A Study of Romans (16)

Joy

Now I know we talked about joy last Sunday evening and this evening, we talk about joy quite a lot - why, first it is a fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), Second it what we are filled with through the Holy Spirit;

Joy is something that can’t be removed because it comes from God Himself - however our emotions can cause us to hide our joy;

Joy and Aspiration

In v. 2 it says, “...we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”;

The New King James Version. (1982). (Ro 5:2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

What this is pointing to is that hope is the foundation for joy;

The Book of Romans Joy and Aspiration (Verse 2b)

What does “hope of the glory of God” mean? Probably this: “The hope [expectation, aspiration] we have that we will participate in the glory of God.”

Now Paul says in Romans 3:23 that we, people, keep falling short of God’s glory and now he wants us to reach for His glory;

The Book of Romans Joy and Aspiration (Verse 2b)

That is a picture of the sinner’s repeated and frustrating failure to measure up to the fulness of the image of God for which man was originally intended.

Paul is pointing to the glory of eternity when we will be like Him (1 John 3:2);

What joy does that bring to your heart and mind that He will be glorified when we become like Him.

Joy and Affliction

How do you handle affliction;

First what does affliction mean - a cause of pain or harm, the state of being in pain;

Soanes, C., & Stevenson, A. (Eds.). (2004). Concise Oxford English dictionary (11th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Does our joy cease to exist when we enter a valley;

The Book of Romans Joy and Affliction (Verses 3, 4)

The Greek word “we glory” (3) is the same as “we rejoice” (2). That “we rejoice in tribulations [afflictions]” means both that we are able to be glad even in spite of such circumstances and that we are glad because of such circumstances.

In spite of your circumstances God has not changed, In spite of your circumstances God has left;

While I understand it is challenging - ok it seems down right impossible - to rejoice when we are in the valley but if we can rejoice then how much easier will be to rejoice on the mountain top;

v. 3 says “...tribulation produces perseverance...”

The New King James Version. (1982). (Ro 5:3). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The Book of Romans Joy and Affliction (Verses 3, 4)

The Greek word for “tribulation” originally meant pressure. Oppression, trouble, distress are indicated by the word.

As followers of Christ we have the Holy Spirit to guide us though our troubles, to build up our faith and to reveal the joy of God;

The Book of Romans Joy and Affliction (Verses 3, 4)

The pressure-experience of trouble and affliction helps produce in a Christian the quality of perseverance, patience.

But to many people were falsely told that with Jesus there will be no more troubles “tribulations” but Jesus Himself said the opposite in John 16:33;

We need to stay the course and find joy.

Joy and Assurance

Reality - Your hope in God will not bring disappointment;

Reason - because of God’s love - while this seems so simplistic it is almost complicated;

First - God loves you;

Second - God’s love was poured out for you;

The Book of Romans Joy and Assurance (Verses 5–8)

This probably means that the Spirit of God, when He convicted us, convinced us of God’s love for us; and that, when He came to dwell within us at conversion, flooded our hearts with the assurance and experience of that great love.

Third - God’s love was shown through Jesus’ death.