Introduction: Different Take on Persecution – In Back to Jerusalem (pages 57-58), one of the house church leaders of China sends this message to Western Christians: “The past fifty years of suffering, persecution, and torture of the house churches in China were all part of God’s training for us. He has used the government for his own purposes, molding and shaping his children as he sees fit. That is why I correct Western Christians who tell me: ‘I’ve been praying for years that the Communist government in China will collapse, so Christians can live in freedom.’ This is not what we pray! We never pray against our government or call down curses on it. Instead, we have learned that God is in control of both our lives and the government we live under. Isaiah prophesied about Jesus, ‘the government will be on his shoulders’ (Isaiah 9:6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
See All...). Instead of focusing our prayers against any political system, we pray that regardless of what happens to us, we will be pleasing to God. Don’t pray for the persecution to stop! We shouldn’t pray for a lighter load to carry, but a stronger back to endure! Then the world will see that God is with us, empowering us to live in a way that reflects his love and power.”

1. THE PURCHASE OF HIS SUFFERING (Hebrews 2:9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
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1. Made Lower Than the Angels (Psalm 8:4-5 [4] What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? [5] For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
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2. Crowned with Glory and Honor (Revelation 19:11-12 [11] And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. [12] His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
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3. Tasting Death for Every Man
1. Potentially, Christ Paid the Price for All Men
1. He tasted death for “every man” (Hebrews 2:9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
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2. He takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
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3. He draws all men unto Him (John 12:32And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
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4. He died for all (2 Corinthians 5:15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
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5. He gave Himself a ransom for all (1 Timothy 2:6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
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6. He is the propitiation for the sins of “the whole world” (1 John 2:2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
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7. He bought those who deny Him (2 Peter 2:1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
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2. Practically, Christ’s Payment is Applied to Those Who Believe
1. Specially of those that believe (1 Timothy 4:10For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
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2. That whosoever believeth on Him (John 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
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3. To whosoever shall confess Him (1 John 4:14-15 [14] And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. [15] Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
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2. THE PERFECTING OF HIS SUFFERING (Hebrews 2:10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
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1. The Preeminence of Christ (Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
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1. By whom are all things
2. For whom are all things (Revelation 4:11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
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2. The Purpose of Christ – To Bring Many Sons to Glory
3. The Perfection of Christ
1. The word perfect does not mean sinless in the Bible. The etymology of the word shows the main idea of the word to be finished. To be perfect means to be complete in all respects; without defect or omission; sound; to be in a condition of excellence.
2. His work was “finished” on the cross (John 19:30When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
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3. He was perfected in His resurrection (Luke 13:32And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
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4. He was made perfect through sufferings (Hebrews 2:10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
   See All...; Hebrews 5:8-9 [8] Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; [9] And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
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1. He learned obedience (Hebrews 5:8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
   See All...; Philippians 2:8Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
   See All...; Mark 14:32-36 [32] And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. [33] And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; [34] And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. [35] And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. [36] And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
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2. He became the author of eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
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3. He became one with His brethren (Hebrews 2:10-11 [10] For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. [11] For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
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4. He became the succourer of those tempted (Hebrews 2:18For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
   See All...; Hebrews 4:15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
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3. THE PURIFYING OF HIS SUFFERINGS (Hebrews 2:11-13 [11] For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, [12] Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. [13] And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
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1. His Oneness with the Brethren
1. Joining sanctifier with sanctified
2. Unashamed to call them brethren
2. His Meeting with the Brethren (Hebrews 2:12-13 [12] Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. [13] And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
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1. He declares His name to them (Hebrews 2:12Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
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2. He meets with them in the church (Hebrews 2:12Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
   See All...; Psalm 22:22I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
   See All...; Matthew 18:20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
   See All...; 1 Timothy 3:15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
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3. The grounds of His meeting (Hebrews 2:13And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
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1. Faith
2. Fellowship

Conclusion: On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand – Samuel Stennett (1727-1795) was the English Baptist preacher who wrote the hymn, On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand . His testimony continued to the end of his life. “During his last illness, Stennett spoke in glowing terms of Christ’s finished work. He said, ‘When I reflect upon the suffering of Christ, I am ready to say, “What have I been thinking of all my life?” What He did and suffered are now my only support.’ And again he exclaimed to his son, ‘Christ is to me the chief among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely.’ On August 25, 1795, in his sixty-eighth year, Samuel Stennett passed into glory. His body was laid to rest in Bunhill Fields along with so many other Baptists and dissenters.” –from This Day in Baptist History (p.226).