The Cost of Following Christ

The quotation from the Old Testament stresses that the experience of God's people is the same in every age. They will be singled out and targeted for ridicule, vilification, assault, or worse. Paul's argument is that such treatment is yet another indication of the certainty of every believer's position in Christ. To be exposed to harm for the sake of Christ is the universal condition of those who have been called and justified and glorified.