Sunday, May 31, 2009

Discuss: The power of Christ's resurrection is manifested in the suffering of the believer

The sufferings of the believer and the church are a witness to the world of the power of Christ's resurrection. The death of Jesus is carried by the sufferings of the believer, so that His resurrection life is shown to the world (2 Cor 4:10). The believer experiences suffering, life Christ, as they are pressed, perplexed, persecuted and struck down (2 Cor 4: 8-9), but not crushed in despair, abandoned or destroyed (2 Cor 4: 8-9). For like Christ we too have the promise of resurrection life to be procured by his suffering, exemplified by ours so that the world might see the glory of God. The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of this glory to come with a heavenly tent, that though we suffer not it is for a and in Christ. We live by faith, and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7), so our present sufferings only hasten the day of judgment to come when as glorified we stand before our most righteous judge.

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