Suffering for Christ

Scripture tells us there are different reasons we will suffer in life; we want to make sure we are suffering for reasons that are pleasing to God and not suffering from sin. We need to examine our lives and understand the difference.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
1 Peter 4:12-19 NASB® 1995

Strong’s Lexicon: The word “sufferings” is the Greek word pathéma 3804, which means suffering, affliction, passion. a) suffering, affliction, (b) passion, emotion, (c) an undergoing, an enduring; that which befalls one, a suffering, a passion.
HELPS Word-studies: 3804 páthēma (from 3958 /pásxō, "the capacity to feel strong emotion, like suffering") – properly, the capacity and privilege of experiencing strong feeling; felt, deep emotion, like agony, passion (ardent desire), suffering, etc. Under God, 3804 /páthēma ("strong feeling") is redemptive, preparing us to know the Lord better now and forever in glory (cf. Ro 8:18; Phil 3:10; 1 Pet 5:1). 3804 (páthēma) is not inherently negative; indeed, it is only negative when experienced outside of (apart from) faith. See 3958 (pasxō). [3804 /páthēma ("strong feeling") includes affliction (suffering), which should always (ideally) result in knowing God's glory – like going through difficulties (persecution, etc.) in faith. Note the -ma suffix, emphasizing the end-result (experiencing strong feeling).]

Strong’s Lexicon: The word “reviled” is the Greek word oneidizō 3679 it means to reproach, revile, insult, or upbraid.
HELPS Word-studies: 3679 oneidízō (from a primitive root meaning "to upbraid, revile, like in showing one's teeth," K. Wuest) – properly, to disgrace (insult), reproach; mock (curse); insult, cast blame (create shame) – viewing someone (something) as culpably guilty and therefore deserving punishment. This can be based on fact (Mt 11:20), or incorrect assumptions (Mt 5:11).

Most of us become Christians because we want to know God, or we don't want to go to hell. The way Christianity is typically presented is by urging people to pray and ask Jesus into their hearts. Then those people are assured that believing in Jesus will get them to heaven. The problem with this approach is that it is not a complete picture of the reality of what scripture says. Jesus tells us that we need to count the cost, die to our desires, do what He says, and we will be persecuted. This is what it means to share in Christ’s suffering. We need to understand that we have to take part in it. This concept can be extremely difficult to process if you are in a false gospel. A false gospel uses the name of Jesus and the story of Him dying on the cross to draw people in, but it doesn't tell the whole truth or give only a partial truth. This is why we are going to dig into scripture to see the expectations for the disciples of Jesus.

Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. “Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Luke 14:25-35 NASB® 1995

Strong’s Lexicon: The word “hate” here is the Greek word miseó 3404 it means to hate, detest, abhor.
HELPS Word-studies: 3404 miséō – properly, to detest (on a comparative basis); hence, denounce; to love someone or something less than someone (something) else, i.e. to renounce one choice in favor of another. Lk 14:26: "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate (3404 /miséō, 'love less' than the Lord) his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple" (NASU). [Note the comparative meaning of 3404 (miséō) which centers in moral choice, elevating one value over another.]

Strong’s Lexicon: The word for “possessions” is the Greek word huparchō 5225 it means to begin, make a beginning, to be in existence, be ready, be at hand, expressing continuance of antecedent state of condition, to belong to.
HELPS Word-studies: 5225 hypárxō (from 5223 /hýparksis, "under" and 757/arxō, "begin, go first") – properly, already have (be in possession of); what exists, especially what pre-exists, i.e. is already under one's discretion (note the prefix hypo).

This makes me think of giving up everything I know and who I was to become a follower of Jesus. For me, it meant leaving my family, who claimed to be Christians but did not do what the Bible says. Doing what the Bible says will cause great division between those who do it and those who do not.

“I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Luke 12:49-53 NASB® 1995

We may lose family members because we choose to live the Word of God, but scripture tells us we will be a part of God's family.

While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.” But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
Matthew 12:46-50 NASB® 1995

Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”
Mark 10:29-31 NASB® 1995

I want to encourage everyone that while not all of my family has chosen to be disciples of Jesus, over the years, I have stayed in prayer for them, and some have now chosen to become disciples of Jesus. During this time of waiting, we have been given a lot of brothers, sisters, children, and grandchildren who have become our family. They are all over the world from different cultures and backgrounds, and they are so precious to us. Our children have people who pour into them in so many ways. They have become fathers, mothers, and other children who are closer than blood family members. These relationships have depth because they strive together to be obedient to the Word of God. This next section of scripture shows us what love is in the body of Christ.

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another. “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.
John 15:12-21 NASB® 1995

If we love Jesus, we will lay down our lives for His way of thinking, which is the Father’s way of thinking. Luke 19 tells us what Jesus' focus is. If we love Him, then we will do the same as Him.

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Luke 19:10 NASB® 1995

We cannot think while we live on this earth that we are to have a more pleasant life than Jesus had. Matthew 10 gives us a lot of understanding of how our lives are to look on this earth.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! “Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.
Matthew 10:24-39 NASB® 1995

From Strong’s Lexicon: The word “confesses” is the Greek word homologeō 3670; it means to confess, to acknowledge, to agree; to speak the same language, to agree, confess, and acknowledge.
HELPS Word-studies: 3670 homologéō (from 3674 /homoú, "together" and 3004 /légō, "speak to a conclusion") – properly, to voice the same conclusion, i.e. agree ("confess"); to profess (confess) because in full agreement; to align with (endorse). homologéō ("confess") means to speak the same thing, i.e. "assent, agree with, confess, declare, admit"

Strong’s Lexicon: The word “denies” is the Greek word arneomai (720) it means; to deny, say no.
HELPS Word-studies: 720 arnéomai: properly, deny (refuse); hence, contradict, refuse to affirm or to confess (identify with); disown (repudiate).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance: Here is the definition of “cross” it is the Greek word stauros 4716 it means an upright stake, a cross (the Roman instrument of crucifixion)
HELPS Word-studies says this. 4716 staurós – the crosspiece of a Roman cross; the cross-beam (Latin, patibulum) placed at the top of the vertical member to form a capital "T." "This transverse beam was the one carried by the criminal" (Souter).
Christ was crucified on a literal Roman cross (4716 /staurós). 4716 /staurós ("cross") is also used figuratively for the cross (sacrifice) each believer bears to be a true follower-of-Christ (Mt 10:38, 16:24, etc.). The cross represents unspeakable pain, humiliation and suffering – and ironically is also the symbol of infinite love! At the cross, Jesus won our salvation – which is free but certainly not cheap! For more discussion on the untold suffering of Christ on the cross see 4717 /stauróō ("to crucify on a cross"). [The "cross" (Mk 8:34) is not a symbol for suffering in general. Rather it refers to withstanding persecution (difficult times), by the Lord's power, as He directs the circumstances of life. As Christ's disciples, believers are to hold true – even when attacked by the ungodly.]

If we are choosing to be disciples of Jesus, we need to consider what these sections of scripture are saying. If we do not, then we are simply living off feelings. If we choose to live off of our feelings, we can deceive ourselves by thinking we can walk this earth, live however we want, call ourselves Christians and not take part in what Jesus is saying we must take part in.

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 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. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
Romans 8:16-19 NASB® 1995

Strong’s Lexicon: The word “suffer” is the Greek word sumpaschō 4841 it means to suffer together or with, to sympathize with, to share in suffering.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 NASB® 1995

One of the main reasons we will suffer is speaking the truth to people. Some will have ears to hear and some will not. This is where the persecution will come in.

For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:6-18 NASB® 1995

As we take on the heart and mind of the Father, we will do what Jesus did to reach people. This causes us to die to ourselves because we will not get to do what our flesh wants to do in this life. We will be hated. When we have to correct people, they will not always like it, nor will they understand that we do it out of love for the Father and for them. Paul has this attitude, and we must learn to have the same.

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:8-11 NASB® 1995

I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
2 Corinthians 12:15 NASB® 1995

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
Colossians 1:24-29 NASB® 1995

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. It is a trustworthy statement:
For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
If we endure, we will also reign with Him;
If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
2 Timothy 2:8-13 NASB® 1995

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.
Philippians 2:14-18 NASB® 1995

Not only are we to suffer, but we are to suffer without grumbling or disputing. Just like Jesus was led like a sheep to slaughter and didn't complain, we are to do the same thing. We are to suffer and ask the Father where His joy is in the situation so we can have His joy in it. We do this to set the captives free from sin and death.

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
1 Peter 4:1-5 NASB® 1995

When you speak in full, without partiality, the same truth that came out of the mouths of Jesus, Peter, Paul, John, and so many others, you will see who truly loves God and who simply wants to just go to heaven. I will leave you with this to ponder.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to it them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Matthew 7:21-23 NASB® 1995

References:

Strong’s Lexicon: BibleHub.com

1 Heart 1 MindMay 13, 2025