Since Faith is a Gift, is Suffering Also a Gift?
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So what were you saying about having to pick up crosses ect ?
Taking up our Cross daily means to receive Jesus Christ benefits from Calvary where the victory was won (Psalms 103:2).
“(while Christ is the Source of all benefits, the Cross is the Means)”
How do we do that? By Grace through Faith in Christ and Him Crucified only!
That sounds real preachy ,but its not true . Thats not how the components of Salvation are to be understood. Unless you have verses ?
///Taking up our Cross daily means to receive Jesus Christ benefits from Calvary where the victory was won (Psalms 103:2).// how were they doing this before the cross ? Which is when Jesus said " take up your cross "
We take up our cross daily,..we are His disciples.
Luke 9:23
Then he said to them all:” If anyone would come after me ,he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me,etc.
Throughfaith, it helps to quote the person you are addressing, like I just did here with you.
In one sense it is a gift. The Christians who suffer most in this life will also be most rewarded and elevated in the next life. So the martyrs are at the top of the list. And all the apostles will receive thrones in the eternal Kingdom of God.
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Rev 2:10)
For a second my eyes played a trick on me and I thought it said banned under your username and was like nooooooo
This is actually a really good question is suffering a gift? I suppose it depends on how you look at it. No one likes to suffer but pain and suffering can actually be one of the best teachers. If a child gets the rod from a afther they may learn to change their ways and through suffering we are more resiliate. Look at the human body for instance through hard work and labor the muscles tear and we ache from it but the aching is evidence of the muscles rebuilding itself to be stronger. The handshalke of a person can say a lot about them a person who is used to labor and hard work has a firm tight grip their skin is not smooth and soft but rugged and tough
It also through suffering that God can bring us into deeper realms with him, we can grow and mature in him if we keep our eyes on him during that season of trial and suffering after all Gold is made from the furnishing of intense heat and pressure as well as any other valuable ore.
So is suffering a gift? It depends on if you are able to learn and grow from it or let it consume you and trust me from someone who has suffered greatly almost his whole life I can say that it can indeed be a gift
Scripture?
I am thinking everyone getting the same coin at the end of the day in the vineyard...
Maybe "given" points at election here?
It's better to be of those who face suffering and persecution in this world, than of those who lose soul and go to hell.
In that sense it is a gift. Might be just me, but interpreting suffering/torture itself as a gift seems morbid.
They did not understand at that time. The scripture says, "Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures...Luke 24:45
"Christ and Him Crucified" is the key to all understanding."
Yes but this is way after they have been preaching a message that clearly was not the Gospel as we know it today . And its after the death ,burial and resurection they finally understand. So they are not the same messag e are they ?
I meant the death burial and resurrction was not being preached before the cross . Therefore the Gospel as we know it ( 1 cor 15. 1-4) was not being preached by the discipes before the cross .