Ques. Please say something about suffering "for," and "with" Christ. Also why in Rom. 8, Gal. 3 and 4, and 1 John 3, are we sometimes called sons and sometimes children? C. W.
Ans. In Matt. 5:1010Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10) it reads, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." This is true of the saint, whether the Jew in the future time of tribulation or the Christian now. A life of integrity and uprightness calls out the hatred of those who are walking in sinful ways, because the ways of honesty and truthfulness before God reproach them.
In Verse 11, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven."
This is suffering for Christ in service and testimony, as Paul suffered. His word and his work went together to testify of Christ, and though he proclaimed the love of God in Christ, because man's heart is enmity against God, men hated him. (See Acts 9:1616For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. (Acts 9:16) Acts 5:4141And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. (Acts 5:41); Phil. 1:29; 229For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; (Philippians 1:29) Tim. 3: 11, 12; 1 Peter 2: 21-23; 4:13, 1413But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. (1 Peter 4:13‑14)). So do we find the Lord and His disciples hated. (John 15:18, 19, 22-2418If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:18‑19)
22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. 23He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. (John 15:22‑24)). The apostle desires to share in these sufferings from men. (Phil. 3:1010That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (Philippians 3:10)). In Col. 1:2424Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: (Colossians 1:24) we read, "Now, I rejoice in sufferings for you, and I fill up that which is behind of the tribulations of Christ in my flesh, for His body, which is the assembly." (N. T.) This is suffering for Christ.
Rom. 8:1717And 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. (Romans 8:17); 2 Tim. 2:1212If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (2 Timothy 2:12) is suffering with Christ. J. N. D. Synopsis says, "This suffering is by virtue of the glorious position into which we are brought, and of our participation in the life of Christ Himself, and the sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
It is the divine nature in us that feels the terrible condition sin has brought, and the nearer we are in our communion to the Lord, the more do we feel it. The Lord felt it most acutely because of His inless humanity. He never became used to it, as we do. Alas, that it should be so with us! In His humanity He was the Son of God. (Luke 1:3535And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)). He was "of God." (4:38). In His path of self-emptied, lowly obedience, He is set before us in Phil. 2: 5-8. Then Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus are mentioned as walking in their measure in the same path, but He infinitely excels them.
"For go as low as e'er you will,"
The Highest has gone lower still.
In the 3rd Chapter we find the apostle so filled with the beauty and preciousness of Christ, that everything of himself, his very best, his righteousness, he now has cast behind him, and counts it all but dung, that he may win Christ. And he desires the fellowship of His sufferings, and presses on to be with Him on high. This is the energy of faith that leads him to suffer for Christ and for the saints (2 Tim. 2: 10).
Rom. 8 is a statement of our position and portion in Christ; it does not look at our failure to enter into and to enjoy it.
Verse 14 is therefore telling us that the Spirit of God is given to lead us as sons of God. (Gal. 3:2626For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26), as well as 4:5, 6. For "children" read "sons." See N. T.) The contrast is with the old Testament saints under the law, who are looked at as minors, under tutors and governers; but Christians are full-grown sons. This expresses their perfect standing, and to give them also the proper feelings and affection, the Spirit of His Son is given them, whereby they cry, "Abba, Father"; this is children in the fullest sense.,
In 1 John 3:1, 21Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:1‑2), we should read, "children," instead of "sons," (See N. T.), for here it is the family of God in contrast with the family of fallen man under Satan. So we have all the love of the Father told out in it.
Now look at Rom. 8:1414For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14), and we see the Holy Spirit given, suited to lead the sons of God. In verse 16, "The Spirit witnesses with our spirit, that we are the children of God," for this is what He would have our souls enjoy. In verse 19, it is the glorious manifestation, so it is the "sons of God"; but in verse 21, it is what we shall enjoy, so it is the liberty of the glory of the children of God. We do adore our God for all His wondrous grace to such sinners as we were, but the blessedness to our souls is not the glorious position He has set us in, but the blessed satisfaction we have in the love of the Father and of the Son. To the thief on the cross, it would have been wonderful grace for the Savior to have said, Today shalt thou be in Paradise; but what precious sweetness it brings to the soul to hear Him say, "With Me." "Today shalt thou be with Pie in Paradise." He chose him for His compassion, and wrought in him, as well as for him, the fitness to enjoy His companionship.
Ques. What was the error of Balaam? N. I. F.
Ans. It was love of money, and he wanted to curse the people of God to get it. God made him bless them instead. Then he taught Balak to send in the idolatrous women to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. This brought down the judgment of God on those who sinned.
Rev. 2:1414But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (Revelation 2:14), tells of this in the professing Church, leading Christians to join with the world, in its mirth, its politics, and its motives. James 4:44Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4); 2 Cor. 11:22For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2), teach how wrong this is.