Question: Please say something about suffering “for,” and “with” Christ. Also why in Romans 8, Galatians 3 and 4, and 1 John 3, are we sometimes called sons and sometimes children? C. W.
Answer: In 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 9:16 Acts 5:41; Phil. 1:29; 2 Tim. 3: 11, 12; 1 Peter 2: 21-23; 4:13, 14). So do we find the Lord and His disciples hated. (John 15:18, 19, 22-24). The Apostle desires to share in these sufferings from men. (Phil. 3:10). In 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.
Romans 8:17; 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 sinless 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 1:35). He was “of God” (4:38). In His path of self-emptied, lowly obedience, He is set before us in Philippians 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).
Romans 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. 3:26, 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 governors; 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, 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 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 Saviour 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 Me in Paradise.” He chose him for His compassion, and wrought in him, as well as for him, the fitness to enjoy His companionship.
Question: What was the error of Balaam? N. I. F.
Answer: 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.
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 4:4; 2 Corinthians 11:2, teach how wrong this is.