Topical Bible: Afflictions and Adversities of Saints: End in Joy and Blessedness

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The journey of the saints through afflictions and adversities is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures, illustrating the transformative power of faith and the ultimate joy and blessedness that await those who endure. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings that highlight how trials serve as a refining process, leading to spiritual growth and divine favor.

Biblical Examples

1. Job: The account of Job is perhaps the most profound example of enduring affliction. Despite losing his wealth, health, and family, Job remained steadfast in his faith. His perseverance through immense suffering is rewarded by God, who restores his fortunes and blesses him with even greater prosperity. Job 42:10 states, "After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his prosperity and doubled his former possessions."

2. Joseph: Sold into slavery by his brothers and later imprisoned under false accusations, Joseph's life was marked by adversity. Yet, his unwavering faith and integrity led to his rise as a powerful leader in Egypt. His trials ultimately positioned him to save his family and many others from famine, demonstrating how God can turn adversity into a blessing. Genesis 50:20 reflects this truth: "As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

3. Paul: The Apostle Paul faced numerous hardships, including imprisonment, beatings, and shipwrecks. Despite these trials, he remained committed to spreading the Gospel. Paul viewed his sufferings as a means to share in Christ's sufferings and to experience His resurrection power. In 2 Corinthians 4:17 , Paul writes, "For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison."

Theological Insights

The Scriptures teach that afflictions are not without purpose. They serve as a means of sanctification, drawing believers closer to God and molding them into the likeness of Christ. James 1:2-4 encourages believers to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Furthermore, afflictions are often depicted as a precursor to divine comfort and blessing. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 , Paul praises God as "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

Eschatological Hope

The ultimate hope for the saints lies in the eschatological promise of eternal joy and blessedness. Revelation 21:4 offers a vision of the future where "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away." This assurance of a future without suffering provides a profound source of hope and encouragement for believers enduring present trials.

Practical Application

Believers are called to respond to afflictions with faith and perseverance, trusting in God's sovereign plan and His ability to bring good out of every situation. Romans 8:28 reassures us, "And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." This perspective enables the saints to face adversities with courage and hope, knowing that their trials are temporary and will ultimately lead to eternal joy and blessedness.

Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 126:5,6
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
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Isaiah 61:2,3
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
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Matthew 5:4
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
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1 Peter 4:13,14
But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.
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Library

Christian Graces.
... by prevailing with the soul to suffer all troubles, afflictions, and adversities
that it ... had an intermitting pulse, as also many other of the saints of God ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xviii christian graces.htm

But Whilst the King Has not that Most Blessed Light...
... rapture of the heavenly saints before the ... to-day's sorrows and adversities,"awful,
agonizing ... thorny shrubs of endurance, afflictions, necessities, distresses ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter vii but whilst the.htm

The Christian Honoring God by his Dying Behavior.
... than I am pressed by the load of these afflictions ? ... souls of his children in alt
their adversities," (Psa.31 ... in "whose sight the death of his saints is precious ...
/.../chapter xxx the christian honoring.htm

Christian Behavior
... it is again that they have run through so many trials, afflictions, and adversities,
even because ... 5 Thus you see how wise men and fools, saints and sinners ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christian behavior.htm

Israel's Hope Encouraged;
... of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the ... with
the soul to suffer all troubles, afflictions, and adversities that it ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/israels hope encouraged.htm

The Treatise
... these see in their sufferings and afflictions nothing but ... and especially the
work-righteous saints, and those ... Even if none of these adversities constrain us to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/a treatise on good works/the treatise.htm

Third Sunday after Trinity Humility, Trust, Watchfulness ...
... are experiences through which the saints also pass ... the world concerning dangers,
injuries, and adversities. ... Their afflictions so sorely oppress them that they ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/third sunday after trinity humility.htm

part ii
... still, notwithstanding all this, in the end we are ... the holy angels, and the saints
are pure ... is connected with great privations and afflictions; and, therefore ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm