For Which I am Suffering

[Christsfreeservant]

“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 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. (2 Timothy 2:8-10 ESV)​

What was the gospel message that Jesus and that Paul taught, and for which Paul was suffering in prison? It was that faith in Jesus Christ, which is gifted to us by God, and which is persuaded of God, and which is not of our own doing, results in us being crucified with Christ in death to sin, and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin, but as slaves to God and to his righteousness. For if sin is what we practice, and not obedience to God, we do not have eternal life with God.

If we are to come after Christ, we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have salvation and eternal life with God. But if we call Jesus our Lord, but we do not obey him, then we will not enter into the kingdom of heaven, but Jesus will say, “Depart from me..”

When Jesus Christ became our sacrificial Lamb on that cross, he put our sins to death with him so that, by God-persuaded faith in him, we will die with him to sin and walk with him (in conduct) in obedience to his commands. He died that we might no longer live for ourselves but for him who gave his life up for us. So we are not to let sin reign in our mortal bodies, to make us obey its passions. For if sin is what we obey, it leads to death, but if obedience to God is what we obey, its end is eternal life with God.

[Matt 7:13-14,21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 10:27-30; Ac 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,15-17; 1 Jn 3:4-10]

*Note: ½ to ¾ of the above passages were penned by the apostle Paul

And in our world today, at least here in America, and I am certain in other nations, as well, that is not the gospel message that is predominantly being taught and received by the majority of those professing faith in Jesus Christ. The majority all appear to be spreading and/or receiving a diluted and altered gospel message which makes no requirements for putting sin to death in our lives and for walks of obedience to our Lord and to his commands. Many are teaching a “lip service” only type of gospel which then guarantees the “believer” forgiveness of all sins and a free pass to heaven.

And if you are someone who holds to the gospel message taught by Jesus and by Paul (in the appropriate context), and if you are someone who is sharing the gospel message that they taught with the people of the world and with the worldly church, and with friends, family, and neighbors, you are likely to be treated somewhat like Jesus and Paul were treated for speaking the truth of the gospel. And who were their greatest persecutors? Yes, the Jews, but they were those who professed to believe in the same God as we do. So some of our persecutors may be professers of faith in Jesus Christ.

But our response to such persecution must be the same as Jesus and Paul had. And they both defended themselves and what they were doing against the false accusations being charged against them. They rebuked the lies of the enemy and they proclaimed the truth of God’s word. They recognized the sovereignty of God the Father over their lives and their circumstances, and they accepted God’s will and purpose for their lives. And they kept loving the people, even their enemies, and they kept spreading the truth of the gospel of our salvation regardless of how they got treated in return, for God’s glory.

[Matt 5:10-12; Matt 10:16-39; Matt 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 12:49-53; Luke 21:12-19; John 15:1-21; John 16:33; John 17:14; Acts 14:22; Rom 5:3-5; Eph 6:10-20; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12; 1 Jn 3:13; Rev 6:9-11; Rev 7:9-17; Rev 11:1-3; Rev 12:17; Rev 13:1-18; Rev 14:1-13]

For Our Nation

An Original Work / September 11, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.

For Which I am Suffering
An Original Work / February 11, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

[soldier of light]

“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 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. (2 Timothy 2:8-10 ESV)​

What was the gospel message that Jesus and that Paul taught, and for which Paul was suffering in prison? It was that faith in Jesus Christ, which is gifted to us by God, and which is persuaded of God, and which is not of our own doing, results in us being crucified with Christ in death to sin, and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin, but as slaves to God and to his righteousness. For if sin is what we practice, and not obedience to God, we do not have eternal life with God.

If we are to come after Christ, we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have salvation and eternal life with God. But if we call Jesus our Lord, but we do not obey him, then we will not enter into the kingdom of heaven, but Jesus will say, “Depart from me..”

When Jesus Christ became our sacrificial Lamb on that cross, he put our sins to death with him so that, by God-persuaded faith in him, we will die with him to sin and walk with him (in conduct) in obedience to his commands. He died that we might no longer live for ourselves but for him who gave his life up for us. So we are not to let sin reign in our mortal bodies, to make us obey its passions. For if sin is what we obey, it leads to death, but if obedience to God is what we obey, its end is eternal life with God.

[Matt 7:13-14,21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 10:27-30; Ac 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,15-17; 1 Jn 3:4-10]

*Note: ½ to ¾ of the above passages were penned by the apostle Paul

And in our world today, at least here in America, and I am certain in other nations, as well, that is not the gospel message that is predominantly being taught and received by the majority of those professing faith in Jesus Christ. The majority all appear to be spreading and/or receiving a diluted and altered gospel message which makes no requirements for putting sin to death in our lives and for walks of obedience to our Lord and to his commands. Many are teaching a “lip service” only type of gospel which then guarantees the “believer” forgiveness of all sins and a free pass to heaven.

And if you are someone who holds to the gospel message taught by Jesus and by Paul (in the appropriate context), and if you are someone who is sharing the gospel message that they taught with the people of the world and with the worldly church, and with friends, family, and neighbors, you are likely to be treated somewhat like Jesus and Paul were treated for speaking the truth of the gospel. And who were their greatest persecutors? Yes, the Jews, but they were those who professed to believe in the same God as we do. So some of our persecutors may be professers of faith in Jesus Christ.

But our response to such persecution must be the same as Jesus and Paul had. And they both defended themselves and what they were doing against the false accusations being charged against them. They rebuked the lies of the enemy and they proclaimed the truth of God’s word. They recognized the sovereignty of God the Father over their lives and their circumstances, and they accepted God’s will and purpose for their lives. And they kept loving the people, even their enemies, and they kept spreading the truth of the gospel of our salvation regardless of how they got treated in return, for God’s glory.

[Matt 5:10-12; Matt 10:16-39; Matt 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 12:49-53; Luke 21:12-19; John 15:1-21; John 16:33; John 17:14; Acts 14:22; Rom 5:3-5; Eph 6:10-20; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12; 1 Jn 3:13; Rev 6:9-11; Rev 7:9-17; Rev 11:1-3; Rev 12:17; Rev 13:1-18; Rev 14:1-13]

For Our Nation

An Original Work / September 11, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.

For Which I am Suffering
An Original Work / February 11, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

People who speak truth are despised and rejected like Jesus and his apostles. In 1 Corinthians chapter 4 said that the apostles were looked down on by people in their own church

 

[Christsfreeservant]

People who speak truth are despised and rejected like Jesus and his apostles. In 1 Corinthians chapter 4 said that the apostles were looked down on by people in their own church

Yes, if we are speaking the truth of God's word to the people we will be persecuted, hated, rejected, looked down on, ignored, cast aside as unwanted, ridiculed, falsely accused of wrong, etc. Jesus warned us that if we follow him with our lives, in truth, and in righteousness, that we will be hated and persecuted as he was. But it is worth it all to get the message of the gospel out to the people for their salvation.