Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
“...for what advantage was it to suffer for a false opinion?” (Barnes)
I’ve often thought about those poor souls who endured persecution in England after the reign of Henry VIII. The country flip-flopped between Catholicism and Protestantism. Same church buildings, same congregants—but when the queen was Catholic, she killed as many Protestants as she could get her hands on. When she was Protestant, she killed as many Catholics as possible.
As I understand it, most of those executed were vocal leaders of their respective systems. Thomas Cranmer, famously known for holding his hand over a candle the night before his execution, was one of them.
But generally, the only “civilians” being executed in those days—and there were many—were the Baptists, who were neither Catholic nor Protestant.
Suffering for the faith of Christ has always been a factor of the faith. Only in modern America have we come to expect that God’s obligation is to make us healthy, wealthy, and happy in this present evil world.
Origen, though an early heretic, witnessed the execution of his parents for their faith—though it was falsely founded.
To attach any form of works to faith—
- the keeping of the Old Testament law
- the observance of rituals and sacraments
- dependence upon baptism or communion
—makes faith vain.
How tragic it is that people have suffered, and still do suffer, for a version of Christianity that is not grounded in absolute faith in Christ alone.
#SufferedInVain #FaithAloneInChrist #TrueBiblicalChristianity #BaptistHeritage #NoWorksSalvation
Martyrs Without a Message: The Tragedy of False Religion
Are you trusting in Christ alone—or in a system that adds to Him?
Religious confusion has cost countless lives and led many sincere people down a dead-end path. Don’t let your faith be in vain.
📖 Take action today: Ask your pastor one clear question—“Does our church teach salvation by grace through faith alone, without works or rituals?” Then open your Bible and compare it to Ephesians 2:8–9 and Galatians 3:4.
💬 QUESTION: Have you ever been taught something about salvation that you later realized wasn't biblical? Share your experience in the comments.
🔗 Hungry for more Bible-centered answers? Visit marvinmckenzie.org for Bible studies, devotionals, and tools to strengthen your walk with Christ.
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