And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. Acts 20:22-23

Last time we considered going forward in faith though we do not know the future. There are things, however, that we can be assured of. Let me remind you of two.

First, persecution (as well as trials of every sort) is a certainty in this life. Job 5:2 reminds us, “Yet man is born to trouble, As the sparks fly upward.” And Jesus likewise reminded us in John 16:33 “In the world you will have tribulation.” And speaking of persecution, remember Paul’s words to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:12) “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

Paul didn’t know precisely what was ahead for him in Jerusalem, but he counted on persecution. So ought we.

Second, as believers in Jesus Christ, who are “in Him,” no matter what we run into in this life, we can count on God’s complete, perfect and eternal forgiveness of our sins. Why? Because though we were dead in our trespasses and the uncircumcision of our flesh, He has made alive together with Him [Christ], having forgiven us of ALL trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us [speaking of our sin debt]… And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross [on which Christ was crucified] (Colossians 2:13-14, adapted).

And do not miss that it is because of the assurance of forgiveness that we can triumph even in the reality of tribulation and persecution.