The Bible speaks of God being in charge of this world, of Him making Himself known, and of our lives and the entire universe being safe in His hands. This is not visible. However, those who are touched by God’s Word and Spirit, who trust the Bible, have recognized a larger context and discovered a relevance for their own lives.
Everything has a reason
Provided we follow the biblical narrative, everything has a reason. God is in charge. He makes Himself known to the people and communicates Himself. He works in the world and He works toward a goal.
This goal of God to be once “all in all” (1Cor 15,28) is the reason for His work in this world. It is also the reason for what we call “salvation”. God wants to reach the goal with everyone. He wants to reach the goal with this world. Everything is designed with this in mind. Everything is of Him, through Him, and to Him (Rom 11:36).
It is “through Him
The gospel, as Paul speaks of it in Romans, is not a communication “that God loves us,” as if that were merely a condition. Rather, it is the proclamation that God is working and we are included in that working. God is working toward His goal. His Son, Jesus Christ, is the means to this end. It happens “through Him.” This is how it is described. The word “son” in Hebrew is related to the word for “build”. It is through the son that the father builds his house and realizes the future.
Let’s read in Romans how Paul describes it:
“Justified therefore by faith, we may have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained entrance by faith into this grace wherein we stand, that we may glory in expectation of the glory of God.”
Rom 5:1-2
The peace we may have with God is “through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Likewise, it is also “through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.” Two things, then: first, we have peace because it was brought about through Him. Secondly, we now stand in this grace permanently because we receive this grace permanently through Him.
These are liberating words because it is not just a one-time experience, but also has ongoing consequences. It was given and is now permanently our reality. Because this is so, we may also look ahead. We no longer have to worry about the basics, the fundamental things, but may confidently assume and cultivate our expectation. As Paul continues, “so that we may boast in anticipation of the glory of God.”
It goes on. That’s terrific.
From the future to the present
In the next verses, the apostle pivots from the expectation of the future to the experience of the present. He writes:
“Not only so, but we may also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance, but perseverance brings about probation, and probation brings about expectation.”
Rom 5:3-4
Certainly Paul is referring here to tribulations that were known to the church in Rome. Perhaps, too, he includes his own tribulation. Exactly which tribulation is meant is not mentioned. However, there are several references to tribulation. It was not an easy time for the churches (Acts 8:1-3, Acts 9:1-2, 1 Timothy 1:12-13). Paul speaks of his own challenges and hardships (2 Cor. 11:23-28). We can, of course, take Drangsal as a general statement and interpret it in such a way that we also meet hardships of any kind today as positively as Paul does. That would then be a figurative application of the word that no longer necessarily has anything to do with the context.
What the apostle does here: he gives meaning to the current experience. He embeds the experience in something bigger. The tribulation is not only tribulation, but it causes something:
- Tribulation causes perseverance
- Perseverance causes probation
- Probation causes expectation.
Paul is not saying that we should choose tribulation in masochistic piety. It is not that every Christian has to suffer tribulation all the time. However, there can be. If that is the case, then he gains something good from the external pressure. We learn perseverance through this. Those who have learned to persevere prove themselves in the reality of life. Those who have learned probation thereby gain confidence and expectation.
“But expectation does not fail, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us.”
Rom 5:5
Expectation and the love of God
Expectation, Paul says, does not let us be put to shame. From the previous verses, it is clear that expectation grows as fruit through a process. Expectation is not just there. Expectation arises. If you want to gain confidence, take the first step, then the next.
All experiences, all perseverance, all probation lead to a confidence that can be supported by God’s promises. Then expectation arises. Expectation is always based on commitments.
“Expectation does not let you be put to shame.”
To be ashamed, or “to be put to shame.” Those who have expectation will not have to be ashamed. In another place Paul uses the same word and declares that he was not put to shame because the situation described was shown to be true (2 Cor. 7:14). Arguably, this is about practical reliability, honesty, in the context mentioned. So also here in the Epistle to the Romans, where Paul speaks of daily life. Why will you not have to be ashamed?
“Because the love of God is poured out in our hearts.”
Now the love of God is not a consequence of probation, but that was already “poured out in our hearts.” It is about two things: the expectation on the one hand, and the love of God on the other. They belong together. Both are gift. Both change our perception in the here and now. They are transformative experiences that fill our lives and often give us new direction. But how did we receive this love of God?
“By the Holy Spirit given to us.”
As in the verses before, there is a reason that we are experiencing this. It is “through” the Holy Spirit given to us.” Not “by the Holy Spirit earned through us”, but by the Holy Spirit ” given tous”. They are gifts. Expectation is the fruit of trust, of perseverance, of probation. All these things are given as gifts. This is a view, an understanding of this world from the perspective of faith. But it is also an experience that can only happen like this in everyday life.
When Paul says “Expectation does not let us be put to shame”, he is speaking out of his experience, which he also writes to the church in Rome in this way. Is it a difficult time right now? Then realize this, that tribulation causes perseverance and perseverance causes probation. Probation causes expectation, and this does not let us be put to shame, because we may already experience God’s love.
This is like a foretaste of His final destination.
