Glorying in Tribulations

Sermon Outline:
Introduction
• Our View of Trials and Tribulations Determine Whether We Glory in Them or Fall into Despair under their Weight
• Frustration, Confusion, Rebellion, and Hopelessness OR “Glory in Tribulations” (v. 3a; James 1:2)
• Counter Intuitive to Our Natural Inclinations (1 Peter 1:6; Hebrews 12:11)
• Tribulations Bring out (Increases and Enhances) the Fruit of Perseverance, Character, and Hope – “No Pain/No Gain”
I. “Tribulation Produces Perseverance” – Patient Endurance (v. 3b)
• Humble Submission to God’s Will (Job 1:6-2:10)
• The True Believer Knows that He Belongs to God and Trusts in His Steadfastness for Good (Romans 8:28-30)
II. “Perseverance Produces Character” - Proven Character (v. 4a)
• Trials Test the Genuineness of Our Faith – Another Way of Speaking of Proven Character (1 Peter 1:7)
• The Evidence of Genuine Faith/Proven Character
• Steadfastness in Duty (Philippians 2:19-22)
• Steadfastness in Truth (James 5:11; Job 2:10)
III. “Character Produces Hope” (v. 4b-5)
• If Justified by Our Works, Tribulations will Produce a Hope that will Disappoint (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:19-20; Galatians 2:10; 3:10-11)
• A Hope that will not Disappoint (v. 5a)
o Because Justification Includes “the Restoration of Divine Favor” – L. Berkhof
o A Sure and Steadfast Hope Grounded in the Finished Work of Christ and Base upon the Promise of Salvation that Every True Believer Possesses
• The Assurance of Hope is the Love of God (v. 5)
Conclusion/Application
• For the True believer Tribulations will produce Perseverance, Character, and Hope & by the Grace of God, able to “Glory in Tribulation"