PersecutedFor theCross of ChristGalatians 6:12

Why Was Jesus Persecuted?

• Jesus was persecuted because he did not follow the man-made doctrines of his culture (Jn. 5:16)

• Followers of Jesus will be persecuted like he was (Jn. 15:20)

• Paul the persecutor (Acts 8:1; 22:4; 26:11; 1 Cor. 15:9; Gal. 1:23), became Paul the persecuted (Acts 13:50; Gal. 4:29; 5:11)

Why Was Paul Persecuted?

• Paul was persecuted because he preached the truth about circumcision (Gal. 5:11)

• The Judaizing teachers avoided persecution by preaching what was popular about circumcision (Gal. 6:12)

• Persecution comes when a Christian stands for truth on any subject and does not follow the man-made doctrines of his culture

Persecuted For the Cross

• Persecuted “for the cross of Christ” means a Christian is persecuted for upholding the truths of the gospel of the cross of Christ (1 Cor. 1:17)

• When a Christian acts in a “godly” way he will be persecuted (2 Tim. 3:11-12)

– Individually: personal evangelism

– Collectively: local church standing for right

What Persecuted Christians Need

• Love that leads to pray for (Mt. 5:44) and bless (Rom. 12:14) the persecutors

• Endurance to the end (Mt. 10:23; 13:21; 23:34; Lk. 11:49; 21:12; 1 Cor. 4:12; 2 Thess. 1:4)

• Hope of the heavenly reward (Mt. 5:10-12; Mk. 10:30)

• Confidence that God is on our side (Rom. 3:35-39)