Page 236 - Christians Must Heed Jesus
P. 236

Christians Must Heed
                                              Jesus




                   ... Those who suffer according to God's will should commit
                   themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do
                   good. (1 Peter, 4:19)
                   [Jesus:] "You must be on your guard. You will be handed
                   over to the local councils and flogged... On account of me
                   [because you obey me to gain God's good pleasure] you
                   will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to
                   them. And the Gospel [God's commandments] must
                   first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are ar-
                   rested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand
                   about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at
                   the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of
                   God. Brother will betray brother to death, and a fa-
                   ther his child. Children will rebel against their par-
                   ents and have them put to death. All men will hate
                   you because of me [because you obey me to gain
                   God's good pleasure], but he who stands firm to
                   the end will be saved." (Mark, 13:9-13)
                   "But before all this, they will lay hands on you
                   and persecute you. They will deliver you to...
                   prisons, and you will be brought before kings
                   and governors, and all on account of my name
                   [because you obey me for the approval of
                   God]... You will be betrayed even by parents,
                   brothers, relatives and friends, and they will
                   put some of you to death. Everyone will
                   hate you because of me [because you obey
                   me for the approval of God]. But not a hair
                   of your head will perish. Stand firm, and
                   you will win life." (Luke, 21:12-19)
                   On that day a great persecution broke out
                   against the church at Jerusalem... Saul be-




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