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Romans 5:3-4
Paul has now begun to open up to the Roman assemblies the result of having been justified by faith. And
what is the first result, of which Paul speaks? We have peace with God. Through the work that our Lord
Jesus Christ did for us on the cross, we have been reconciled to God.
We were at enmity with God; we were born that way, sons of disobedience, enslaved to sin; and each of us,
personally, exacerbated that enmity; we worsened our situation. How did we do that? Through our own
sin; you might say we put ourselves at further distance from God; we were running away from Him; like
runaway slaves (Philemon 10-16).
Turn to John chapter 12. Just before the hour of His death, Jesus spoke of this separation between God and
His creation of mankind, and what His work on the cross would accomplish. Jesus was speaking to the
people on the temple grounds, to a mixture of Jews and Gentiles.
[John 12:31-33] John wrote that Jesus was making known by what death He would die; the form that His
death would take.
It does not seem immediately apparent what that form would be; but the term lifted up is actually a
euphemism that is, a polite way of saying crucifixion. So when Jesus said that He would be lifted up,
His listeners would have understood He was saying that He would be crucified.
A euphemism was used, because crucifixion was such a horrible way to die, and it was considered a most
shameful way to die. So people said, lifted up, instead.
But Jesus would have chosen the term for a different reason. In His crucifixion, Jesus would be lifted up
from the earth as the exalted Sin Bearer (Is 52:13). He would be lifted up, as the Victor over sin and death
(Col 2:15), and therefore over Satan and his world system.
And Jesus would be crucified, between heaven and earth, as the one Mediator between God and men (1
Tim 2:5). In being lifted up on the cross, Jesus would draw all men to Himself. He would stretch out His
arms, to embrace a guilty world with His love: Come to Me (Mt 11:28).
And when a man responds to the love of Jesus, and is drawn to Him, Jesus takes away the separation
between them and God. Now they are no longer distant; they are near; right in His arms. Now they are no
longer running away; they have turned around; for now, they have come to Jesus.
It was through Jesus taking away the source of our enmity with God sin that the separation between
man and God could be removed. Paul gave a powerful illustration of this in his letter to the Colossians.
Turn to Colossians chapter 2. Paul was speaking about men becoming a new creation in Christ.
[Colossians 2:13-14]
v. 13 The uncircumcision of your flesh is a reference to the Colossian believers, who were predominantly
Gentiles. When they believed, they received the circumcision made without hands; in obeying the truth of
the Gospel, they received the circumcision of the heart (Rm 2:29).

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The Colossians were dead in their trespasses, for they were born of the corruptible seed of Adam. But
having believed the gospel, they were born again, born of the incorruptible Seed Christ, being made alive
together with Him, in His resurrection from the dead. And having believed, they were forgiven their
trespasses.
Whereas justification evokes a courtroom scene, and the judicial act of a judge declaring someone not
guilty, forgiveness is more personal. Forgiveness speaks more of someone graciously pardoning another
who had offended them, within a relationship. Justification is the action of justice. Forgiveness is action of
grace. Believers have been graciously forgiven of their offenses against God. Next Paul shows the basis of
that forgiveness.
v. 14 handwriting was a specific term for a certificate of debt. So the handwriting of requirements is
pointing to Gods righteous requirements of all men; His divine will. These requirements are against us,
contrary to us, because all men have violated them.
The word contrary has the idea of enmity embedded in it; our sins were the source of our enmity against
God; they are what made us subject to His judgment. For violating Gods righteous requirements, men
must pay with their lives; thats the debt that is owed to God.
But what did God do with the record of our debt to Him? He nailed it to the cross. Here, Paul is jumping
to a different metaphor.
In that day, when a condemned man was crucified, the Roman authorities used to nail the record of his
crime on his cross, for all to see. It was a demonstration that justice was being properly executed.
Did Jesus have such a statement of condemnation nailed to His cross? No; only the statement that He said
He was the King of the Jews which of course, is true.
But in the spiritual realm, the record of our sins was nailed to the cross of Jesus, and He gave His life to
pay the penalty for those sins, in the stead of us. So for the believer, that record of sins has been taken up
on the cross, out of the way it has been removed, as far as the east is from the west resulting in our
reconciliation with God.
[Return to Romans 5]
So now that we have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ, our sin, and the enmity that it caused, have been
taken away. We have drawn near to God, through the blood of the cross. We have accepted Gods peace
terms, in Christ so now we are at peace with Him.
Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have entered into a whole new realm the kingdom of the Son of Gods
love (Col 1:13), where grace reigns (Rm 5:21). And as subjects of that heavenly kingdom, grace becomes
our firm, permanent, eternally secure standing the grace of God. All of Gods dealings with us, now and
ever more, are on the basis of His grace; He will always treat us with His favor, not because weve earned
it, or deserved it, but because we have been accepted in His Beloved Son (Eph 1:6).
Secure in Gods favor forevermore, we recognize that we have a secure future with Him as a son of God,
in a body of glory. This is our hope and it is absolutely certain, just not yet realized in the present time.
Yet this hope has already been secured for us from the eternal perspective it is reserved in heaven for us
(1 Pet 1:4) awaiting the time when the future becomes our present reality.

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Looking back over verses one and two of chapter 5, we can see that in this single sentence, Paul has
summarized our past justified and reconciled to God; our present standing in grace, as we are being
sanctified; and our future our know-so hope, that we will be glorified.
Justified, sanctified, glorified this is the absolutely certain course, and no other, along which God, by His
gracious favor, brings the believer to Himself. And every believer will absolutely follow this course; no one
can come to God any other way; and no believer who begins on this course can fail to complete the course.
How can we know this? Because God says so. Paul will write, whom He justified, these He also
glorified (Rm 8:30), speaking of it as already finished. Also, But of Him [of God] you are in Christ
Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness [justification] and sanctification and
redemption (that is, redemption of the body; glorification) (1 Cor 1:30).
I am not saying you dont have a part in this; I am saying that it is Gods process, and therefore absolutely
assured of success. Thats why we can have this certain, know-so hope of being glorified.
Believing into Christ is what begins this process, in a man by faith in Him, we have access into this grace
in which we stand. Once you believe, youre in; and once youre in, you begin to progress on Gods
course, which will lead to Gods end for you being glorified.
For the believer, it is a one-way process; theres no going back. There is no such thing as a backslidden
Christ One. That term was used only for unregenerate Israel. For the Christ One, its all onward and
upward. You cannot lose your salvation, because it is Jesus who secured it for you.
So what we see is that this is all the work of God, in the believer; to justify, sanctify, and glorify him, by
His grace. This is the course of the sons of His favor, which leads to Him.
So what is the Christ Ones part, if it is all Gods work? To believe God, for what He is doing, and to
submit to the process; to cooperate with God. That process portion, for the one who has been justified, is
sanctification, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit in the believers life. Paul will be discussing
sanctification and then glorification in chapters 5-8 of this letter.
So Paul has been considering the spiritual reality of the grace course upon which God takes believers; their
heavenly course, a journey of great rejoicing, leading to a glorious end. But now, Paul casts his eyes back
to earth, for he recognizes that the grace course, of necessity, must pass through the here and the now.
Well read verses 1-4 together, to capture Pauls thought, here.
[Read Romans 5:1-4]
So what Paul is showing in verses 3-4 is a process, again; one thing produces another, which produces
another, which produces another.
With what does this process begin? With tribulations. Where do we have tribulations? Jesus said, in the
world you will have tribulations (Jn 16:33); tribulations afflict us, in this world. So this process begins on
earth.

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And with what does the process end? With hope. Again, this is speaking of the same hope as in verse 2; it
is central to this passage. This is our certain, future hope; what is that? Glorification. And where will we
be glorified? In heaven. So the process begins on earth, and it ends in heaven.
The process in verses 1-2, and that in verses 3-4 is really the same process, from two different perspectives.
In verses 1-2, Paul is showing this process from the heavenly perspective through our Lord Jesus Christ,
we are standing in grace, with our hope secured; the process, complete. Now Paul is showing how that is
experienced by believers on earth, as we go through the tribulations of this world; the earthly perspective;
the process, through time.
Notice that the heavenly process, in verses 1-2, and the earthly process, in verse 3-4, have the same end; the
same result and what is that? Hope the certainty of being glorified. And as we shall see, Paul is
showing two different facets of that same hope, resulting in the completion of the believer, as a glorified
son of God.
Lets look more closely at this other perspective of the process, that leads to glory, for the believer.
v. 3a the word translated glory in the NKJV is the same word translated rejoice in verse 2; we rejoice
in hope of our being glorified; and we rejoice in tribulations. KJV has the same translation glory.
Now, it is certainly acceptable to translate the word glory; but why do you suppose that the translators
didnt use the term, rejoice, when Paul has just used the word in the previous sentence, and clearly
intends to make a connection between the two thoughts? Could it be that the translators found the concept
of having confident joy in the tribulations of life a little strange? They would not have been the first
believers to think that, would they? After all, glory sounds so much more spiritual!
To the world, it would definitely seem strange to rejoice in tribulations. But thats because tribulations
dont work for unbelievers as they do for believers. For believers, tribulations are part of a process that
leads to glory.
So for the believer, the apostle Peter wrote, Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try
you, as though some strange thing happened to you (1 Pet 4:12). Unbelievers will think tribulations are
some strange thing, happening to them; but for believers, they are to rejoice in tribulations; not just through
the tribulations, but in the tribulations, themselves. Why on earth should they? Because for believers,
tribulations profit them; they produce a desired result.
Now, what does Paul mean here, by tribulation, anyway? The word tribulation in the Greek is derived
from a word that means to crush or press. The word is used for the press that crushes the grape, to squeeze
out the juice; or presses the olive, to obtain its oil. So this is a general word, and in this context, for man, it
refers to anything that causes pressure troubles, afflictions, distresses the trials of life.
There are some who believe that Paul is referring only to persecution here, since persecution for the sake of
Christ is exclusive to believers, whereas everyone goes through trials.
Let me tell you why Paul did not mean only persecution although they would clearly be included as a
type of tribulation. If Paul meant persecution, he certainly would have used that more specific Greek word.
Also, in this letter as well as others, Paul distinguishes persecutions from more general tribulations (Rm
8:35; 2 Th 1:4).

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And finally, we dont have to look any further than our own personal experience to see that not only
persecution, but all the trials of life work for the believer in the way Paul describes here.
So what Paul is talking about are the sufferings of life on earth; any evil or affliction. Where do these evils
come from? They come from sin, either directly, or indirectly. There would be no suffering apart from sin.
Where did death come from? From the sin, entering the world. And where did illness and deformities
come from? That is a by-product of the corruption that Death brings to the body.
How about troubles, and the pressures of everyday life? They are derived from the world system, and
people pursuing their self-lives within it. Distress, anguish? From the troubles and pressures.
What about natural disasters, resulting in injury, hunger, poverty and disease? The curse upon the earth, due
to sin (Gen 3:17). And war, with its dire consequences? Men in their sins, pursuing their selfish agendas
under the title of national interests.
And speaking specifically for believers what about persecution? Thats the reproach of Christ from those
who dont believe, who are still in their sins.
So because of sin, there is evil in the world, resulting in tribulation for all men believer and unbeliever
alike. And believers suffer additional tribulation, because of our friendship with Christ; we are at enmity
with the world.
That persecution can come in the more overt form seen in some other countries, sometimes manifest in
violent acts, torture and imprisonment; or the persecution can come in the subtle form we find here in our
country: oppression, ostracism, slander, or ridicule, for example.
Now, it might seem that this is not something to rejoice about. But Paul says it is; why? Because of what
tribulations work, or produce, in the believers life. Lets return to Pauls statement on it, here.
v. 3b Now, tribulation only does this in the believer. In the unbeliever, tribulation produces whining, and
anger, and anxiety, and depression, and over time, bitterness. But not so in the believer; what does
tribulation produce, in the believer? Perseverance.
This is endurance; the ability to remain under pressure without succumbing; without giving up. This is what
is being accomplished in the believers life, through the troubles and trials of life. For believers, our
endurance is increasing, as we continue through our course in this life. We accept the pressing that God is
allowing in our lives, because, as Paul says, we know that it is working for us.
How do we know this? Because God says so, in His Word. Job persevered, reaching the end intended by
the Lord, who was compassionate and merciful to him (James 5:11). After Abraham had patiently endured,
he obtained the promise (Heb 6:15). The prophets were an example of suffering and patience (James 5:10).
Also, we know this because the Spirit bears witness to the spirit of our being, that God is doing a work in
us, out of His great love for us, and that this is part of the process. The suffering is not without purpose,
and the purpose is for our benefit; for our eternal good.
And finally, we know that tribulations cause us to persevere because we can see through our own
experience that it is so; we are learning to patiently stay under the load; and as we continue with the Lord,
He is strengthening us to bear more and more.

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We persevere despite greater and greater pressure, in the living of our lives; constraints of time, of
circumstance. We dont lose heart, if we are afflicted with sickness; or if we dont get well. We learn to
bear up under physical limitations whether of brain or body even if they are getting worse.
We trust the Lord more and more, with the crushing burden of wayward loved ones. We accept the painful
separation of death, even as we grieve. We endure the ridicule and ostracism of unbelievers.
But how do we do this? How do we endure? By trusting God, believing Him, in and through the trial. By
submitting to the tool of suffering that our loving Father has chosen, in our life. In this way, we find the
strength to bear up under the load of His choosing.
Turn to James chapter 1. James was the brother of Jesus, and the leader of the church in Jerusalem. He
wrote this letter to Jewish believers who had been scattered out of Jerusalem because of persecution; so we
find persecution, and trials in general, mentioned in this letter.
[James 1:1-4] You can see that what James has to say parallels the words of Paul in Romans. James speaks
of various trials; the word various actually means many-colored, or diverse. Thats an interesting way to
regard trials as the many-colored adversities of life!
James is saying that when the brethren fall into such trials that is, when they are surrounded by the
adversities of life they are to count those trials all joy regard them as a joy; rejoice, as Paul said.
Why should believers do that? Because of what those trials are producing, in their lives. Trials serve God,
to test the faith of the believer.
When a believer is willing to trust God, through the trial, his faith stands the test, enabling him to endure
the trial; translated patience here, the same Greek word in our passage in Romans perseverance. James
then looks directly to the goal from this point; that this process serves to perfect and complete the believer
as a glorified son of God.
[Return to Romans 5]
Now, James was looking beyond endurance right to the final end of God for the believer being glorified.
But Paul mentions one more step of the process.
v. 4a the verb produces, though not necessary here, is implied: perseverance produces character. Now,
our English word character does not quite explain the meaning of the Greek word here. Nor does
experience, as the KJV has it.
The Greek term is derived from a word which means tried, or approved. It is the quality, or attribute, of
being approved, or proven.
This word is used in the testing of precious metals, such as silver or gold. A metal smith uses intense heat
to melt the precious metal, in order to rid the metal of impurities. The same process demonstrates that the
metal has been made pure. We speak of a difficulty that tests our mettle (mettle came from metal).
This is the meaning of the word. In this context, it may be best rendered, proven character.
Perseverance produces proven character, in the believer. As the believer submits the pressure of the
tribulations in his life, and endures the fire of the trial, the Lord is ridding him of impurities in his life,
burning out the dross of his self-life, so that only pure character remains.

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And what does that character look like? The story is told of a ancient metal smith who was asked when he
knows that the metal is pure. His response was, when I can see my reflection in it.
That is the pure character that God is accomplishing in the believer, through his adversities the Father
looks to see the reflection of His Son, in us. And that reflection is becoming clearer, and purer, as we
submit to God, through the trials in our lives.
This reflects the process of sanctification, through which we are set apart from the world, and set apart to
God. And when is that process complete? When we are holy, as God is holy (1 Pet 1:16) the perfect
reflection of His Son; a genuine, proven Christ One.
Turn to First Peter chapter 1. Like James, Peter was also writing an encouragement to displaced Jewish
believers. These were scattered throughout Asia Minor due to persecution. We looked at verses 3-5 last
week, but now we need to concentrate on what follows this.
[First Peter 1:1-9]
v. 1-2 In his prescript, Peter is showing the work of the triune God in the salvation of the believer: the
Fathers election, the Spirits sanctification, and the Sons redemption of the believer.
v. 3-5 As we saw last week, this speaks of the believer being born of the incorruptible Seed, Christ, giving
him a living hope a body of glory which is reserved in heaven for him. Look at how this body is
described. It is incorruptible; that means it is incapable of decay. It is undefiled that is, it will never by
violated by sin. And it does not fade away. This communicates the idea of immortality; a body that will
live forever.
Notice what Peter says if the believer, in verse 5. The believer is kept preserved by the power of God,
through faith, for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. This salvation refers not to the
deliverance from sin, but from death in a body of glory. Peter is speaking of the redemption of the body
here. Having placed his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the believer is now being kept by Gods power, until
he is delivered from death through his glorification.
The flow of thought is similar to Pauls in Romans. Through faith in Christ, the believer has access into his
standing in grace, where God keeps him until he receives his glorified body.
v. 6 Peter is also pointing to the believers glorification as his cause to rejoice; but notice that Peter says
that the trials that are going on the many-colored afflictions, as in James they are grieving; they afflict
us with sorrow. And thats real, isnt it? Suffering causes pain mental distress, emotional anguish,
physical discomfort.
Are these circumstances not grieving? Yes. But because the spirit of our being communes with the Holy
Spirit, we have the ability to transcend the circumstances, and view them from Gods perspective as a
source of joy, because of what they are accomplishing in our lives. This is not contradictory; its a matter
of perspective. Peter knew this; but he gently acknowledged the just-for-a-little-while pain, before he
moved on to the glory.
v. 7-8a the word genuineness is a related word to that which was translated character in Romans 5:4.
This is faith that has been put to the proof, through the fire of trial, to test whether it is genuine. Where
Peter is presenting faith as being tested, Paul shows the believer himself being tested the faith in him
which, when shown to be genuine, results in proven character.

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This tested, genuine faith in believers will be a token of their love for Him, when He returns for His church,
and He presents them to Himself, a church of glory (Eph 5:27).
v. 8b-9 Now Pete expresses the joy and it is inexpressible. Notice that word, now. Now, you rejoice;
even though you dont see him yet. Now you receive the end of your faith the salvation of your souls.
The end of your faith speaks of its ultimate result. What is the ultimate result, for the believer; his
completion? A body of glory. Peter is speaking of the salvation of the soul, or being of the believer, not
from sin here, but from death.
When this corruptible has put on incorruption, when this mortal has put on immortality (1 Cor 15:54), then
the inner man will be delivered from death forever.
But remember, Peter is saying that this is now now you receive the completion of your faith your
glorified body because through faith, you have already been delivered into the age that is to come (Gal
1:4).
[Return to Romans 5]
So persevering by faith through the fiery trials of life produces proven character, in the believer.
But perhaps there is a certain someone who might have this question: What if my faith fails the test? Well,
faith doesnt ever fail; true faith believes God, and endures the trial.
So then this someone rephrases the question: What if I fail to have faith, in the trial? That can happen,
cant it? Did you ever fail to believe God, in a trial? All of us have.
But what we consider to be a failure is really a learning experience from God if we are willing to learn.
What can we learn? That we dont trust God in the given circumstance; but that we could have trusted
God; and that God will give us another opportunity to trust Him, in the future.
And in the interim, God will teach us things, through His Spirit, that will encourage us to trust Him, the
next time the trial comes our way. He teaches us how to persevere, and even how to have the victory, in our
faith. So your failure is really no failure, if you dont lose heart. If you dont give up, you will eventually
have the victory.
You may have stumbled in the course of life that God has set before you; but you can never be disqualified
from the course because its the grace course. Remember your standing you are standing in grace
thats eternal security.
So if you stumble, you just pick yourself back up by which youll be reminded of the grace in which you
stand you brush yourself off, confessing your sin to the Lord you set your eyes once again on the finish
line your certain hope, of glory and you go on, putting one foot before the other, by faith until you
reach the finish line.
Did you know that not giving up, in the course of life, is the mark of a true believer? It is. Let us hold fast
the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful (Heb 10:23); we are of the
household of Christ if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end (Heb
3:6); we are partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end (Heb
3:14)

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So lets not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap a forever-living body if we
dont lose heart (Gal 6:9). Lets press on to the finish line.
And it is the finish line that Paul speaks of next.
v. 4b Now, what does Paul mean that proven character produces hope? Remember, this is our certain hope,
yet future, of being glorified. How does proven character produce that? What Paul is talking about is the
glorification of the believer, on the inside.
More and more, through suffering, the inner man is being transformed, his character being tested and
refined, until it is made pure a pure reflection of His Lord, Jesus holy, as God is holy. This
transformation of the believer, his mind made new with Gods thinking (Rm 12:2), is making him fit, in the
inner man, for the glorified body in which he will dwell the dwelling place that the Lord has prepared for
him (Jn 14:2).
So the trials that the believer endures on earth are working glory into his inner man, so to speak until such
time that the Lord returns for him, and the believers body is conformed to that of His Lord a body of
glory. Then all will be glory within and without the completion of the believer, a glorified son of God.
This is how Paul described the process in his letter to the Thessalonians: Now may the God of peace
Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it ( 1 Th 5:23). There we
see that God is the one who accomplishes this work; ours is to cooperate with Him, by faith, and hang in
there!
Turn to Second Corinthians chapter 5. Paul had been speaking of his ministry, and the many-colored trials
that he endured.
[Second Corinthians 4:16-18]
v. 16 Paul is speaking of the renewal of the mind; more and more, having Gods thinking as our own
thinking. Would this lead to faithful endurance, and proven character? Of course.
v. 17-18 This is Pauls tried-and-true way of having victory in trials keep your eyes on the goal; on the
unseen, eternal realities. Set your sights upon what God has in store for you, and rejoice in the reality that
He is preparing you for it. And above all, look unto Jesus, our forerunner (Heb 12:1-3). He is waiting at
the finish line, to offer you the victors crown.
2 weeks: Romans 5.