* Getting Past Human Distinctions

And the Lord's servant must not engage in heated disputes 

but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient, 

2 Timothy 2:24

Aren't you glad that when we were in the midst of our sins, during our time of exclusion or rejection of Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God loved us so much that He patiently waited on us to accept Him into our hearts and minds?  That's right, we know that it was no goodness of our own that we are in right-relationship with Him, so we must conclude that it was HIS goodness and grace that drew us to Him.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

Like a parent with children misbehaving and knowing that there should be some discipline involved, God is patient to give us time to right our wrong.  He is longsuffering towards us.  He tells us in His word:

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.   2 Peter 3:9

Since God has the capacity to forebear with us, shouldn't our Godly character reflect the same tolerance?   After all,

 . . . that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.  2 Timothy 2:26

In the New Testament, forebearance is used actively meaning “to persevere and endure” or passively, “be patient, long-suffering”. 

So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains. You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord's return is near. James 5:7-8

These words may describe either perseverance under trials - 

so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises  Hebrews 6:12

- or the attitude of self-restraint that refuses to get even for a wrong that has been done but patiently endures rather than retaliate. 

These words characteristically represent long-suffering patience toward people rather than things.

Apostle Paul gave the following admonishment “to bear evil without resentment, to be patient.” 

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 2 Timothy 2:24

We are in the absolute worst time in human history, and Apostle Paul left us a note from nearly two thousand years ago, telling us that this time, as it was in the days of Noah, is the time to exhibit forbearance to all men. Forbearance should be on the top of our list of virtues that we must include in our Godly character. While the world is wowing out, explosive in their anger; spilling over into violence, we should let our gentleness, graciousness, and forbearance be known to all men, especially at the end. Squabbles, fights, and offenses only make things that much worse in this terrible era of human history.

Among us there should be peace and unity. If anyone is to be seen showing love and forbearance for one another, it should be God's church

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.  John 13:5

In the past decade, we have failed the forbearance test. It does not mean we must put up with evil, but that we give others the opportunity to change.  But we have to start with forbearance.  When a person is sick and goes to the hospital, the hospital staff does not berate them, put them down and throw them out of the hospital; they treat them; some have to be admitted some can just be given treatment and sent home but none are turned away because of their illness.  If we would view the church building as a hospital where the sin sick come for healing, I believe we would be more tolerant.   After all, Jesus did not come to save the righteous, but the sinner!  He said that!

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  John 5:32

When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  Mark 2:17

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  Matthew 9:13

Jesus is our example and the perfect illustration of one whose endurance was connected with joy and the purposes and promises of God. 

Steadfast hope, the confident expectation of what God is and will do, 

gives the capacity to endure with joy.  

Our ability to endure and be patient is directly related to responding to our new life in Christ rather than focusing on the transitory trials of this life.

Patience and endurance are the result of growth, of maturing in God’s truth as the believer learns:

√       who he is in Christ, complete and blessed with every spiritual blessing 

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.   Ephesians 1:3

√       he is a sojourner on his way to eternal glories and rewards. 

Patience or longsuffering and endurance always require the habitual influx of God’s strength because nothing less than God’s supernatural strength is needed to transform impatient sinners into persevering and patient saints.  Patience and endurance need that marvelous, life-changing attitude of joy or it becomes mere resignation. The endurance and longsuffering of some saints is a kind of sour resignation to God’s will. In reality, exultation, not resignation, is the fitting companion of these virtues. 

Most significantly, endurance and patience are used in connection with Christian love.

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things 1 Corinthians 13:4, 7

Love remains steadfast or endures in the face of unpleasant circumstances and difficult people. Love is patient and endures all things. Love (agape), which is the product of the filling of the Spirit, gives the capacity to remain steadfast for the sake of others. Apostle Paul could say, “

So I endure all things for the sake of those chosen by God, that they too may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus and its eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:10

The very first quality stated in 1 Corinthians 13 -  “love is patient”, is a timeless truth. In other words, love never retaliates or seeks to get even. Where that occurs, love will be absent. Love keeps the lid on over the long haul.

Both endurance and patience are listed among many qualities that demonstrated or clearly established Apostle Paul and his followers as mature “servants of God,” as those completely devoted to God and His service and calling. “Patience” and “endurance” are qualities that mark a believer out as a mature and devoted servant of Christ.

But as God's servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in hunger, by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love  2 Corinthians 6:4-6

In Christ, all the basic human distinctions that consistently hinder loving relationships and unity are removed in spite of the many differences that exist; differences that so often cause impatience. This is one of the themes in both Ephesians and Colossians.  Speaking of our new relationship with one another in Christ, Apostle Paul wrote:

Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all. Colossians 3:11

In Christ, distinctions are removed. For Christ is all, and is in all. That is to say, normal human distinctions are overruled and transfigured by the believers' union in Christ:

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, Colossians 3:12-13

When you think of the host of differences in people who are brought together in the body of Christ—social, religious, economic, racial, cultural, nationality, and age, not to mention the many personality differences —

treating others with patience, putting up with them in love 

is a crucial ingredient for living and serving the Lord Jesus 

in unity, with harmony and effectiveness. 

(Biblical Studies)

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