Hope in Suffering: Studies in Romans 5:3-5 Part 2

Hope in Suffering Part 2

Romans 5:3-5

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Purpose: There are three truths we need to know in order that we might not be crushed during suffering in our lives so that we would have hope in our suffering.

1. We need to know that we all will face tribulations (v.3a)
2. We need to know that God is working within us (v.3b-4)
3. We need to know that God loves us greatly (v.5) 

Last time we went over the first point, “We need to know that we all will face tribulations (v.3a)”

Today we will look at the second point:

We need to know that God is working within us (3b-4)

1. Point: In our tribulation we can have hope if we understand God is still working within us and has not abandon us.
2. Passage: knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
3. Proof
   1. Remember Paul has just wrote “we also exult in our tribulations.” This unusual statement surely would make us ask: why and how?
   2. So the end of verses 3 to 4 gives us the reason for being able to boast in affliction in a logical detailed chain detailed (Schreiner, 250).
   3. What’s the basis for our boasting of our trials? It involves “knowing” which in the Greek is a causal participle offering the basis for why we can boast in tribulation.
   4. We are to know how God uses tribulations.
      1. “tribulation brings about perseverance” (3b)
         1. Here the result of tribulation is “perseverance”
         2. What does “perseverance” mean?
            1. It is the image of a marathon runner as seen in Hebrews 12:1 with enduring to the finish line (Moo, 303).
            2. The image thus shows someone getting stronger with pressure (Moo, 303).
      2. “and perseverance, proven character;” (4a)
         1. Tribulation brings about “perseverance” which then brings about the result of “proven character”
         2. What does “proven character” mean? The word involves validating one’s character as seen in 2 Corinthians 2:9, 8:2, 9:13, 13:3, Philippians 2:22 (Schreiner, 256).
      3. “and proven character, hope” (4b)
         1. Tribulation brings about “perseverance” which then brings about the result of “proven character” and finally that produces “hope”
         2. How does proven character produce hope? It is evidence that God really has changed you and then realizing the promise that God will complete you if He has begun His work as promised in 1 Corinthians 1:8 and Philippians 1:6 (Schreiner, 256).
   5. Contrary to our human way of thinking which often think trials make people lose faith here Paul makes the point that for the Christian tribulations is what God uses to make people hope in Him.
   6. Paul here really want to emphasize that the result of tribulation does produce hope when we look more carefully in the Greek the verb “brings about” in verse 3.
      1. Nuanced, appearing as the last word for the verse even though it does not have to be so.
      2. It is an indicative to show that what follows is not merely a possible condition (Schreiner, 256).
   7. This passage should also be understood with its parallel in Romans 8:28-39 (Schreiner, 256).
      1. Hear the incredible truth in Romans 8:28= “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
      2. But what is the good purpose that God is trying to bring about? Romans 8:29= “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”
      3. The good result is to make us more like Christ!

1. Practice
   1. Sometimes in our lives everything outside us seems so chaotic and one might wonder if God is still there. But for the true Christian, in the midst of trials and tribulation looks within himself and see God working within through the Word of God: there is Christian endurance, there is changed character, there is continue hope in God.
   2. Sometimes it seems when we get older in our walk with God it is easy to get lukewarm; don’t rule out the fact that God uses our trials and tribulations to make us continue to hope in Him!
2. Picture: Don’t forget that God’s work within you is not all subjective; God’s work within a person during tribulation often is noticed by loved ones. This week I was at an Indonesian prayer meeting and I was moved with how many people were praying for their loved ones with cancer.  I was moved with a 12 year old boy who was praying for his grandmother with cancer and also how he loved her and also see God’s work within her.  Don’t waste your elderly years of trials, live out your faith and be a testament of God’s hope!