**Another thing I learned while teaching through Romans was the inescapability of suffering if we are to share in His inheritance and glory.**
Very true interpretation of precepts as taught by the Catholic Church. A lot of people (including some Protestants) don’t understand the suffering part of life. We can suffer as Christ suffered (and even offer it up for the Poor Souls in Purgatory.)
Granted — our suffering is minute in comparison with the suffering that Christ suffered for us.
I really don’t understand why this concept is so misunderstood, when we are encouraged to take up our Cross daily and follow Christ.
This is a very shallow statement to make. Why single out protestants? Incidentally, many protestants learned about suffering at the hands of Catholics.
"We can suffer as Christ suffered (and even offer it up for the Poor Souls in Purgatory.)"
Salvation comes by the one time suffering and death of Christ on the cross. An individual's suffering may benefit his or her own character, but they have no value in paying for the sins of another.
Hebrews 7:27
Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Hebrews 9:26
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Hebrews 9:28
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God,
Because of the superstitious fear of "works salvation".