Sometimes while reading through God’s Word (one of the most important disciplines in the Christian life), you’ll come across a statement, and you’ll know in your spirit; “There’s more to it than that.” The light of truth always exposes error.
Take the scripture reference below for example:
They strengthened the disciples in these cities and encouraged the disciples to remain faithful. Paul and Barnabas told them, “We must suffer a lot to enter the kingdom of God.”
Acts 14:22
Is it just me, or does something seem not quite right there? Do we really need to suffer much to enter God’s Kingdom? Don’t we enter in through the sufferings of Christ and not our own?
CONTINUE READING
With a fuller study of scripture, we know that human suffering is not the way into God’s Kingdom (the sufferings of Jesus were sufficient). In fact, it is God’s Kingdom that offers the ultimate way out of suffering. Of course, life does involve some amount of suffering, and this is due to the fall of humanity caused by sin. However, suffering is not a prerequisite for entering the Kingdom of God.
In this instance, The Passion Translation does a wonderful job, as seen below:
And they taught them, “It is necessary for us to enter into the realm of God’s kingdom, because that’s the only way we will endure our many trials and persecutions.”
The focus moves away from what we must do to get in, and places us on the solid ground of what we can do because we are in. This is a far superior position and perspective, which is both Christ centered and grounded in complete truth.
Bottom line: When you live in the realm of God’s Kingdom you can endure anything.
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