Romans 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: The Greek word used for experience here is DOKIME, and it means approved character; the quality of being approved as a result of test and trials (Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament by Fritz Rienecker). Sanday and Headlam also defined this word in this verse as the temper of the veteran as opposed to that of the raw recruit. Therefore, this verse is speaking of the character that is produced as a result of having fought battles and won. Hope by itself will never give people victory. Many people have hoped for things and yet have never realized those hopes because they never moved into faith. Faith is the victory that causes people to overcome the world (1Jo 5:4), yet faith wont work without hope. Just as a thermostat activates the power unit on an air conditioner, so hope is what activates our faith. Faith only produces what we hope for (Heb 11:1). Therefore, hope is the first step toward faith. The word hope means a desire accompanied by confident expectation (American Heritage Dictionary), so desiring the things of God with some expectation of obtaining them is the first step in walking in faith. Once this hope is present, then faith begins to bring the desired thing into manifestation. If a delay is encountered, patience completes the work (Ro 5:3). In context, Paul was saying that our experience worketh (Ro 5:3) hope. However, he also said in this same epistle (Ro 15:4) that hope comes through the Scriptures. Therefore, it is to be understood that the character that is developed through tribulations just adds to the hope that we have already received through Gods Word. Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Notice the terms that Paul used to describe us before the transformation of the new birth. We were weak (this verse), ungodly (this verse), sinners (Ro 5:8), and enemies (Ro 5:10). The Lord didnt save us because we deserved it; it was an act of grace. As great as this truth is, Paul didnt stop here. He continued on to make a comparison that if God loved us enough to die for us when we were weak, ungodly, sinners, and enemies, then much more now that we are justified (Ro 5:9) and reconciled (Ro 5:10), He is willing to save us in spite of our actions.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:42:14 +0000
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