God's Work of Grace and Purpose in our Afflictions

First Presbyterian Church (Dothan AL) Podcast

Pastor Rusty Milton
"God's Work of Grace and Purpose In Our Affliction"
2 Corinthians 1:3-8 ESV

One of the greatest harms to the modern church is that when you come to Christ, he promises to give you health and wealth and keep you from affliction and hardship. Many teach that problems are a result of lack of faith. The truth is that we will experience these things for righteousness' sake, and that he will use it for our good and God's glory. Therefore, when you are afflicted, seek true comfort in God the Father. He gives us two promises in our affliction: he will give us sustaining grace (vs. 3), and there is purpose in our affliction (vv. 4-6). He will give us this blessing through the Word, the love of Christ, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 1:3-8
English Standard Version

God of All Comfort

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.[a] 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers,[b] of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.