• Review — Rom 5:1-2
  • We are justified by faith
  • We have peace with God
  • We stand in grace
  • We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God
• Further Proof of How Faith Enables Us Through —
  • Trials, troubles, problems, and tribulations of life — giving further assurance
  • Paul's personal experience — 2Co 11:22-28
  • The teaching of Christ — Jhn 16:33
  • The early Church — Act 4:1-3; 5:17-19; 7:57-60; 8:1
• The Test — Rom 5:3-5
  • The way to test between the true and the false is to observe what happens in the hour of crisis, in the time of real need
  • The teaching of Christ — Mat 13:21
  • The Christian response to tribulation
    • Not negative
      • Not just to keep from complaining
      • Not just "putting up" with them
      • Not just resignation — stoicism
    • Position
      • To glory in them
        • Not in spite of them
        • Not in the midst of them
      • We glory in them
        • On account of them
        • Because of them
• The Teaching of the New Testament
  • The Gospels — Mat 5:10-12
  • Act 5:41
  • The Letters
    • Paul — 2Co 4:17; 12:9-10; Phl 1:19
    • James — Jas 1:2, 12
    • Peter — 1Pe 4:12-14
• The Practical Application
  • Not happy to have them
  • Do not go out seeking them
  • Praise, thanksgiving, rejoicing, glorying — over time — Heb 12:11
  • How does it work?
    • Through the application of our faith
    • Our faith enables us to view them in proper perspective
      • Not as working against our hope
      • But as actually promoting hope — Rom 5:3-5
    • Our faith enables us to deal with our tribulations
      • Through knowledge — God's revelation "knowing that" — Rom 5:3
      • We know that tribulation worketh patience
        • The work is the process
        • Results: patience, endurance, steadfastness
    • What is the process?
      • Tribulations come
      • We realize our need
      • True faith turns to Christ
      • We receive a fresh supply of grace and strength
        • Increase of time — with the Lord
        • Increased dependence upon Him
        • Proper knowledge of ourselves
          • Not overestimating
          • Sense of dependence
• Patience Works Assurance — through experience
  • Experience that is the result of an experiment
  • It is passing the test — Jas 1:2, 12 — 1Pe 1:6-8
  • Result
    • We are God's children
    • Faith is victorious — Job 13:15
• Assurance Through Experience Leads to Hope
  • Trials do not lead away
  • Trials lead to hope
  • Trials make hope stronger
• Hope Does Not Bring Shame — 2Ti 1:12

Return to Top