1^st The Privilege of Qualifying for Undeserved Suffering

  An exposition of Romans 8:11-18 is warranted in order to divulge necessary doctrine to match with people's pressing circumstances; for in matching doctrine with circumstances, people will be able to keep things in their proper perspective, which in turn can have a calming effect on the soul, and engender the confidence and courage needed to weather the storm they are in.

  Christians who frequently or habitually follow after the dictates of their carnal nature have not yet reached that place of maturity where God can trust the maintenance of his reputation to their care. To do so would compromise his integrity. Therefore, they do not qualify for the special privileges that come only with faithfulness and trustworthiness. God knows if he can trust you to toe the line when the going gets tough. You may think that you can or will, but God knows for sure. Just remember the over-confidence and zeal of Peter just before he denied knowing his Lord three times. Most Christians are suffering deservedly for bad decisions made from a position of ignorance (no doctrine resident in their soul due to negligence) and/or weakness (when allowing themselves to be controlled by the carnal nature), and in divine discipline, which ensues upon those believers who habitually reside outside of the fellowship adjustment to the justice of God by failing to keep their sin accounts with God short by utilizing 1st John 1:9 regarding confession/admission of their sinfulness.

  Those believers who habitually maintain their fellowship adjustment to the justice of God through habitual application of 1st John 1:9, and consistently apply themselves to the duty of growing in The Faith, allowing themselves to be thoroughly inculcated with truth, who habitually choose to allow themselves to be controlled by the Holy Spirit and not by the carnal nature, and who remain faithful in all circumstances: these qualify for special privileges within God's divine system. One of these privileges is called divinely appointed suffering for the purpose of approval and blessing for the believer, while glorifying God both in time and in eternity. Those who suffer for blessing are a privileged people because both they, and others within their periphery (blessing by association), benefit exponentially from the believer's spiritual maturity, and greater capacity for life is realized:

1.) through the intensification of the mortification process of the carnal nature of the suffering believer, which thus renders ineffective the mastery of the old sin nature over the believer's life; and

2.) the regular application of relevant Bible doctrine resident in the believer's soul, obtained as a result of diligence in acquiring edification, and applying it to the believer's circumstances of suffering.

  Due to both of these things the believer is then able to make right decisions in life from a position of strength (knowledge and control by the Holy Spirit), rather than from a place of weakness (ignorance and dominance by the old sin nature). The soul is cultivated and matured and the believer is then able to glorify God in his life; for it is not so much what we "do" for God that glorifies him as it is what we "are" or become in him. If what we are is right, what we do will be right, and God will be properly glorified. The highest good of God for us all is that we become all that we can be in Christ Jesus for the glory of our God - and we reap all the benefits. God can trust the mature believer to be a reliable witness to humanity, and a witness to unseen angels, principalities and powers - as was Job to Satan - in the circumstance of undeserved suffering in this life. What a glorious privilege for the child of God!

  So, how can we allow ourselves to be judged by others, considered unfortunate, be pitied, and forsaken by those who don't understand, when an omniscient God knows all the time what is best for us? You can say in the face of opposition with Job, "He knows the way that I take, and when I am tried, I shall come forth as gold." and, "Though he slays me, yet I will trust him." He knew his God, and his God knew him, and that he could be trusted to follow through in his resolve to trust and glorify his God. Our confidence in God is predicated upon how well we know him; and how well we know him is determined by our diligence in taking in the word of God on a regular basis in order to maintain our momentum on the line to spiritual maturity as believers.

  Now qualification for the privilege of divinely appointed undeserved suffering comes about in the believer's volitional choice over time on a daily basis to consistently take in God's word, be obedient to God, and be constantly controlled by his Holy Spirit, thus accelerating his growth toward spiritual maturity. This daily habitual "modus operandi" hastens the believer's momentum on the line to spiritual maturity, thus making him available for intensified service to God for his divine glory more quickly. The difference between the immature carnal believer, and the mature spiritual believer, is evidenced and emphasized in verse 14 of Romans chapter 8 where in the context of this passage the Greek word, teknon - "children" is contrasted with huios - "mature sons." In other words, here we have children of God, all of which are born again believers, as opposed to mature sons of God, of whom there are relatively few who qualify by contrast - about two percent of all of Christianity.

  Romans 8:16: "The Spirit itself (himself) bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."

  The Spirit that God has put within us as born again, saved, washed, blood-bought offspring testifies to us inwardly that these things are so. We have the "know." It is a know so salvation that we enjoy. Our faith is based upon credible facts and evidences. Unlike other so-called spiritual leaders, our Savior undeniably did miracles and rose from the dead. These are the credentials providing authority and veracity to his claims and pretentions. Jesus has said, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you," John 14:18. Jesus as the person of the Holy Spirit comforts us as an inward witness of his presence. It follows then that being born again by the Spirit of God, we are children of God. The fact that we can call God our Father implies a birth relationship. We are born again by the Spirit of God and are thereby his children. Since, then, we are God's children by birth, it is therefore his responsibility to comfort us, care for us, and meet our every need. This includes the exercise of our faith through suffering in spiritual maturity. We may not think it necessary, desirable, or even beneficial for us to be suffering at all - let alone, unjustly or undeservedly; but he knows what is best for us, and that includes the building of character and maturity in his children. Character, faith, toleration, patience, perseverance, and endurance usually can only be learned through the pressure of trying circumstances, and thus once these virtues become a part of the believer, he is better equipped for meaningful service that will truly glorify God.

  We can always rest assured that our heavenly Father is with us and in us, and that he will never, no never, leave us nor forsake us, even in the direst of circumstances - even when going through the valley of the shadow of death. He is our Father, and we can "hide in him," under his wings, deep within his embrace, as we go through the storm of adversity. He gives us greater grace for greater requirements in suffering - even dying grace for when we must do so. The way through a valley is easy, and a shadow passes with barely a notice.

  Verse 17: "And if children, then heirs: heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together (with him)."

  Now the use of the particle, "if" here is in the first-class condition and therefore should be rendered, "since." "And since we are children (of God), we are heirs." As children of God, we have also been adopted through the agency of the Spirit of God, since we all had earthly fathers. In this sense we are the adopted children of God, thus the reference to the Spirit of adoption regarding the believer. It follows then, that since we are his children, and adopted, we are heirs to the promises of God. We are the "heirs of God" and heirs of heaven. The salvation which is ours, effected by our savior, Jesus Christ, on our behalf, guarantees every believer the prospect of heaven. Adopted children by law cannot be written out of a will. We believers will all go to heaven as the heirs of God through Christ Jesus.

  Now when it comes to being "joint-heirs with Christ," we have quite a different picture here. In order to be joint-heirs with Christ, and share in his glorification, we must also suffer with him. Not every believer is qualified nor capable of doing this, so that is why we have the above distinction between children of God, and mature sons (and daughters) of God. Tie this mature believer concept together with the very intensive conditional particle in the first-class condition of verse 17, "if so be," and you have the interpretation of mature believers qualifying for the privilege of suffering together with Christ in order to share in his glory.

  We as believers can be heirs together with Jesus Christ, but only if we suffer with him; and in order to be able to suffer with him, we must have resident within us the capacity to endure undeserved suffering so that we can qualify for being glorified with him. In order to be glorified together with Christ we must fellowship in his suffering as the apostle Paul did - and avoid compromising with the world system in order to avoid the pain, discomfort, and inconvenience of unpleasant circumstances. Every believer has the opportunity of trying to qualify as an heir of glory with Christ, but the privilege of suffering undeservedly belongs only to the mature who eventually do qualify for that suffering. Heaven is definitely not the issue here. All believers who trust in Christ alone for salvation will go to heaven, and are heirs of heaven. The distinction is in the function of mature believers in the enhancement of the glory of Christ in knowing the fellowship of his sufferings intimately.

  God always seeks our highest good with eternity in mind. Misfortune does not always come to hurt the believer, but can be for his benefit. If we had blessings all the time and pleasant circumstances always, we would focus and concentrate on the blessings rather than on the Source of those blessings, and they would then be a distraction to the believer from his momentum on the line to maturity and future glorification with Christ. Both blessing and adversity come from the justice of God through God's grace pipe-line to the believer. It is the grace of God for the maturing believer.

  Blessing can come from both pleasant and painful circumstances. When in the crucible of affliction, our first and most natural reaction is, "Lord, stop the pain!" But if he listened to us, we would always ask for the easy way out - the path of least resistance - and not amount to very much as persons in the economy of God when it comes to the building of character. Stormy weather strengthens the trunk of a growing tree. With the blessing of painful circumstances, we look to him more, and the things of this temporal existence begin to pale by comparison. Undeserved suffering is a blessing for the believer both in time and eternity. Suffering acts as an ignition system to crank up our confidence in the future, blessings, rewards, and benefits of heaven. It teaches us not to drive our tent-pegs too deeply in this earth. Therefore, divinely appointed, undeserved suffering is not a deficit, but a benefit.

  The omniscience and sovereignty of God can have a positive effect on our time of testing and trial. Knowing that he knows gives our volition the fortitude to hang in there and ride it out. As Job said, "He knows the way that I take, and when I am tried, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10. When you are criticized and misunderstood by your peers, you can console yourself that God is fully aware of the circumstances surrounding your trial, and that he will work out all the details in the end to a satisfactory conclusion [Romans 8:28]. Knowing that God is in control of your circumstances gives you confidence, comfort, and encouragement in your trials [Romans 8:29-30], for we know assuredly that nothing happens to the believer by happenstance. Nothing catches God off-guard, or by surprise. Everything that happens to you as a believer is appointed and given by God for your own benefit, or allowed to happen by virtue of his permissive will. He puts a package on your doorstep each day and you open it with anticipation, saying, "I wonder what God has for me today?" So, apprehension is diminished, and encouragement and confidence are established in the maturing believer as he trusts God; thus, God deals with the mature almost exclusively in the area of undeserved suffering for his glory, for they have the developed capacity for it, and will be well able to handle it in their maturity.

  Undeserved suffering is potentially applicable to all believers, yet it is not for all believers, for one must qualify for it. To glorify God is quite a different thing from being glorified with Christ. One must be able to do the former before enjoying the latter.

  We glorify God in our spiritual maturity. It is not so much what one "does" for God, as it is what one "is" in God. If what you "are" is right, what you "do" will be right, and God then is properly glorified in your life. Church is for edification unto spiritual maturity. If what you are is spiritually mature through diligently applying yourself to growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ over time, then what you will be able to do is qualify for undeserved suffering, and then you can enjoy future glorification with Christ as a result. Church is not to be the venue for evangelism. It is to be the spiritual boot camp leading saved believers unto spiritual maturity and on to service for God and greater grace status. Evangelism belongs outside the Church bringing the lost to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ - then they are to come in to the Church to grow. Many preachers evangelize their people weekly in an attempt to get those few stubborn lost souls in the Church saved, while the entire flock entrusted to their care is starving to death, and ending up as spiritual casualties, unprepared for the onslaught of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

  Jesus said, "In the world you shall have tribulation, but fear not, for I have overcome the world." We were not promised a bed of roses once we were saved. Anyone who says that we are is divorced from reality. Jesus is our model, our mentor, and our master. He overcame the world, and in him, we can overcome it also. He would never steer us wrong or lead us astray. Our target is to reach the goal line. Our objective is to finish well - not come in first - but just to finish the race. You must lay hold of your future in heaven faithfully and successfully in order to live today faithfully and successfully, day by day. Live your trial one day at a time, and when that is insufficient, live it one moment at a time, trusting all the time in him. Your God must be more real to you than the suffering. Our Living Hope assures us that trials will not last forever; and the omniscience and sovereignty of God knows how much you can bear; and he will not put on you more than you are capable of bearing; but he will empower you to be able to endure to the end what you must. You may think it is unbearable, but he knows your limits. He gives greater grace for greater requirements. You must look beyond the afflictions of this life to the blessed hope of being glorified with your Lord. God, Jesus Christ, and heaven must be more real to you than your pain. That was the mental attitude of the early Christians, and it must characterize your mental attitude as well. Our suffering is but for a moment when compared to the confident expectation of eternity with Christ. Our stay on earth is like a grain of sand, and our eternity is as all of the sand on the beach, and more:

  Verse 18: "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

  The word "reckon" is a mathematical term used by Paul to engage the mind of the believer in the following comparison. He reckons that the sufferings of this present time (this life) are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. This is a cost/benefit analysis. Paul is saying that the cost of present suffering is worth the future glory we shall enjoy, but avoiding it is a bad deal; so, don't try to avoid qualifying for suffering, for it is a paying proposition. It is not a deficit, but a low-cost benefit. As a mature believer, the cost of your present suffering is way less than the benefit of your future glory with Christ; and it is a necessary calculation, for it is one way you are able to parlay your sufferings into future benefits, both in time and eternity. One second of glory with Christ will be worth a lifetime of suffering and adversity in this world.

  So don't question the sovereignty of God, and don't throw in the towel. The mature are able to endure suffering to the end; the immature would spin off and quit if there was no relief from it due to their inherent core of spiritual weakness. This is why a distinction is made between mature and immature believers, and qualification is a prerequisite to undeserved suffering for the glory of God. God will not put any more on you than he knows you can endure. He will give you dying grace when the time is right. He is never too early or too late. You may not think that you can handle it, but he knows for sure where your threshold is. Your faith must be continually stretched and exercised for the development of spiritual muscle, and to avoid atrophy.

  In 2nd Corinthians 4:16-17, Paul says, "...though our outward man should perish, yet the inward is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weighted glory."

  Who is Paul to talk of Glory? Are we to visualize glory and feel relieved of our suffering? In 2nd Corinthians 12 Paul intimates that he was caught up to the third heavens and saw things which are not lawful to speak of with any man; and he glories in the suffering he received as a result so that he would not become lifted up in pride and arrogance; for God's strength in him was made complete in his weakness. The eternal weighted glory is what Paul saw - that which bolstered his confidence and earnest expectation of those things which are to come, and which also served as motivation for him to endure many life-threatening sufferings for the cause of Christ. He said, "To live is Christ - to die is gain." If you can recall, the Revelation of John speaks of heaven as having streets of gold and buildings made of precious stones - the things men esteem most valuable here on earth are mere building materials in heaven. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, of the glories of those things which God has prepared for them who love him.

Suffering day by day - one day at a time - is all you can bear. Don't carry tomorrow's sticks today; and yesterday's sticks have been carried already. Renewal of the inward man is accomplished in the renewing of our minds by applying Romans 12:2 to ourselves, and the renewing by the Holy Spirit is already being done in us, as we are never alone. But Paul is saying that by comparison, the afflictions of this life are transient, but the glory which shall be ours after we endure, will exceed the affliction in scope and kind, and be eternal in duration. Not only this, but also it is weighted - heavy - a good measure of glory which goes back to our cost/benefit analysis again, and says that its value is beyond description. Also, there is the contrasted comparison of the "light" affliction with the "weighted" glory. Most of our afflictions seem heavy, and grievous to bear, but they can be comparatively light if you are under God's appointment and providence. And they are surely light in comparison to what we richly deserve as sinners saved by grace, let alone being compared to the sufferings of Christ in our stead. Count it a glorious privilege to serve your God in whatever way he brings to you, and count on him for support, as you endure the race and finish the course. There are laurel wreaths of victory for all those who finish the race well.

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