Why pain
I have done my best to offer a through explanation on the origin of pain and why it exists. I’m afraid this explanation can get a bit technical and long-winded at times. I have done this so that whoever cares to read it may have the most complete answer that I can give. If you are not interested in the origin of suffering or are not interested in any point or portion, I have set up headings so you can skip. I do not demand you read every little bitof this document. I have simply tried to put as thorough an answer down as possible. You are free to use or not use any portion of the document as youfeel you need.
I start with the origin of pain and the Fall of Man. I address a couple of reasons and explanations on that. I then address suffering within the Christian context. I also address two categories of pain for the Christian. I call them authorized and unauthorized. I also address the ideal Christian responses to the two different kinds of pain.
Origin of Pain
When God created man, the intention was an eternity of friendship.God (The Father, Jesus, Spirit) is the source of life (Gen 2:7, Psa. 36:9, John 11:25, John 14:6, John 10:28). The plan was for mankind to remain in the garden and continually be sustained by God who is the source of Life. The serpent came to the woman and tempted her with the fruit.
Gen 3:4 And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die,
Gen 3:5 for God knows that in the day you eat of it,then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as God, knowing good and evil.
I’m sure you realize the story is about how this act of disobedience brought sin into the world. It is important to understand a few underlying concepts first. First is that God is the definition of Holy and perfection. From the bible’s perspective, God is not good because He does nice things or merciful because He does merciful things. God is the personification of mercy.God is the personification of Holiness. God is the personification of life. The quickest statement I can refer to is Jesus’ claim, “I am the way the truth and the Life”. The way of salvation was not through the actions of Jesus. Salvation is not a plan or a confession. Salvation is a person. The Way is a person.Truth is a person. In all these cases, Jesus is the personification of these things.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Here the word is not simply a record of the things God has said. Jesus is the personification of God’s word. One of the primary attributes applied to God is holiness. Countless times God makes the claim He is holy. God is the personification of Holy.Therefore, anything that is like God or conforms to His will is Holy. It is not holy because it matches a set definition of holy or reaches a measurable level of holiness. It is holy because it is like God. God is the personification of holy which makes anything like God similarly holy. Sin is similar. Sin is not defined by abstract ideas. Sin is not defined by doing harm. Sin is defined as anything and everything that is not under submission to God. God is the personification of Holy and everything else is sin. God= Holy. Not God = Sin.
The sin in Genesis was not simply that God’s command was disobeyed, but that Man attempted to become God. Our sin was trying to become our own source of life. The sin was rejecting God as our source of life and standing separately as our own. It was this intended separation that was the original sin. Before this, we were bearing God’s image. Because we were like God we were holy. After we rejected God and separated ourselves from Him, we became not-like God. We became sinful.
God’s response was basically, “okay, have it your way”(realize this is a summary – God sent Jesus to save us and went to much trouble to not leave us in the pit we dug. I am simply saying that for those who don’t want God bothering them get what they ask for. God does not order them about and does not protect them from the consequences of their decisions). Mankind now lives without God’s continuous intervention in their affairs. Man was given dominion over the Earth. After the fall, the church either argues that Satan has that position of dominion or that sinful man still has it. Either way while God still has control of everything, a rebellious faction has gained temporary control of earth by man’s choice to become his own source of life.
While God immediately began work to bring mankind back to Himself, the majority of mankind has more or less free reign to try and live life without God. The problem with this is that God is the source of life (Whether you want to see this as designed dependence is your choice. God sees Himself as the source of life. Therefore God does not view the idea of mankind and a creation that is not dependent upon Him for continued life as possible.). As God is the source of life, anything that is separate from God is separate from the source of life
Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine,neither can you, unless you abide in me.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Joh 15:6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
Pain and suffering come from several sources as a result. The primary is a result of cutting ourselves off from the source of life. The longer and more we separate ourselves from God,the more we are without it. It is kind of like cutting ourselves off from food or air. The body recognizes that it does not have access to something it needs.The more it goes without and the more brutal the separation, the longer and more it becomes damaged. Pain is the feeling or result of that physical damage.Because we separate ourselves from the source of life, our bodies are without the source of life and healing (Jesus), therefore we suffer physical pain because we are cut off from Jesus as the source of physical healing, health, and wholeness. Spiritual and mental life follows the same line of thought. Pain and suffering is the result and experience of the damage and continuing damage from being separate from the source of life.
Another source of suffering is each other. With our rejection of God and authority, we are now allowed to rule ourselves. People cause harm and suffering to each other. While we may feel this is wrong or that God should step in, we are the ones who rejected God and demanded to be free of His rule. We wanted to be free of God’s control and now we have it. We are free from having Him commanding us. God is not stepping into make us worship Him. Neither is He stepping in to make us treat each other fairly. God is not stepping in to make us study His word or to respect each other’s property. Basically mankind made its decision and God is letting us live with the consequences of our call. If we want to submit to God again and receive His provision and protection, we can but it’s an all or nothing deal.
A final source of suffering (at least - the final one I’m dealing with,) is what I call backsplash suffering. In addition to ourselves being cut off from the source of life, the rest of the Earth is also cut off from the source of life. When we were first set on Earth God gave us control over earth.
Gen 1:27 And God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him. He created them male and female.
Gen 1:28 And God blessed them. And God said to them,Be fruitful, and multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it. And have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the heavens, and all animals that move upon the earth.
Mankind had dominion over the Earth when the fall occurred.Because the Earth was basically under the authority of man when man fell, the Earth is still under man’s dominion and also suffers from being cut off from the source of life. Because of this, the earth is suffering from damage.
Rom 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility,not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
Rom8:21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
So we are suffering from damage from being cut off from the source of life. In addition to that, our environment is under bondage because of this separation. So pain and suffering occurs because our environment can cause damage and pain through accidents and other kinds of unintended collateral damage resulting from God not actively controlling creation on earth.
Bondage: G1397 (δουλεία) douleia: From G1398; slavery(ceremonially or figuratively): - bondage.
Corruption: G5356 (φθορά) phthora: From G5351; decay, that is, ruin (spontaneous or inflicted, literally or figuratively): -corruption, destroy, perish.
The purpose of Pain within the Christian Experience
Sin is the source of pain. Jesus saves us from sin. So if sin is gone why is suffering still here? If God could change our nature then why does He not? Why are we left to battle sin?
There are two kinds: Authorized and Unauthorized
Unauthorized: suffering weare meant to overcome as Jesus overcame
Authorized suffering:suffering intended to develop character and bring a person closer to God
Authorized
I will cover authorized suffering first. This reason for pain was somewhat covered but does not address or deal with the full picture. The reason and purpose on why God would allow pain and suffering in a people redeemed and purchased from sin lies dually in the nature of God and the purpose of man. Unfortunately, most answers to major life and religion questions have roots and foundations in Genesis. So it is there we must begin.
Gen 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
Gen1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Image:H6754 (צלם) tselem: From an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, that is, (figuratively) illusion, resemblance; hence a representative figure
Likeness H1823 (דּמוּת) demûth :From H1819;resemblance; concretely model, shape; adverbially like:- fashion, like (-ness, as), manner, similitude.
The reason God made mankind was to be His representative on Earth. Man was to be His ambassador or overseer having authority over creation on earth. As such He wanted mankind to bear his image. We are meant to carry and reflect a lesser version of His image and nature. This does not mean that we are to be thoughtless clones but we are to share characteristics and qualities with Him. However, man has sinned. By this sin, man fell from his position of authority and dominion. Man failed to show and operate in God’s nature.After the fall, man’s nature was twisted and broken. But, God has gone through the pain of redeeming mankind. The reason for this is because God has not given up on His purpose for mankind. He is kind of stubborn that way.
Even now, after thousands of years of history, His purpose remains unchanged. God’s intention for mankind is still to reflect His nature. Romans probably says it best but I will copy and paste several verses to establish the point.
Rom 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Predestined: G3724 (ὁρίζω) horizō: From G3725; to mark out or bound(“horizon”), that is, (figuratively) to appoint, decree, specify:- declare, determine, limit, ordain.
In this verse it says that He decreed or declared that His followers are to be conformed to the image of Jesus. This means we are to share His qualities. As Jesus is like and has the same nature of God, so to should we have the nature of God so that Jesus will be the first among an entire family of people carrying the image of God. The whole purpose of creation is to cultivate children who share and carry the nature of God
1Jn 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
1Jn 3:2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
1Jn3:3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
Peter provides the most surprising summary of this idea. As image bearers and children of God, we are partakers of the divine nature.
2Pe 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
2Pe 1:4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
2Pe 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
2Pe 1:6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
2Pe 1:7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
Partaker G2844 (κοινωνός)koinōnos: From G2839; a sharer, that is, associate:- companion, fellowship, partaker, partner.
Result of the shared-nature
A natural result of being image bearers of God, is that we are expected to grow and develop the qualities of God. The perfect template for this is Jesus. Jesus came to earth and lived the perfect life as an image bearer of God. Because we are to be younger brothers to Jesus, we are to (by the grace of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit) strive to do the same.
Eph 4:17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
Eph 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding,alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
Eph 4:19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
Eph 4:20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!--
Eph 4:21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,
Eph 4:22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
Eph 4:23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
Eph 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Here in Ephesians Paul sets down the thought process that Christians are to follow. We are sons and partakers of the divine nature of God. Because we share the nature of God we should be motivated by this and seek to act out the new nature we were given at conversion. The process is not to become good by following a set of laws but to recognize we have been entrusted with the divine nature and to work to show this nature to the world.
2Co 3:14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.
2Co 3:15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.
2Co 3:16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2Co3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2Co 5:4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened--not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
2Co5:5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
Spirit G4151 (πνεῦμα) pneuma: From G4154; a current of air, that is, breath(blast) or abreeze; by analogy or figuratively a spirit,that is, (human) the rational soul, (by implication)vital principle,mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon,or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy spirit: - ghost, life,spirit (-ual, -ually), mind. Compare G5590.
As far as pain is concerned God and Jesus are long suffering and willing to suffer to help others. Here in Philippians, the author describes Christ’s willingness to set aside his glory and power in order to bring salvation to the lost.
Php 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
Php 2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
Php 2:7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Php 2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Php 2:9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
In Hebrews, we have more description of Jesus’ willingness to undergo suffering.
Heb 5:7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.
Heb 5:8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
Heb 5:10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Because the decree of God is for the followers of Jesus to be partakers in the divine nature of God and His son Jesus, Christians are expected to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. This covers a broad spectrum of qualities. This includes character development such as love, caring,self-control, etc. This also includes the authority to exercise divine power on earth. It also includes a willingness to enter suffering and endure suffering.Sometimes the immediate reason for the suffering is to bring the message of salvation to the lost. Sometimes it is for character development. The following verses all echo this idea of follow Jesus’ example.
Mat 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elder sand chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
Mat 16:22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you."
Mat 16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
Mat 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
2Co 1:5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
2Co 1:6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.
2Co 1:7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
Php 1:29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
Php1:30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
2Co 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
2Co 4:8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
2Co 4:9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down,but not destroyed;
2Co 4:10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
2Co 4:11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
2Co 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
2Co 1:4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2Ti 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead,the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,
2Ti 2:9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!
2Ti 2:10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
2Ti 2:11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
2Ti 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
2Ti 2:13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful--for he cannot deny himself.
1Pe 2:20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
1Pe 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1Pe 2:22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
1Pe 2:23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
1Pe 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
1Pe 2:25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings,that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
1Pe 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ,you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
1Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
1Pe 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
Col 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Col 3:6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
Col 3:7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.
Col 3:8 But now you must put them all away: anger,wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
Col 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
God also uses painto discipline/develop His children and followers.
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 to an inheritance that is imperishable,undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
1Pe 1:7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--maybe found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside ever yweight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Heb 12:4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Heb 12:5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
Heb 12:6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,and chastises every son whom he receives."
Heb 12:7 It is for discipline that you have to endure.God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
Heb 12:8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
Heb 12:9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
Heb 12:10 For they disciplined us for a short time asit seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
Heb 12:11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Heb 12:12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,
Heb 12:13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
Jas 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
Jas 1:3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Jas 1:4 And let steadfastness have its full effect,that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
As a final note, the point of this was to answer why God allows suffering for the Christian. God does not intend His followers to endure every kind of pain they go through. Some types of suffering or pain is part of God’s plan. Sometimes the pain or suffering is against God’s will.
Unauthorized pain
Not all pain God means for Christians to suffer for His glory. Some pain goes against God’s will. In that case the proper response is to fight against it. Following the same logic as before, there were many circumstances in which Jesus healed, restored, deliver the suffering and broken. Jesus is very much invested in waging a war on sin and its effects.
Luk 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day,and he stood up to read.
Luk 4:17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
Luk 4:18 "The Spirit oft he Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
Luk 4:19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Not only this, we are promised by Jesus that we, His followers, will perform even greater feats than He did.
Joh 14:10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
Joh 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
Joh 14:12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
What works did Jesus do? Preaching, teaching, healing, etc. Christians are empowered and expected to perform greater works. This means we are authorized to use Gods power entrusted to us as Christians in order to channel the Holy Spirit (God the source of life) in order to heal the effects of Sin.Some suffering is authorized. God has a plan and a purpose and therefore the follower must endure like a good soldier. Other times, the suffering is unauthorized and the suffering is simply a result of sin or backsplash. In these cases, the proper response is to fight against the effects.
Jas 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
Jas 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Jas5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Mat 10:1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast themout, and to heal every disease and every affliction.
Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,
Mat 10:6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 10:7 And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
Mar 16:14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.
Mar 16:15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
Mar 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Mar 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
Mar 16:18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."
The natural response is “why us?”. Christ has already fought and defeated sin. God has the power to cut this earth freak show and gift all His followers with immunity to sin, pain and suffering. Why do we have to go into the trenches when the battle is already won? The primary reason is that Jesus did.
There are many passages referencing spiritual war and our place in it. The most natural place to start is in Exodus where God’s nature as a warrior is proclaimed. Part of God’s nature is to fight. To fight against His enemies and to protect who He loves, Humanity.
Exo 15:2 The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.
Exo 15:3 The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name.
Jesus also carriesthis characteristic. Jesus conquered Satan, sin, and death. In addition, Healso was very willing to engage the religious authorities of the day. Theincident when he overthrew the money changer tables in the temple is almosticonic. One of the most vivid descriptions of Jesus’ willingness to fight is inRevelation
Rev 19:10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him,but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Rev 19:11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a whitehorse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousnes she judges and makes war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
Rev 19:13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.
Rev 19:15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
As I covered before, we are meant to emulate Christ. As Christ fought a war with sin so must we. God wants children who have hearts willing to suffer to bring salvation to the Lost (because that is who God is). God also wants children who have the courage to face down sin and Satan and their effects – and have the power to win.
Jas 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Jas 4:5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"?
Jas 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says,"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Jas 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Resist:G436(ἀνθίστημι) anthistēmi: From G473 and G2476; to stand against, that is,oppose:- resist, withstand.
Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you maybe able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Stand:G2476 (ἵστημι) histēmi:A prolonged form of a primary word στάω staō (of the same meaning, and used for it in certaintenses); to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively): - abide, appoint, bring, continue,covenant,
Against: G4314 (πρός) pros:A strengthened form of G4253; a preposition of direction;forward to,that is, toward (with the genitive case the side of, that is, pertaining to; with the dative case by the side of, that is, near to; usually with the accusative case the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, that is, whither or for which it is predicated): -about, according to, against, among, at, because of, before, between,([where-]) by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), + together, to ([you]) -ward, unto, with(-in). In compounds it denotes essentially the same applications, namely,motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.
Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Wrestle: G3823 (πάλη) palē: Fromπάλλω pallō (to vibrate; another form for G906);wrestling: - + wrestle.
G906 (βάλλω) ballō: Aprimary verb; to throw (in various applications, more or less violent or intense): - arise, cast (out), X dung, lay, lie, pour, put (up), send, strike,throw (down), thrust. Compare G4496.
Eph 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God,that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Withstand: G436 (ἀνθίστημι) anthistēmi: From G473 and G2476; to stand against,that is,oppose: - resist, withstand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Eph 6:15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
Eph 6:16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Eph 6:17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
Eph 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
We, as his followers, are saved from the eternal consequences of sin. There is no way for us to earn this salvation or gain it through our efforts. Out of God’s love we are pursued. Out of God’s mercy we are forgiven our evil. Out of God’s Holy Spirit we are empowered. We remain on earth as a training ground. We are expected to accept our new place as Children of God. Out of this new position we are expected to grow into the type of people with the qualities and characteristics that God Himself has. We are to see and face down the sin within us. By doing this we move closer to God. We are to eagerly seek to bring the good news to the lost no matter how much trouble or suffering we incur in the process. We do this because Jesus did and we are to mature and grow in the process. We study and learn from the bible that we may think God’s thoughts after Him. And we wage war on the effects of sin through prayer, miracles,and love.
I will conclude with a final note. We do not go through this process to earn Gods love or a place in heaven. These are gifts. They are a guarantee after conversion. The reward or earning component will be implemented after we enter heaven. “God loves you as you are but loves you too much to leave you as you are.”
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God given to me,like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.
1Co 3:11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw--
1Co 3:13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
1Co 3:14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
The natural consequence of this theology will be the question why don’t Christians do more of this. The answer to that is, to some extent they do. Not nearly enough, I’ll grant you, but they do. I have been in several churches when the people prayed and supernatural healing took place. God is willing to make a spectacle of His love.
No comments:
Post a Comment