The Lord promised us, as Christians, as His disciples, in the world we will be subject to tribulation (persecution) for the gospel’s sake. (All bold are my emphases added. Square brackets [ ] indicate meanings of words. King James Version Easy-Reading Bible (KJVER) used.)
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
The reason for this is there is no peace in the world. If you are living for God, the world will hate you.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Make sure though that the persecution you suffer is because you live godly and it is not due to your own foolishness. Nevertheless,
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest [known]: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as [as tried] by fire.
All our works are tested by fire, tribulation and persecution. If it is not of the Lord it will not last.
Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
It is a blessing to be persecuted for the Lord’s sake, but make sure that that is the case.
Matthew 10:22 And you shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved.
Stick it out, keep the faith, knowing this that the Lord will not fail you.
Luke 6:22 Blessed are you, when men shall hate [revile] you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
Some say Jesus came to bring peace on Earth. He did to those who are God’s children. But it is the peace of knowing you are secure, and in Him nothing can hurt you.
Luke 12:51 Suppose you that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
But to those who reject Christ, it is not peace but division from the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). The following verses show you the type of persecution we can expect.
John 7:43 So there was a division among the people because of Him.
Matthew 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household [family].
Acts 8:1-3 And Saul was consenting [agreeing] to his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation [i.e. sorrowing] over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havock of [began ravaging] the church, entering into every house, and haling [arresting] men and women committed them to prison.
2 Timothy 2:10-12 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us:
Romans 8:36 As it is written, For Your [God’s] sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
All of these verse indicate the troubles believers have had. Even their families being the biggest source of trouble for them. The last verse is a quotation from Psalms 44:22, which means we may suffer like Christ suffered if we are doing the job He has called us to do. We must learn to endure all things through Christ.
Romans 8:37-39 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In Christ we can endure all things on Earth. Nothing, absolutely nothing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God. That is eternal salvation. So don’t worry! Get on with the job!
1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He [i.e. Christ] that is in you, than he [i.e. Satan] that is in the world.
Who’s in the world? Satan. Christ is greater than anything he can throw at you.
1 John 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
An overcomer is one with faith in Christ Jesus. He does it all through you. All the glory to God.
Revelations 2:11 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.
That means you cannot lose your salvation. You overcame by faith, not works. If you needed works then no one would be saved. So, overcoming means enduring to the end. Keep the faith, trust in Him, no matter what happens. He will not fail you.
Revelations 3:5 He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment [clothing]; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.
White raiment is symbolic of salvation. Your name is guaranteed in the book of life, the book of the Living.
Revelations 3:12 Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name.
God calls us His children, who are new Jerusalem.
Revelations 3:21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.
Christ paid the debt of our sin. He overcame for us, and with Him we will sit in His Father’s throne room.
Revelations 21:7 He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.
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