Where is God When We Get Sucker Punched By Life? (page 2)

To Answer the Question, “Why all the Suffering?”

The answer is simple, Jesus suffered and died and rose again so that we would be JUSTIFIED.

Yes, it was for our Justice! He became our justice because we couldn’t. That is why suffering is important. In the suffering for our justice (paying the cost for our sins) we are all saved. Jesus paid the price we could not!. And, now He is asking us to do the same, IN LOVE.

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," Romans 5:1

Jesus suffered to provide the basis for our justification and to complete the obedience that becomes our righteousness. In other words, Jesus did for us what we could never do for ourselves.

But, once we receive it (the free gift of Salvation through faith in Jesus) it is our duty and honor to share the goodness of God with others through our own sufferings as partakers of Christ’s sufferings. We become living testimonies of the love of God in Christ.

To be “justified” in a courtroom is not the same as being forgiven by God. Being forgiven implies that we are guilty and now our crime(s) are dismissed, not counted, and forgotten forever.

"But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.” Romans 4:5-8

Being justified by the suffering of Jesus implies that you and I have already been tried and found innocent! The Bible refers to this “sanctification,” which is the process of becoming “good” [righteous] through the shed blood of Jesus Christ (sacrifice and suffering). It has been done, and it is FINISHED.

Justification is a declaration that happens in a moment. The verdict is declared the moment we receive the free gift of grace and mercy. At that moment we are declared Just and righteous forever in Jesus' Name!

In the courtroom of God, we have not kept the law and we can’t possibly keep the law (read Romans Chapter 7 and 8). Therefore, self-justification, in ordinary terms, is hopeless. Yet, amazingly, because of Jesus, God “justifies the ungodly” (that's me and you) who trust in His grace (Romans 4:5).

So Why All The Suffering?

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father." John 14:12

Enjoy Part 3 of the Series on "Why Do We Suffer, Why Must it Be This Way?" (click here)