They Persecuted the Master, They Will Also Persecute the Servant

[Mr. M]

John 15:

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 

19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world,

but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 

20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’

If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 

21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 

22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 

23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 

24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin;

but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 

25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 

‘They hated Me without a cause.’

Can someone lay claim to being a servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and somehow avoid

hatred, persecution, and railing false accusations? Or to consider from another perspective,

can someone become a Christian, enjoy a lifetime of pleasant relationships in a church, while

avoiding the burden of being a servant? Has there been a downside to "freedom of religion"?

[Neighbor]

1 hour ago, Mr. M said:

Can someone lay claim to being a servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and somehow avoid

hatred, persecution, and railing false accusations? Or to consider from another perspective,

can someone become a Christian, enjoy a lifetime of pleasant relationships in a church, while

avoiding the burden of being a servant? Has there been a downside to "freedom of religion"?

1, Can someone lay claim to being a servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and somehow avoid

hatred, persecution, and railing false accusations? Yes, one can for the most part can even avoid  true railing accusations. How? Mostly by relying upon the Holy Spirit to be the convicter,  instead of thinking ones self to be the necessary  to God avenging "angel"  needed  for the turning about  of others from their sin against God. It is quite possible to shine light without using a strobe that irritates al that see it. Thoigh some will hate for sure it will not be a direct well reasoned hate but instead the hatred of the reminder of Jesus his work His sacrifice that many may be saved.

One giving testimony of Jesus need not be a pain in doing so to be effectively fulfilling the command of God to go into all the world with the gospel of Jesus; however it is wise  to expect what has been foretold, that the Jew is provoked to jealousy - for good reasons of God, - that may a Jew will also be saved.

2, "the burden of being a servant". My Lord has said His yoke is light to bear. Seems to me I can handle the burden of suffering even the most zealotrous Christian alright , especially pontifications of their superior knowledge and special insight  into God's will along special commands that they are here to impose on  whomever they may target. Tha too is easy sometimes even comic.  Why sometimes i even get led to visit the word through those diatribes and that too is good very good.

[Neighbor]

p.s. - As to freedom of religion I don't know. I was never really free. Eventually God gave me an ultimatum, one I could not this side of sanity ignore. That is why in part  that I think of myself as a Freewill Calvinist. Being of a mind to reject God altogether of my own freewill I could not because He made it impossible for me to do so.

[Mr. M]

8 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

1, Can someone lay claim to being a servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and somehow avoid

hatred, persecution, and railing false accusations? Yes, one can for the most part can even avoid  true railing accusations. How? Mostly by relying upon the Holy Spirit to be the convicter,  instead of thinking ones self to be the necessary  to God avenging "angel"  needed  for the turning about  of others from their sin against God. It is quite possible to shine light without using a strobe that irritates al that see it. Thoigh some will hate for sure it will not be a direct well reasoned hate but instead the hatred of the reminder of Jesus his work His sacrifice that many may be saved.

One giving testimony of Jesus need not be a pain in doing so to be effectively fulfilling the command of God to go into all the world with the gospel of Jesus; however it is wise  to expect what has been foretold, that the Jew is provoked to jealousy - for good reasons of God, - that may a Jew will also be saved.

2, "the burden of being a servant". My Lord has said His yoke is light to bear. Seems to me I can handle the burden of suffering even the most zealotrous Christian alright , especially pontifications of their superior knowledge and special insight  into God's will along special commands that they are here to impose on  whomever they may target. Tha too is easy sometimes even comic.  Why sometimes i even get led to visit the word through those diatribes and that too is good very good.

And here I was thinking that there was a blessing in it!

Matthew 5:11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you,

and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 

12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven,

for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

[TheBlade]

On 10/4/2023 at 8:16 AM, Mr. M said:

John 15:

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 

19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world,

but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 

20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’

If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 

21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 

22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 

23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 

24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin;

but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 

25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 

‘They hated Me without a cause.’

Can someone lay claim to being a servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and somehow avoid

hatred, persecution, and railing false accusations? Or to consider from another perspective,

can someone become a Christian, enjoy a lifetime of pleasant relationships in a church, while

avoiding the burden of being a servant? Has there been a downside to "freedom of religion"?

Yeah before being young in the lord it was ME ME ME haha they hated but in truth it was Him in me that see and hate. To Him be all the glory and praise to Him at His feet I lay down all my crowns

[Mr. M]

Galatians 4:

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 

29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted

him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.

[Guest AFlameOfFire]

It says here that the doctrine of Christ is according to godliness

1 Ti 6:3-6 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw  thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. (See also 1 T 6:10)

Just as the grace of God in Christ teaches us to deny all ungodliness and wordly lusts

Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world

It's not the ungodly  that will suffer persecution, but they that will live godly in Christ (which is according to the grace of God given us that teaches us to live so)

2 Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Titus 1:10 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness

2 Peter 1:1-3 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousnessof God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue

Just another way we can see suffering persecution  as it pertains to living godly in Christ.

 

 

[Mr. M]

1 hour ago, AFlameOfFire said:

Just another way we can see suffering persecution  as it pertains to living godly in Christ.

2 Timothy 1:

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

[Guest AFlameOfFire]

 

I do prefer bite sized postings, then instead of cramming everything into one post, you can better get the gist of something by posting little by little (a handful of verses in each one) I think I will try to do that, and just post more posts with less in them. 

Heres a few

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1 Peter 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

1 Thes 3:3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

1 Thes 3:4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

1 Thes 3:5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

Tribulation and affliction used interchangably as it pertains to the devil and speaks of these things being "accomplished in" your brethren who are in the world.

[Mr. M]

2 minutes ago, AFlameOfFire said:

as it pertains to the devil

And...

according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air,

the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience: Ephesians 2:1-3