Why Suffering?

It is vital to understand the importance that suffering plays in the purposes of God and Paul in the midst of his own great suffering and that which the Philippians were going through, explains what God expects of those who suffer for His name. Namely, that they are to conduct themselves in a way that is worthy of the gospel and central to this are relationships and standing for the truth as a body. We also learn why such conduct is actual proof to the unbeliever that he is destined for destruction, while at the same time proof to the believer that he is an eternal child of God.