Learning Obedience Through Suffering

[ambassador4Christ]

Must you commit a sin to experience suffering?

Webster’s Dictionary
Definition of Suffering: the endurance of or submission to affliction, pain, loss.

Examples of suffering that I’m referring to:

• An individual has physical features that are not very appealing to the eyes of others. Without doing anything to provoke hostility from others, someone comes along and insults the person with all kinds of unpleasant words, jokes, and mockery. The offender even physically hurts the individual. The individual who is teased, insulted, and physically harmed suffers.

• An individual loses the company of a loved one who has passed away due to old age, or disease, or accident, or killing. The individual who experiences the loss suffers.

• An individual relies on the tools of the trade for means of livelihood and cannot afford to replace them. Someone steals the tools. The individual whose tools were stolen suffers.

• An individual lives honestly and respectfully. Someone comes along and falsely claims that individual abused him/her whether it physically, mentally, or sexually. Peoples begin to doubt the individual’s character. The individual suffers.

• An individual is very close to relatives who are married. One of the two commits adultery, and they divorce. The individual suffers.

• An individual respects Dad and Mom. One of the other brothers or sisters shows disrespect and causes the parent great grief. The individual, who sees the parent grieving due to what a brother or sister did, suffers.

• An individual knows the Dad’s name is one of good repute. Someone comes along and falsely claims the individual’s Dad is unreliable. Now the name of the individual’s Dad is marred. The individual suffers.

I pointed these examples out before going into the following Scripture:

Hebrews 5:8 “So even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered.”

I think this refers to the fact that Jesus through His sufferings in which He did no wrong knows how it hurts Him and others; therefore, He understood and did obey God’s Law which basically teaches to love God and others.

I believe He obeyed all of God’s Law from childhood.

James 4:17 “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”

We know He did no wrong or did not commit any sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For God made Christ, Who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”

Jesus was raised by Mary, His earthly mother, who was virtuous and chaste.

Jesus was raised by Joseph, His foster dad, who was a just (righteous) and honorable man.

Being raised by parents like these, Jesus being the firstborn would most likely be brought up to honor God and do what is right.

He may have suffered wrongs done to Him by His siblings as they grew up together…they may have been jealous of Him.

Jesus learned obedience from suffering the wrongs afflicted by others.

 

[JPPT1974]

When we suffer, we though as Christians
Don't have to do it alone
As we have God to help us!

 

[ambassador4Christ]

You're right JPPT1974.

What I hoped for peoples to get out of this is that Jesus never did wrong or sinned; eventhough He suffered and learned obedience through His sufferings. He suffered the wrongs done to Him without just cause. Being human, He obeyed His Father's commands of the Law because He learned how those wrongs done to Him would make a person feel unloved. He showed love to His Father and to everyone else.

Matthew 22:37-40
"Jesus replied, 'You must love the Lord Your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.' "

 

[JPPT1974]

In order to do that we
Must have stronger faith
As well as trust and obey Jesus
No matter what occurs
Because in the end, He will win for us!

 

[ambassador4Christ]

JPPT1974, I don't understand how the comment you typed above speaks about what I typed in post #3.

Maybe the question "Must you commit a sin to experience suffering?" has caused a misunderstanding of what I'm posting here.

Please read post #3 and express what you think is being related here...then I'll understand why you posted those comments; however, your comments are true in regards to those who do suffer from wrongs inflicted by others when they did nothing to cause it.

 

[Galadriel]

I think that you have a definate point ambassador4christ.

Lots of times we do suffer even though its not in direct correlation to a wrong we have done. I don't think suffering is only in relation to a direct sin you have committed, no.

I do think that suffering is a result origionally of sin, because we live in a fallen world I may die of cancer or some other disease, even though it may not be because I directly sinned, but it is a result of simply the way our world is (with Satan and his minions able to inflict suffering).

Jesus definately suffered, but not due to his own sin because he had no sin in him.

I do think we definately learn to draw closer to God in suffering, tho some people are driven away by suffering as well. I mean lets admit most people don't seek God out as much when things are going great, but when things take a nose dive thats when suddenly the prayers come out of "God help me" or something like that. Suffering can also help keep you from becoming too prideful, and also to empathize with fellow humans and be more humble.

Sorry if this seemed long winded, I hope this answers your post.

 

[ambassador4Christ]

Thank you Galadriel for responding! Your post was not longwinded at all. As a matter of fact, you hit right on the points I was hoping others would notice. Especially about our Lord Jesus Christ.

God bless!

Love from your brother in Jesus Christ,
Al