Heneni
Miss Independent
The scriptural reference is:
Col 1:24
24Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church
The love of Christ which was demonstrated through His suffering on the cross was completely enough to secure our everlasting salvation. However, the world, since Jesus is no longer here, has no opportunity to see the same kind of suffering HE experienced unless we suffer in full view of the world. So the body of Christ suffers to reveal and make real to the world the suffering of Christ, in his absence. In Pauls case his suffering did no complete Christs sufferings in the sense that Christs afflictions were not sufficient, but rather he extended them to the people they were meant to save. So he was filling up what was lacking in the extension of the suffering of Jesus to his day and age, and we in our day and age.
It is interesting I think that in revelation we see that the people are asking 'how long lord how long', and the answer is until the full amount of martyrs have been gathered. I think that there is something very significant and powerful when we suffer with Christ and for Christ, we extend the visual demonstration of the love of Christ on the cross to those around us. We dont only preach the good news but we extend the reality of the suffering Jesus experienced on the cross because he loved us to others. And so the gospel makes great headway when the children of god suffer, because we then bear in our bodies the marks of Jesus so that JESUS might be seen and love might work powerfully in those who see it. The cross is all about love, and the suffering that Jesus endured was all for our sake, and the power of the gospel is demonstrated also, when we too extend the suffering of the cross to others, in order to reveal and not only teach about the love of god, through his son, for the world through suffering.
So Paul says ''death is at work in us, but life in you''. The suffering that Paul experienced at times made him feel like he had received the sentence of physical death, yet the danger of being martyred and the suffering and afflictions he went through, and the confident hope that Paul had in heaven, and the love that he had for the congregations, would work powerfully in the observers and listeners of the gospel, as he extended his suffering to them, in order to also extend the life of Christ to them. So death was working in him, but life in them.
More supporting scripture:
1 Peter 4:16
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
1 Peter 3:14
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.
Phil 1:29
29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him
Rejoice insofar as you SHARE Christs sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed (1 Peter 4:13)
It is with affliction that we receive the word, with joy in the HS (who gives us understanding), so that you become and example to all the believers.
1 Tess 1:6-7
I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation that is in Christ Jesus - 2 Tim 2:10
If there are any questions i will be happy to answer them.
Col 1:24
24Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church
The love of Christ which was demonstrated through His suffering on the cross was completely enough to secure our everlasting salvation. However, the world, since Jesus is no longer here, has no opportunity to see the same kind of suffering HE experienced unless we suffer in full view of the world. So the body of Christ suffers to reveal and make real to the world the suffering of Christ, in his absence. In Pauls case his suffering did no complete Christs sufferings in the sense that Christs afflictions were not sufficient, but rather he extended them to the people they were meant to save. So he was filling up what was lacking in the extension of the suffering of Jesus to his day and age, and we in our day and age.
It is interesting I think that in revelation we see that the people are asking 'how long lord how long', and the answer is until the full amount of martyrs have been gathered. I think that there is something very significant and powerful when we suffer with Christ and for Christ, we extend the visual demonstration of the love of Christ on the cross to those around us. We dont only preach the good news but we extend the reality of the suffering Jesus experienced on the cross because he loved us to others. And so the gospel makes great headway when the children of god suffer, because we then bear in our bodies the marks of Jesus so that JESUS might be seen and love might work powerfully in those who see it. The cross is all about love, and the suffering that Jesus endured was all for our sake, and the power of the gospel is demonstrated also, when we too extend the suffering of the cross to others, in order to reveal and not only teach about the love of god, through his son, for the world through suffering.
So Paul says ''death is at work in us, but life in you''. The suffering that Paul experienced at times made him feel like he had received the sentence of physical death, yet the danger of being martyred and the suffering and afflictions he went through, and the confident hope that Paul had in heaven, and the love that he had for the congregations, would work powerfully in the observers and listeners of the gospel, as he extended his suffering to them, in order to also extend the life of Christ to them. So death was working in him, but life in them.
More supporting scripture:
1 Peter 4:16
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
1 Peter 3:14
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.
Phil 1:29
29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him
Rejoice insofar as you SHARE Christs sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed (1 Peter 4:13)
It is with affliction that we receive the word, with joy in the HS (who gives us understanding), so that you become and example to all the believers.
1 Tess 1:6-7
I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation that is in Christ Jesus - 2 Tim 2:10
If there are any questions i will be happy to answer them.
