With stronger reasoning are these principles true relative to the members of the new creation.

These are being trained for the high and exalted position of membership in the royal family of heaven.

Hence we may not be surprised to find often that their training is quite severe.

The understanding of this requirement enables one to appreciate why Christians have never been popular and why they have suffered so much during the past nineteen centuries.
[481]The Psalmist wrote concerning the new creation; "I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.

For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me." (Psalm 69:8,9) Jesus became a stranger to the Jews in this, that they despised and rejected him.
Because of his zeal for the heavenly Father's great plan, his earthly life was consumed.