Lesson 7, May 16
The finished course that is the
Fruit, the production is seen next.
"that you may be perfect and complete"
The purpose for testing of one's
faith; 2 things are indicated here:
#1 -
The necessity of patient endurance finishing its course.
#2 -
The importance of hanging in there during the many varied tests of life
and in the midst of them producing divine good.
"in order that you may be complete (finish your course) and whole" (sp. well
balanced)
The wholeness of the believer is the
state or condition where your in the position that God can pour the greatest
blessing, it’s
the place of the capacity for the greatest service for God and it’s the place
where you can have the greatest impact on those around you.
lacking in nothing
God works in us as believers through
the CHP's, the
tests of life to build character, to mold us into the person he wants us to be,
we must remember that God cannot work in us without our consent.
** EXHORTATION **
If then we have available all the
necessary provisions for this maturation process, to be whole and complete so
that we are lacking nothing,
then the logical conclusion is that we should be able to endure
the trials, the CHP's that we are facing because God
has fully equipped us to persevere while under pressure by means of faith, the
doctrine believed that is applied.
Summary 1:4
1. Patient endurance
itself is not the goal, end objective, but a part of the process of reaching
the goal, the objective in life that God desires for us. 1
Tim 2:4 maturation!
2. The believer who
handles the tests of life is producing divine good, an eternal weight of glory 2 Cor
3. As we orient to many different types of tests and chp's
we become well balanced believers with the capacity to live life and have an
impact for Jesus Christ.
- James wants us to
face these tests, patiently enduring them and to realize the great benefits
that they will bring us: spiritual advance, maturation, completeness/wholeness;
a spiritually well-balanced believer
Romans 5:3-4
Importance of patience in going from salvation to glory
Rom 5:3 And not only this, -> refers back to what he had
just covered in vs:1-2;
What Paul gives us in this context
are 5 links in a chain that takes us from ph-1 to ph-3
#1 - Faith: Saving faith; Phase-1;
#2 - Peace: Reconciliation; the barrier between God and man is
removed
#3 - Access: Right to enter the Holy of Holies, Because of
imputed +R and resultant
#4 - Grace: in Phase 2; Grace in which we stand in time; provision for C/A Saints;
vs:3-4
Paul amplifies this forming a 2nd chain detailing the process
of going from salvation PH-1 to glory
Phase-3.
#5 - Hope: Expectant confidence that we can have in time
related to our inheritance in eternity.
but we also exult in
our tribulations,
- These CHP'S have
benefit - profit for
the believer now and in eternity when rightly oriented to.
knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
5:4 and
perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
The production of patient endurance
- 2 things
#1 proven character - dokimh, - from the word group which
correctly emphasizes that the test faced was passed; and the individual is found approved; or stands approved
#2 hope; evlpi,j > confident expectation;
5:5 adds and hope (same elpis
just referred to) does not disappoint;
This is true because this hope is
based on the essence and character of God and His faithful provision - Grace -
not on who and what we are.
Summary of Romans 5:3-4
1. Must learn very quickly as believers that
between salvation and glory there are going to be tribulations!!
- REM: your in the
midst of a spiritual conflict (INNER the battle for rulership of the soul, the
influence of your thinking and EXTERNAL pressure from many sources; which will
increase as we the fast approach the end of the C/A.
2. The sin nature tends to rejoice in overt
blessing but NOT in suffering and tests.
3. Only those believers who are plus DVPT,
having BD forming their frame of reference and use it are able to exalt in
their CHP'S - tribulations; to have and know the reality of a mental attitude
of joy in the middle of the test.
4. When we face that test (O/A) head on and
apply truth we will develop patient endurance and build proven character.
5. Patient endurance here indicates having a
relaxed mental attitude under pressure and having confidence respecting your
niche, the place where God has put you.
6. When you adjust to where God wants you to be,
utilizing the discernment gained from the Word, and you hang in there,
regardless of the CHP'S and the human viewpoint advice that says quit, move on,
you develop this Christian character, proven character.
7. This proven
character manifests itself by the absence of complaining, nagging, hitting the
panic button, and the absence of a frantic search for happiness.
8. Our entire history from salvation to
maturation is a daily challenge to field the common human problems that will
come, the results of which being tallied by God
and is parlayed into your hope, your eternal reward.
9. This hope is only realized when your faith,
the truth in you, your resident BD is tested and the result - this hope will
never disappoint, or put you to shame now or at the JSC.