"Character Develops through suffering"
Romans 5:1-11
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Christ came and dies according to God's purpose. This is just what man needed! We can understand the wonder of God's love better when we compare what He did with what we do. When a person sacrifices his life for another, it becomes headline news. Soldiers in battle provide fine examples of self-sacrifice. When I was a solider in the 3rd Infantry friend said something to a soldier about losing a leg, his relpy was, "I didn't lose my leg, I gave it." So we as Christians do not lose anything when we accept Jesus Christ; we gladly give ourselves in His service! I hear non Christians say all the time, "I don't want to become a christian because I have to 'give up something' when that is simply not the case.
Paul had experienced physical suffering almost beyond endurance, he was willing to accept death if it would help to bring fellow men and women to Christ. It is the love of God in our hearts that helps us to grow.
In spite of all our trials and tribulations, we have the peace which passes all understanding- not just contentment, but a stong inner security that only comes from God. As Paul writes in Romans 8:28. "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God." What a comfort to every Christian!
Romans 5:1-11
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Christ came and dies according to God's purpose. This is just what man needed! We can understand the wonder of God's love better when we compare what He did with what we do. When a person sacrifices his life for another, it becomes headline news. Soldiers in battle provide fine examples of self-sacrifice. When I was a solider in the 3rd Infantry friend said something to a soldier about losing a leg, his relpy was, "I didn't lose my leg, I gave it." So we as Christians do not lose anything when we accept Jesus Christ; we gladly give ourselves in His service! I hear non Christians say all the time, "I don't want to become a christian because I have to 'give up something' when that is simply not the case.
Paul had experienced physical suffering almost beyond endurance, he was willing to accept death if it would help to bring fellow men and women to Christ. It is the love of God in our hearts that helps us to grow.
In spite of all our trials and tribulations, we have the peace which passes all understanding- not just contentment, but a stong inner security that only comes from God. As Paul writes in Romans 8:28. "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God." What a comfort to every Christian!
posted by Pastor Scott Dennis at 1:32 PM
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