obcfrssyllabus obc-FRS-4-LONGSUFFERING
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT – LONGSUFFERING
(Week 4) Thursday March 27th., 2008
Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary of 1977 defines “long-suffering” as: “long and patient endurance of offense”. (p. 679) So much for the idea of “I’m at my wits end”, “I’m at the end of my rope”, or “my patience has just run out”. Quite possibly the idea of our being long-suffering is not the same thing as the long-suffering of God! Someone might be tempted to say, “I have suffered just about as much as I can” and still, I’m not sure that we quite grasp the meaning behind the concept of long-suffering. Look at the book of Job to get a better understanding of the meaning of suffering.
In light of what the Apostle Peter wrote in I Peter 3:20 using the definition of Webster, then our God must be the ultimate example of what “long-suffering” consist of. Consider Peter’s words, “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” We learn that God saw the wickedness of man “and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5) We really don’t know for sure how many people were living during the flood, but for only 8 souls to be spared, that helps us understand how serious God is about sin. Peter speaks of His being longsuffering in the days of Noah. Noah built the ark exactly like God told him to down to there being 3 floors, 1 door, and 1 window. During the process of the building of the ark, Noah warned the people of the impending flood. There had been no flood at this time. Noah preached to them 120 years, but they would not listen. Let it sink in. God waited 120 years during the construction of the ark giving people ample opportunity to repent. Today, He gives us ample time to repent! God shut the door of the ark. No man could open it. Those in the ark were safe and were born above the flood. Those out of the ark perished. Today, those in the Church are saved. Those out of the Church are lost.
How can we learn to have “long and patient endurance of offense?” In our society we are taught to “get even” if someone wrongs us. From a John A. Dickson Bible copyrighted in 1923 this definition is given of the word we are studying, “(slow to anger);
God’s patience in forbearing to execute deserved wrath upon men. The “long-suffering of saints” is their patience in trouble. Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Psalm 86:15; Jeremiah 15:15; Romans 2:4; II Corinthians 6:6; Galatians 5:22; Colossians 3:12.” The Atheist doesn’t believe in God. The Agnostic isn’t sure He exists. The Evolutionist says we just happened as an indiscriminate bombarding of molecules. Our God is really patient with us! He puts up with a lot of junk, but there is a day coming when His patience will run out. He will no longer overlook the offense that has been committed against Him. Sin is a transgression of His will. It is a stepping aside from the mark. It is unrighteousness. It is a violation of His holiness. Just as it was in the days of Noah and the cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, and the plains, His forbearing to execute judgment upon the world of the ungodly for their sins will not always continue unpunished. Let us study further and see how we can begin to emulate the longsuffering of our God as the Holy Spirit would instruct us through the written word.
Larry R. Scott, minister
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT – LONGSUFFERING
(Week 4) Friday March 28th., 2008
1. The term “long suffering” is used in the Old Testament to be mean “long of face or
anger”. Read Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Psalm 86:15; Jeremiah 15:15 and give me
your understanding of the base meaning. ____________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
2. The term is used in the New Testament in Romans 2:4. What does this verse say about
the nature of our God?___________________________________________________
3. In the context of II Corinthians 6:6 what does Paul say about our character as those
who are working together with God? ________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. How does Paul use the idea of being long suffering in Ephesians 4:2? _____________
_____________________________________________________________________
5. What does Paul say in Colossians 1:11 with regard to our study? _________________
_____________________________________________________________________
6. Does our being able to put up with one another have something to do with the
disposition of our hearts? Read Colossians 3:12-14 ____________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
7. How was Paul an example of Jesus being long suffering with him? How does that help
you and me? (I Timothy 1:12-16) __________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
8. Is it possible for us to know of the long suffering of one another? (II Timothy 3:10-12)
_____________________________________________________________________
9. Must a minister of the Gospel be long suffering of his brethren and those who have not
yet been converted? (II Timothy 4:2) _____________________
10. How is Jesus being long suffering with us attributed to our salvation? (II Peter 3:15)
____________________________________________________________________
11. How are God’s promises a part of His long suffering? (II Peter 3:9) Review the
context for your answer. ________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Student______________ Date____________ Grade______________
Instructor: Larry R. Scott