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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