Suffering in God’s Sovereign glorifying purifying order for us His elect, beloved children, our Lord’s Holy bride:
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The blessing of trials/suffering in the Holy economy of God’s redeeming love:
I Cor 12:18: 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
Job 23:10: 10 “But He knows the way I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Ps 119:71,75; Is 48:10-11; Jn 15:18-19; Roms 5:1-5; Js 1:2-4; Jer 29:11-13,5-7; Roms 8:28 (all); Is 46:8-10; Rev 20:11-15; 21-22
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Trials, suffering, afflictions – God’s tools of sanctifying love – Job 10:2(Hebs 12:4-11***; Jonah 1:1-9; Ps 119:71,75; Is 48:10-11; Roms 5:1-5; 1 Cor 10:13 (Col 3:17; Col 3:23; I Thess 4:9-12); Js 1:2-4***):
What is indeed calamity & affliction in this fallen world, in the Holy immutable economy of God, is an unassailable instrument of His faithful (Ps 119:75), glorifying (Is 48:10-11), sanctifying (Roms 5:1-5; Js 1:2-4) love & grace (Is 45:7; Jer 29:11) to us as His beloved, elect children (Micah 7:7-8; Nahum 1:7; Zeph 3:17; Jn 14:1-6,27).
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Acts 14:22: 22 strengthening (“strengthening” = Col 1:28; 1 Thess 2:8*** (Rom 14:1; 15:1+; Eph 4:17-32); Phil 2:3+; I Cor 13:4-8a ; “thru many tribulations” = I Ptr 2:13+; 3:13-17; Rom 5:1-5 (Deut 13:1-5; 30:19-20; 31:6,8); Js 1:2+; Ps 119:71,75; Is 48:10-11; Jn 17:3***; Is 26:1-7***) the souls of the disciples, encouraging (“encouraging” = Roms 8:31(all); I Cor 15:50- 58; I Thess 4:13- 18***) them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through (Ps 119:71,75; Is 48:10-11; Hab 3:17+; Jn 15:18-19; Roms 5:1- 5; 8(all); 12(all); 1 Cor 10:13,31; Js 1:2-4; I Ptr 1: 6b-9(3-6a); 2:17-20; 4:10; 5:6-8,9-10,11) many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
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Hebs 5:8: 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
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Suffering, is always, in our Father’s perfect, infinite sanctifying love, a temporary matter (I Ptr 1:6b-9; I Cor 10:13,31; Col 1:24) and, it always serves, in accordance with His faithful, loving will for us, as His tool of/for proving Himself infinitely faithful to us (Ps 119:71,75; 37:3), & to teach us to trust Him more & more, as we faithfully, joyfully, willingly obey & serve Him here (Ps 118:24; I Thess 4:9-12; I Tim 2:1-4; I Ptr 2:13-17) as His beloved children – Hebs 5:8(7-10/all of chptr 5).