The spiritual condition of America, politics, culture, and current events analyzed through the lens of scripture. Welcome to the Alex McFarland Show. Why do the righteous? suffer. Hi, Alex McFarland here.
You know, when I spoke on the book of Job, At the Cove in the summer of 2025. That's a big part of that book, is about suffering. And why do godly people sometimes suffer?
Well, the Bible has a lot to say about. The value That can come from processing our pain from a biblical vantage point. And from 1 Peter chapter 2, I'm going to talk a little bit about suffering, something that none of us desire, really, and none of us really want to go through hard times. But let me read a scripture. From 1 Peter 2, beginning at verse 21, the Bible says this.
Uh regarding suffering, it goes through and it talks about that we're redeemed not with corruptible things like silver and gold, but by the precious blood of Jesus. And Jesus who had no sin, of course, he was nailed to the cross and he paid our debt on Calvary. But verse twenty one regarding suffering. 1 Peter 2.21, For even hereunto you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that you should follow in his steps. Verse 22, Jesus, who did no sin, neither was there guile.
Or that's internal poison. No guile was found in his mouth, he told the truth. He was Hurt rejected, criticized, yet he showed love and he spoke love and truth to people. Verse 23, 1 Peter 2.23, regarding Jesus, who, when he was reviled, reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him who judges righteously.
Who his own self Bear our sins in His own body on the cross, that we being dead to sins should live under righteousness by whose stripes you were healed.
Now, let me unpack this a little bit, and then I'm going to give you five realities, and they might seem counterintuitive. But five truths about suffering regarding the Christian life. and keeping our perspective Learning even when we go through things that are hard. Because let me just say this: the Christian life is no guarantee of a pain-free journey.
Now regarding salvation, Salvation is not by works or personal merit, but it's by the work that Jesus did on the cross. The appropriate measure of God's wrath that our sins deserved was put on Jesus. And you simply put your faith in Jesus. Put your trust in Jesus, and you can be saved. but now the journey as a disciple.
That definitely requires that we, as they say, put some skin in the game. Salvation is the same for everybody. Believe in Jesus. But sanctification, Christian growth, is different for everybody because you've got your issues that you've got to bring before God and lay before the cross. You, as Hebrews 12 says, you've got besetting sins, things that commonly are kind of your spiritual Achilles heel.
And so we've all got a calling every day to take up our cross and walk with the Lord. And then things will come along. I hate to break it to you, but I'm going to say it. As a Christian. things will come along.
and even good, godly, church going families. Face unemployment sometimes. financial issues. Good, well-intentioned, faithful Christians come down with illnesses sometimes. Jesus said, In this world you will have tribulation and trouble.
You can play by the rules, do everything right, stand up for Jesus, and sometimes people will misunderstand you. And do things wrong against you, perhaps. But just understand, living in a fallen world, that's what comes along.
So, verse 21, regarding suffering, it says you were called to it, and Christ, our example, suffered for us. And verse 21 of 1 Peter chapter 2, we're to follow in his steps. And think about this. If you're going through hard times, And you say, yeah, but. Hey, I've done my part.
Even the best of us. We're still saved sinners. In the eyes of God, we're a saint, but we're fallen sinners. We've known the right. We've done the wrong.
Jesus, the perfect sinless Son of God, suffered. And verse 22 of 1 Peter 2 says, Jesus did no sin. And that's true. There was no guile in him. And that's true.
He was reviled. In other words, people spoke hatefully, talked condescendingly. rudely. He was lied about, he was slandered. And he didn't answer back.
Isn't that something? Verse 23, when he suffered He did not threaten. I mean, you think about this. If anybody in history could have as we say pulled a rank You know, when the Pharisees were accusing him, trying to trip him up. And when even Jesus was hanging on the cross, and they said, He saved others, why can't He save himself?
Why doesn't he call down angels? You know, Jesus could have said, You got no clue who you're talking to. I'll show all of you. Do you know who I am? But he didn't do that.
From the cross he said, Father, forgive them they do not know what they do. but he committed himself to him who judges righteously. And remember, Christ is our example. If Jesus, the perfect sinless Son of God, would humbly Drink the bitter cup I mean, what about the rest of us? In John 17, Christ is on his way to the cross, and he says, Father, I've finished the work you've given me to do.
And he did. We need to be able to live in the same way.
Now you have got A road map. and frankly, a job description, some assignments God has given you. I'm talking as a believer. Obviously, the most important thing in life for every single human being, put your faith in Christ and be saved. But as a believer, you have your to-do list.
from God. Number one, we're called to be conformed to the image of Christ. We're to grow in the Lord. You'll never grow without prayer and scripture. Prayer is you talking to God.
The Bible is God talking to you. And we're to be proactive and invest in our Christian life and Christian growth. And Jesus is our example. He didn't return evil for evil. when he was done wrong, he didn't respond in kind.
But It says in verse 24 of 1 Peter 2: He bare our sins, not his own, because he had no sin, but it was our sin. He felt the pain. in his own body. on the cross. And so us.
Verse 24 of 1 Peter 2, being dead to sins, at least we should be. Should live under righteousness.
Now, here's the thing. You are dead to sin. Sin should have no power over you, and certainly we should not, even when we. unfairly are subjected to things, we should not respond with sin. If we're dead to sin, and according to the Bible we are.
then we ought to live like it.
Now when we come back We're going to talk about the five may be surprising realities about suffering. And verse 25 of 1 Peter 2, as we take this first break, says, You were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop. of your souls. Fascinating title for Jesus. The only time in the Bible we ever read this.
We'll explain that and much more when we come back. with more on this edition of the Alex McFarland Show. Fox News and CNN call Alex McFarland, a religion and culture expert. Stay tuned for more of his teaching and commentary after this. Would you like a book to help you understand the biblical prophecies, the passages about the end of time?
Hi, Alex McFarland. You know, for well over a decade, Bert Harper and I have been on the nationally syndicated AFR show, exploring the word. Over 3,000 shows we've done together, and Bert and I have a brand new book. As of fall 2025, 100 Bible questions and answers on prophecy and the end times. You can get it at booksellers everywhere.
Our brand new book, Bert Harper, Alex McFarland, Exploring the Word, 100 Bible Questions and Answers on Prophecy and the End Times, published by our great friends at Broad Street Publishing. check it out and we believe it will help you understand how to live and thrive in these last days. He's been called Trusted, Truthful, and Timely. Welcome back to the Alex McFarlane Show. Welcome back to the program.
We're talking about the power of suffering. in a Christian's life. little and big. Maybe you feel like You know, getting up early to go to church on Sunday morning, that's kind of a little bit painful.
Well, We, just like an athlete, No pain, no gain, we are to grow and invest in our Christian life. Let me challenge you. to take baby steps. Maybe in traffic you lose your temper, and under your breath, when you get cut off in traffic, you say some four-letter words. The next time you're tempted to do that, Just say.
Lord Jesus bless that person. It's amazing. The people that get on your nerves, the people that Yeah. Yeah, in your heart. You're thinking.
Pray for them. You're going to be amazed at how the Holy Spirit can weave into your emotional Baseline joy. Honestly, the most joyful person I've ever met. I talk about him all the time, and I interviewed him for, you know, we've had him on so many times, Barry Maguire. Maguire's Carwax, famously, you know, they live out on the West Coast.
Barry Maguire. Is the most joyful person I've ever known. I mean, the guy just exudes happiness, joy in the Lord. He's always smiling. If you've ever watched his videos, Ignite America.
You know what I'm saying. And I asked him, I said, Barry, you're always so happy, so joyful, so full of the Lord. I mean, it witnesses, shares Jesus with every person he encounters. I said, How do you Have such joy. And he said, well, it wasn't always that way.
And he said, You know nothing better. Bad can ever happen to God's children. And I said, well, Barry, now, brother, I'm not sure. I know bad things happen. Even Christian families have deep valleys.
He said, look, back in the early seventies, fifty plus years ago, he said, my wife and I were going through a hard time. We had, you know, issues with the business, financially, family issues. We were in in a valley. And Barry McGuire said we heard a sermon on Romans eight twenty eight. that for we know that all things work together The first thing that we have done is that the first to those who are the call of God.
According to his purposes. And that speaks about the sovereignty of God, a whole nother subject: how God is in control. And sovereign means that God is untouched. By the problems, and yet he's able to intervene in the problems. He's above.
The world, and yet he's in the world.
So God can impinge on and touch. the situations, but the situations don't change God. And so God is sovereign. He is in control.
So Barron McGuire said: We heard this sermon about Romans 8:28, that ultimately.
Now there's proximate. And there's ultimate. Proximate means way up close, right here, now today. But the Christian has the promise of God. And I think if we look at our own journey, and certainly the record of history, That what God does, a wise Good, loving, benevolent.
all powerful. Providential Saviour. He turns every Evil into an ultimate good. See, Satan will never out Fumble God. The devil, the fallen world, the evil machinations of man will never put God in checkmate.
I mean, it is logically impossible. that the finite could ever overcome the infinite. that the creation would ever outthink the Creator. It's impossible.
So Barry said that look, every bad thing And stuff comes along that for the moment can be stressful, painful, disappointing? We shed tears. Paul says, But not as those who have no hope. And we have this promise, and I've seen it. Perhaps you've seen it as well.
that what is really a bad thing ultimately, when we lay it at the feet of Jesus, can turn into a good thing. And it has been said We're talking about the power of suffering in a Christian's life. it has been said that to really know Jesus is to realize that Jesus is really all we have. You say, wait a minute, I've got my family, I've got my bank account, I've got my health. You know, I've got Jesus, but I've got some other things that I've.
You know, got going on, look, Jesus is really all we have. our bank account can be lost. Our family members could be taken away. I think we all know our health. Yeah, and by the way, your health is your first wealth.
My friend doctor Mark Howart says you know One Doctor visit and The health that we've taken for granted, we realize was pretty fragile. And so ultimately, Jesus is all we have. And in the secular view, suffering is never seen as a meaningful part of life, it's only an interruption. But in the Christian worldview, and only the Christian worldview can make this promise, suffering. It's not fun.
It is part of a fallen, broken world. But we walk with the one who saves and restores the world, and he can also redeem your life and all the pain you. might have ever gone through. Look, atheism can't make this promise. You go through hard times, injustices.
In a world without God, there's just stuff. stuff that happened. The Eastern religion Hinduism, Buddhism, New Age, they believe in something called karma. Why do we suffer in this life?
Well, according to Hinduism And I wrote a master's thesis on this. They'll say, well, it's karma. See, you're suffering today for something you did in a past life. What was it?
Well, we don't know. How do I fix it?
Well, we don't know. It's just more. karma accumulating And so there's no hope in that. In the Christian life, and I want to give you five facts. First of all, there is the calling to suffering.
1 Peter 2.21, For hereunto you were called. Can you believe that? Call. I thought God loved me. He does.
C.S. Lewis said that if you want a pain-free life, you're actually asking for less love. From God, not more. Because, as Elmer Towns has said. I quote a lot of very wise people that have shaped our lives.
Dr. E. L. Towns, he said, It's the friction of the water that lifts the boat. It's the friction of the air.
that causes the lift as the airfoil splits the wind. Dr. Town said that thing that you so urgently want to be out from under may be the very vehicle God uses to take you where you want to be. You know, how do we learn? God's great grace and forgiveness, and how precious and valuable it really is.
Well, sometimes we have to show grace. And we are reminded How blessed we are to have been extended grace. And so we have this calling. to suffer.
Now it's Christ's work that paid our sin. Your suffering is not what atones for. Your guilt before God. Christ suffered. But we grow, we mature.
Let's just be honest. That, as Dale Moody said, he had money problems sometimes, and he said, it will do me good to be hard up. a while because it will drive me to my knees. I've quoted it many times. There's a gospel song, it's probably in your church's hymn book, How Firm a Foundation.
regarding the purifying nature of suffering. It says The fire will not hurt thee, I only design Thy draws to remove, thy gold to refine. just like the purest gold. The purest, precious metal has been through the fire of refinement. and the dirt and the impurities are burned out.
Well The Calling to Suffering If we allow it. causes us to lean into God, Which we need We've got to take a brief break. We're going to come back. Four more points about suffering. And how we can benefit as we process it from a biblical vantage point.
Stay tuned, Alex McFarland here, we're back. After this. Fox News and CNN call Alex McFarland, a religion and culture expert. Stay tuned for more of his teaching and commentary after this. Hi, Alex McFarland here.
You know, I was at a college speaking, and I guess we ministers get too wordy.
Somebody said, Can you describe Christianity in only two words? And instantly, this came to me, and I said it: loving substitution. And so Students raised their hand and they said, What does that mean? Loving substitution. Here's the thing: because Jesus Christ loves you, He was our substitute on Calvary's cross.
The appropriate measure of God's wrath that you and I deserved was put onto Jesus. You don't have to die and suffer for your sins because He was the substitute who died for you.
So, if you call out to Christ, He will save you, He will forgive you. I urge you to do that today because Jesus Christ has a plan for your life, and it begins with you putting your faith in Him. Thank you for listening. Thank you for your support. Learn more about this at alexmacfarland.com.
He's been called trusted, truthful, and timely. Welcome back to the Alex McFarlane Show. Welcome back to the program. Alex McFarland here. Hope you're doing well and May God bless you and strengthen you in your journey.
Hey, we're going to talk about suffering, but I want to ask you to please go to our website, alexmacfarland.com. The brand new book, it just came out, 100 Bible Questions on Prophecy and the End Times. It's our third book in our series with Broad Street Publishing. 100 Bible Questions, 100 Bible Questions for Families, and then Prophecy. And if you would buy it on Amazon and leave a review.
That would really help us, or Barnes and Noble, and leave a review. And there are churches, they tell me they're going over one question a week and maybe using this for Sunday school or Bible study. It makes a great gift. If you want a hardcover copy, there's a rare, not all that many. It's in paperback, it's beautiful.
It's got fresh up-to-the-minute research on AI. And the question, is America in Bible prophecy? What about the Middle East? What about Russia and China? What about global surveillance, cryptocurrency?
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Okay, suffering. We don't like it, we don't deserve it. But Christianity promises it can benefit us. In the first segment, we talked about. or I should say in the previous segment, the calling to suffering.
For hereunto you were called. Secondly, there is our example regarding suffering. Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example. And let's remember, Jesus said it should be enough for the disciple to You say well I don't like the way people talk to me. I don't like the things I have to go through.
Do you know? while we are not saved by good works. were saved by Christ's work. The suffering that we go through, even if we feel like we're being handled unjustly, well, That's a little little bit of what it must have felt like to be Jesus. I've shared the illustration.
of uh the boys that were playing hide and go seek. And the friends played a trick on this one little boy, and he went to go hide in hide and seek. And the other kids went away to play, and he hid, and after an hour, he realized that they had sort of played a joke, and he ran to his father, very sad, and he said, No one is seeking me. And the dad said that must be what it feels like to be God. to feel like no one is seeking.
Jesus is our example. And as he walked righteously for the Father. even in the face of suffering.
So are we. There's the journey of suffering. And it says in verse 21 of 1 Peter 2 that we're to follow in his steps. See, suffering changes us. It really does.
I've talked to a lot of people that maybe they went through cancer. Or they went through a bankruptcy, or they went through a prodigal child that they spent years praying. And the journey, if we don't get bitter, But we get better. I realize that's a cliche. But we take a look and let's let's be honest.
Some of our suffering is of our own making. We've made poor choices sometimes. We've uh known that we were in sin and we let that go. And uh some of the suffering God only does it because He loves us and He wants to draw us closer to Himself. and it's not a destination, it's a journey.
And Winston Churchill, one of my heroes, said: if you're going through. a bad place. He said, keep going. This too shall pass. There's the paradox of suffering.
Now you say, wait a minute, I thought God was good. Yes, God is good. I thought God loved me. Yes, he does love you. I thought God had all the power.
He certainly does. He really does.
So, what are some of the paradoxes? In other words, counterintuitive. People ask the question: why do the righteous suffer?
Well, why did Jesus suffer? I mean the perfect sinless Son of God. And yes, Jesus presented himself to Israel on the On Palm Sunday. You know, when he wrote in, they said, Hosanna. I've had the question asked, Was that a valid offer?
Had to be. God doesn't lie. God is not a deceiver.
So when Christ presented himself to Israel to be the Messiah, they could have received him. It was a valid offer. And yet Within hours they were shouting, Crucify him, crucify him. Read Mark 14. 61 through 64.
Why was Jesus crucified? Christ was before the religious hierarchy. And they said, He must die because he claims to be the Son of God.
Well, he is the Son of God.
So he was unjustly tried Accused, crucified, And he told the truth. And yet this paradox, it says Jesus did no sin, there was no guile in his mouth. He was reviled. He did not answer back. He was suffering, but he didn't threaten, but he committed himself to him who judges righteously.
And so the paradox of suffering is you can be absolutely in God's will. walking with the Lord. playing by the rules, doing all the right things. And still X happens. And you say, why?
Well Just wait on God. You know, not long ago, I had a Christian friend who sent me just frankly a pretty hateful email. And um Man, my first inclination was to straighten him out. And there was a little voice in the back of my heart saying, Alex, just wait.
So, you know, here I am, as you probably know, we're. We feel like we're Doin' Pretty good work. Our staff, you know, seven days a week, I mean, we're at it, and God is blessing. And thousands and thousands of people are getting saved every year. Millions are hearing.
biblical truth every day of the week. And this this friend, sent me an email how I was, you know, not a good leader and I had disappointed him and He didn't really You know believe in in what I'm doing. And yeah, it kinda hurt for the moment. And I talked about Typed up this letter that was.
somewhat respectful, but there was some anger in my letter, but I didn't send it. I didn't. And I'm thankful I didn't because a few days later, he sent me another email and he said, Hey, I don't know what got into me, I've been going through a lot. He's got a child that's Stressing them. And he said, Would you please forgive me?
He said, I don't know. He said, I just had to vent, and I vented on you, and I'm really sorry. And I said, hey, no worries. Here's the thing. waiting they say if you're hungry angry lonely or tired halt.
Hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. If you are suffering or you feel unjustly. Accused or something, just give it time, the Holy Spirit will work. And finally, I want to talk about this as we close. We're almost out of time.
The productive power of suffering. You see, only the Christian worldview can promise this, but it's an ironclad guarantee that you're. suffering, your stress, your pain, if you put it in the hands of Christ. And you say, I want God to change things.
Well, we should equally be willing to say, I want the Lord to change me. God always always works purposely and redemptively. And do you know in the New Testament there are seven titles for Jesus: Lord, God, Messiah, Christ, Son of God, Son of Man, and Savior. But there's an eighth. And it only appears one time.
All those others, Lord, God, Messiah, Christ, Son of God, Son of Man, Savior, those titles for Jesus. appear dozens of times.
Son of Man appears 82 times. There is a title of Jesus that appears once and one time only. It's so beautiful the shepherd and bishop of your souls. And what does that mean?
Well, shepherd refers to the spiritual oversight. I mean, Christ is your pastor. He really is. And bishop, there is administration and organization. Jesus is the head of the church.
and so end suffering, if will allow it, we return. It says there in verse 25. We return to the pastor and the overseer of our life, King Jesus. Tim Keller said this. That Christianity teaches Contrary to Buddhism, suffering is real.
and contrary to Eastern thought, it's not karma. and against secularism and atheism. Suffering is or can be meaningful. Think about this. We're almost out of time.
and I don't know what you're going through. But Christ does. There is a purpose. to our pain. And if faced rightly.
It drives us like a nail. Deep into the love of God. and into more stability Clarity of mind. Peace. and frankly spiritual power more than we can imagine.
And so Afresh and anew This day and every day In every situation, good or bad, we come. To the cross. to the feet of Jesus. and to His arms that are open for you this day. Alex McFarlane Ministries are made possible through the prayers and financial support of partners like you.
For over 20 years, this ministry has been bringing individuals into a personal relationship with Christ and has been equipping people to stand strong for truth. Learn more and donate securely online at alexmacfarland.com. You may also reach us by calling 1-877-YESGOD and the number 1. That's 1-877-Y-E-S-G-O-D-1. Thanks for joining us.
We'll see you again on the next edition of the Alex McFarlane Show.
