PRÉCIS ON THE HONOR OF FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS: NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART

SCRIPTURE. “If you are censured and suffer abuse [because you bear] the name of Christ, blessed [are you—happy, fortunate, to be envied, with life-joy, and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward condition], because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, is resting upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. – 1 PETER 4:14, AMPC

KEY TERM: “CENSURED.” ‘Oneidizó’ [ὀνειδίζεσθε]: “From a base word

 meaning, ‘To taunt in order to disgrace;’ to suffer as one considered notorious; ‘to reproach;’ to revile or upbraid; to defame; ‘to censure’ in terms of opprobrium or contempt; to charge with a fault in severe language; to cast shame, infamy or disgrace; censure mingled with contempt or derision.”

QUOTATION. “In addition to voluntary suffering, you must also accept that which comes against your will – I mean ‘slander, material losses, and sickness.’ For if you do not accept these but rebel against them, you are like someone who wants to eat his bread only with honey, never with salt. Such a man does not always have pleasure as his companion, but always has nausea as his neighbor.” ― ILIAS THE PRESBYTER, A Gnomic Anthology, 11-12^th Century; edited

COMMENTARY. “The Early Christians rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the ‘Name of Christ’ (Acts 5:41). So should every Christian who has the privilege of being reviled for Christ’s sake. Such suffering is a true indication that ‘the Spirit of glory and of God rests’ upon us. This is the Holy Spirit who ‘rests upon’ persecuted Christians as the Glory Cloud rested on the Tabernacle in the OT, indicated the Presence of God. 

We know that the Spirit ‘indwells’every true child of God, but He ‘rests’ in a special way ‘upon’ those who are completely committed to the Cause of Christ. They know the Presence and Power of the Spirit of God as others do not. The same Lord who is ‘blasphemed’ by the persecutors is ‘glorified’ by His suffering saints.” – WILLIAM MACDONALD, Believer’s Bible Commentary, 1995; edited

DK. Beloved, JESUS warned us that “Many are called [to this], but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). And as a special note, Mr. MacDonald presumed that only persecuted Christians held such special position in Christ, but others not willing to suffer did not. I believe it is possible, if not probable, that so-called believers who are ‘unwilling’ to likewise suffer and even die for Him are not fully or truly in the Bond of Christ as much as in the Bond of the World Spirit.

Indeed, I have come to regard Salvation as a Binary Condition: We are either “all in” or we are “not in” at all. Jesus said it best, of course:

“He who is not with Me [once and for all on My side] is against Me; and he who does not [unequivocally] gather with Me scatters. Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy [every evil, abusive, injurious speaking, or indignity against sacred things] will be forgiven people, but ‘blasphemy against the [Holy] Spirit will not be forgiven.’” – MATTHEW 12:30-31, AMP

THE LAST DAYS. Now then consider: If those who are persecuting the saints of God happen to be those in ‘The Church,’ then they ‘blaspheme God’s Spirit by their reproach of the faithful.’ Beloved: This is the ‘Sin of Apostasy in the Last Times for which there is no remedy!’

Therefore, do not dare such treachery at cost of your very Eternity. REPENT NOW! Before taking even one more step toward The Flame, while it is still Day. ‘Night is racing forward’ when there shall be no more Time to Decide. Selah.