Free From Suffering: Understanding What Jesus Accomplished For Us

Grab your bible. We’re going to look at something that many churches get wrong - the idea that Christians need to suffer to be saved or to live a godly life. Let's clear this up with God's Word.

Opening Prayer 

God, we thank you for your Word. Help us understand what you've accomplished through your son Jesus Christ. Open our hearts to receive your truth. In Jesus' name, amen.

The Problem: Misunderstanding "To Whom"

Here's the big issue - many preachers quote Jesus' words about suffering and apply them directly to us today. But we need to ask a critical question: "To whom was Jesus speaking and teaching?”

Look at Matthew 16:24: "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

Churches love this verse! They say, "See? We need to suffer!" But wait - who was Jesus talking to? Who was Jesus teaching? He was teaching his disciples BEFORE Pentecost. Before the new birth was available (John 3:3-7). Before anyone could be born again (Romans 10:9-10).

Jesus NEVER Taught Anyone Who Was Born Again

This is huge! Jesus never taught a single born-again believer. Why? Because there weren't any! Nobody could be born again the way WE are born again until after he died, rose, and ascended.

Look at what Jesus said about being born again in John 3:3-7. In verse 5, Jesus tells Nicodemus: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Born of water AND spirit. But here's the critical point - that was BEFORE Pentecost! Before the holy spirit was given!

After Pentecost, everything changed! How do we get born again now? Romans 10:9-10: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Did you catch that? No water! Just believe and confess! This is the fulcrum point - the turning point - of all scripture!

Before Pentecost: Born of water and spirit (which wasn't even available yet!) After Pentecost: Born again by BELIEVING!

John 7:39 confirms this timing: "But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified."

This Changes EVERYTHING!

If churches and preachers can't understand this critical distinction, their people will never experience:

• The power of God working in them (Ephesians 3:20 - "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us")

• The abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10 - “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”)

• The fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.")

Why? Because they're still trying to live under the old system! They're mixing what Jesus said BEFORE the spirit was available with what God says to us NOW!

• Jesus taught people under the law (Matthew 5:17-18 - "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.")

• Jesus taught people who couldn't have holy spirit born within them yet

• Jesus taught people who would need water baptism because the spirit wasn't available

• Jesus taught people who didn't have Christ in them (that wasn't available yet!)

• Jesus taught people who weren't sons of God with sonship rights (Galatians 4:5 - "To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.")

But NOW, after Pentecost, we're born again simply by believing! No water required! The spirit is available! We have Christ in us! We're sons of God with all the rights and privileges!

This is why understanding "to whom" is so critical. If you don't get this, you'll spend your whole life trying to be born again with water, trying to suffer for your salvation, never realizing that the game changed at Pentecost!

Do We Ignore Jesus' Words? NO!

Now don't misunderstand - Jesus' red-letter words are God's Word! They're profitable for learning (2 Timothy 3:16 - "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"). We read them. We learn from them. They show us God's heart, His standards, and what Jesus accomplished for us.

BUT - and this is critical - when it comes to APPLICATION, we born-again believers must apply what's written TO US!

What's Written TO Us?

Romans 15:4 tells us: "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

See that? Written aforetime (including Jesus' earthly ministry) was written for our LEARNING. But what's written TO us for application?

The Church Epistles - Romans through Thessalonians! These are addressed to:

• "The saints" (Romans 1:7 - "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints")

• "The church of God" (1 Corinthians 1:2)

• Those who ARE saved (Ephesians 2:8)

• Those who HAVE Christ in them (Colossians 1:27 - "Christ in you, the hope of glory")

• Born-again believers with sonship rights (Romans 8:15 - "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.")

The Grace Administration vs. Law Administration

We live in the Grace Administration (Ephesians 3:2 - "If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:"). Jesus ministered in the Law Administration to people under the law.

Big difference:

• They were servants; we ARE sons (Galatians 4:7 - "Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.")

• They waited for redemption; we HAVE redemption (Ephesians 1:7 - "In whom we HAVE redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;")

• They couldn't have Christ in them; we DO have Christ in us!

• They had to suffer for their sins; we don't because Jesus did it all!

Using the Mind of Christ

As born-again believers with the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16 - "For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."), we must rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15 - "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.").

That means understanding:

• What was TO them under the law (for our learning)

• What is TO us under grace (for our application)

Jesus' Earthly Ministry Was Under the Law

Turn to Galatians 4:4-5: "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."

Jesus was born under the law. He ministered under the law. His disciples were still under the law. The new covenant hadn't started yet (Hebrews 9:16-17 - "For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.").

What Changed at Pentecost?

Acts 2:4 tells us: "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

This changed everything! Now people could be born again (John 3:3 - "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."). Now we can have God in Christ in us (Colossians 1:27 - "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"). This wasn't available when Jesus walked the earth (John 16:7 - "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.").

We ARE Saved - Present Tense!

This is where churches mess up big time. They act like we're waiting to be saved, or we're in the process of being saved, or we need to suffer to stay saved. NO! Look at these powerful present-tense truths:

• 1 John 5:13: "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye HAVE eternal life." - Not "will have" - HAVE! Right now!

• Ephesians 2:5-6: "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye ARE saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." - ARE saved! Present tense! Already seated in heavenly places!

• 1 John 3:2: "Beloved, NOW are we the sons of God" - Not someday - NOW!

Think about it - if we're already seated in heavenly places, how much suffering do you think goes on there? None!

Paul's Gospel to the Church

Now let's see what God says to us - born-again believers. Romans 5:8-9 says: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."

Did you catch that? We're SAVED from wrath! Not saved TO suffer! And we're "NOW justified" - present tense!

Romans 5:1: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" - We HAVE peace! Not seeking peace through suffering - we HAVE it!

Jesus Did ALL the Suffering - It's FINISHED!

Look at 2 Corinthians 5:21: "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Jesus became sin FOR US. He took our place. He did the suffering so we don't have to! And notice - we "might BE made" - not "will be made someday" - but BE made righteous NOW!

John 19:30: "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." - FINISHED! Complete! Done!

What's finished? The work of redemption! The suffering for sin! The payment for our freedom!

Isaiah 53:4-5 prophesied this: "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

Notice - "we ARE healed" (1 Peter 2:24 confirms this - "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.") - WERE healed! Past tense! Already done!

God Didn't Suffer - He Sent His Son!

Here's something else churches get wrong - they say Jesus is God, so God suffered. NO! That's not what the Word says!

Look carefully at John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

God gave His SON! Not Himself! God SENT His son!

1 John 4:14 makes it clear: "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world."

The FATHER sent the SON! Two different beings! God didn't send Himself - He sent His son!

Romans 8:32: "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

His own SON! If Jesus was God, this verse would make no sense. God delivered up His SON to suffer for us!

Why Does This Matter?

Because if Jesus was God, then:

• God can die (but 1 Timothy 6:16 says God "only hath immortality")

• God can be tempted (but James 1:13 says "God cannot be tempted with evil")

• God doesn't know everything (but Mark 13:32 shows Jesus didn't know the day or hour of his return - only the Father knew)

No! God sent His perfect son - a man born of a woman (Galatians 4:4) - to do what no other man could do: live perfectly and die for our sins!

1 Timothy 2:5 settles it: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"

ONE God, and ONE mediator - the MAN Christ Jesus! Not God Christ Jesus - MAN Christ Jesus!

This Is WHY We Can Be Saved!

God's plan was perfect:

• Before Pentecost: People could be cleansed by water, looking forward to the coming Messiah

• Jesus (the perfect man, not God) suffered and died, making the new birth available

• After Pentecost: We're born again by believing (Romans 10:9-10), receiving God's gift of holy spirit (the Comforter)

Acts 2:22 calls Jesus: "Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him..."

A MAN approved of God! God worked THROUGH him, but Jesus wasn't God himself!

This is why Jesus could suffer - because he was human! This is why his suffering counts for us - because he was our substitute, a perfect man dying for imperfect men and women! God didn't suffer - He provided the solution through His son's suffering!

When churches teach that God suffered, they're confusing the whole plan of redemption. God is spirit (John 4:24), He cannot die or suffer. But His son, born as a man, could and did - FOR US!

If We Still Need to Suffer, Then Jesus' Suffering Meant Nothing!

Think about this - if we still need to suffer for our salvation, then we're saying Jesus' suffering wasn't enough! We're saying his stripes didn't accomplish anything! That's blasphemy!

Look at Galatians 2:21: "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

Paul's saying if we could get righteous by our own efforts (including suffering), then Christ died for NOTHING! In vain means "for no purpose, empty, worthless."

Hebrews 10:10-12 says: "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered ONE sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;"

ONCE for all! ONE sacrifice forever! If we need to add our suffering to his, then his one sacrifice wasn't enough!'

You're Calling God a Liar!

When you say you need to suffer for your sins, you're calling God a liar! Why? Because God said in Hebrews 10:17-18: "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin."

No more offering! That includes your suffering! If God says there's no more offering needed and you're trying to offer your suffering, you're saying God's wrong!

Isaiah 53:5 says: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

If you still need to suffer, then his wounds didn't work! His bruises failed! His stripes accomplished nothing! Do you really want to stand before God and tell Him that His son's sacrifice wasn't good enough?

You're Trampling on the Blood of Jesus!

Hebrews 10:29 warns: "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"

When you add your suffering to his finished work, you're trampling his blood underfoot! You're counting it as unholy - not sacred enough to save you completely!

Galatians 5:4 says: "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."

Christ becomes of NO EFFECT when you try to add your works (suffering) to his grace! You actually FALL from grace!

The Insult to the Cross

Philippians 3:18-19 speaks of: "(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)"

Enemies of the cross! When we preach suffering for salvation, we become enemies of what the cross accomplished!

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 says: "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

The cross is made of NONE EFFECT when we add anything to it! Including our suffering!

Either He Did It ALL or He Did Nothing

Romans 11:6 makes it clear: "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."

You can't mix them! Either Jesus' suffering was sufficient (grace) or it wasn't (works). There's no middle ground!

Galatians 3:3 asks: "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"

If you got saved by believing (not suffering), why would you think you need to suffer now to stay saved or be "more saved"?

The Finished Work

When Jesus said "It is finished" (John 19:30), the Greek word is "tetelestai" - it means:

• Paid in full

• Completed

• Nothing left to do

• The debt is cancelled

In those days, when someone paid off a debt, they'd write "tetelestai" across the bill. PAID IN FULL!

Colossians 2:13-14 confirms: "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"

ALL trespasses forgiven! The whole debt nailed to the cross! If you're still trying to pay (through suffering), you're saying Jesus lied when he said "PAID IN FULL!"

Don't Let Anyone Rob You

Colossians 2:8 warns: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

Religious traditions that teach suffering for salvation are vain deceit! They'll spoil (rob) you of your freedom in Christ!

When someone tells you that you need to suffer like Jesus did, you tell them: "That's an insult to the cross! Either Jesus' suffering was enough or it wasn't. I believe it was MORE than enough! His stripes healed me completely! His blood washed me perfectly clean! His death gave me eternal life! There's nothing left for me to do but believe and receive!"

The Great Exchange

Here's what happened at the cross - the great exchange:

• He took our sin; we got his righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21 - “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”)

• He took our sickness; we got his health (Matthew 8:17 - "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.")

• He took our poverty; we got his riches (2 Corinthians 8:9 - "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.")

• He took our curse; we got his blessing (Galatians 3:13-14 - "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us... That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ")

Why would we try to take back what he already took?

Saved by Grace, Not Works (Not Suffering!)

Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it crystal clear: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Suffering for salvation is works! It's saying Jesus didn't do enough. But he did it all!

Titus 3:5: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"

If suffering could save us or keep us saved, then Jesus died for nothing! (Galatians 2:21 - "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.")

Our New Identity - RIGHT NOW!

Romans 8:1: "There is therefore NOW no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." - NOW! Present tense! No condemnation! How can we suffer for our sins when there's no condemnation?

2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he IS a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." - IS! Not "will be" - IS a new creature NOW! We're NEW creatures! The old suffering person is gone!

Romans 8:14-16: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they ARE the sons of God... The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we ARE the children of God." - Present tense reality!

1 Corinthians 6:17: "But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." - We're ONE SPIRIT with the Lord! How much closer can you get?

Life More Abundant - TODAY!

Jesus himself said in John 10:10: "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Abundant life! Not suffering life! And when do we have it? Right when we believe!

John 5:24: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, HATH everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but IS passed from death unto life." - HATH (has) everlasting life! IS passed from death to life! Present tense!

Romans 14:17: "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." - The kingdom of God is righteousness, PEACE, and JOY! Not suffering!

What About Trials?

Now, we might face challenges in this world. Jesus said in John 16:33: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

But look - he already OVERCAME! Past tense! And Christ is in us! We can overcome the world too. 

1 Corinthians 10:13: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

God always provides a way out! We're not meant to suffer under trials.

James 1:2-3 says: "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." - Even in trials, we can have JOY! Why? Because we know who we are and whose we are!

Romans 10:9-10 - The Simple Truth

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

That's it! Believe and confess. No suffering required. Jesus already did that part. And notice - "thou shalt BE saved" - immediate upon believing!

The Spirit of Believing

But there's something powerful here we need to see! When we got born again, we received the spirit of believing!

Look at 2 Corinthians 4:13: "We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;"

The spirit of faith! That "faith" is the Greek word "pistis" - believing! The spirit of believing! Paul says we HAVE it! Present tense! And what does it do? We believe and therefore we speak!

This connects directly to how we got saved. Romans 10:8-10 shows the pattern: "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

See the pattern?

• Believe in your heart

• Speak with your mouth

• Same as 2 Corinthians 4:13 - "we believe, and therefore speak"

This isn't just for salvation - this is how the spirit of believing operates in everything!

Mark 11:23 shows us: "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."

Believe and speak! That's the spirit of believing in operation!

This Spirit of Believing Replaces Suffering!

Here's the beautiful part - we don't need to suffer to "prove" our faith. We HAVE the spirit of faith (pistis)! Hebrews 11:1 tells us: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Our believing IS the substance! Our faith IS the evidence! Not our suffering!

The spirit of believing enables us to:

• Receive salvation without suffering (Ephesians 2:8 - "For by grace are ye saved through faith")

• Operate the manifestations of the spirit (1 Corinthians 12:9 mentions "faith by the same Spirit")

• Live the abundant life without trying to earn it through suffering (John 10:10 - "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly")

When churches teach that we need to suffer, they're denying the power of the spirit of believing that God gave us! They're saying our faith isn't enough - we need to add suffering to it. But God says our believing is enough because HE gave us the spirit of faith!

This is part of what changed at Pentecost! Before, they couldn't have this spirit of believing the way we do. But now, it's part of the package when we're born again! We don't just get saved - we get the spirit of believing that keeps us walking in victory!

Our Victory Position - NOW!

Romans 8:37: "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." - ARE more than conquerors! Present tense!

More than conquerors! Not sufferers - CONQUERORS!

2 Corinthians 2:14: "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ" - ALWAYS causes us to triumph! Not someday - always, including right now!

1 John 4:4: "Ye are of God, little children, and HAVE overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." - HAVE overcome! Already done!

1 Corinthians 15:57: "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." - GIVETH us the victory! It's a gift, not something we earn through suffering!

We Don't Wait for the Second Coming to Be Saved!

This is another big mistake churches make. They act like we're waiting for Jesus to come back before we can really be saved or really enjoy salvation. Wrong!

Colossians 3:3-4: "For ye ARE dead, and your life IS hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

See that? We ARE dead (to sin) and our life IS hid with Christ NOW! The appearing in glory is future, but the salvation is PRESENT!

1 John 3:14: "We know that we HAVE passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." - HAVE passed! Already done!

Philippians 3:20-21: "For our conversation IS in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body..." - Our citizenship IS in heaven NOW! The body change is future, but we're already citizens!

What Churches Get Wrong

Churches mix up Israel and the Church. They mix up law and grace. They take verses meant for Israel and apply them to us.

For example: Matthew 24:13: "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." - Churches say, "See? You have to endure suffering to be saved!"

But who's Jesus talking to? Jews! About the tribulation period! Not the Church Age! We don't endure to be saved - we're already saved!

Or they quote Hebrews 12:6: "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." - And they say God makes us suffer.

But read the context! Look at the very first verse of the chapter - Hebrews 12:1: "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"

RUN THE RACE! This whole chapter uses athletic imagery!

Verse 11: "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."

"Exercised" - that's the Greek word "gumnazo" - where we get "gymnasium"! It means to train like an athlete!

And verse 10: "For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness."

For our PROFIT! To make us partakers of his holiness!

Even verse 13 continues the athletic theme: "And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed."

This is about training us to run our race better - not punishing us for sins! Jesus already took the punishment! God's working as our coach, not our judge. The judgment for sin is finished - now it's about training for victory!

Freedom From Religious Bondage

Galatians 5:1: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

Christ made us FREE! Not free to suffer - FREE from suffering for our sins!

Romans 6:14: "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Under grace! Where there's no condemnation, no guilt, no suffering for sins - because Jesus already did it!

Colossians 2:20-22: "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?"

Stop letting religious people put you back under rules and suffering!

Walking in Our Completeness

Colossians 2:10: "And ye ARE complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"

COMPLETE! Not partially saved. Not in-process. COMPLETE!

Hebrews 10:14: "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." - PERFECTED FOREVER! One offering - his suffering - made us perfect forever!

1 John 4:17: "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." - AS HE IS, SO ARE WE! Is Jesus suffering in heaven? No! Then neither should we suffer for our salvation!

Closing Thoughts

When churches teach that we need to suffer, they're mixing law and grace. They're taking Jesus' words to people under the law - people who weren't born again, who didn't have Christ in them - and applying them to us under grace.

We have God in Christ in us. We're born again. We're new creatures. We're more than conquerors. We're complete. We're perfect in God's eyes. Jesus suffered so we could live abundantly.

The religious world wants to keep you suffering because it keeps you coming back, keeps you feeling guilty, keeps you under their control. But God wants you FREE! Walking in victory! Enjoying your salvation NOW!

Stop trying to earn what Jesus already gave you. Stop suffering for what he already accomplished. Walk in the victory he won NOW - because you ARE saved, you ARE his child, you ARE complete in him!

Remember - it's not about what you do. It's about what he DID. And what he did is FINISHED!

CLOSING SUMMARY - What We've Learned

Let's recap the life-changing truths we've discovered tonight:

1. Jesus Never Taught Born-Again Believers - He taught people under the law before the Holy Spirit was given. Understanding "to whom" scripture is written changes everything.

2. Pentecost Changed Everything - Before: born of water and spirit (not yet available). After: born again by simply believing (Romans 10:9-10). This is the fulcrum point of all scripture.

3. We Apply What's Written TO Us - Jesus' words are for our learning, but the Church Epistles (Romans-Thessalonians) are written TO us for application.

4. We ARE Saved - Present Tense - Not "will be," not "becoming," but ARE saved, HAVE eternal life, and ARE seated in heavenly places right now.

5. 5. It Is FINISHED - Jesus' one sacrifice forever completed the work. Adding our suffering says His work wasn't enough - that's blasphemy.

6. God Sent His Son - Jesus was the perfect man who could die for imperfect people. God didn't suffer - He provided the solution through His son's suffering.

7. We Have the Spirit of Believing - Faith (pistis) is our evidence, not suffering. We believe and speak - that's how the spirit operates.

8. We're Complete and Victorious - We're more than conquerors, perfected forever, complete in Him. As He is, so are we in this world.

9. Freedom Is Ours - Religious bondage keeps people suffering for control. But Christ made us free from condemnation, guilt, and the need to earn salvation.

The Bottom Line: If you're trying to suffer for your salvation, you're saying Jesus' suffering wasn't enough. You're frustrating grace, falling from grace, and insulting the cross. But when you believe what God says - that you're saved by grace through faith - you can walk in the abundant life Jesus died to give you. It's not about what you do. It's about what He DID. And what He did is FINISHED!

Let's Pray Father, thank you for making it so simple. Thank you that Jesus did all the suffering. Thank you that we ARE saved right now, completely, perfectly, eternally. We're not waiting for anything - we have it all in Christ. Help us walk in the abundant life you've given us. Help us share this truth with others who are needlessly suffering under religious bondage. Give us boldness to proclaim that the work is finished, that we're free, that we're more than conquerors. In Jesus' name, amen.