Paul gives THREE REASONS TO BOAST in Romans 5.
V2 – Boast in Future Glory;
V3 – Boast in Present Pressures -Understanding what God is doing;
V11 – Boast in God Himself!
The word “Exult, Rejoice, or Boast.” It means literally, “to Boast or Glory in.” It has the idea of both confidence and joy in it, to be “Joyfully confident” is one way to say it!
We Exult In Our Tribulations;
“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.”- {v 3-5}. The word “knowing” means “to be fully aware.” God wants us to be fully aware what He is doing in these tribulations,times of sufferings. The word “tribulations,” speak of “those things that cause you distress.” And out of these times of great pressure, He wants us to know He is “producing” somethings in our life, namely, “perseverance, proven character, hope that does not disappoint.” Persevering, persistently going forward triumphant, through the storms of life, doing what is right. “Proven character.” The word “proven” was used of metal steel that was put through intense heat, that was regulated and watched over to produce something specific! The strengthening of the metal. So God is strengthening your faith, shaping your character. “Hope,” the word is not as we often use it as in “I hope so” more of a wish rather than a certainty. But Scriptural hope speaks of certainty, “confident expectation!” And this “hope” does not disappoint us or shame us. Why not? Because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was gifted to us!. While none of us like pressures, sufferings, tribulations yet even in these we find reason to exult, boast in Joyful confidence because we are not ignorant concerning what is happening but are informed through His Word!
You Have Reason to Be Joyfully Confident as you…
CONSIDER Your Present Understanding of What GOD is “producing” through your sufferings…
CONSIDER GOD! He is the One who is reason for you to have confidence and delight in and He is the One who gives you the Holy Spirit and His Word to produce that confidence and delight in!
“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord…“-{Jeremiah 9;23-24}.