Redemptive suffering Redemptive suffering Redemptive suffering is the Christian belief that human suffering, when accepted and offered up in union with the Passion of Jesus, can remit the just punishment for one's sins or for the sins of another, or for the other physical or spiritual needs of oneself or another. Like an indulgence, redemptive suffering does not gain the individual "forgiveness" for their sin; forgiveness results from God’s grace, freely given through Christ, which cannot be earned. After one's sins are forgiven, the individual's suffering can reduce the "penalty" due for sin. Christians believe that God loves mankind so much that
Christians Other words are "Nasrānī" (), from Syriac for "Nazarene", and "Tarsā" (), from Middle Persian word "Tarsāg", also meaning "Christian", derived from "tars", meaning "fear, respect". An old Kurdish word for Christian frequently in usage was "felle" (فەڵە), coming from the root word meaning "to be saved" or "attain salvation". The Syriac term "Nasrani" (Nazarene) has also been attached to the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, India. In the Indian subcontinent, Christians call themselves "Isaai" (, ), and are also known by this term to adherents of other religions. This is related to the name they call Jesus," 'Isa Masih",