Foundations of Faith
THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST
We have just completed a series of articles on the topics of the Fall of man and sin (Mar96-Nov96). We trust that by now all of our readers are thoroughly convinced that they are sinners. Earlier (Nov93), when studying the attributes of God, we learned about the holiness of God and His hatred and intolerance of sin. The Lord Jesus, when here on earth, reminded the people of God’s holiness; He told them often about the “outer darkness,” the “weeping and gnashing of teeth,” the “torment,” the “everlasting punishment,” and the “flame” of “hell fire” that awaits unrepentant sinners (Matt. 5:22; 8:12; 18:8, 9; 22:13; 24:51; 25:41, 46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:23,24, 28).
In view of the Bible’s teaching concerning our sin (Rom. 3:10-23) and the eternal punishment God has prepared for sinners, what are we to do? Is there any hope for mankind? Or are we all doomed to eternal darkness and separation from God because of our sin?
These questions lead us into the next series of topics that will occupy us through much of 1997, if the Lord hasn’t come by then. These are topics related to the wonderful teaching in the Bible about God’s salvation of sinners. Specifically, these topics will include atonement, propitiation and substitution; repentance and faith; conversion and regeneration; foreknowledge, election, and predestination; the blessings that accompany salvation; and the eternal security of the believer.
As we shall learn-and most of our readers know it already-our salvation is based on the sufferings and death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, followed by His resurrection from the dead. In the Jun94- Oct94 issues of GROWING we took up a study of God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ His deity and humanity, His virgin birth, His attributes, His sinlessness, His names, titles, and offices, His life, His example for us, and His resurrection. We put off a study of His sufferings until we came to the topic of salvation.
In preparation for our study of atonement in the next issue, let us take a brief look at the sufferings of Christ. These sufferings are sometimes divided into two classes-His atoning sufferings (that is, those He experienced when He was punished by God for our sins) and His non- atoning sufferings (that is, those He received from man).
These were Christ’s sufferings from the hand of God when He was on the cross. He experienced them particularly during the three hours of darkness, during which He cried out, “My God, My God, why host Thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:45,46). This is when the sinless One was made sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21), and “bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Pet. 2:24); when He was “wounded for our transgressions” and “bruised for our iniquities” (Isa. 53:5).
Sufferings because of the results of sin in the world. Even when He was about to use His miraculous powers, Jesus wept and sighed (or groaned) because of the disease and death brought upon mankind because of sin (Mark 7:34; John 11:33,35 ,38).
Sufferings because of the sin, unbelief, and hardness of heart of the people around Him. He sighed when the Pharisees tried to trip Him up with their questions (Mark 8:11). He grieved at the people’s hardness of heart (Mark 3:5). He wept over Jerusalem because of the people’s sin and soon-coming judgment (Matt. 23:37-39). How it must have grieved the Lord, on the eve of His crucifixion, when “there was … a strife among [the disciples], which of them should be accounted the greatest”; when “all the disciples forsook Him and fled”; and when one of His most faithful disciples denied Him three times (Matt. 26:56:Luke 22:24,61).
Sufferings from man’s hatred toward Himself. Months before the crucifixion, on several occasions the religious leaders tried to kill Him (Luke 4:29; John 8:59; 10:39). They charged Him with being a glutton, a drunkard, and a madman, having a demon, and casting out demons by the power of Satan (Matt. 11:19; 12:24; John 8:48; 10:20). Leading up to and during the crucifixion, the Jewish and Roman leaders and soldiers spit in His face, slapped Him, accused Him of blasphemy, wrongfully condemned Him to death, whipped Him (with leather cords weighted with sharp pieces of bone or lead), mocked Him, beat a crown of thorns into His head, stripped Him, pounded nails into His hands and feet, and taunted Him as He hung on the cross (Psa. 22; 69; Matt. 26;27). While the Lord took these insults with the greatest patience, grace, and even forgiveness (Luke 23:34), yet how His perfect, sinless spirit, soul, and body must have been acutely sensitive to every one of these horrible acts against Himself.
In these non-atoning sufferings of Christ there are some very important lessons for us:First, He is an example for us:”Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps…. Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not” (1 Pet. 2:21-23). Second, He is a help to us:”In that He Himself has suffered being [tested], He is able to [help] those who are [tested]” (Heb. 2:18; 4:15,16). Third, He gives us the privilege of being “partakers of [His] sufferings (1 Pet. 4:13).
Running the Race
Assignment 16 (continued): This is the second part of a review quiz based on the 1996 issues of GROWING. Please refer back to the indicated issue when answering each question.
4. (Apr.) Write out a verse that illustrates Adam’s federal headship.
5. (May) Write down the meanings of these three words: sin, iniquity, and transgression.
6. (June) Write out two verses, one describing a sin of commission and one a sin of omission.
7. (July) Write out a verse that illustrates sin resulting from zeal.
8. (Aug.) Is God satisfied if we do the right thing most of the time? Write out a verse to back up your answer to this question.
9. (Sept.) What is the unpardonable sin?
10. (Oct.) Why isn’t the following statement a proper confession of sin: “I am sorry if I did anything to hurt you.”
11. (Nov.) Write down a definition of “forgiveness.”
12. (Dec.) Write out verses that illustrate three different ways in which Christ suffered.