Romans 5:1-4 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope Rejoicing in Tribulation Responding to Tribulation And not only this - there is more good news You would have thought that these were sufficient grounds of assurance and the guarantee of our ultimate glorification, but Paul is not satisfied. What is further proof of the fact that we are saved, that we are children of God, and that we are destined for glory? It is the way our faith enables us to face the trials, troubles and problems of life Tribulation = θλῖψις [thlipsis] a pressing, pressing together, pressure, the same word is also translated as affliction, trouble, anguish, persecution and being burdened Tribulations may take many forms Tribulation can come in the form of afflictions, stresses, difficulties, illness, persecutions and trials of every conceivable type and kind What then is the Christians reaction to these things? 1
Dealing with tribulation is a very important subject for the first century Christians The fact that Christians experience such trials sometimes brings into question whether they are really saved or not. The first thing that we must understand and embrace is that Christians will suffer both trials and persecutions John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. Jesus both warned and encouraged His disciples about the persecution they would experience Acts 14:21-22 After they [Paul and Barnabas] had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 2 Timothy 3:10-12 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. We are going to have but it is not enough to say that a Christian should not grumble or complain or question his faith or his God - This is true, but there is much more to it. It is not enough that he merely puts up and shuts up and keeps a stiff upper lip, Stoicism It is not enough to passively resign himself to the situation to go with the flow, Taoism We are to exult in our tribulations this is the same word used earlier when we were told to exult in the hope of the glory of God Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great 2
James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Acts 5:40-41 They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. There is a difference between rejoicing and being happy - we are not told to be happy We are told to consider it joy, rejoice or exult in our tribulations. In is a very important word It doesn t mean to rejoice in spite of our tribulations It doesn t necessarily mean to rejoice in the midst of our tribulations although we do It literally means to rejoice because of or on account of our tribulations The tribulations themselves are the reason for our rejoicing 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 1 Peter 4:12-14 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. How does this work out practically for us? It does not mean we should actually be happy or glad when these things happen Hebrews 12:11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. 3
Romans 5:3 b knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; We can rejoice in tribulation because we know something - we have knowledge that enables us to exult or rejoice in our tribulations We have an insight into God s purposes and methods in respect to us We know that tribulation brings about perseverance. The trials come and we don t give up and we don t give in, we engage our faith and we persevere We humble ourselves and draw near to God and find grace to help in our time of need When things are going well and there are no difficulties, we are not nearly as dependent on our Savior as we are during tribulations Paul has a process in mind, he says, tribulation brings about perseverance It is a process that works out certain results, works them out in detail, step by step, and produces a final product, perseverance. The moment the trials and tribulations come, we realize a new and fresh need of our Lord We had been going through the Christian life thinking we knew everything, had all the answers and that everything was completely under control Then we are hit with various trials and we are shook up we lose our composure We might at first be taken aback and not understand what is happening, but if we have true faith, we will turn to Christ We will not just look at the problems, but we will remember His promises The man who does not have real faith will fall away during these time, but the Christian will draw near to his God The trials are dong something very good for him, they are driving him back to the Lord Jesus Christ. We are always overestimating ourselves, and we tend to think that things are better with us than they really are. It is when trials and tribulations come that we are forced to see our true condition 4
Trials are good for us because they not only bring us to a better knowledge of God, but also of ourselves We thus have a more balanced view, a deeper view, a larger and truer view. Now when further trials come, we do not get flustered and excited, we are more steadfast, because our tribulations bring about perseverance but that s not all Romans 5:4 a and perseverance, proven character; Proven character = δοκιµή [dokimē] literally a proof, a specimen of tried worth, proven by testing What Paul is saying is this, that our perseverance is a proof that we are truly Christians Jesus says this in the parable of the sower Matthew 13:20-21 The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. James 1:2-3 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved (tested) he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ Like gold being refined in the furnace, trials cause our faith to shine brighter Tribulations not only bring out God s love for us, they also bring out our love for God, and prove it. If I only love God when everything is going well, there is no proof I am a Christian, but if I can say with Job, Even though He slay me, yet will I trust Him, then there is proof of it 5
When you are down and it seems like everything is against you and the devil says to you, Where is your God? If you can then turn to the devil and say, God loves me so much He is testing me and purifying me and perfecting me and I need this more than I know, and I rejoice in this, then you have been proven and tested Romans 5:4 b and proven character, hope; We now have this knowledge, we know that our tribulations bring about perseverance Our perseverance brings about proof of our faith The proof of our faith brings about hope Romans 5:4 b and proven character, hope; Paul started with a doctrinal truth and its logical outworking Therefore, having been justified by faith we He then immediately takes the orthodoxy to orthopraxy he goes from faith to practice A practical assurance of our hope I believe God s word and have assurance of my salvation. God has given me His Holy Spirit as a pledge of my ultimate redemption But He doesn t stop there, He allows me to go through tribulations that both prove me and prove to me that my faith is real By driving us back to the Lord Jesus Christ, by showing God s love to us, by giving us fresh experiences of God s strength and grace and power, sufficient for every trial and for every need, these things give us absolute proof of God s purpose with respect to us. We never knew that He had such a loving interest in us. We thought we did, but it was all theoretical; we really did not know. But now we know them, we have experienced them, 6
and we are more certain of God than we ever were before. We therefore glory because of these on account of them; we thank God for them. We say with the psalmist, It is good for me to have been afflicted. I am better than I was before, I am more certain of God, I am more certain that I am His child, I am more certain of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ and I have a larger, deeper, bigger, more certain and more solid hope than ever before. 1 Peter 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, 1 Peter 1:3-9 reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, 1 Peter 1:3-9 even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory 7