Daily Archives: January 27, 2019

THE SOURCES OF SUFFERING (Page 835)

Charts

 

Sources Who is Responsible Who is Affected Needed Response
My sin I am Myself and others Repentance and confession to God [Wall]
Others’ sin Person who sinned and others who allowed the sin Probably many people, including those who sinned Active resistance to the sinful behaviour, while accepting the sinner
Avoidable physical (or natural) disaster Persons who ignore the facts or refuse to take precautions Most of those exposed to the cause Prevent them if possible, be prepared if they can’t be prevented
Unavoidable physical (or natural disaster God [Wall], Satan Most of those present Ongoing trust in God’s faithfulness

When suffering or troubles happen, do they always come from Satan? In Job’s story, his series of tragedies did come from Satan, but this is not always the case.  The chart above demonstrated the four main causes of suffering.  Any one of these or a combination of them may create suffering.  If knowing why we are suffering will teach us to avoid the cause, then the causes are worth knowing.  However, it is most important to know how to respond during suffering.

 

 

THREE STAGES OF PERFECTION

BIBLES THUMBS

1. Perfect Relationship

We are perfect because of our eternal union with the infinitely perfect Christ. When we become his children, we are declared “not guilty”, and thus righteous, because of what Christ, God’s beloved Son, has done for us.  This perfection is absolute and unchangeable, and it is this perfect relationship that guarantees that we will one day be “completely perfect” (below).  See Colossians 2.8-10; Hebrews 10.8-14.

2. Perfect Progress

We can grow and mature spiritually as we continue to trust Christ, learn more about him, draw closer to him, and obey him. Our progress is changeable (in contrast to our relationship, above) because it depends on our daily walk – at times in life we mature more than at other times.  But we are growing towards perfection if we “press on” (Philippians 3.12).  These good deeds do not perfect us; rather, as God perfects us, we do good deeds for him.  See Philippians 3.1-15.

3. Completely Perfect

When Christ returns to take us into his eternal kingdom, we will be glorified and made completely perfect. See Philippians 3.20, 21.

All phases of perfection are grounded in faith in Christ and what he has done, not what we can do for him. We cannot perfect ourselves; only God can work in and through us to “carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”  (1.6).