Thursday, April 18, 2013

Tribulation Perseverance


James 5:11 "We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.”

Our small group Bible Study continued to search the Scriptures and discuss the biblical issue of “suffering” in the life of the Christian. We saw that Christ’s response to suffering gave us an example to follow, entrusting ourselves to God who judges righteously. We cannot fathom the secret counsel of our heavenly Father or read the invisible hand of His providence to know the “why?” From the fall in the Garden onward, the Scriptures make it clear, the reason suffering, disease, and death exist in the world is sin. But, the examples of the man blind from birth in John 9:1-3 and of Job, makes it clear that we cannot particularize the general relationship between sin and suffering. We may suffer for God’s purposes, even for doing what is right to achieve those godly purposes. There was another reason for the man blind from birth and Job. And because there was another reason in their case, there might always be another reason for the afflictions God calls us to endure. Another logical fallacy of the false dilemma of suffer is to assume that anyone who has an affliction suffers in direct proportion to the sin that has been committed. The book of Job dashes that conclusion for the degrees of suffering. Though it may be difficult to understand, these trials are a gift from our gracious God, who uses suffering to purify us and prove us faithful. The Greek word "endurance" translated in James 5:11 (above) is “hupomone”. The same word is translated as perseverance in 2 Thessalonians 1:4. The word implies persevering in a trial, in difficult circumstances. It reflects a strength of character that does not allow a person to give in or to surrender to the trial or circumstance. God doesn’t keep us from trials; He may bring them to us, He uses them to refine us, and He definitely carries us through them.

James 1:2-4 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be (perfect) mature and complete, not lacking anything."

The Greek word translated as perfect in this passage means “mature, fully developed.” It does not imply perfection but indicates that you have attained your intended goal. The Greek work translated as “complete” here means “whole, having all its parts.” We know by the Word of God that all have sinned and need salvation, and that salvation is found only through faith in Jesus Christ. I’ve read that we are united to Christ by God’s justifying grace alone, through faith alone because of the atoning suffering and death of Christ alone. The nature of this union is not only that we are in Christ, but that Christ is in us. Jesus said in John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Jesus expressed the profound union He has with believers, saying in John 17:23: “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one.” And since we are united with Christ, we are united with His suffering and in His death, and therefore, we shall also be united with Him in His resurrection (Romans 6:5). Therefore, those who have been justified are declared righteous by their faith.

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 (exult) boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering (brings about) produces 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."

“Exult” means “to boast in regard to anything.” The preposition “in” is translated from the Greek word “en”, which means “remaining in place or resting in.” Rather than moving into or out of the situation, it indicates a total lack of motion. In other words, one is at rest, not attempting to get out of tribulation. The Greek word translated as “brings about” is “katergazomai”, which means “to carry out a task until it is finished.” In context, the phrase indicates completing a task, the result of which is to bring out something that is already present. Tribulation in the life of the believer brings out perseverance, because the grace to persevere comes from the inner strength God has given us. The Greek word for wisdom is “Sophia”, which means “divine wisdom” Wisdom refers to the ability of the believer to apply God’s perspective to issues in his or her life. Knowledge from above is found in the Word of God. Wisdom is the application of that knowledge.

James 3:13-18 "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness."

When we suffer, we must trust that God knows what He is doing, and that He works in and through the pain and afflictions of His people for His glory and for their sanctification. Testing in our lives refines our character and produces endurance. We may not always understand why we have to go through the trials and difficulties, but we can rest in the fact that God understands and promises that we will never be given more than we can bear. We can be certain that He is working out His purposes in our lives and using our experiences for the benefit of others. Our response to trials and difficulties should bring honor and glory to the Lord.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In God we trust,
In Christ, Brian

2 comments:

Ken said...

Hi Brian,
I sure do not like trials. I want everything easy going and smooth sailing. But that is not the way this life is. Jesus was quite clear when He said, "In this world you will have tribulation..." But He also encouraged us by instructing us to "be of good cheer because He has overcome the world."
Blessings,
Ken

Brian Ray Todd said...

I agree Ken. Nobody enjoys the pain of the "no pain, no gain", but that is not reality. The trials and tribulations of life are not be to ignored, but not our focus; the gain (the experience, the growing and the maturing) is following is. when a trial begins in my life, I've learned to step back a second and ask myself: "I wonder what I'm going to learn from this one." Thanks for writing.