As we look into these last two sections of this passage we remember that the painful rebuke the author gives his readers was to cause them to see what a severe consequence awaits those who have heard the Gospel clearly and witnessed its effects all around them but still choose to reject it. These people have no forgiveness, no faith and no future. They have rejected the Son’s love, rejected the blood’s cleansing and rejected the Spirit’s grace. And all they will receive is a punishment worse than death in eternal torment. And those who go on sinning willfully by rejecting the Savior to gain a small temporary reprieve from persecution will find no lasting gain.
II. Placid Reminder
The next characteristic of the author’s discourse is a placid reminder. We find this in verses 32-34. He reminds them of the evidences that demonstrated the reality of their faith. He calls them to remember a time after which they had heard the Gospel. He says, “Remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings.” It seems that it must have been a good while ago. But he calls them to think upon it because his encouragement hinges upon the fact of these previous events in their lives. There are three aspects of this reminder that he calls to their attention.
A. They accepted suffering gladly
The first aspect of this reminder to which he calls their attention is they accepted suffering gladly. In other words, they didn’t reject their Savior. This aspect is peppered throughout each of the three verses. He says, in the middle of verse 32 to verse 33, “You endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated.” And in verse 34 he says their attitude was one of joy in the midst of this suffering.
Suffering joyfully for the sake of Christ is an evidence of sincere faith. Only a real trust in the Savior can cause us to endure the hardships of persecution without becoming bitter. This trial wasn’t a small isolated event. It really cost these people something. The author says it was a great conflict of sufferings. The word, “conflict” indicated a great ordeal. Some scholars believe he was referring to the expulsion of the people from Rome in 49 AD. If this was the event in question they were sent from their homes and forced to leave their property behind. I would say this was a great ordeal. But in the midst of it all they did not reject the Savior. They experienced it while walking with Him. And truthfully we should see this, as the author does, as a great evidence of their sincere faith in Christ. Those who are able to endure persecution for the name of Jesus show that they have truly placed their trust in Him as Savior.
In telling the parable of the four soils Jesus speaks of the person who is like rocky soil. The Word of God finds its way into the heart of this person and they receive it but without any depth of acceptance. Jesus said, “As soon as persecution due to the Word arises they immediately fall away because they did not have any root in them.” And it appears from the context that they received the Gospel with the wrong motives. They did not receive the Gospel because they knew they were sinners in need of a Savior. They received it because of joy. They received it because they saw temporary immediate benefit for themselves. But the passage says when persecution arose because of the Word they fell away. They didn’t understand that the Gospel wasn’t to make our life better but to rescue us from the wrath to come. Today the Gospel has become so individual centered it has lost all its power. Come to Jesus and He will give you peace and joy and a better marriage and make you a better dad and give you healing and produce wealth. Jesus is relegated to level of a minor genie (OK maybe a major genie). If someone has this shallow self-centered view of the Gospel then when persecution because of their faith in Christ comes they give it up. I was promised joy. Where is it? Now joy may very well be a by-product of our salvation because of the fruit of the Spirit. But people usually are thinking happiness. If everything goes the way I want it I will be H-A-P-P-Y! But, in the words of Ray Comfort, the Gospel is like a parachute. We put it on not because someone promised us it would give us a better flight but because we need it for the jump to come. If we put the parachute on for the wrong reasons we will soon be throwing it off us because everyone else on the plane is laughing at us and the parachute is not very comfortable at that, as you sit cramped in that little seat.
But these believers had experienced, for the sake of Christ, a great test of faith. And they persevered. The author encourages his readers with this great evidence of their faith. Remember the time you were persecuted for the name of Jesus. Don’t lose heart that you are experiencing these difficulties again.
Not only did they have their property seized but they were made fun of for trusting in Christ. The author said that it was partly that they were made a public spectacle by being reproached for the name of Jesus. They were ridiculed for their belief in their Savior whom others considered to be a condemned criminal. They were made fun of on a daily basis. And the author noted it was a public spectacle. They weren’t just made fun of privately but the public generally poked fun at them. Archeologists discovered some local graffiti on a wall in an ancient city. This picture, displayed for everyone to see, was of an individual kneeling down before a cross with a man hanging on it who had the head of a donkey. The caption written under the picture was, “so and so worships his god.” They endured ridicule daily, publicly. Too often we think of persecution as being tied to a stake and burned or thrown to the lions. But persecution includes daily ridicule and being ostracized. And we should expect similar treatment. This is what Paul mentioned in 2 Timothy. “Those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Let us not be mocked into being quiet about our faith. Satan wants to silence us so we become ineffective witnesses for Jesus. Why else are we here? Why has God left us here on earth? It is to tell others about Christ. If we will not speak the truth in love about the world’s coming judgment how will they know that eternal torment awaits those who reject Jesus Christ? Real faith endures suffering for the sake of Jesus gladly.
B. They demonstrated sympathy compassionately
The second aspect of this reminder to which he calls their attention is they demonstrated sympathy compassionately. That is, they didn’t reject their brothers. We find this in the last part of verse 33 into verse 34. He says, “and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property.”
From these verses it seems that there were two groups involved in this previous persecution. There were those who had their property seized and were ridiculed. These are the ones to whom the author is writing now. But then there were others who not only had this former persecution but also experienced imprisonment for the sake of Christ. And it appears from the way the author is speaking (here and in 12:4) that this group that was imprisoned for their faith also lost their lives. What encouraged the author about his readers was they did not forsake their brothers and sisters while they experienced imprisonment. They didn’t excuse themselves from the necessity to associate with those who were in prison. They didn’t fear that they too might be placed in prison and experience the same fate. Again this was evidence to the author that their faith was genuine. Not only were they not ashamed to associate with their Savior but also they were not ashamed to be associated with those labeled as criminals for Jesus’ sake.
They remembered Jesus’ words when He said, “you visited me when I was in prison.” They knew that as they visited one of the least of His brothers they visited Jesus Himself.
The word the author uses in verse 33 was that they were “sharers” with those who were so treated. This word “sharers” is the word we use for Christian fellowship. And it showed the depth of their sympathy for their fellow Christians. They didn’t back away one iota from their commitment to them. They loved they them and served them with great vigor.
And though these people sought to be good citizens they were still maligned because of their faith in Christ. We have been immune to such persecution for many years and have experienced a great peace in this country. But we never took this opportunity of peace to spread the Gospel diligently and the heart of the nation is turning more anti-Christian as the years roll on. We might very well see those who stand for Christ go to prison in our own generation. We are not too far away from this.
You might wonder how our situation may be compared to theirs. How could what happened in the days of the Caesars happen in our beloved US of A? First of all, let’s think about what those people were accused of. They were rung up on political charges of anti-patriotism. This anti-patriotism they were accused of was called atheism because they wouldn’t burn a little incense to the emperor and acknowledge him as a deity. People would encourage the Christians, “What’s the harm in burning a little incense so you can live?” But they would not deny Jesus as Lord by burning incense to Caesar as lord.
What are the issues people are using to persecute us and will eventually use to imprison us? It is political correctness. You need sensitivity training so you can see that there are no right or wrongs. You can’t be telling others their religion is wrong. That’s not nice. You can’t be telling someone that living together is sin, that’s unkind. You can’t describe someone’s orientation as an abomination to God because, that is cruel. As I told you a couple of weeks ago, there is a pastor in MA being threatened with prosecution now because an individual came to him for counseling and he told them that homosexuality was a sin. This is persecution for the sake of Christ in America when someone can’t exercise their first amendment rights in their own building when an individual comes to ask for advice. So how are we to act when this takes place and we are forcibly removed from our homes? We are to accept joyfully the seizure of our goods. I haven’t worked through the theology of what to do as regard to defending myself in court when this persecution comes here. Jesus said that when we appear before those persecuting us we are not even to think of what to say beforehand because the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say. So does this type of persecution fall into this category? I think so. But I don’t know yet. I don’t want to grieve the Spirit of God by taking an attorney with me if He wants me to go into court armed only with His power.
What the author wants us to understand from this section is that these individuals’ unflagging sympathy with those who were suffering imprisonment for the sake of Christ was a clear evidence of the genuine quality of their faith. We need to compassionately stand with other believers who are undergoing various persecutions and ridicule for the sake of Christ. Let us not forsake Christ-like compassion toward one another but let us find how we might grow together in the fellowship of the Spirit of Christ.
C. They possessed a surety expectantly
The third aspect of this reminder to which he calls their attention is they possessed a surety expectantly. They didn’t reject their confidence. It is this aspect that links the previous two. We find this in verse 34. “For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property (WHY?), knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.” How could they show sympathy without worry to the prisoners and accept joyfully this seizure of their property? They understood they possessed a surety. They didn’t have a vague notion about eternal life. They clearly possessed it and they were able to rejoice in this
They gladly received the theft of their property because they understood that they had something infinitely greater awaiting them in heaven. They were unconcerned about their present riches because they had riches stored up in heaven. They were unmoved by the loss of what the world longed for because they longed for something greater. I think today too many Christians cannot rejoice in this suffering and persecution because they are too busy building a kingdom here on earth for themselves instead of building up the kingdom of God. If they had been busy building up the kingdom of God then they wouldn’t be so upset when their kingdom falls down around them.
They possessed an assurance of eternal life that kept them moving on toward the goal. They saw Him as one who is unseen. They knew that He who promised is faithful. And because of this, in the midst of a great struggle, they continued to look to the fact of their better and lasting possession.
And this is what has brought the author to speak to them so diligently about the evidence of their faith. They had these three great evidences of their faith in the past and he reminds them about it now. But he moves from these placid reminders of their faith to look to the next characteristic of his discourse. In verses 35-39 we see the promised reward. In these verses the author gives his readers three commands while they endure another difficult period in their lives.
III. Promised Reward
A. Keep confident
The first command he gives to his readers is to keep confident. We note this in verse 35. He says, “Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.” After having endured so much, he encourages them not to throw away all the confidence they have in the Lord. In this the author takes the role of an exhorter. Sometimes you just need to be encouraged. Sometimes we lose the long look and need to come back to reality by the encouragement of a close friend. Sometimes when you go through so much at one time it is hard to think that this is still all part of the grace of God. Peter had to remind his readers of this truth. They had to be told the persecution they were enduring was part of the true grace of God and they should stand fast in it.
Satan will try whatever means he can to discourage us from living victoriously in our faith in Christ. He will bring difficulty into our lives, whether it be physical, financial, or spiritual. We need to understand not only the nature of this battle in which we are involved but also the source of the victory in this battle in which we are involved. Satan wants us to throw away our confidence in God. He wants us to doubt His goodness and grace. He wants us to give up in the battle so we become ineffective for Christ. There is a great reward waiting for every faithful believer when they get to heaven. And as we have explained before the rewards we are going to receive redound or contribute to the greater glory of God. This reward is not eternal life. It is a gift bestowed on the believer to bring glory to God. Since what we accomplish for Christ is done only by His grace He gets all the credit anyway. So in essence the greater the reward we get the more glory Christ gets. But if we fail to live by the grace Christ provides we will lose such a great reward. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians, if we are living by our own strength in this life all our works will be burned up though we will be saved, as if through fire. Don’t give up your confidence in the Lord when you are suffering intensely for His sake. Why do you want to lose the reward that will bring great glory to God? Don’t throw away your confidence in Him and be ineffective in this spiritual battle to bring others to faith in Christ.
The author calls them to look at the past triumphs of their faith so they will remain confident in the current hardships. Whatever you may be experiencing today you must recognize that God is faithful. You must trust that whatever it is you experience God is still in control. And whatever you do, don’t throw away your confidence in our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember what God has brought you through and continue to keep your confidence.
B. Be patient
The second command the author gives his readers is be patient. We see this in verse 36. “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” Endurance (or patience) is a key characteristic of the Christian. It is one of the Spirit’s fruit that God produces in the life of the believer. It is through trials that God brings patience. We ought to recognize our need for endurance in our Christian life and consequently the need for trials.
Unfortunately, through the years I have heard those without a spiritual mind say you shouldn’t pray for patience because when you pray for patience God will bring trials. Well the author here says that endurance is necessary in the life of the believer to receive the promises of God. And James in his letter tells us, “to consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
If we recognize our need for patience, should we be afraid of the trials God is going to bring to perfect our faith and produce patience in us? Isn’t it ludicrous to say we can trust God for every other aspect in our life but grow afraid when it comes to allowing Him to bring trials into our life for our own good? How foolish. If we truly want the fruit of the Spirit to be evidenced in our lives then we need to seek God’s grace to do what He wants in our lives. We must see trials as that which is a good thing, not a necessary evil. This is so true that James tells us to count it as joy when we endure various trials. Instead of those unspiritual who say we shouldn’t pray for patience we need to think of it this way. We are missing out on a whole bunch of joy that could be ours in the midst of trials when we fail to seek patience.
We also need to listen to James’ admonition to “let endurance have its perfect result.” Too often we want to get out of difficulties so quickly that we rush God’s perfect result. Yes God will bring us through it but we can’t think it will be easier to experience the lessons He is trying to teach us twice then going through them once and learning the first time.
Let us not draw away from the endurance we need to accomplish the will of God. It is by this endurance we will receive that which God has promised.
C. Press on in faith
The final command the author gives his readers is to press on in faith. We note this in verses 37-39. He says, “For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”
The author closes this section with a quotation from Habakkuk and Isaiah. He wants to emphasize the fact that those who are righteous live by faith. And those who live by faith persevere. This is a key debate in Christianity. Are those who persevere, saved or do those, who have been saved, persevere. The author seems to be saying the latter. In verse 39 he mentions two groups, “those who shrink back to destruction” and “those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.” And he is confident that his readers are of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. When someone places their trust in Jesus Christ, the power of God begins to work in this person’s life to allow them to persevere. Peter says this in his first letter. He tells us that those who have been born again “are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
If an individual shrinks back to destruction, if they come to deny Jesus Christ because they think it will be more tolerable for them now, they have done so because they have never placed real trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. And so the author encourages his readers by telling them, “I remember what you went through previously for the Lord Jesus. I remember how you suffered for His sake. I don’t think you are those who shrink back to destruction. But you have need to keep your confidence. It has a great reward when you come to heaven. You have need for continued patience in the midst of trials and you need to press on in your faith.”
What the author does, in the coming chapter, is to delineate, to define, what it means to have real faith that goes on to the preserving of the soul. I think this coming chapter will be very instructive to show us clearly those who have faith and those who do not.