Lesson for May 7, 2023
Lesson 1
The Doctrine of Undeserved Suffering
Undeserved suffering is designed for our spiritual growth and blessing as believers. This kind of suffering was what Jesus experienced during the time He was on earth. Everything that Christ suffered, He in no way deserved. The pain and suffering that He experienced at the hands of cruel, evil men was totally undeserved. However, He was able to endure the suffering, knowing the blessing and glory that awaited Him and us for all eternity. With regard to the doctrine of undeserved suffering, we will examine Romans 8:16-39, where Paul addresses the subject.
Romans 8:16-17
Verse 16
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.”
It is God the Holy Spirit Who confirms the fact that we are children of God by permanently indwelling us, sealing us, placing us into union with Christ, and by creating in us a human spirit, which makes us new creations in Christ. As we are taught accurate Bible doctrine, the Holy Spirit takes that doctrine and transfers it to our human spirits at which point it becomes applicable to our lives. Therefore, the Holy Spirit confirms through Bible doctrine in our human spirits, that we are part of the Royal Family of God. The filling of the Holy Spirit plus Bible doctrine in our human spirits are the two power options that every believer needs in order to begin the building process of the Edification Complex of the Soul.
Reality of our relationship with God, our purpose in the plan of God, the mechanics of the plan of God, and our objectives for life on this earth after salvation, come only from learning accurate Bible doctrine.
I Corinthians 2:12-:16 in corrected translation:
“But we have not received a worldly spirit, but the human spirit from God; in order that we might have permanent knowledge of doctrines of the Word of God, having been graciously given to us by God. Which doctrines we communicate by categories, not by teaching from the source of man’s wisdom [human IQ], but by teaching from the source of the Holy Spirit, combining with the human spirit to teach spiritual phenomena. But the unbeliever cannot learn Bible doctrine from the Spirit of God; for to them the doctrines are foolishness since they have no frame of reference, and they are not able to get knowledge because these doctrines are discerned from the source of the human spirit, which they do not have. But the spiritual believer is able to learn all doctrines but is not discerned under the authority of anyone because accurate Bible doctrine cannot be evaluated by human viewpoint. For who has come to know the Lord’s mind [learn doctrine], who shall instruct him? Advancing believers keep on having the mind of Christ.”
Bible doctrine is the mind of Christ and can be learned only by the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit when a believer is in fellowship with God and filled with the Holy Spirit as a result. The reality of any spiritual information is the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit. The subject taught by the Holy Spirit is Bible doctrine. The reality comes from that Bible doctrine resident in both soul and spirit. The scriptures for the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit are John 14:26; 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16; 1 John 2:27.
When accurate doctrinal information is transferred from the Scriptures to the soul and the human spirit of a believer, that information becomes real and is usable. Reality of our ongoing relationship with God after salvation from learning, believing, and applying Bible doctrine becomes the basis for our confidence in God and our eternal security. The reality of God in the life of a believer comes only from accurate Bible doctrine in a believer’s soul and human spirit.
Romans 8:17
“And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer (with Him), so that we may also be glorified with Him.” As believers in Christ, we know that we all have an inheritance from God. Heirship guarantees a blessing for every believer in eternity.
Some believers will receive greater blessings because they successfully fulfilled God’s plan for their lives, which includes undeserved suffering. The righteousness of God given to us at the point of salvation is a guarantee of blessing in this life, as well as blessing for all eternity. Capacity for greater blessing comes to those who are consistent in applying the Bible doctrine they learn. Failure to apply doctrine does not remove God’s logistical grace blessing, but it does prevent believers from receiving greater blessings both now and in eternity. (II Corinthians 5:21)
Inheritance implies a family relationship and eternal is a permanent, everlasting relationship. This is certainly the case for every Christian. At salvation, every believer becomes a child of God. One of the amazing things is that as children of God, we also become heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. This means that we share in Christ’s inheritance. The Bible declares that it has not even entered into the mind of man what God has prepared for him. So, the questions are, “What is this inheritance and how do we get it?” (Galatians 3:26; 4:26; Romans 8:17)
In eternity past, when God was designing a plan for your life, He included as part of His plan an inheritance. God was thinking of you in eternity past and predesigned a magnificent plan for your life on earth (therefore you could not have worked for it, earned it or deserved it). He has also designed a plan for you for the eternal state (also, you cannot work for it, earn it or deserve it). God’s plans are always a matter of His grace. (Ephesians 1:11)
For a believer in Christ, God has become their Father, not merely their Creator. This family relationship is entered into by faith in Christ at salvation. Therefore, it is not something for which we have worked, nor is it something that we deserved. In other words, this family relationship is based on the grace of God. Therefore, our inheritance is also based on God’s grace. As our Father, God desires only the best for His children. It is a divine decree from our Heavenly Father that we have an inheritance, and His decrees must be carried out. (Galatians 4:4-7)
Inheritance implies a family relationship even in the case of Jesus Christ. As the second Person of the Trinity, Jesus is the Son of God. It is this family relationship that Jesus has with God the Father that guarantees that He will have an inheritance. As a matter of fact, Christ is the inheritor of all things according to Hebrews 1:2. It is this inheritance that the believer, as a child of God, shares with Christ because he is in union with Him.
Eternal inheritance means exactly that – it lasts for all eternity. Our inheritance begins at salvation but will not be fully realized until we enter the eternal state. After a believer is evaluated at the Judgment Seat of Christ, his “escrow blessings” (those kept in his escrow account) will be conveyed to him to enjoy for all eternity. It is the realization of these greater blessings in eternity that should be a motivating factor in the life of every believer. This knowledge becomes part of our personal sense of destiny and the hope (full confidence) of a future filled only with peace and happiness.
In God’s grace, He has provided for every believer for the eternal state. For those believers who execute the Christian Way of Life, the rewards will be greater. Nevertheless, all believers will be blessed in eternity and all believers will enjoy happiness forever. Personal sins are not going to be an issue when you stand before the Lord Jesus Christ to be evaluated, because your sins were dealt with on the Cross. Only what you did or did not do with your Christian life will be evaluated.
If indeed we suffer (with Him), so that we may also be glorified with Him. The first “with Him” is not in the original text of Scripture. No believer will ever suffer the way our Savior suffered. Suffering for Christ in this life means glorification with Christ in eternity. The Greek word for glorified is “sundoxazo,” which means to be glorified with someone, to be fellow-glorified ones, and to share in someone else’s glory. The fact that Christ is glorified means that the way is now open for any member of the royal family to share in His glory through handling undeserved suffering when it comes their way. Those believers who have advanced in their spiritual lives will be able to handle undeserved suffering because it takes a lot of Bible doctrine to do so.
Undeserved suffering of a spiritually maturing believer anticipates the glorious inheritance of the future. Every time that a spiritually maturing believer has undeserved suffering, it is for spiritual growth and a reminder of the great blessing and rewards they will have for all eternity.