Should I expect to be persecuted for my faith? by John MacArthur

Faith and Theology: Dr. John MacArthur Q&A

Day 1 of 21 Should I expect to be persecuted for my faith? In Matthew 10.32, Jesus makes the amazing promise that the person who acknowledges Him as Lord in life or in death, if necessary, is the one whom He will acknowledge personally before God as His own (Matt. 13.20; 2 Tim. 2.10-13). Conversely, He describes the soul-damning denial of Christ of those who through fear, shame, neglect, or love of the world reject all evidence and revelation and decline to confess Christ as Savior and King. Though the ultimate end of the gospel is peace with God (John 14.27; Rom. 8.6), the immediate result of the gospel is frequently conflict (v. 34). Conversion to Christ can result in strained family relationships (vv. 35, 36), persecution, and even martyrdom. Following Christ presupposes a willingness to endure such hardships (vv. 32, 33, 37-39). Though He is called "Prince of Peace" (Is. 9.6), Christ will have no one deluded into thinking that He calls believers to a life devoid of all conflict. When Jesus adds that a disciple must "take his cross" (v. 38), it is His first mention of the word "cross" to His disciples. To them it would have evoked a picture of a violent, degrading death. He was demanding total commitment from them-even unto physical death-and making this call to full surrender a part of the message they were to proclaim to others. For those who come to Christ with self-renouncing faith, there will be true and eternal life (v. 39). Matthew 10:22 NKJV 22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:32-39 NKJV 32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Christ Brings Division 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;  36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’  37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 13:20 NKJV 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; II Timothy 2:10-13 NKJV 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. 12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13 If we are faithless, John 14:27 NKJV 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Romans 8:6 NKJV 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.