The document discusses suffering for doing good versus suffering for doing evil. It states that believers may suffer persecution for righteousness' sake by living as committed followers of Christ. Suffering can produce perseverance and maturity. Christ's suffering on the cross was propitiatory, substitutionary, complete, reconciliatory, and victorious. His death brings believers to God and gives them righteousness, freedom from condemnation, and eternal life.

1. Remembering Christ When You Are Suffering for His Cause

2. 1 Peter Chapter 3:17-18 “ It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil ”.

3. Two mentioned sufferings: 1. Suffering for doing good. Suffering for doing good means you suffer for God’s cause, as a committed follower of Christ. You are urged to suffer for righteousness sake. You are urged to share and live his command even to the point of rejection and persecution. 2. Suffering for doing evil. We suffer because of our disobedience to God, we suffer because of our sins, we suffer because we are living in this fallen world. ”.

4. Making the Right Choices in Life? …… ...Does it glorify God? (1 Cor 10:31) .……..Does it help my witness for Christ? (1 Cor 9: 19:22) ……… Is it against a specific command in the Scripture and would cause me to sin? (1 Cor 10:12) .……..Am I motivated by a desire to help others to know Christ? (1 Cor 9:23; 1 Cor 10:33) ……… Am I thinking only of myself, or do I truly care about the other person? (1 Cor 10:24) ……… Am I acting lovingly or selfishly? (1 Cor 10:28-31) ……… Will it cause someone else to sin? (1 Cor 10:32) ……… Does it help me do my best? (1 Cor 9:25) ……… Is it the best and most beneficial course of action (1 Cor 10:23; 33)

5. Romans 5:3 “ Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character hope.” James 1:4 “ Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Why does God Allow Us to Suffer for Doing Good

6. Hebrews 5:8-9 “ Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”

7. Romans 8:17 “ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory”.

8. "Remember Christ's Suffering on the Cross" 1 Peter Chapter 3:18 “ For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit”. How Should We Respond?

9. 1. Christ’s suffering is propitiatory 1 Peter 3:18 “ For Christ died for sins once….. Significance of Christ Suffering on the Cross

10. Hebrews 9:22 and 26-28 “ In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. verses 26-28 “Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time not to bear sin but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.”

11. 2. Christ’s suffering is substitutionary 1 Peter 3:18 “ For Christ died for sins once FOR ALL.. Significance of Christ Suffering on the Cross

12. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” Romans 5:8 “ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

13. 3. Christ’s suffering is complete 1 Peter 3:18 “ For Christ died for sins once for all, THE RIGHTEOUS FOR THE UNRIGHTEOUS ….” Significance of Christ Suffering on the Cross

14. Hebrews 10:10 “ By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all . .”

15. 4. Christ’s suffering is reconciliatory 1 Peter 3:18 “ It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, TO BRING YOU TO GOD. Significance of Christ Suffering on the Cross

16. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 “ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”

17. 5. Christ’s suffering is victorious. 1 Peter Chapter 3 verse 18: “ It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. HE WAS PUT TO DEATH IN THE BODY BUT MADE ALIVE IN THE SPIRIT”. Significance of Christ Suffering on the Cross

18. Christ’s suffering is propiatory Christ’s suffering is substitutionary Christ’s suffering is complete Christ’s suffering is reconciliatory Christ’s suffering is victorious Significance of Christ Suffering on the Cross

19. Romans 3:24…………We are justified (declared “ not guilty” of sin). Romans 8:1 ………….No condemnation awaits us 1 Cor 1:2 ……………..We are set free from the law of sin and death 1 Cor 1:30…………….We are righteous and holy in Christ 1 Cor 15:22………….. We will be made alive at the resurrection 2 Cor 5:17…………… We are new creation Galatians 3:28……… We are one in Christ with all other believers Ephesians 1:3……… We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Our Identity in Christ

20. Ephesians 1:4………… We are holy, blameless and covered with God’s love Ephesians 1:5-6………. We are adopted as God’s children Ephesians 1:7…………..Our sins are taken away and we are forgiven Ephesians 1:13………….We are marked as belonging to God by the Holy Spirit Ephesians 2:6…………..We have been raised up to sit with Christ in glory Ephesians 2:10…………We are God’s work of art Ephesians 3:6…………..We share in the promise in Christ Ephesians 3:12…………We can come with freedom and confidence into God’s Presence Our Identity in Christ

21. Ephesians 5:29-30……. We are members of Christ’s body, in church Colossians 2;10………. We have been given fullness in Christ Colossians 2:11………..We are set free from our sinful nature 2 Timothy 2;10………..We will have eternal glory Our Identity in Christ

22. Matthew 20:28 “ Your attitude must be like my own, for I the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve and to give my life.”

23. 1. God will bless you because you suffer for His name. 2. God uses the suffering to bring blessing to others. Result