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The second-century Christian Tertullian once said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”
The record of the early church – and of Scripture itself – show us the power of persecution in action. From the stoning of Stephen to the martyrdoms of Peter and Paul, the Gospel’s message was fiercely resisted by Jewish and Roman authorities. And yet, in the face of this intense opposition, the early Christians steadfastly refused to renounce their faith. In fact, the more they were persecuted, the more the Gospel message spread.
Why? What was it about this severe persecution that gave the early Christians’ testimony such powerful impact on those around them?
In laying down their liberty and their lives for the sake of their relationship with Jesus, the early Christians illustrated – in their own bodies, and with their own lives – the way in which Jesus earlier laid down his liberty and life for them.
The Apostle Paul understood this truth. As Glenn Penner notes, Paul lived his life in a way that matched his Gospel message, ensuring his actions resonated with the love and sacrifice of Jesus. In his second letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 6:3), he declares he is concerned that his ministry never causes anyone to stumble, that his methodology and lifestyle not contradict the message he preached.
“Rather,” in verse 4 he writes, “as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way,” and in the following verses he proceeds to describe how they are commended:
. . . by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. (2 Corinthians 6:4–10).
Paul’s life showed that suffering, when faced with obedient reliance on God’s grace and power, can bring hope and renewal. His suffering showed how the Gospel transforms lives.
From the early apostles who endured imprisonment and death to modern-day Christians battling religious intolerance, the same Gospel power is at work in persecution. These believers’ testimonies remind us that the gospel message is not just a theoretical concept; it is a transformative force that compelling and empowering believers to persevere in the face of adversity. Throughout their challenges, these faithful individuals have clung to their faith, wielding the weapons of righteousness with steadfast hands. They were perceived as impostors, yet their authenticity shines through. They endured unimaginable hardships for the sake of their beliefs, discovering joy amidst sorrow and enriching the lives of others despite their own poverty.
We should grasp this profound truth – that our hard times are but stepping stones, guiding us toward a life full of purpose and God’s love. When believers are willing to suffer and even die for their faith, it sends a powerful message to the world around them. It demonstrates that the message of the Gospel is not just a set of beliefs or a moral code, but a life-changing reality that is worth everything.
Let us, like those who came before us, face persecution with heads held high, for in our endurance, we echo the very essence of the Gospel—a message of unyielding faith, boundless hope, and love that conquers all.
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