Christians Who Are Willing To Die For Their Faith in Jesus Christ

CHRISTIANS WHO have truly received the Holy Spirit do not fear to die for their faith in Jesus Christ. This is because they are not given the spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7).

Moreover, they know that Christ Jesus has the power to raise them up on the last day when they die for their faith in Him. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord…..” (Revelation 14:13).

Jesus said whoever loses his life because of Him will find it (Matthew 10:39). He will raise him up on the last day.

Convinced about this, the early disciples of Christ Jesus never denied Him, but stood their ground to die for their faith. This can be seen in the life and ministry of James. He died for his faith after being arrested for testifying to the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 12:2).

Also, Stephen, a deacon, never feared to die for his faith. He endured suffering even to the point of death by being stoned (Acts 7: 54-60).

Similarly, Paul was willing to die for his faith in Christ. He knew whom he had believed. While suffering in chains in prison at the latter part of his ministry, Paul boldly declared that “I have fought the good fight, aim have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4-7).

The book of Hebrews also tells us about other believers who endured challenging situations even to the point of death for their faith in God.

“By faith…Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy— wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth” (Hebrews 11:1-38).

Now, are we also ready and willing to die for our faith in Jesus Christ when we are challenged? Are we ready to face similar challenges without cursing God or seeing Him in a bad light?

A Christian is not promised a crisis-free life on earth. “We must enter many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God”, “many are the afflictions of the righteous…” (Psalm34:19) and “In this world you will have many troubles..” (John 16:33).

But the verses of Scripture above continue that the believer should cheer up in the midst of the challenges because the Lord will deliver him and that the Lord will deliver him from them all.

Above all, you can notice that people who are willing to die for their faith in Jesus are fearless, love Jesus, have strong faith, filled with hope and full of the Holy Spirit. They know that they have precious treasures in heaven. Thus, their hearts are focused on eternal rewards.

It is sad that today most of us Christians cannot even endure a little challenge for a few months or years. So, we deny Christ and seek help from somewhere else.

May the Lord help us to understand that true Christians are soldiers sent to defend the gospel and their faith. May we understand that the genuineness of our calling is proven during hard times or during the periods of testing, trials or temptations.

By James Quansah