For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Both believing in Christ and suffering for Him are given to believers for His sake as gifts from God. This gift belongs to a life worthy of the gospel, standing fast together in one spirit and mind and striving for its faith without fear of opponents. Such fearless steadfastness is God's own sign of salvation to believers and of destruction to their adversaries. Suffering for Christ is no proof that God has forsaken His own, but a privilege and the highest honor Heaven can bestow. It does not excuse believers from reflecting Christ, but calls those who are still wrestling with temptation to live as citizens of heaven, separate from the world, denying self and bearing the cross with cheerful, pure, and honest conduct.
Gift and Its Context
For Christ's sake it is granted to believers, as a gift from God in his behalf, both to believe on him and to suffer for his sake, faith and suffering belonging together as privileges of the calling. Suffering for him in this way is not a sign that God has forsaken those who trust him. This granted suffering belongs with conduct worthy of the gospel, standing fast together united in one spirit and one mind and striving together for the faith of the gospel, in nothing terrified by adversaries. Fearless steadfastness in that conflict is itself an evident token from God, pointing to salvation for believers and to perdition and destruction for their adversaries.
So it was fulfilled in the church at Philippi, which did not escape persecution but was given the same conflict that had been seen in Paul there, opposition and disgrace and unjust imprisonment endured for Christ. Paul's willingness to suffer for Christ exerted a deep and lasting influence upon the converts, leading them to prize highly the truths for which so much had been sacrificed and to give themselves with wholehearted devotion to their Redeemer. Such was their steadfastness in the faith under that conflict that upon every remembrance of them he thanked God, always in every prayer making request with joy for their fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.
It is spoken to those enrolled as citizens of heaven while they are still wrestling with temptation and in danger of being drawn away from Christ and overcome, not to those finished with conflict. Belief does not remove that danger or struggle, for suffering remains part of following him while standing together and striving for the faith. It calls them to claim the rights and privileges of heavenly citizenship while living separate from the world, rendering God cheerful service with conduct honoring the gospel, without strife or vainglory, selfishness or murmuring, disputing, impurity or dishonesty.
Privilege and Honor in Suffering
To be allowed to suffer for Christ is a privilege joined to faith, for both believing on Him and suffering for His sake are granted in His behalf as gifts from God. Fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is a weighty trust and a high honor, indeed the most weighty trust and the highest honor Heaven can bestow upon men, and it is to be received with praise rather than fear. Those who share it may stand firm together for the gospel amid opposition and strive together for the faith without being terrified by adversaries. Such suffering is not evidence that God has abandoned those who trust in Him, nor is it a sign of lesser standing.
John the Baptist shows this honor, for though he was granted no miraculous deliverance but was left to perish alone in the dungeon, he was no less great or honored than Enoch who was translated to heaven or Elijah who ascended in a chariot of fire. His solitary death in prison did not make him less honored, because sharing Christ's sufferings is itself the high honor. Even without deliverance he was sustained by the companionship of heavenly angels and the promises of Scripture and the assurance of Christ's presence all the days even unto the end.
Paul lived this same privilege at Lystra when, after being stoned and dragged out of the city as dead, he rose up bruised and covered with blood with praises upon his lips because he had been permitted to suffer for Christ. The young disciple Timothy stood by as an eyewitness of that suffering and joy. Sharing Christ's suffering is an honor that belongs to the church's struggle against its adversaries and looks toward the future joy and glory of the redeemed, for steadfastness without terror points to salvation from God. Willingness to suffer for Christ's sake makes a person strong in the Mighty One and an instrument of righteousness, and redeeming the time in this way is possible by choice but will cost effort.
Faithful Life and Service
Trials and opposition do not keep Christians from reflecting Christ in character, for both believing in him and suffering for his sake are granted to his people in his behalf. That suffering belongs to the shared conflict of fellow believers against opponents, and in it they are to stand firm together for the gospel, in nothing terrified, remaining loyal to Christ amid the struggle. The grant calls those enrolled as citizens of heaven to claim the rights and privileges of that citizenship while living separate from the world. It calls for conduct becoming the gospel, standing fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, with fearless steadfastness as an evident token from God of salvation to believers and of perdition to adversaries. That worthy conduct means rendering God cheerful service without strife or vainglory, selfishness or murmuring, disputing, impurity or dishonesty, even while still wrestling with temptation and in danger of being drawn away from Christ and overcome.
Following Christ in this costly way means denying self and giving up ease and comfort, accepting self-denial, hardship, and the cross rather than seeking his glory while avoiding the cost. New believers must learn this lesson as they come to recognize the worth of souls and to use the Lord's money with care. Suffering for the truth is part of Christian service itself, so that those who have suffered little for it may lack experience in the work and stand back as critics rather than sharing its burdens.
Not every hardship qualifies, for sickness brought on by presumptuous choices or stubborn self-will is not suffering for Christ and should not be claimed as such when the course that made one ill was never required. Willingness to suffer for his sake makes a person strong in the Mighty One and an instrument of righteousness. Redeeming the time in that willingness remains possible by choice, but it will cost effort.
Both believing in Christ and suffering for Him are given to believers for His sake as gifts from God. This gift belongs to a life worthy of the gospel, standing fast together in one spirit and mind and striving for its faith without fear of opponents. Such fearless steadfastness is God's own sign of salvation to believers and of destruction to their adversaries. Suffering for Christ is no proof that God has forsaken His own, but a privilege and the highest honor Heaven can bestow. It does not excuse believers from reflecting Christ, but calls those who are still wrestling with temptation to live as citizens of heaven, separate from the world, denying self and bearing the cross with cheerful, pure, and honest conduct.
Gift and Its Context
For Christ's sake it is granted to believers, as a gift from God in his behalf, both to believe on him and to suffer for his sake, faith and suffering belonging together as privileges of the calling. Suffering for him in this way is not a sign that God has forsaken those who trust him. This granted suffering belongs with conduct worthy of the gospel, standing fast together united in one spirit and one mind and striving together for the faith of the gospel, in nothing terrified by adversaries. Fearless steadfastness in that conflict is itself an evident token from God, pointing to salvation for believers and to perdition and destruction for their adversaries.
So it was fulfilled in the church at Philippi, which did not escape persecution but was given the same conflict that had been seen in Paul there, opposition and disgrace and unjust imprisonment endured for Christ. Paul's willingness to suffer for Christ exerted a deep and lasting influence upon the converts, leading them to prize highly the truths for which so much had been sacrificed and to give themselves with wholehearted devotion to their Redeemer. Such was their steadfastness in the faith under that conflict that upon every remembrance of them he thanked God, always in every prayer making request with joy for their fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.
It is spoken to those enrolled as citizens of heaven while they are still wrestling with temptation and in danger of being drawn away from Christ and overcome, not to those finished with conflict. Belief does not remove that danger or struggle, for suffering remains part of following him while standing together and striving for the faith. It calls them to claim the rights and privileges of heavenly citizenship while living separate from the world, rendering God cheerful service with conduct honoring the gospel, without strife or vainglory, selfishness or murmuring, disputing, impurity or dishonesty.
Privilege and Honor in Suffering
To be allowed to suffer for Christ is a privilege joined to faith, for both believing on Him and suffering for His sake are granted in His behalf as gifts from God. Fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is a weighty trust and a high honor, indeed the most weighty trust and the highest honor Heaven can bestow upon men, and it is to be received with praise rather than fear. Those who share it may stand firm together for the gospel amid opposition and strive together for the faith without being terrified by adversaries. Such suffering is not evidence that God has abandoned those who trust in Him, nor is it a sign of lesser standing.
John the Baptist shows this honor, for though he was granted no miraculous deliverance but was left to perish alone in the dungeon, he was no less great or honored than Enoch who was translated to heaven or Elijah who ascended in a chariot of fire. His solitary death in prison did not make him less honored, because sharing Christ's sufferings is itself the high honor. Even without deliverance he was sustained by the companionship of heavenly angels and the promises of Scripture and the assurance of Christ's presence all the days even unto the end.
Paul lived this same privilege at Lystra when, after being stoned and dragged out of the city as dead, he rose up bruised and covered with blood with praises upon his lips because he had been permitted to suffer for Christ. The young disciple Timothy stood by as an eyewitness of that suffering and joy. Sharing Christ's suffering is an honor that belongs to the church's struggle against its adversaries and looks toward the future joy and glory of the redeemed, for steadfastness without terror points to salvation from God. Willingness to suffer for Christ's sake makes a person strong in the Mighty One and an instrument of righteousness, and redeeming the time in this way is possible by choice but will cost effort.
Faithful Life and Service
Trials and opposition do not keep Christians from reflecting Christ in character, for both believing in him and suffering for his sake are granted to his people in his behalf. That suffering belongs to the shared conflict of fellow believers against opponents, and in it they are to stand firm together for the gospel, in nothing terrified, remaining loyal to Christ amid the struggle. The grant calls those enrolled as citizens of heaven to claim the rights and privileges of that citizenship while living separate from the world. It calls for conduct becoming the gospel, standing fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, with fearless steadfastness as an evident token from God of salvation to believers and of perdition to adversaries. That worthy conduct means rendering God cheerful service without strife or vainglory, selfishness or murmuring, disputing, impurity or dishonesty, even while still wrestling with temptation and in danger of being drawn away from Christ and overcome.
Following Christ in this costly way means denying self and giving up ease and comfort, accepting self-denial, hardship, and the cross rather than seeking his glory while avoiding the cost. New believers must learn this lesson as they come to recognize the worth of souls and to use the Lord's money with care. Suffering for the truth is part of Christian service itself, so that those who have suffered little for it may lack experience in the work and stand back as critics rather than sharing its burdens.
Not every hardship qualifies, for sickness brought on by presumptuous choices or stubborn self-will is not suffering for Christ and should not be claimed as such when the course that made one ill was never required. Willingness to suffer for his sake makes a person strong in the Mighty One and an instrument of righteousness. Redeeming the time in that willingness remains possible by choice, but it will cost effort.