The Fellowship of His Sufferings

The Fellowship of His Sufferings (Rom 8:26-39)
Intro: Paul, expert on suffering
'I will show [Paul] how many things he must suffer for My name's sake.' (Acts 9:16, see Gal 6:17)

I. Blessing of Suffering

A. Discipline (1Cor 11:27-32)

B. Draws Us Near To God (2Cor 1:8-10)
2Cor 12:9, 4:7-8, 12:9-10, 13:4, Rom 8:35-37

C. Develop Christian Graces (Rom 5:3-4)
'Fruit of the Spirit' can't be learned & practiced any other way.

Paul connects suffering w/perseverance or endurance (Rom 5:3, Rom 12:12, 2 Cor 1:6, 1 Thess 2:14, 2 Thess 1:4, 2 Tim 3:10-11), faith (2 Thess 1:4), hope (Rom 5:4-5, Rom 8:20-25, 2 Cor 1:7-10, 1 Tim 5:5), & humility (2 Cor 12:7). Suffering requires & strengthens faith. Suffering w/o faith is in vain (Gal 3:4). So we are destined for this, 1Thess 3:3-4, Acts 14:22, & should receive it as gift & rejoice (Phil 1:29, Col 1:24, 1Thess 1:6, 2Tim 1:8).

2. Fellowship of Suffering

A. Brings Body of Christ Together (1Cor 12:26)
'Suffering inseparable from koinonia [sharing]' (see 'suffering' in the NIDNTT). See Gal 6:2, Rom 12:8, 1Cor 12:24-27, & 'one another' passages.

B. We Participate In Christ's Sufferings (2Cor 1:3-7)
We partake of 'the fellowship of His sufferings' (Phil 3:10, see Rom 8:17, 2Cor 4:8-11).

Application: Which way should suffering make you look?
Job's friends come to us & make us look in wrong direction (Job 42:8). Look to the one who suffered & is now glorified & who says, I will wipe away every tear from your eye.