The reason that God allows Christians to suffer for well doing is stated above, that sinners may obey the gospel of God.

Today there is a teaching going around the body of Christ using verse 17 out of context, saying that the time has come that God is cleaning up the Church, that in this day he is judging the church.

Verse 17 is not a prophesy. Peter wrote this statement nearly 2000 years ago and said then that the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God. People man be ignorant to this fact, but Gods has been judging the church through out her existence. One generation is not getting different judgment than another. Every generation is going to have to measure up. Ecclesiastes 1:15b states, "And that which is wanting cannot be numbered." We may think that we are going to slide by with a bit here and there, but God's standard has not changed. God is not a respector of persons.

Wisdom and repentance are the only ways out of suffering because of evil doing. This is why repentance must be preached. People must be shown the error of their way and also the right way. There is deliverance on the path of the just.

God has promised deliverance for suffering as a Christian, however, we are not to repeatedly ask God for deliverance. In the first place this type of suffering is a willful suffering. We chose to be Christians. Are we not also to count the cost.

Which of you building a tower would not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has sufficient funds to finish it. (Luke 15:28)

In II Corinthians chapter twelve, Paul asked God three times for deliverance from the messenger of Satan that was sent to buffet him because of the abundance of revelations that God had given him to share with others. Paul finally got the message of true grace when Jesus spoke to him personally and said, "My Grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Paul saw the light and said, Most gladly therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.