The fiery trials we endure are a sharing in Christ's sufferings.

Christ suffered for two reasons: first, to make an atonement for the sins of the world; second, to become perfect in obedience to the Father.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10)

"To make the captain (the Lord Jesus) of their salvation perfect."

Did Christ need to be made perfect? The Lord Jesus was made perfect in obedience to the Father. From the beginning the Lord chose to obey the Father, saying, "I delight to do your will, O my God." Even with this attitude the Lord still learned perfect obedience through the things He suffered.

If Christ learned obedience to the Father by suffering, what kind of fires shall we experience in order to prepare us to dwell with Him who is the consuming Fire?

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:28,29)

We are reminded that if we do not serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear we will fall into the hands of the consuming Fire.

Because of the disobedience of the fallen angels, Adam and Eve were led into disobedience. Perhaps because of their disobedience, Abraham, the father of all believers, was tested sternly in the realm of obedience.

Then the Son of God, Christ, was tested to an extent no human will ever comprehend—tested throughout His life and finally in Gethsemane, in the realm of obedience.

Now we who are following the Lord must be tested rigorously in the area of obedience to the Father.

The original sin was disobedience—the rebellion that occurred among the angels of God. Every son of God must be tested to the last measure in order to demonstrate total, stern, unyielding obedience to the Father.

The fiery ordeal, the test of obedience, is Divine judgment on us—a judgment that will work to our good if we remain faithful.

The spirit of disobedience to the Father's will still fills the universe. It is in the fallen angels and it is in the Christians. How many Christians do you know who will do God's will without question no matter what it is? Any believer who will not do God's will without question is still rebelling against God.

After a thousand years of righteous rule, Satan still will be able to gather the peoples of the earth and lead them in rebellion against God.

The godly remnant of today are being taught obedience to the Father. The learning of obedience is part of the spiritual fulfillment of the Levitical Day of Atonement (Day of Reconciliation). The Day of Atonement will continue from now throughout the thousand-year Kingdom Age (Millennium). Then all persons, except the members of royal priesthood, will be raised from the dead, stand before God, and be judged according to their works. This is the final phase of the Judgment Seat of Christ.

To be continued.