The result of justification (6): Fulfillment of completed hope by passing through sufferings, perseverance, and character (Romans 5:3-4)

 

The result of justification (6):

Fulfillment of completed hope by passing through sufferings, perseverance, and character

 

 

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)

 

 

                Romans 5:3 says, “…  because we know that suffering produces perseverance.”  We rejoice in suffering, because “suffering produces perseverance” (v. 3).  The Bible speaks of “perseverance” a lot.  For example, Jesus spoke of the perseverance of prayer in Luke 18:1-9.  Jesus Himself set the example of perseverance in prayer.  See Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus prayed three times.  He persevered until the prayer was answered and prayed to the end (Mt.26:36-42).  The sixth of the seven words Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30), means that Jesus endured and persevered suffering to the end on the cross and was finished.  And Romans 5:4 says, “perseverance, character.”  Suffering produces perseverance (v.3), and perseverance produces character (v. 4).  Here, “character” refers to God testing us with the furnace of affliction (Isa.48:10).  In other words, the Lord refines us in the furnace of suffering and removes all impurities from within us so that we come out as pure gold (Job 23:10).  God uses the furnace of affliction in suffering so that we can persevere and that perseverance produces character.  Also, Romans 5:4 says, “character, hope.”  To hope for the glory of God (v. 2) is what even new believers hope for.  However, mature Christians have perseverance through sufferings, character through perseverance, and a completed hope that has passed through character (vv. 3-4).  The Holy Spirit teaches us that sufferings produce perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope.  That is why we rejoice in our sufferings (v. 3).

                The great tribulation is definitely coming!  At that time, the Holy Spirit wrote the words of Romans 5:1-4 deeply in our hearts, so that we should all stand in strong faith.  As this word of God works among those who believe (1 Thess. 2:13), our hearts must be strengthened.  Therefore, we must keep our faith in the midst of the great tribulation, silently carry out the mission given to us to the end, and overcome the great tribulation and stand before the Lord.