Cees en Anneke Noordzij — Hamartology (b4)
Sorrow as Consequence of the Fall
“We know that every woman bears children with sorrow (Gen.3:16). Why then did she call him Jabez (= sorrow)?”
The name Jabez (= sorrow) is linked to the universal sorrow of Gen.3:16, but extended to a spiritual dimension: those called to sonship bear exceptional sorrow.
Three Types of Suffering
“All kinds of sorrow overtake us. Everyone suffers sometimes through their own fault. Then we have done something God does not will. Whoever grieves over this will certainly be comforted (Matt.5:4). There is also suffering that God brings upon our path. That is suffering for purification (Mal.3:2-3). […] You can also suffer for righteousness, for Christ (1Pet.3:14, Phil.1:29). This does not happen to you because you have done something wrong, or because the Lord wants to test you, but because you are doing God’s will.”
Triptych: (1) suffering through own fault, (2) purifying suffering from God, (3) suffering for righteousness.
Discipline as the Path of Sanctification
“The Father leads all those called to sonship through sorrow. ‘He disciplines every son He accepts’ (Heb.12:6).”
“All that discipline seems to bring sorrow, but later it produces fruit of peace (Heb.12:11).”
Flesh versus Spirit
“Whoever sows to his flesh will from the flesh reap destruction, but whoever sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life (Gal.6:8).”
“Many ‘kindle their own fire’ (Isa.50:11). That means doing things with the enthusiasm of soul and flesh.”
Missing
Original sin, total depravity, forgiveness, guilt/punishment, mortal sin, sin against the Holy Spirit as explicit topics.