For as the sufferings
of Christ abound in us,
so our consolation
also abounds through Christ.
Now if we are
afflicted, it is for your
consolation and
salvation, which is effective
for enduring the same
sufferings which we also suffer.
Or if we are comforted,
it is for your
consolation and
salvation.
And our hope for you
is steadfast,
because we know that
as you are partakers
of the sufferings, so
also you will partake
of the consolation.
2 Corinthians 1: 5 --
7
Paul is now
intending to encourage the Corinthian Christians and by extension we also
are encouraged. Jesus Christ was God
incarnate in the flesh, and yet was fully human in the flesh. Jesus Christ being fully human would suffer
what all humans have to suffer, and be joyful as any other human would be
joyful. Therefore, when Jesus was
beaten and the scourging and mocking and being spit upon just prior to his execution, He
felt all the pain and suffering as any other human would suffer. Yes, He is God, but for Jesus to fully meet
the requirements for the justice of God He also had to be fully man. Jesus was not born by means of a human
father, rather, His Father was God, therefore: Jesus was not born with original
sin. Just as Adam formed by God and had
no original sin, Jesus formed by God and in flesh did not have original
sin. Jesus Christ met all the
requirements needed to meet the justice of God for the lost life and sin of
Adam. When Jesus Christ suffered those
sufferings abound in us, that is Jesus Christ was suffering for all of those whom
God would give Him. Therefore, in the
same manner, our consolation abounds in Jesus Christ. If we are afflicted, and we pass through that affliction by means
of the Holy Spirit imparted to us, our comforter, who is the third Person in the
Godhead, so then we have our consolation through Jesus Christ who is the second
Person of the Godhead. The Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit, all three persons of the Godhead are but one God. As we are afflicted, due to our
Christianity, it is for yours and others consolation and salvation, and so
we are able to endure sufferings and we are comforted. The Paraclete, the Comforter, comforts us
with consolation and salvation. Yes we
partake of sufferings and trials and tribulations but this also means that we
will partake of God's consolation.
It would be
very wrong of us to think that just because God has elected His children before
the foundation of the world that we must not give an account for all we say, do,
and think. God did not leave us here
with nothing for us to do as orphans crying in the dirty street hoping for some
help. No God tells us that we must go,
teach and preach Jesus Christ for we are His witnesses, ambassadors from the
kingdom of God. We are to obey and
leave all the consequences to God and as long as anyone will not obey they are
in the way of the Gospel. If we spend
time debating over theological differences that are nothing more than matters
of indifference and have little or nothing to do with the Gospel then we are
standing in the way of spreading the gospel which God has commanded us to do:
this means that you do not believe that Jesus means what He says. It seems as though often we are playing the part of
an amateur providence in our lives and by some of our contentious debates and
by instruction that clamors to be believed; rather than to teach Scripture, therefore God
cannot get near other people. We must
guard our speech and keep our spirits alert and if we do God will instruct us
in regard to His Son, and when we pray our prayers are turned into Mounts of
transfiguration. During our trials and
afflictions times of trouble we must wait on God and allow Him to work, and
this means we do not wait in some sort of spiritual sulking because you cannot
see how things are going to work out.
No to wait is not to sit upon their hands folded, mumbling to
ourselves that things aren't going the way we think they should, rather we are
to learn what to do and do what we are told.
It is nice to say that God will console us and He will, but why would He
do such if you don't really believe in Him?
It seems that we want our cake and eat it too! God saves! God consoles! We are comforted! We can endure! All this
because Jesus Christ suffered on the cross for you and I.
When we
step forward in Faith, be constant, patient and have the fortitude, as shown
by the apostles. We are molding others for their suffering and we give them
reason to stand firm in their faith.
Those favors God will bestow on us are intended not only to make us
cheerful, but also that we may be useful to others. Our hope in all of this is that upon the last day when Jesus
Christ returns we will be able to partake with them in their salvation. God sends consolations sufficient to support
us as we simply trust in Him and serve Him, and by this we are capable of
comforting others. What a great work we
have set before us by our great God Jehovah.
The LORD God is my strength;
He will
make my feet
like deer’s feet, and He will make me
walk on my
high hills.
Habakkuk
3: 19a
Your success rests with God
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