Patience develops proven character, and proven character develops hope. Patience here is endurance shaped by bearing tribulation, trouble and suffering, and experience is tested and proven Christian character. This growth belongs to those justified by faith, who have peace with God through Jesus Christ, stand in grace, rejoice in hope of the glory of God, and even glory in tribulations. That hope does not put to shame because the love of God is poured out in the heart by the Holy Spirit, grounded in Christ dying for the powerless, ungodly, sinners and enemies to justify by His blood, save from wrath, reconcile by His death, and save by His life. Trials are God's appointed discipline to prove faith, refine character like gold, and mature steadfastness, righteousness and spiritual life, so that hope becomes confident rejoicing in God's glory that walks by faith and not by feeling.
Words and Progression
Romans 5:4 gives a two-link progression in which patience produces experience and experience produces hope. Tribulation works patience, patience works onward into experience, and experience works onward into hope, forming the middle link between glorying in tribulations and a hope that does not make ashamed. Enduring trial forms proven character and proven character forms hope, so that patience produced by tribulation develops into Christian experience and this experience gives rise to hope. This progression belongs to those justified by faith who have peace with God through Jesus Christ, access by faith into the grace wherein they stand, rejoicing in hope of the glory of God, and even glorying in tribulations.
It is a joyful testimony spoken when eyes are fixed on the Saviour and trust is placed in His power, bringing a sense of security because the righteousness of Christ becomes personal righteousness, with peace and a sweet sense of forgiveness given as the Holy Spirit brings the promises of Christ to remembrance, making the heart sound forth praise and gratitude to the Redeemer sent to take away the sin of the world. The hope does not make ashamed or put to shame because the love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit given to believers, set within reconciliation and salvation through Christ dying for the ungodly, sinners and enemies. Those connected with Christ as living stones resting on Him as the chief cornerstone receive support from that foundation and merit from Him to serve God acceptably, so they can glory in tribulation knowing it works this progression, sing of His mercy and tell of His power. This hope is part of the true experience that begins with justification by faith and rests on God's love poured into the heart through the Holy Ghost.
Patience in the verse is patient endurance formed by enduring tribulation, trouble and suffering, and experience in the verse is tested and proven Christian character. Suffering develops patient endurance, patient endurance develops tested character, and tested character develops hope, describing the genuine faith that can remain steadfast under adversity and look forward with confidence rather than waver when circumstances become difficult. Endurance through tribulation forms tested character and this tested experience leads to hope, so that hardships need not make laborers faint or despair because tribulation can produce this growth and strengthen their hope. Patience formed through trouble produces tested, proven character, and endurance develops proven character and proven character develops hope in a chain that begins with being made right with God by faith, which gives peace with God and entry by faith into grace and rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God, and continues in rejoicing even in hard times because hardship produces endurance.
This becomes real by taking Christ for oneself, with the risen Lord living as a quickening power in the life, and those who know they have such a risen Lord are to show it to the world, while God's lessons when learned bring help in due time and trials prove His workers and refine them like gold tested by fire. The hope is rejoicing in the glory of God, not resting on feeling, meaning not flying into impatience or speaking harsh, unkind words when feeling is not as desired, because life is lived in view of heavenly intelligences and the marks of crucifixion in Christ's hands show His people graven on His palms. This hope is to be striven for with all God-given powers and energies by beholding Jesus, for by beholding change comes.
Experience means learning to know Christ by experience in being brought to God through Christ, which is true conversion. It begins when a man honest in heart reads, marks, learns, and inwardly digests Bible truth and comes to God in prayer, sees Christ despised, rejected, wounded for transgressions, bruised for iniquities, and bearing the iniquity of all, is convicted and troubled under condemnation, receives light from the Spirit to see the meaning of the Word, and receives truth into the heart so it spreads through the inner man like blood from the heart through the body. Then thoughts and affections and powers are brought into obedience to Christ, with the heart submitted to Christ the whole being is perfected, and in that process patience works experience and experience works hope. Being justified by faith gives peace with God through Jesus Christ, access by faith into grace, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God, and even glorying in tribulations because tribulation works patience and patience works experience and experience works hope, and hope does not shame because the love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost given. Those who have this experience must deal tenderly with those striving for the crown of life, helping the soul in need in love and tenderness, bearing each other's woes, praying to help each other, and encouraging the young to seek earnestly for a deeper experience and helping them from the Scriptures to know Christ as peace, joy, strength, shield, Guide and Counsellor, the source of all comfort, all and in all.
Context of Justification
The chain of patience forming proven character and proven character forming hope belongs only to those made right with God by faith, who have peace with God through Jesus Christ, access by faith into the grace in which they stand, rejoicing in hope of the glory of God, and even glorying in tribulations because tribulation works patience. It is spoken as joyful testimony when eyes are fixed on the Saviour and trust rests in His power, bringing a sense of security as the righteousness of Christ becomes personal righteousness, with peace and a sweet sense of forgiveness as the Holy Spirit brings the promises of Christ to remembrance until the heart sounds forth praise and gratitude to the Redeemer sent to take away the sin of the world. It is the life of one justified by faith and not by feeling, calling for walking by faith and not by sight, believing confessed sin is forgiven whether feeling is present or not, surrendering to God and trusting Christ's grace and compassion. It belongs to freedom from bondage to sin and Satan and to mastery over self, will and ways, and to those joined to Christ as living stones resting on Him as chief cornerstone, receiving support from that foundation and merit from Him to serve God acceptably, to sing of His mercy and tell of His power. Experience here means learning to know Christ by experience in being brought to God through Christ, which is true conversion.
The hope grown from that experience does not make ashamed and does not put to shame, because the love of God is poured out in the heart by the Holy Spirit who is given to believers. That love is proved and grounded in Christ dying in due time for the powerless, for the ungodly, for sinners while still sinners and while still enemies. From that death comes justification by His blood, salvation from wrath, reconciliation by His death, salvation by His life, and joy in God through receiving the atonement. It rests on justification freely by grace through redemption, on propitiation through faith in His blood, on the ransom paid by Jesus, on reconciliation by the death of His Son, and on reconciliation and salvation through Christ dying for the ungodly, sinners and enemies.
Romans 5:1-11 as a whole sets forth the love of God. Romans 4 and 5 together show God so loving the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that Christ in His humanity might grasp divinity, and that human nature through faith is able to grasp the divine nature, having overcome.
Purpose in Trials
Tribulation for followers of Christ is plainly foretold and belongs to moral discipline and all-round spiritual education, and no pure noble character is formed without disappointment and self-denial, so it is not to be counted strange to be tempted by the enemy. God with purpose leads through strait places and permits trials and conflicts to prove faith and courage and to perfect Christian character unto eternal life, working in a mysterious way to perform His wonders through them. Lessons learned from Him bring help in due time, and trying hindrances permitted to prove His workers become a blessing to those who refuse to lose hold of the work, with opportunity given to redeem the past. When fully proved He brings them forth refined as gold tried in the fire, with the love of God spread abroad in the hearts by the Holy Spirit given. Sincere prayers offered in loneliness, weariness and trial are answered not always as expected but for good, giving what builds character rather than what was asked in ignorance of self, lessening confidence in self and increasing confidence in others He is leading. Each one must bear the burdens meant for him, and human wisdom must not intervene to shoulder them for him and leave no room for God to work for him personally. Heavy trials such as opposition, bereavement and affliction become valuable experience through patience, faith and hope, for Jesus passed through the same trials, and enduring them in all the changing scenes of life forms character for everlasting life with advantages not confined to this short life but reaching into eternal ages, because everything works together for good to those that love God.
Every scene of life where a part must be acted is part of education, requiring solid timbers in character building for both this life and eternal life, and as the close of this earth's history nears Christian growth moves more rapidly toward advance or decided retrogression. Trials well borne develop steadfastness of character and precious spiritual graces and strengthen the spiritual life, and through conflict believers are brought into the audience-chamber of the Most High to seek counsel of One infinite in wisdom. They bring the peaceable fruits of righteousness, with patience formed through trouble producing tested proven character and that experience giving rise to hope. Tribulation produces faith, patience, forbearance, heavenly-mindedness and increasing trust in providence, and the perfect fruit of faith, meekness and love often matures best amid storm-clouds and darkness. These virtues seldom grow in prosperity and sunshine but blossom and mature amid darkness, storm and tempest, like a lone forest tree standing against fierce wind that strikes its roots deep and spreads its branches and grows stronger and more beautiful for withstanding the gale. The believer deprived of sympathy and human support is thus driven to hope in God alone, reaching up in supplication and hanging the helpless soul upon the Redeemer, and heaven sends just the help needed.
The chain that begins with glorying in tribulations advances through patience to experience to hope as part of advance in grace, and godliness is its very outgrowth. This advance grace has the spirit and likeness of the character of Jesus Christ, forming a character like His. Such growth is the one end of all God's dealings and of the whole plan of salvation, to raise people to His divine ideal by His Spirit striving with them, drawing them away from corruption within and around, giving living connection with God and multiplied grace step by step, leaving the guilt of the past life behind and climbing by Christ to the Father above with higher, holier ambitions.
Trials are meant to work patience, experience and hope and to teach valuable lessons that strengthen faith, confirming believers as God's children and strengthening hope through God's love poured into the heart by the Holy Spirit. They need not lead to discouragement, fretfulness or murmuring. Unbelief separates from God so that trials instead cultivate faultfinding, censuring and accusing of the brethren.
Character of Hope
The hope is rejoicing in the glory of God, a confident and steadfast expectation that remains firm under adversity rather than wavering when circumstances become difficult. It belongs to the life of one justified by faith, who has peace with God through Jesus Christ and access by faith into the grace wherein he stands, rejoicing in hope of the glory of God and even glorying in tribulations because tribulation works patience, patience works experience, and experience works hope. Suffering develops patient endurance, patient endurance develops tested and proven character, and tested character develops this hope. That hope does not make ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit given to believers, proved in Christ dying in due time for the powerless, the ungodly, sinners and enemies, bringing justification by His blood, salvation from wrath, reconciliation by His death, salvation by His life, and joy in God through receiving the atonement. It does not rest on feeling but walks by faith and not by sight, believing that God forgives confessed sin and trusting surrender to God and Christ's grace and compassion whether feeling is present or not. It is not to fly into impatience or speak harsh, unkind words that show the attributes of Satan when feeling is not as desired, for life is lived in view of heavenly intelligences and to deny God in any way grieves His heart, while the marks of crucifixion in Christ's hands show His people graven on His palms. It is to be striven for with all God-given powers and energies by beholding Jesus, for by beholding comes change.
This hope brings a sense of security because the righteousness of Christ freely given to all who believe becomes personal righteousness, with peace, courage, assurance of the love of God, and a sweet sense of forgiveness as the Holy Spirit brings the promises of Christ to remembrance. It is a joyful testimony spoken when eyes are fixed on the Saviour and trust is placed in His power, making the heart sound forth praise and gratitude to the Redeemer sent by God to take away the sin of the world. Believers therefore glory in tribulation and have joy in Christ because God commended His love toward them in that while they were yet sinners Christ died for them. That hope and joy become full as they continue in Christ's love by keeping His commandments and bearing much fruit to glorify the Father, walking in the light as Christ is in the light. When Satan casts darkness across the path they do not look at it or speak doubt but cleave through the shadow by faith and take hold of Jesus, being changed into His image by beholding Him and speaking faith because Christ has purchased and redeemed them and made them free. Being a sinner is the reason to pray and come to Christ as Saviour for repentance, laying hold of His infinite sacrifice and committing the soul to Him as a faithful Redeemer to keep until that day. Souls in ignorance of this precious light are hungry and starving without courage and hope, but when they hear of the love of God they see its preciousness and long for peace and assurance, and the full, abundant blessing is for each one personally who believes.
Faith and patience and hope gain the richest experience. That experience makes believers a light to the world, so that others seeing their good works glorify the Father in heaven. It leads to the kingdom of glory, with faces illuminated with the glory of God and shining with the image of Jesus reflected in believers. Then all sorrows are ended and believers are free indeed, with no more sorrow and sin, but joy, eternal joy, through the eternal ages. Assurance that God hears prayer brings cheerfulness in tribulation and lifts believers above despondency through God's quickening power, helping them stand trials as Christ endured.
Living Out Progression
Laborers in God's work need not faint or despair under hardship, for endurance through tribulation forms tested character and that tested experience leads to hope. Trials can form a strengthening experience that leads to hope rather than discouragement, describing a genuine faith that remains steadfast under adversity and looks forward with confidence rather than wavering when circumstances become difficult. Difficulties met with determination become blessings, for God uses them to strengthen resolve, build strength and self-reliance, bring victories over self, and call for trust and firmness in conflict and perplexity, while avoiding responsibility prevents the growth that experience brings.
Trying hindrances are permitted to prove faith and courage and to refine workers like gold tried by fire, and they become a blessing to those who refuse to lose hold of the work. Opportunity is given to redeem the past, and lessons well learned always bring help in due time, with the love of God spread abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit given. Christian experience advances stage by stage as believers face difficulty and perplexity, learn Christ's will and way, and exercise faith through prayer until faith increases.
Those who have learned to know Christ by experience in being brought to God through Him must deal tenderly with striving souls, helping the needy in love and tenderness, bearing one another's woes, and praying to help one another. From the Scriptures they are to help the young to seek earnestly for a deeper experience and to know Christ as peace, joy, strength, shield, Guide and Counsellor, the source of all comfort, all and in all. Such faith, patience and hope gain the richest experience that makes believers a light to the world, leads to the kingdom of glory with faces reflecting Jesus, and ends all sorrow and sin in eternal joy.
Living this progression means walking by faith and not by sight, believing confessed sin is forgiven whether feeling is present or not, surrendering to God and trusting Christ's grace and compassion. It means beholding Jesus for transforming change into His image, not flying into impatience or speaking harsh, unkind words when feeling is not as desired. When darkness is cast across the path, believers do not look at it or speak doubt but cleave through the shadow by faith and take hold of Jesus, speaking faith because they have been purchased, redeemed and made free. It means turning from managing matters by self to becoming spiritually minded, drawn closer to Christ, throwing self on His clemency, rising in noble purpose to honor God, redeeming the past in His strength, and continuing in His love by keeping His commandments and bearing much fruit to glorify the Father.
Heavy trials such as opposition, bereavement and affliction become valuable experience through patience, faith and hope, for Jesus passed through the same trials. Enduring them forms solid character for everlasting life, with advantages not confined to this short life but reaching into eternal ages, since everything works together for good to those who love God. Trials and difficulties come under the eye of God and leave believers in a more favorable position, leading them into right relationship with Him with minds centered on great privileges through Christ Jesus. Patience under trial produces experience that perfects Christian character, so trials must not be met with complaining, and this perfecting work fits believers through Christ's righteousness to enjoy His presence in the heavenly kingdom after earthly work is ended. Every encounter with difficulty and every blast of adversity makes a person abler and more efficient, for trials are chosen instruments and methods of discipline and appointed conditions of success and victory, while shunning toil and making provision for self-indulgence brings no happiness, success, strength, will or power of endurance.
The testimony to which this progression belongs must be sounded throughout the length and breadth of the world, presenting law and gospel bound together in a perfect whole. Its words will be impressed on every open, contrite heart to give light and understanding, leading to receiving Christ to purpose, appropriating God's richest gifts, and giving to others from His fullness.
Patience develops proven character, and proven character develops hope. Patience here is endurance shaped by bearing tribulation, trouble and suffering, and experience is tested and proven Christian character. This growth belongs to those justified by faith, who have peace with God through Jesus Christ, stand in grace, rejoice in hope of the glory of God, and even glory in tribulations. That hope does not put to shame because the love of God is poured out in the heart by the Holy Spirit, grounded in Christ dying for the powerless, ungodly, sinners and enemies to justify by His blood, save from wrath, reconcile by His death, and save by His life. Trials are God's appointed discipline to prove faith, refine character like gold, and mature steadfastness, righteousness and spiritual life, so that hope becomes confident rejoicing in God's glory that walks by faith and not by feeling.
Words and Progression
Romans 5:4 gives a two-link progression in which patience produces experience and experience produces hope. Tribulation works patience, patience works onward into experience, and experience works onward into hope, forming the middle link between glorying in tribulations and a hope that does not make ashamed. Enduring trial forms proven character and proven character forms hope, so that patience produced by tribulation develops into Christian experience and this experience gives rise to hope. This progression belongs to those justified by faith who have peace with God through Jesus Christ, access by faith into the grace wherein they stand, rejoicing in hope of the glory of God, and even glorying in tribulations.
It is a joyful testimony spoken when eyes are fixed on the Saviour and trust is placed in His power, bringing a sense of security because the righteousness of Christ becomes personal righteousness, with peace and a sweet sense of forgiveness given as the Holy Spirit brings the promises of Christ to remembrance, making the heart sound forth praise and gratitude to the Redeemer sent to take away the sin of the world. The hope does not make ashamed or put to shame because the love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit given to believers, set within reconciliation and salvation through Christ dying for the ungodly, sinners and enemies. Those connected with Christ as living stones resting on Him as the chief cornerstone receive support from that foundation and merit from Him to serve God acceptably, so they can glory in tribulation knowing it works this progression, sing of His mercy and tell of His power. This hope is part of the true experience that begins with justification by faith and rests on God's love poured into the heart through the Holy Ghost.
Patience in the verse is patient endurance formed by enduring tribulation, trouble and suffering, and experience in the verse is tested and proven Christian character. Suffering develops patient endurance, patient endurance develops tested character, and tested character develops hope, describing the genuine faith that can remain steadfast under adversity and look forward with confidence rather than waver when circumstances become difficult. Endurance through tribulation forms tested character and this tested experience leads to hope, so that hardships need not make laborers faint or despair because tribulation can produce this growth and strengthen their hope. Patience formed through trouble produces tested, proven character, and endurance develops proven character and proven character develops hope in a chain that begins with being made right with God by faith, which gives peace with God and entry by faith into grace and rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God, and continues in rejoicing even in hard times because hardship produces endurance.
This becomes real by taking Christ for oneself, with the risen Lord living as a quickening power in the life, and those who know they have such a risen Lord are to show it to the world, while God's lessons when learned bring help in due time and trials prove His workers and refine them like gold tested by fire. The hope is rejoicing in the glory of God, not resting on feeling, meaning not flying into impatience or speaking harsh, unkind words when feeling is not as desired, because life is lived in view of heavenly intelligences and the marks of crucifixion in Christ's hands show His people graven on His palms. This hope is to be striven for with all God-given powers and energies by beholding Jesus, for by beholding change comes.
Experience means learning to know Christ by experience in being brought to God through Christ, which is true conversion. It begins when a man honest in heart reads, marks, learns, and inwardly digests Bible truth and comes to God in prayer, sees Christ despised, rejected, wounded for transgressions, bruised for iniquities, and bearing the iniquity of all, is convicted and troubled under condemnation, receives light from the Spirit to see the meaning of the Word, and receives truth into the heart so it spreads through the inner man like blood from the heart through the body. Then thoughts and affections and powers are brought into obedience to Christ, with the heart submitted to Christ the whole being is perfected, and in that process patience works experience and experience works hope. Being justified by faith gives peace with God through Jesus Christ, access by faith into grace, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God, and even glorying in tribulations because tribulation works patience and patience works experience and experience works hope, and hope does not shame because the love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost given. Those who have this experience must deal tenderly with those striving for the crown of life, helping the soul in need in love and tenderness, bearing each other's woes, praying to help each other, and encouraging the young to seek earnestly for a deeper experience and helping them from the Scriptures to know Christ as peace, joy, strength, shield, Guide and Counsellor, the source of all comfort, all and in all.
Context of Justification
The chain of patience forming proven character and proven character forming hope belongs only to those made right with God by faith, who have peace with God through Jesus Christ, access by faith into the grace in which they stand, rejoicing in hope of the glory of God, and even glorying in tribulations because tribulation works patience. It is spoken as joyful testimony when eyes are fixed on the Saviour and trust rests in His power, bringing a sense of security as the righteousness of Christ becomes personal righteousness, with peace and a sweet sense of forgiveness as the Holy Spirit brings the promises of Christ to remembrance until the heart sounds forth praise and gratitude to the Redeemer sent to take away the sin of the world. It is the life of one justified by faith and not by feeling, calling for walking by faith and not by sight, believing confessed sin is forgiven whether feeling is present or not, surrendering to God and trusting Christ's grace and compassion. It belongs to freedom from bondage to sin and Satan and to mastery over self, will and ways, and to those joined to Christ as living stones resting on Him as chief cornerstone, receiving support from that foundation and merit from Him to serve God acceptably, to sing of His mercy and tell of His power. Experience here means learning to know Christ by experience in being brought to God through Christ, which is true conversion.
The hope grown from that experience does not make ashamed and does not put to shame, because the love of God is poured out in the heart by the Holy Spirit who is given to believers. That love is proved and grounded in Christ dying in due time for the powerless, for the ungodly, for sinners while still sinners and while still enemies. From that death comes justification by His blood, salvation from wrath, reconciliation by His death, salvation by His life, and joy in God through receiving the atonement. It rests on justification freely by grace through redemption, on propitiation through faith in His blood, on the ransom paid by Jesus, on reconciliation by the death of His Son, and on reconciliation and salvation through Christ dying for the ungodly, sinners and enemies.
Romans 5:1-11 as a whole sets forth the love of God. Romans 4 and 5 together show God so loving the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that Christ in His humanity might grasp divinity, and that human nature through faith is able to grasp the divine nature, having overcome.
Purpose in Trials
Tribulation for followers of Christ is plainly foretold and belongs to moral discipline and all-round spiritual education, and no pure noble character is formed without disappointment and self-denial, so it is not to be counted strange to be tempted by the enemy. God with purpose leads through strait places and permits trials and conflicts to prove faith and courage and to perfect Christian character unto eternal life, working in a mysterious way to perform His wonders through them. Lessons learned from Him bring help in due time, and trying hindrances permitted to prove His workers become a blessing to those who refuse to lose hold of the work, with opportunity given to redeem the past. When fully proved He brings them forth refined as gold tried in the fire, with the love of God spread abroad in the hearts by the Holy Spirit given. Sincere prayers offered in loneliness, weariness and trial are answered not always as expected but for good, giving what builds character rather than what was asked in ignorance of self, lessening confidence in self and increasing confidence in others He is leading. Each one must bear the burdens meant for him, and human wisdom must not intervene to shoulder them for him and leave no room for God to work for him personally. Heavy trials such as opposition, bereavement and affliction become valuable experience through patience, faith and hope, for Jesus passed through the same trials, and enduring them in all the changing scenes of life forms character for everlasting life with advantages not confined to this short life but reaching into eternal ages, because everything works together for good to those that love God.
Every scene of life where a part must be acted is part of education, requiring solid timbers in character building for both this life and eternal life, and as the close of this earth's history nears Christian growth moves more rapidly toward advance or decided retrogression. Trials well borne develop steadfastness of character and precious spiritual graces and strengthen the spiritual life, and through conflict believers are brought into the audience-chamber of the Most High to seek counsel of One infinite in wisdom. They bring the peaceable fruits of righteousness, with patience formed through trouble producing tested proven character and that experience giving rise to hope. Tribulation produces faith, patience, forbearance, heavenly-mindedness and increasing trust in providence, and the perfect fruit of faith, meekness and love often matures best amid storm-clouds and darkness. These virtues seldom grow in prosperity and sunshine but blossom and mature amid darkness, storm and tempest, like a lone forest tree standing against fierce wind that strikes its roots deep and spreads its branches and grows stronger and more beautiful for withstanding the gale. The believer deprived of sympathy and human support is thus driven to hope in God alone, reaching up in supplication and hanging the helpless soul upon the Redeemer, and heaven sends just the help needed.
The chain that begins with glorying in tribulations advances through patience to experience to hope as part of advance in grace, and godliness is its very outgrowth. This advance grace has the spirit and likeness of the character of Jesus Christ, forming a character like His. Such growth is the one end of all God's dealings and of the whole plan of salvation, to raise people to His divine ideal by His Spirit striving with them, drawing them away from corruption within and around, giving living connection with God and multiplied grace step by step, leaving the guilt of the past life behind and climbing by Christ to the Father above with higher, holier ambitions.
Trials are meant to work patience, experience and hope and to teach valuable lessons that strengthen faith, confirming believers as God's children and strengthening hope through God's love poured into the heart by the Holy Spirit. They need not lead to discouragement, fretfulness or murmuring. Unbelief separates from God so that trials instead cultivate faultfinding, censuring and accusing of the brethren.
Character of Hope
The hope is rejoicing in the glory of God, a confident and steadfast expectation that remains firm under adversity rather than wavering when circumstances become difficult. It belongs to the life of one justified by faith, who has peace with God through Jesus Christ and access by faith into the grace wherein he stands, rejoicing in hope of the glory of God and even glorying in tribulations because tribulation works patience, patience works experience, and experience works hope. Suffering develops patient endurance, patient endurance develops tested and proven character, and tested character develops this hope. That hope does not make ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit given to believers, proved in Christ dying in due time for the powerless, the ungodly, sinners and enemies, bringing justification by His blood, salvation from wrath, reconciliation by His death, salvation by His life, and joy in God through receiving the atonement. It does not rest on feeling but walks by faith and not by sight, believing that God forgives confessed sin and trusting surrender to God and Christ's grace and compassion whether feeling is present or not. It is not to fly into impatience or speak harsh, unkind words that show the attributes of Satan when feeling is not as desired, for life is lived in view of heavenly intelligences and to deny God in any way grieves His heart, while the marks of crucifixion in Christ's hands show His people graven on His palms. It is to be striven for with all God-given powers and energies by beholding Jesus, for by beholding comes change.
This hope brings a sense of security because the righteousness of Christ freely given to all who believe becomes personal righteousness, with peace, courage, assurance of the love of God, and a sweet sense of forgiveness as the Holy Spirit brings the promises of Christ to remembrance. It is a joyful testimony spoken when eyes are fixed on the Saviour and trust is placed in His power, making the heart sound forth praise and gratitude to the Redeemer sent by God to take away the sin of the world. Believers therefore glory in tribulation and have joy in Christ because God commended His love toward them in that while they were yet sinners Christ died for them. That hope and joy become full as they continue in Christ's love by keeping His commandments and bearing much fruit to glorify the Father, walking in the light as Christ is in the light. When Satan casts darkness across the path they do not look at it or speak doubt but cleave through the shadow by faith and take hold of Jesus, being changed into His image by beholding Him and speaking faith because Christ has purchased and redeemed them and made them free. Being a sinner is the reason to pray and come to Christ as Saviour for repentance, laying hold of His infinite sacrifice and committing the soul to Him as a faithful Redeemer to keep until that day. Souls in ignorance of this precious light are hungry and starving without courage and hope, but when they hear of the love of God they see its preciousness and long for peace and assurance, and the full, abundant blessing is for each one personally who believes.
Faith and patience and hope gain the richest experience. That experience makes believers a light to the world, so that others seeing their good works glorify the Father in heaven. It leads to the kingdom of glory, with faces illuminated with the glory of God and shining with the image of Jesus reflected in believers. Then all sorrows are ended and believers are free indeed, with no more sorrow and sin, but joy, eternal joy, through the eternal ages. Assurance that God hears prayer brings cheerfulness in tribulation and lifts believers above despondency through God's quickening power, helping them stand trials as Christ endured.
Living Out Progression
Laborers in God's work need not faint or despair under hardship, for endurance through tribulation forms tested character and that tested experience leads to hope. Trials can form a strengthening experience that leads to hope rather than discouragement, describing a genuine faith that remains steadfast under adversity and looks forward with confidence rather than wavering when circumstances become difficult. Difficulties met with determination become blessings, for God uses them to strengthen resolve, build strength and self-reliance, bring victories over self, and call for trust and firmness in conflict and perplexity, while avoiding responsibility prevents the growth that experience brings.
Trying hindrances are permitted to prove faith and courage and to refine workers like gold tried by fire, and they become a blessing to those who refuse to lose hold of the work. Opportunity is given to redeem the past, and lessons well learned always bring help in due time, with the love of God spread abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit given. Christian experience advances stage by stage as believers face difficulty and perplexity, learn Christ's will and way, and exercise faith through prayer until faith increases.
Those who have learned to know Christ by experience in being brought to God through Him must deal tenderly with striving souls, helping the needy in love and tenderness, bearing one another's woes, and praying to help one another. From the Scriptures they are to help the young to seek earnestly for a deeper experience and to know Christ as peace, joy, strength, shield, Guide and Counsellor, the source of all comfort, all and in all. Such faith, patience and hope gain the richest experience that makes believers a light to the world, leads to the kingdom of glory with faces reflecting Jesus, and ends all sorrow and sin in eternal joy.
Living this progression means walking by faith and not by sight, believing confessed sin is forgiven whether feeling is present or not, surrendering to God and trusting Christ's grace and compassion. It means beholding Jesus for transforming change into His image, not flying into impatience or speaking harsh, unkind words when feeling is not as desired. When darkness is cast across the path, believers do not look at it or speak doubt but cleave through the shadow by faith and take hold of Jesus, speaking faith because they have been purchased, redeemed and made free. It means turning from managing matters by self to becoming spiritually minded, drawn closer to Christ, throwing self on His clemency, rising in noble purpose to honor God, redeeming the past in His strength, and continuing in His love by keeping His commandments and bearing much fruit to glorify the Father.
Heavy trials such as opposition, bereavement and affliction become valuable experience through patience, faith and hope, for Jesus passed through the same trials. Enduring them forms solid character for everlasting life, with advantages not confined to this short life but reaching into eternal ages, since everything works together for good to those who love God. Trials and difficulties come under the eye of God and leave believers in a more favorable position, leading them into right relationship with Him with minds centered on great privileges through Christ Jesus. Patience under trial produces experience that perfects Christian character, so trials must not be met with complaining, and this perfecting work fits believers through Christ's righteousness to enjoy His presence in the heavenly kingdom after earthly work is ended. Every encounter with difficulty and every blast of adversity makes a person abler and more efficient, for trials are chosen instruments and methods of discipline and appointed conditions of success and victory, while shunning toil and making provision for self-indulgence brings no happiness, success, strength, will or power of endurance.
The testimony to which this progression belongs must be sounded throughout the length and breadth of the world, presenting law and gospel bound together in a perfect whole. Its words will be impressed on every open, contrite heart to give light and understanding, leading to receiving Christ to purpose, appropriating God's richest gifts, and giving to others from His fullness.