here on earth filled with suffering (Matthew 5:11-12). But if we learn obedience from those things we suffer and live according to God’s will, it will lead us to that victorious crown (James 1:12) and that desired declaration from our God, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Suffering, however, isn’t the only thing we go through in this life while living the Christian life.
No, in that suffering for living a godly life there is great…
Comfort
Comfort
Relief In Affliction.
Relief In Affliction.
Let’s look again at our text that we read earlier from 2 Corinthians 1:3-5.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
From this we find some key phrases.
God of all comfort. (3)
To be clear our Creator, who knows us best, knows how to comfort us best during our most trying times.
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Who comforts us in all our affliction. (4)
10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 11 Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. 12 You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. 13 For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
So that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (4)
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. (5)
13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Summary
Summary
When we and the faithful around us are suffering there is relief or comfort in knowing we are not alone and not only that but that this suffering leads to a peace of mind knowing we are living a godly life.
Conclusion
Conclusion
There is both suffering and comfort in Christ and both go hand and hand.
Whether in season or out of season we must never forget that in Christ, even though suffering exists, comfort is found therein.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.