Page 19 - The Gate and the Way

Why Does God Require Christians to Suffer?

The inescapable message proclaimed by Christ and His apostles is that Yahweh has
appointed unto men that they suffer many things in this life. This truth is affirmed through
the most common image associated with Christianity; the cross. The cross is an instrument
of suffering, leading to the death of the individual.
As has been demonstrated in the previous two chapters, Christ gave forth only one
form of invitation. He invited men and women to “Come, take up your cross, and follow
Me.” For those living in that hour when Rome used crucifixion as a form of capital
punishment, it was clearly understood that what Christ was announcing was a call to
embrace suffering.
The question arises, “Why does Yahweh require all who would follow Christ to
experience suffering? What is the reason behind it?” The answer is found as we define the
salvation that Christ provides for mankind.
I think the most common concept of salvation today is that Christ came to deliver men
from the suffering of hell. Many Christians equate salvation with an escape from eternal
torment. To them, being saved is the equivalent of receiving a “Get-Out-Of-Hell-Free-Card.”

I do not deny that being delivered from the Lake of Fire, which is also called “The
Second Death” (Revelation 20:14, 21:8), is a component of the salvation Christ has provided
to mankind, but it does not come near to defining the true nature of salvation. Other aspects
of the salvation of Christ are revealed in the following Scriptures.

I John 3:8-9
The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one
who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin,
because he is born of God.

I John 3:5-6
You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.
No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.

Luke 4:18-19
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel
to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the
captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."