Page 625 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

SUFFICE - SUNDAY

afflictions of life (Ge. 3:17-19; Ro. 8:19-23). (2) Sowing SUFFICIENCY. Power; ability; capacity (Job 20:22; 2
and reaping. The Christian is subject to the law of Co. 3:5; 9:8).
sowing and reaping (Ro. 8:12, 13; Ga. 6:7-8; 1 Ti. 6:9; SUKKIMS (anointing, covered). 2 Ch. 12:3.
Ja. 1:14). Many of our troubles are the fruit of our sin SUMPTUOUSLY. Richly; costly; expensively (Lk.
and foolishness (Pr. 19:3), our lack of wisdom (Pr. 19:3; 16:19).
25:19; 26:17; 27:12), our slothfulness (Pr. 6:9-11;
15:19; 19:15; 20:4, 13; 24:30-34). (3) Testing faith; SUNDAY. The first day of the week. Christians
producing fruit. God uses suffering to test the Christian’s worship the Lord on this day because of the following
faith and to produce spiritual growth and reward (Ja. Bible facts:
1:3, 4; 1 Pe. 1:6, 7; 4:12, 13). (4) Comforting others (2 Biblical Evidence that Early Christians Worshipped on
Co. 1:4). (5) Producing obedience (He. 5:8). (6) Sunday
Producing godliness (Ro. 5:3-5). (7) Chastening. God (1) On the first day Jesus rose from the dead (Mk.
uses suffering to correct the Christian (Ps. 119:67, 71, 16:9). (2) On the first day Jesus first appeared to his
75; He. 12:5-11; 1 Co. 5:5; 11:28-32; Ja. 1:13-15; 1 Ti. disciples (Mk. 16:9). (3). On the first day Jesus met
1:20). (8) Humility and power. God uses suffering to with the disciples at different places and repeatedly
humble the Christian and to manifest His power (Mk. 16:9-11; Mt. 28:8-10; Lk. 24:34; Mk. 16:12-13; Jn.
through the Christian’s life (2 Co. 1:8-9; 4:7-12; 20:19-23). (4) On the first day Jesus blessed the
12:7-10). (9) God’s sovereignty. God uses suffering to disciples (Jn. 20:19). (5) On the first day Jesus
accomplish His sovereign purposes (Jn. 9:2, 3; Ro. 8:28; imparted to the disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit (Jn.
1 Pe. 4:19). It is well to remember that God is God, and 20:22). (6) On the first day Jesus commissioned the
He has a right to do what He pleases. It is crucial that disciples to preach the gospel to all the world (Jn.
we trust Him regardless of whether or not we 20:21; with Mk. 16:9-15). (7) On the first day Jesus
understand His purposes with us. If we require that God ascended to heaven, was seated at the right hand of the
reveal to us every purpose for His actions, He ceases to Father and was made Head of all (Jn. 20:17; Ep. 1:20).
be the sovereign God of the Bible. (10) Reward. God (8) On the first day many of the dead saints arose from
uses suffering to perfect the future reward of the the grave (Mt. 27:52-53). (9) The first day became the
Christian (Ro. 8:35-37; 1 Pe. 1:7; 2 Co. 4:17). day of joy and rejoicing to the disciples (Jn. 20:20; Lk.
The Length of the Christian’s Suffering. “awhile” (1 Pe. 24:41). (10) On the first day the gospel of the risen
5:10); “a season” (1 Pe. 1:6); “this present time” (Ro. Christ was first preached (Lk. 24:34). (11) On the first
8:18). The Bible promises no time limit to suffering, day Jesus explained the Scriptures to the disciples (Lk.
except that it is limited to this present life. God promises 24:27, 45). (12) On the first day the purchase of our
to be with us in our suffering, but does not promise to redemption was completed (Ro. 4:25). (13) On the first
remove the suffering. Consider Psalm 88. From day the Holy Spirit descended (Ac. 2:1). Pentecost was
beginning to end, the Psalmist complains of his troubles on the 50th day after the sabbath following the wave
and nowhere in the Psalm does he say there is relief. offering (Le. 23:15, 16). Thus Pentecost was always on
There are circumstances in life like this. The Christian is a Sunday. (14) The Christians met to worship on the
sometimes faced with lifelong trials of various sorts. He first day (Ac. 20:6, 7; 1 Co. 16:2). Sunday is “the Lord’s
cries often to God for relief, but no relief is given. He Day” (Re. 1:10) (D.M. Canright, Seventh-day Adventism
must trust his loving God and by God’s grace endure the Renounced).
suffering as long as it lasts, even if it lasts a full lifetime. Since those days, the vast majority of Christians have
Possible Responses to Suffering. The following is from met to worship on the Lord’s day. They do this in honor
100 Bible Lessons: “(1) We may despise it, rebelling of Christ’s resurrection. He was in the tomb during the
instead of submitting; this leads to hardness. (2) We sabbath and rose as the firstborn from the dead on the
may faint under it (He. 12:12, 13). (3) We may first day. The sabbath signifies the last day of the old
acquiesce and bear it, but not joyfully; this is the lowest creation (Ge. 2:2). Sunday is the first day of the new
form of victory. (4) We may happily yield to the will of creation.
God; this is the highest form of victory.” [See Adversity, Historical Evidence that Early Christians Worshiped on
Affliction, Believe, Calamity, Chasten, Comfort, Sunday
Consolation, Distress, Endure, Evil, Grief, Grieve, The Epistle of Barnabas (about A.D. 100).
Healing, Heaven, Hope, Mourn, Overcome, Patience, “Wherefore, also we keep the eighth day with
Perseverance, Temptation, Trials, Tribulation.] joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from
SUFFICE. To satisfy; to be sufficient for (Nu. 11:22; the dead.” The Epistle of Ignatius (about A.D. 107). “Be
Ru. 2:14, 18; Jn. 14:8). not deceived with strange doctrines, nor with old fables,
which are unprofitable. For if we still live according to

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