'How To' Instructions in Righteousness

Lesson 45:
Fear none of those things which you will suffer
Be faithful unto death

Key verse:  Rev 2:10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Tied in with Isaiah 59 :16-17
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
 

Fear none of those thing which thou shalt suffer:
 

[Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer] He did not promise them exemption from suffering. He saw that they were about to suffer, and he specifies the manner in which their affliction would occur. But he entreats and commands them not to be afraid. They were to look to the "crown of life," and to be comforted with the assurance that if they were faithful unto death, that would be, theirs. We need not dread suffering if we can hear the voice of the Redeemer encouraging us, and if he assures us that in a little while we shall have the crown of life. –Barnes
 

[Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer] This may be addressed particularly to Polycarp, if he was at that time the Bishop of this church. He had much to suffer; and was at last burnt alive at Smyrna, about the year of our Lord 166. We have a very ancient account of his martyrdom, which has been translated by Cave, and is worthy of the reader's perusal. That account states that the Jews were particularly active in this martyrdom, and brought the fagots [bundles of twigs and sticks], etc., by which he was consumed [burned]. Such persons must indeed have been of the synagogue of Satan. –Clarke

[Fear none of these things] This is not only a word of command, but of efficacy [effectiveness], no, only forbidding slavish [characteristic of a slave-being a slave to] fear, but subduing it and furnishing the soul with strength and courage. –Matthew Henry

We have no promise of God that there will not be any suffering as a firstfruit.  There will be suffering.  However, God commands that we look beyond the suffering to the promise of eternal life and the Kingdom of God.  If we do this, the suffering will have little power.  We are not to allow ourselves to be a slave to fear or anything negative.

Be faithful unto death:
 

[Be thou faithful unto death] Implying, perhaps, that though, in regard to the church, the affliction would be brief, yet that it might be fatal to some of them, and they who were thus about to die should remain faithful to their Saviour until the hour of death. In relation to all, whether they were to suffer a violent death or not, the same injunction and the same promise was applicable. It is true of everyone who is a Christian, in whatever manner he is to die, that if he is faithful unto death, a crown of life awaits him.  –Barnes

[Be thou faithful unto death] Be firm, hold fast the faith, confess Christ to the last, and at all hazards, and thou shalt have a crown of life-thou shalt be crowned with life, have an eternal happy existence, though thou suffer a temporal death. It is said of Polycarp that when brought before the judge, and commanded to abjure and blaspheme Christ, he firmly answered, "Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never did me wrong, how then can I blaspheme my king who hath saved me?" He was then adjudged to the flames, and suffered cheerfully for Christ his Lord and Master. –Clarke

The promise of eternal life comes with the admonition and the command to remain faithful to the end.  Let nothing, not even fear of death allow you to disavow Christ.  Do not let any man take your crown.  Do not allow false doctrine and false teachers lead you astray.

Isaiah 59:16-17:

[And his righteousness, it sustained him] Sustained by the consciousness that he was doing right, he went forward against all opposition, and executed his plan. This is language derived from the mode of speaking among people, and it means that as a man who is engaged in a righteous cause is sustained amidst much opposition by the consciousness of integrity, so it is with God. The cause of redemption is the great cause of righteousness on earth. In this cause the Redeemer was sustained by the consciousness that he was engaged in that which was designed to vindicate the interests of truth and justice, and to promote righteousness throughout the universe.

[For he put on righteousness] That is, God the Redeemer. The prophet here introduces him as going forth to vindicate his people clad like an ancient warrior. In the declaration that he 'put on righteousness,' the essential idea is, that he was pure and holy. The same image is used by the prophet in another figure in Isaiah 11:5  –Barnes

The concept of putting on righteousness is what this whole Bible study is about.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ lives in and through us.  The good works, in the form of Godly principles are produced by Christ in us.  This is putting on righteousness.  So clothed, we do not fear what man can do to us.  We do not fear sorrows, trials and persecution.  We have our eyes on the Kingdom of God promised to those who remain in righteousness unto the end [our death or the return of Jesus Christ].  If a firstfruit is IN the Salvation Process, he or she is justified and clothed in righteousness.

Lesson 45: Instructions – Be faithful unto death.  Fear none of those things which you will suffer.
 
 1) Understand that God has not promised us a life free of suffering.
 2) Follow God's command to keep your eye on the Kingdom and the crown of life.
 3) Fear none of the things that you might suffer.
 4) Do not allow yourself to be a slave to anything negative.
 5) Remain faithful to God and your Salvation Process unto the end.
 6) Let no man take your crown.  Do not allow false doctrine or false teachers.
 7) Put on righteousness...that is, God the Redeemer.

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