Romans 5.3-The Confident Expectation of the Rapture Produces Perseverance in Time of Adversity
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday March 26, 2008
Romans: Romans 5:3-The Confident Expectation of the Rapture Produces Perseverance in Time of Adversity
Lesson # 145
Please turn in your Bibles to Romans 5:1.
In Romans 5:1, we studied that since the believer has been justified by faith in Jesus Christ, he has peace in the presence God through the Lord Jesus Christ whose spiritual death on the Cross reconciled them to God, implying that the believer now has a relationship with God.
In Romans 5:2a, we noted that because the believer has been justified by faith in Jesus Christ, he also has as a permanent possession access to this gracious benefit of a relationship with God, in which he stands forever, thus implying the believer has eternal security.
Last evening we completed Romans 5:2 by noting that in addition Paul rejoiced in the confident expectation of receiving a resurrection body.
This evening we will study Romans 5:3, which teaches that the confident expectation of the rapture, i.e. the resurrection of the church, which is imminent produces endurance in the believer in times of adversity.
Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”
Romans 5:3-5, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope 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.”
In Romans 5:3, “and” is the “emphatic” use of the conjunction de (deV) (deh), which introduces an additional object that Paul and those who thought like him rejoiced over that was out of the ordinary and would be shocking to those in bondage to the viewpoint of Satan’s cosmic system.
“Not only…but also” form a correlative clause that emphatically states that Paul and his fellow like-minded believers “not only” (ou monon) rejoiced upon the confident expectation of receiving a resurrection body “but also” (alla kai) they rejoiced over the underserved suffering that they were experiencing.
Romans 5:3, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance.”
“We exult” is the verb kauchaomai (kauxavomai) (kow-khah-om-i), which means, “to confidently rejoice.”
The first person plural form of the verb is not an “inclusive we” referring to those sinners who have been declared justified by God through faith in Jesus Christ.
But rather, it is an “exclusive we” meaning that it is referring to Paul and other communicators of the gospel of Jesus Christ and like-minded Christians since Paul can’t speak for his audience because he hadn’t met them as of yet.
However, the “exclusive we” would serve as a reminder to his Christian readership that they ought to be rejoicing over the confident expectation of the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ at the rapture or resurrection of the church.
“In our tribulations” is composed of the preposition en (e)n), “in” and the articular dative feminine plural form of the noun thlipsis (qliyi$) (thlip-sis), “our tribulations.”
The noun thlipsis is derived from the root thleo (qlevw), which means “to squeeze, to crush.”
Its cognate verb is thlibo (qlivbw), “to oppress, affliction, press, crowd,” which appears in classical Greek from Aristophanes onwards.
Both the noun and the verb are regularly used in a figurative manner in secular Greek in reference to the “difficulties” and “tribulations” of life.
Figuratively thlipsis pictures one being “crushed” by intense pressure, difficult circumstances, suffering or trouble pressing upon them from without.
Thus persecution, affliction, distress, opposition or tribulation, all press hard on one’s soul.
Thlipsis does not refer to mild discomfort but to great difficulty.
In Scripture the noun is most often used of outward difficulties, but it is also used of emotional stress and sorrows which “weighs down” a man’s spirit like sorrows and burden his heart.
Thlipsis then includes the disappointments which can “crush the life” out of the one who is afflicted.
The noun thlipsis is an integral part of the church age believer’s spiritual life, which is an extension of Christ’s spiritual life since the church age believer is in union with Him and a member of His body and His future bride.
The word is used in the Greek New Testament in relation to the undeserved suffering of the believer (Romans 5:3; 8:35).
Romans 8:35, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
2 Corinthians 4:17-18, “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
1 Thessalonians 1:6-7, “You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.”
It is a privilege to suffer undeservedly for Christ’s sake.
Philippians 1:29, “It has been graciously granted (the privilege) because of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also, to suffer (hardship) because of Him.”
God never permits us to undergo any testing that we don’t have the capacity for.
1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
Advancement, promotion, spiritual growth and prosperity in the spiritual life can only be achieved through undeserved suffering, which is experiencing identification with Christ in His death (1 Pet. 4:12-13).
If the believer meets adversity with divine provisions of prayer and the Word of God, then he will prosper spiritually.
The believer who perseveres while under trial will be prospered with the “crown of life” at the Bema Seat.
James 1:12, “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
Romans 5:3, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance.”
“Knowing” is the verb oida (oi‚da), which denotes the possession of knowledge and thus means, “to know for certain, to know without a doubt.”
In Romans 5:3, the verb oida denotes that Paul and his fellow like-minded Christians “know for certain through experience” or “without a doubt through experience” that adversity produces perseverance.
The participle form of the verb oida functions as a “participle of cause” meaning that Paul and his fellow mature believers rejoiced on account of their adversities “because” they know for certain that adversities produce endurance in the believer who walks by faith and not by sight.
“Tribulation” is the noun thlipsis (qliyi$) (thlip-sis), which means, “adversity.”
“Brings about” is the verb katergazomai (katergavzomai) (kat-er-gad-zo-my), which means, “to produce.”
“Perseverance” is the noun hupomone (u(pomonhv) (hoop-o-mo-nay), which is steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, and a state and suggests activity maintained in spite of difficulties, steadfast and long continued application.
For the Christian, “perseverance” is remaining faithful and obedient to the Word of God despite the obstacles in life such as the old sin nature, self, the cosmic system of Satan.
Hupomone is not “gritting one’s teeth” nor is it a passive acceptance of the circumstances but rather is remaining faithful and obedient to the will of God in the face of opposition or difficulty.
It is an attitude, which bears with things not simply with resignation, but with a confident expectation that God will be glorified in our adversity and we will be blessed.
In other words, when an adversity strikes in our lives that is difficult, painful, frustrating and disappointing, and we meet the adversity with God’s grace and faith in the Word of God, His power, sufficiency, fellowship, wisdom and love, and don’t give in to bitterness and resentment and complaining, then we are persevering.
The root idea of hupomone is that of remaining under some discipline, subjecting one’s self to the will of God, which demands total submission to the Father’s will, in which we are inclined to rebel against because of our sin nature.
The word conveys the idea of not permitting our adverse circumstances to get us to surrender or quit on the plan of God.
The word describes a triumphant confident expectation of reward and blessing in the midst of adversity, knowing like Joseph that even out of evil God guarantees good rather than a “grin and bear it” attitude.
Perseverance is that spiritual staying power that will die before it gives in and is the virtue which can endure, not simply with resignation, but with a vibrant confident expectation of reward and blessing.
It also involves doing what is right and never giving in to the temptation or trial and is a conquering perseverance and the ability to deal triumphantly with anything that life can do to us.
It accepts the blows of life but in accepting them transforms them into stepping stones to new achievement and spiritual growth.
Hupomone is the attitude of the soldier who in the thick of battle, is not discouraged and quits but rather fights on courageously whatever the difficulties.
The Christian way of life is not a sprint, but a marathon.
Therefore, perseverance is absolutely essential in executing the Father’s will and in producing divine good that will be rewarded and was a quality that the apostles and Old Testament saints possessed.
Romans 15:1-4, “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ‘THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.’ For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.”
Hebrews 10:35-39, “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.’ But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”
Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
2 Peter 1:5-8, “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”