No hope without character

I was in church on Sunday morning, listening to a sermon on Romans 5. In spite of having read it hundreds of times in my life, I was struck by my lack of understanding. Suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character and character produces hope (Rom 5:3-4). Why have I never thought about how those things fit into the context of Paul’s argument in this chapter?

Probably the main reason is that I’m used to reading this part of the Bible and preaching about the assurance of hope from the second half of the passage. If Christ died for us while we were sinners, how much more will we be saved from wrath by his life? The Christian hope is certain because of what Christ has done.

But when you read that suffering leads to endurance, which leads to character, which leads to hope, then you’re left with a question: what produces hope? The death of Jesus or the character of God’s people? According to the passage, it’s the character of God’s people.

I’m not suggesting that Jesus’ death is unimportant; it’s vital. Hope is certain because of the death of Jesus. But I am suggesting that it’s not the only piece of the puzzle. For Paul, there’s another part of the equation: the word for ‘character’ is a word that means ‘tested’ or ‘proven’. As I read the New Testament, I am struck by the fact that those who persevere through suffering are those whose faith is proven. It becomes clear to all that they belong to Jesus.

That’s what Paul says of the Thessalonians (1 Thess 1): the gospel came to them “in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction”. How does he know? Because they imitated the apostles in suffering for the gospel (1 Thess 1:4-7). They turned from their idols to serve the living and true God and, as a result, so annoyed everyone else that they suffered. Likewise the Philippians (Phil 1:27-30).

It’s why, I think, Paul can say in Philippians 3 that he knows that the only righteousness that is worth having is Jesus’ righteousness. Therefore, he strives with everything he has to be found in Christ and to become like Christ in his death (Phil 3:8-11).

Whether we like or not, there will always be clear evidence that a person’s life has been joined to Jesus by the work of God’s Spirit. If, by the Spirit of God, we put to death the deeds of the body, we display that we are sons of God (Rom 8:12-14).

Which brings us back to Romans 5. Godly endurance in the face of suffering displays a person’s character; it shows that they belong to Jesus. And if you belong to Jesus, then God’s hope is absolutely certain, because Jesus has died to save you and God’s wrath holds no terror.

The implications of all of this are too many and too complex to begin delving into here. That’s why this is the first of a series of posts exploring the work of the Spirit, the place of suffering, the nature of assurance and the nature of evangelism. I reckon that’ll give us enough to think about for a while to come.