Philippians 1 27:29 New American Bible
27 Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear news of you, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind struggling together for the faith of the gospel, 28 not intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is proof to them of destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. 29 *For to you has been granted, for the sake of Christ, not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him. *
30 Yours is the same struggle as you saw in me and now hear about me.
Jeff, the life of the Apostles, Paul and the followers of Christ were constantly struggling and in sufferings.
These sufferings were either persecutions, physical ailments, etc.
The Apostle Paul suffered greatly for Christ.
And as Christ’s followers, we must suffer in so many different ways and recognize this in connection of Christ.
What the Baptists DON’T teach is the fact that Christ’s ARE to suffer. (Remember in most Protestant Churches, they claim to preach the WHOLE Bible, but they really don’t. I had never haard anything about suffering from their pulpits. The Catholic Church teaches the WHOLE Bible and that includes: suffering.
(I couldn’t find the Scripture passage where Paul talks about ‘his rejoicing in his sufferings’. If someone can find that passage, post it for me? Thanks!