What is the Meaning of Tribulations?
Paul and Barnabas encountered many tribulations as they preached the Kingdom of God to citizens of different cities while on their first missionary journey.
Different cities had different responses to their preaching; nevertheless, they endured much tribulation to fulfill the work that Jesus called them to perform.
Many non-Christians and Christians feel that the Believer’s lifestyle is a smooth path. Therefore, they don’t envision any tribulations or hardships, trials, testings, persecutions, sufferings and so on. They think that
However, the workings of many tribulations in the life of a Christian have great rewards later.
Are You Prepared For Many Tribulations?
In Antioch, the Jews rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ and forfeited their entrance into the kingdom of God. As a result, Paul and Barnabas turned to the Gentiles.
Later, they left Antioch and headed east to Iconium, but the envious Jews of Antioch followed them there and perverted the minds of the people.
In Iconium, they began to preach and teach the gospel of the Kingdom of God directly to the Gentiles. However, this bold move is not without many tribulations and trials. The citizens were divided. Some of the Jews believed and some of the Gentiles believed.
In this city, both the Jews and the Gentiles bonded together and attempted to murder them. But they managed to escape from them and traveled farther eastward to Lystra.
Preachers Encounter Many Tribulations in This City
In Lystra, Paul through the almighty power of God healed a crippled man. This man had never walked. He was born crippled.
One would think that because of this deed that they accomplish through Christ they wouldn’t face any tribulation from the citizens. But not so!
As a matter of fact, their hardship intensified. The envious Jews from Antioch and some from Iconium followed Paul and Barnabas to Lystra.
One Of Paul’s Many Persecutions
There, they infected the minds of the people to the extent that they stoned Paul. Then they transported him out of the city because they thought that he was dead.
“And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead,” (Acts 14:19).
Therefore, we could view the stoning of Paul as one of
However, when the other disciples came and encircled Paul, he got up and later he and Barnabas departed to Derbe.
The Kingdom of God Comes to Derbe
“Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose
Now they have started the return trip to Jerusalem where it started.
Subsequently, they are revisiting all the cities that they had preached and taught in as they were fleeing eastward from the Jews. But now they are retracing their steps for they are traveling in the opposite direction, namely westward.
“And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,” (Acts14:21).
As Paul and Barnabas made their way back to their base in Jerusalem, they stopped in each city to do something very important.
Telling New Converts About Many Tribulations is Scary
They were “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God,” (Acts 14:22).
How did Paul and Barnabas confirm the souls of the disciples? Why was it important to establish them in the faith?
These disciples in all these cities were new Believers. They had recently been converted. Therefore, it was necessary for the apostles to strengthen and support them.
So, basically, they would reiterate the Word of God that they had preached to them. And they would encourage and strengthen them to grow in the knowledge of God and Christ.
For that reason, they implore them to continue as Christians believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Next, Paul and Barnabas enlighten these new converts. They prepared them for what’s awaiting them as Christians.
They informed them that they must experience many tribulations or hard times as they enter into the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22).
Did the Bible Say Many Tribulations Necessary to Enter the Kingdom of God?
The first thing to keep in mind is the fact that Born-again Believers in Jesus Christ have a different mind-set to that of the world and to those of other Christians.
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Romans 5:1).
Again, Apostle Paul says it best. He reminds us that because we possess peace with God via our faith in Jesus Christ we could be happy in sufferings and hardships.
“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we
Second, testings leave us better persons than before we experience them.
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience,” (Romans 5:3).
Role of Many Tribulations in
Building Character
Additionally, he takes us on a journey. It starts with many tribulations but it ends with “hope”.
“And patience, experience; and experience, hope,” (Romans
5:4 ).
Third, in a Christian’s life, experience with tribulations build character.
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us,” (Romans 5:5).
The character formed according to the Word of God is priceless. We must know who we are in Christ and how to stand up to the wiles of the Enemy.
Are Our Experiences With Many Trails Compulsory?
And nothing build it faster that the Word of God and our experiences with trials and testings and tribulations.
Note that Apostle Paul did not explain that our experience with much tribulation was optional. No! He vociferously proclaimed that it is compulsory. Therefore, his diction is important.
Consequently, He tells us “… that we must” go through a whole lot of difficulties to enter into the kingdom of God,” (Acts 14:22).
These misfortunes will birth patience, experience, and hope in the Believer. And it is this hope that God will not leave us nor forsake us and the unshakeable knowledge that he will be with us in all our experiences.
He may not deliver us from much tribulations, but He keeps and sustains us through all.
This hope in God that resides in our heart will make us as brave as lions and as fearless as battle-horses.
Ordination of Holy Elders in Every Church
Additionally, this two-man team of Paul and Barnabas established a leadership structure in all the assemblies that they visited on this their First Missionary Journey.
“And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed,” (Acts 14:23).
As they journeyed back to Jerusalem they continue to preach
relentlessly the Gospel of Jesus Christ wherever they went.
“And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia,” (Acts 14:24).
They were itinerant preachers of the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.
“And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia,” (Acts 14:25).
Paul and Barnabas
Did Paul and Barnabas fulfill the work for which they were called?
Have you been preaching, in your own way, to the diverse people you encounter every day?
Wherever they went, they preached and teach that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
And if you were ever wondering whether or not they achieved their objective for their first missionary trip, wonder no more!
“And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled,” (Acts 14:26).
Before, Cornelius received salvation no other non-Jewish person or persons had experienced the re-birth. They were the first.
Not only that, but the remainder of all humanity had been without God and Christ in the world until the unbelieving Jews of Antioch in Pisidia rejected the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, (Acts 13:14-52).
“And when they were
Then Paul and Barnabas narrated the escapades of their first trip Missionary Journey to the brethren in Jerusalem.
“And there they abode long time with the disciples,” (Acts 14:28).
Conclusion
Who Was Apostle Paul Addressing?
Now, it is not my desire for you to leave this page thinking that much tribulation is a requirement for entering into the kingdom of God. No! Not at all!
Instead, realize that Paul was addressing saved people. They were all born-again Believers.
They weren’t unbelievers. Therefore, know that they all were already in the Kingdom of God.
Think about this? Was Apostle Paul, he himself, in the Kingdom of God when he was consoling and edifying these brethren?
If your answer is no, then how could he be knowledgable to encourage these new converts concerning how to enter, when he himself had never entered?
But, if your response is yes, is he contradicting himself?
For, in the Scripture above, he said “we”, (Acts 14:22). He included himself.
Experiencing Many Tribulations Requirement for Entry?
Therefore, I want you to catch the “spirit” of Paul’s statement.
For, Paul by including himself informs those brethren and us that going through many tribulations is not a requirement for entry into the kingdom, but it’s an experience he was having, and they would have as new converts. It’s the same for all and it never ceases until we die.
He wasn’t saying that they must suffer to qualify
They weren’t entering or attempting to enter into the Kingdom of God. They were in it.
If Experiencing Many Tribulations Was a Requirement Who Would Want to Enter?
Christians experiencing many tribulations is not a requirement for entry into the kingdom. These Believers were already in it, for that reason, Paul encouraged them “to continue in the faith“.
Consequently, our experience with many tribulations is an ever-present feature that we will never escape from.
I’m not saying that as Christians we will not face many tribulations but it is not a prerequisite for entry into the Kingdom of God.
“Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer,” (2 Thessalonians 1:5).
Suffer to Enter or Suffer Because You Are In?
Therefore, we will suffer while we are in it, but we will not suffer to enter it. Jesus suffered so that we could enter. However, we shall even suffer for it! But not to enter.
Nevertheless, the placement of a word in a sentence is crucial to its meaning.
For example, the Scripture says, “and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God,” (Acts 14:22).
The location of “must” in the sentence above tells us that enduring many tribulations is not an option for Christians.
Change the Placement Changes the Meaning
However, if we change its placement we will alter the entire diction of the original Scripture.
Subsequently, we see “through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.”
This latter rendition of the original Scripture in Acts 14:22 furnishes a totally different meaning.
By the new placement of “
But Jesus and Peter had educated us how to enter into the Kingdom of God. The requirements for entry will never change.
Jesus Supplies the Requirement for Entry
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God,” (John 3:5).
And Apostle Peter augmented Jesus’ directive for he stated:
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost,” (Acts 2:38).
We all need the New Birth to enter into God’s kingdom. And there is only one door, Jesus Christ.
In closing, suffering to enter the Kingdom of God is not the same thing as experiencing many tribulations for the kingdom.
We suffer because of our beliefs about Jesus Christ. But, if we believe in someone else our lives may be free from trials and testings.
