“We also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not put to shame, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:3-5). 

What do I mean by Forever War? There is little denying life is full of conflict. A few years back walking along the Capital Mall in Washington DC, I noticed the number of war memorials, it was striking. Recently I learned about precolonial period on the American continent, it too was striking. Strife and wars occurred constantly over the centuries. Modern history is littered with clashes and dissentions. Looking to the Bible, what do you find, aggression and battles, even ancient extra-biblical historical records tell of strife and many wars.

The most significant war though, is between man and his Creator. In fact, all other wars and discords are a result of this one. Man fights God, therefore, man fights each other. A broken relationship with the Creator, results in broken relations in creation. And we should realize, this all began in the garden. One sin plunged all creation into the dark hole of war.

However, Jesus Christ and faith in Him brings peace. The root conflict came to an end. He made right what was wrong. “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10). The forever war is over. Jesus won that war, the one between the creature and their Creator. So now we may have peace. But, exactly what does this mean, does this mean a life free of conflict?

Do Troubles Stop?

Every Christian, those people who have repented of sin and turned in faith to Jesus, will be quick to testify that troubles do not suddenly stop. Most Christians experience large douses of external difficulties, protracted trials, discords that seem to be around every corner. Nevertheless, these are ancillary to the main battle. The primary battle is internal, one of the heart. Romans 7:13-25 provides a concise explanation to this conflict that every Christian endures. A fact that should never be forgotten. Such difficulties will continue for the rest of our lives.

Certainly this raises the question, why? Since the Christian is “reconciled to God” and now has “peace with God” as clearly pointed out in Romans 5:1, then why the trouble? Why do the battles and the struggles continue? How is it, the Christian is admonished to rejoice in these tribulations, according to James 1:2?

What Is The Point?

Thankfully, when reading Romans 5 we are not left hanging and wondering what is the point of the pain. These “afflictions” have a purpose, to produces hope. “Knowing that affliction brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hopes” (Romans 5:3-4). The trials then, are meant to mature, to establish and confirm character. Notice the word order, the antecedent of hope is afflictions. This is good news, “Because the love of God has been poured out” (Romans 5:5a). Herein lies the comfort, the knowledge that all of life’s afflictions have a purpose. In other words, there is a reason behind afflictions. "Love" is the reason.

The Losers

By contrast, those outside of Christ have no hope. The trials, the tragedies, all the injustices and strife, the internal pains are merely part of a cruel and unforgiving life all are forced to live. There is no purpose or reason for the ill that surrounds them - that defines hopelessness. For Christless people, this truly is a forever war from which there is no escape. Life invariably moves from one hopeless conflict, to another. Here it must be pointed out, those who have rejected Christ, they chose the losing side. They will learn that they are the enemies, they will be conquered and this will lead to forever punishment.

Comparison

Compare to those in Christ, for them the love of God is a wellspring of hope, and is directly put into the Christians heart (Romans 5:5). As written in my previous post Peace With God, there has been a restoration. For those who have believed and put their faith in Jesus Christ, the war is truly over. The Princeton theologian Charles Hodge aptly puts it: “Since our relationship to God is changed, the relationship of all things to us is changed” (The Crossway Classic Commentaries, Romans 5).

A changed relationship is were joy is found. We did not restore or fix our relationship with God. He fixed our relationship with Him, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). In weakness, while ungodly (meaning sinful), “Christ died” for those who turned from their ungodliness to Him in faith. This is the beginning of love poured out and continues everyday thereafter.

The Purpose

For the Christian, those who have turned away from sin, for that person all things in life have changed. All of life and living now has purpose. The highs and the lows, the ebbs and flows are by design. Therefore, we can “boast in our afflictions” (Romans 5:3a). The ESV Bible translation uses the word “rejoice.” Notice what the Psalmist wrote, “I will rejoice in Your salvation” (Psalms 9:14b). This is the same joy! This sense of gladness is a direct result of living a life full of meaning and purpose. This is from our loving God by which we can rejoice in our salvation and our afflictions.

Everything then has a purpose. God brought us into peace with Himself, so we may “obtained” or gained access “by faith into this grace” (Romans 5:2). The entirety of Romans 5:6-11 explains how our God accomplished this. Now all of life, even afflictions, have purpose. The Christian knows, affliction produces perseverance, such perseverance proves character. This means (don’t miss this point), God is graciously at work in each individual to produce hope.

In other words, it is all about love: “hope does not put to shame, because the love of God” (Romans 5:5a). God’s loving purpose toward Christians produces hope and this hope is with the knowledge, that soon “He will WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain” (Revelation 21:4). When we as Christians lay hold of this truth, how can we not help but “rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2)!

From War To Peace and Joy

It all begins with Yahweh our God, who “demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God ended the war. God brought us peace, peace with a purpose, because of what He did through Jesus Christ, we now can have joy. Even joyful hope through the afflictions. Every person alive, wants and needs purpose and hope, but only by faith in Jesus Christ will that ever be realized.