Romans 5 - 1.6.26

SCRIPTURE: Romans 5:1-5 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that sufferings produce perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, Who has been given to us.”

OBSERVATION:  Paul wrote this message to the church in Rome, explaining that all believers have been justified through faith, which means ‘JUST IF I’D’ never sinned!   When Jesus hung on the cross and died, it was to pay the price for OUR past, present and future sins!  (Not His because He had no sin).  The punishment we deserved, (death), was paid in full by Jesus Himself!   Paul went on to say that we not only boast in the hope of the glory of God, but we also glory in our sufferings.

APPLICATION:  So…What exactly does it mean to glory in our sufferings?  It’s the end result that causes us to glory in our sufferings.  Suffering produces perseverance, character and hope, and those are all character traits that point to the attributes of Jesus.  If we TRULY want to become more like Jesus, then EVERY time we suffer, and remember that God is with us, and will be faithful to bring us all the way through, then we will glory in our sufferings. 

“Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  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.”

In the book of James, he doesn’t say IF you face trials, he says WHEN you face trials of many kinds, consider it pure joy because the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” There’s another great reminder of the end result that God brings AS WE GO THROUGH our trials.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.  This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come SO THAT the proven genuineness of your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though it is refined by fire - may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

PRAYER:  Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your great mercy and love that was demonstrated when You sent Your only Son Jesus to reconcile us to You.  Please help me not to be a grumbler or a complainer when my faith is tested, but help me to remember all the good that You bring when I glory in my suffering.  And thank You that I never have to suffer alone because You are always with me, AND because Your mercies are new EVERY morning!  Thank You for Your faithfulness, and for promising to bring me through every trial that I will ever face as I keep my eyes on You.

- Robin Orefice