![]() All suffering either disciplines us when we stray or strengthens us for higher service. We know that Jesus bore and exhausted the wrath of God on the cross, therefore believers never suffer God's punishment. "Since we have been justified by faith" we can "rejoice in our sufferings." Why? "Because we know that suffering produces perseverance perseverance, character and character, hope" (5:1-4). Perseverance is the proper response to trials Thus they persevere - let's consider that more deeply. Veterans have seen it before and know the way forward. The newcomer may have real skill and energy, but the veteran has no fear in a crisis. Provenness is the difference between a new recruit and the veteran. A woman says she loves her child unconditionally and she does love that child through a stretch of bratty behavior. Someone is proven when they have faced and passed a serious test. In the Greek, it is a rare word meaning provenness. We rejoice, believing God has a purpose, to make us stronger: "Now if we are children, then we are… co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" (Romans 8:17). When? When a friend or a boss betrays us, when our body betrays us, when a good friend moves. That is the message of anarchists, communists, revolutionaries: Burn it all down! No, this world is flawed, but in the hands of God the Father, suffering brings discipline, strength, perseverance. Paul does not suggest that pain or suffering is intrinsically good. The term can refer to trouble in general or to suffering brought by persecution. In 5:3 he adds that we can and should rejoice in sufferings or trials. In 5:2, Paul says we rejoice in our faith now and in the hope of what is to come. But first, let's be sure we hear Paul's message… More than that, trials can deepen our faith and build our character. Trials can lead to self-examination: "Did I do something to deserve this? Did I, in any way, bring this on myself?" If so, trials can lead to repentance. But if we add faith to tribulation, things change. Calvin says, "Tribulation provokes a great part of mankind to murmur against God, even to curse him. whenever you face trials… the testing of your faith develops perseverance. The chain in 5:3-4 is vital: "We rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance perseverance, character and character, hope." James 1:2-4 says the same: "Consider it pure joy. Under His guidance, affliction builds endurance, character and hope. Further (today), we can rejoice in affliction or hardship, since He assures us of His care. In Romans 5, Paul turns to the fruit or results of the gospel, the blessed life that follows faith (5:1-2): Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God. Everyone sins, everyone fails, and God has a just, strong wrath toward sin and sinners and we're all sinners. This holds for everyone – for good men who do good things and for bad men who do great evil. Now every sinner who repents and believes is justified we have peace with God. ![]() He atoned for our sin through the life and death of Jesus Christ. In Romans 3-4, Paul presented the content of the gospel: God acted to prevent that collision. ![]() This puts us on a collision course with Him and we're the lightweights. Worse, we tend to be hostile, indifferent or arrogant toward God. In Romans 1-2, Paul declared that we need the gospel because of sin. But first, let’s put the teaching in context. The challenge: We must see trials as God does and persevere in them so that we can receive what God promises. The promise: We can and should rejoice in suffering because we know God works through it to build endurance and character in us. I present God's promise to sufferers, and His challenge. Sadly, we are all too familiar with suffering, with war, disease, disappointment, loneliness, and sadness. Our theme today is suffering - joy, perseverance and hope in suffering. ![]()
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