Gospel of John [16:33]. Why the believer has tribulation in the world [part 2]. Mat 5:3-12; 2Co 6:1-10.

Title: Gospel of John [16:33]. Why the believer has tribulation in the world [part 2]. MAT 5:3-12; 2CO 6:1-10.

 

 

JOH 16:33

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

 

Christ and all believers share a common enemy - the world: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life.

 

The word kosmos does not refer to the collection of people or matter but the influence over the human spirit that exists in all four corners of the earth. It is like contaminated air that everyone breathes.

 

Christ exposed the poisonous influence of the world and the world hated Him for it rather than being set free by it.

 

The sermon on the mount does not treat salvation, but the character and conduct of those that belong to Christ in contrast to those who are slaves of the world.

 

"Blessed" - spiritual prosperity. Heavens blessings flood the soul of those saints whose heart is clothed with MAT 5:3-12.

 

MAT 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

Poor in spirit - humility and insignificance before God.

World - pride, self-assertion, self-reliance, self-dependence.

 

We are not to mimic any of these beatitudes. They all flow from the first one; genuine humility before God. Having Christ's mind of who humbled Himself to the will of the Father to the point of death will bring the blessedness of an inner spiritual life.

 

It is for the reason that we walk in righteousness that the world persecutes us. We will walk in righteousness in heaven, but there will be no persecution in heaven. In the world system that has so influenced its inhabitants and continues to do so under its demonic ruler from the fallen, ignorant, and often unregenerate people within, the believer who walks in God's deliverance will face what is revealed in the NT.

 

2CO 6:1 And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain [without impact (vs. 3)]— 

 

2CO 6:2 for He says [ISA 49:8],

"At the acceptable time I listened to you,

And on the day of salvation I helped you";

behold, now is "the acceptable time," behold, now is "the day of salvation" — 

 

2CO 6:3 giving no cause for offense [occasion for stumbling] in anything, in order that the ministry be not discredited,

 

"offense" - proskoph,[proskope] = occasion for stumbling; something that leads others into error and sin.

 

2CO 6:4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God [your ministry of revealing Christ], in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

 

2CO 6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults [confusion or disturbance], in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,

 

Endurance [hupomone] is needed since your reflection of Christ in this world, through your inner spiritual power, will prompt the world system to bring upon you one, some, or all of what follows.

 

Continuing, what is needed to endure, is inner virtue. This goes way beyond ritual and rule of religion. Religion desired by the world is a good background as well as a good screen that camouflages and hides evil. It is designed to try and satisfy the longing of the soul while promoting self-aggrandizement or self-glorification. Christ, on the other hand, taught that true religion was for the Father in secret; and consisted, not in the rigorous observance of outward rite, but in knowledge, faith, hope, love, piety, mercy, forgiveness, solitary prayer, and purity of heart.

 

Note, as we go to verse 10, the contrasts to the world's system or influence.

 

2CO 6:6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love [of which is patience and kindness by means of the HS],

 

Genuine - unfeigned or without hypocrisy.

 

2CO 6:7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left [fully armored for offense and defense],

 

2CO 6:8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report [varied responses - the response doesn't matter]; regarded as deceivers and yet true;

 

2CO 6:9 as unknown yet well-known [world wants fame - addiction of social media], as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death,

 

After you have done the Master's will, consider yourself an unworthy slave. We are invisible heroes.

 

As dying - sometimes God may allow physical attacks as was done to Job. Some sicknesses, cancers, diseases, conditions, etc. are conquered in the believer and they live through the sickness with an attitude of living and not dying. Sometimes the believer recovers, whether God healed, their tremendous attitude bolstered their immunity, or something else occurred and it is shown that they never feared but lived.

 

Punishment is the word also meaning chastened and it is used in the context of divine discipline in 1CO 11:2; HEB 12:6, and REV 3:19.

 

Therefore, this likely refers to the chastening of the Lord which Paul shows here is needed even for those that are pursuing the spiritual life since we still go astray.

 

Does the world prize the chastening hand of authority? Does the world exalt correction and reproof?

 

But we are not discouraged by this as we know it is necessary for producing "the peaceful fruit of righteousness," HEB 12:11, and it isn't going to kill us.

 

2CO 6:10 as sorrowful [situations of deep grief] yet always rejoicing, as poor [same word as MAT 5:3] yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.

 

The world thinks that rejoicing can only happen in good times, but the spiritual believer finds joy in the midst of trials.

 

The world only sees the situation of grief but fails to recognize the divine happiness within the believer's heart. The ascetic has no joy in his heart. He takes suffering in the mindset of the world.

 

Poor may apply to actual finances but it more importantly refers to the poor in spirit who is humble before God. That spirit allows God to bless. We work hard but understand the deceitfulness of riches and the conceit that can come with making an idol out of wealth. The many are made rich through the witness of our spiritual lives.

 

Many of the early believers had nothing, but even in our prosperous nation, the positive believer understands that he possesses nothing.

 

All is the Lord's and we are exceedingly gracious with what we have, and if in adversity, we lose what we have, we know that we are the possessors of all things, the things that Christ has graciously given us in His inheritance.