Let us come to the New Covenant, and talk of the church age, the age of grace and deliverance and salvation… but still an age of suffering. Has anything changed? It would seem that suffering for God’s people is still

1. being instigated by Satan, the accuser,

2. often being carried out by evil men,

3. used by God, the Father, and

4. very useful for our perfection.

We must of course begin with Jesus. A category of suffering totally isolated from us? We want to think so. But though His suffering brought our salvation initially, we are told by Peter that in fact He set an example for us, and that we are to follow in His train. Our sufferings will not atone for sin, but they will, when offered properly, bring sinners to the atonement.

Jesus was made perfect through suffering. Note, He was never imperfect. But He was forever being made perfect by the things He suffered. And so are you. And so am I. No suffering means no perfection.

Paul brings yet another item to the table. He suggests that there is a “quota” for suffering in every generation. We can easily see that God’s true people have suffered since the days of Jesus. Follow the blood to follow the church. In every generation some have been called upon to suffer great punishment to fill up the measure, to make up for those, it would seem, that do not suffer at all, or very little. There is a cup for my generation. It will be filled. Question is, will my own sufferings be measured in that cup, or will I just expect others to drink my portion of that cup for me?

Let’s now look specifically at some of the New Testament passages that deal with suffering. You’ll need your Bible to follow along.

First recall that the KJV uses the old English word “suffer” that means merely “allow” that is not part of this discussion.

Next, let’s go to the passages that predict and/or discuss the sufferings of Jesus:

(Foretold by Jesus) Matthew 16:21, Mark 8:31, Luke 9:22, 17:25, 24:46, (Foretold by the prophets) Acts 3:18. (Jesus’ means of perfection) Hebrews 2:10, 5:8 (I Peter 2:21) Jesus our example.

Then there is the most prevalent suffering theme in the New Testament, namely, our suffering persecution with Jesus, following in His steps:

(A privilege) Acts 5:41, Philippians 1:29,. (A promise, and a Prerequisite for reigning with Jesus) Romans 8:17, I Thessalonians 3:4, II Timothy 2:12 , 3:12 , Revelation 2:10 . (Paul told how much he will suffer.) Acts 9:16. (Apostles suffering.) I Cor 4:12 (Believers suffering.)II Cor 1:6, II Thessalonians 1:5. (Paul suffers persecution) Gal 5:11. Philippians 3:8 , II Timothy 1:12 ( Persecution for the cross) Gal 6:12, I Tim 4:10 labor and suffer pers. (A choice) Hebrews 11:25 (vs suffering for our own sins) I Pet 2:19, 20, I Pet 3:14, 17, I Peter 4:1 I Pet 4:13. I Peter 4:15-19. I Peter 5:10.

Chastisement: Cannot be chosen. It is coming! Hebrews 12.

Testing/Temptation: James 1:2-4, 12-15.

General. James 5: 10-11, 13

Eternal. Jude 7. Revelation 20:10-15.

The glory of God. John 9. Blind man. You will either be healed, or so filled with grace that people will marvel. Paul’s thorn in the flesh was of the latter. The blind man was of the former.

Conclusion: