Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 5:3

"And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh stedfastness;" — Romans 5:3 (ASV)

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:

Present trials even become subjects for thanksgiving. Surely, they have lost their sting when patience accepts them, and faith rejoices in them.

Knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

The more trial you have the more spiritual education you receive. You cannot learn the virtue of patience without tribulation, any more than a man can learn to be a sailor if he stops on shore: Tribulation worketh patience;

And not only so,

There is for every child of God grace upon grace; every line of the apostle's writing tells of more blessing: And not only so. Is not that enough? Justified, enjoying peace, having access into grace, rejoicing in hope of the glory of God; what can there be more? Why, there is something on the road as well as at the end of it: And not only so,

But we glory in tribulations also:

We are not only acquiescent in the divine will; but, tutored by the Spirit of God, we come even to glory in tribulations also:.

Knowing that tribulation works patience;

Knowing. Paul was no agnostic; he was a knowing man, and all God's people ought to be the same. They are a very dogmatic people when they are what they ought to be; they have nothing to do with "ifs," and "ands," and "buts," and "uncertainties"; but they believe and are sure: Knowing that tribulation works patience.

The natural tendency of tribulation is to work impatience; it produces peevishness in many. But where the Spirit of God is, there is a heavenly counteraction of natural tendencies, and tribulation works patience;

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:

Paul is going upstairs, as it were, – rising from one platform to another. There is enough of glory in Christ to wrap up all our troubles in; it makes the black white, and the dark bright.

Knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

A man who never suffers does not know what patience means; but trial works patience, yet not of itself. Trials work peevishness and murmuring and discontent; but grace brings sweet out of bitter, and — tribulation worketh patience; —.

And not only so, but we glory—

We hope for glory, "the glory of God," and we already "glory." But in what do we glory? "We glory"—

In tribulations also:—

That is the blackest thing a Christian has—their tribulations; so, if we can glory in them, surely we can glory in anything. We glory in tribulations also:—

Knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

A man cannot prove that he has patience if he has never been tried. Christian patience is not a weed; it is a cultivated plant; we only get patience through our trials.

And not only so—

Whenever the apostle begins to talk of the Lord's bounties to his people, he abounds in "also's" and "not only so's." As if he had not said enough already, when he had reminded us of the joy of hope in God's glory, he says, "And not only so."

We have something in possession as well as something to hope for; we have a present glory as well as glory laid up in store: "And not only so"—

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:-

Somebody seemed to say to the apostle, "You talk about peace with God, and access to God; but you are troubled in mind, you are sickly in body, you are poor in estate, just as other people are;" so Paul replies, "Yes, we know that it is so, "but we glory in tribulations also:-" –

Knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

It is sent for our good; we accept our trials as a part of our estate, and in some respects, the very richest part of our estate. We get more good out of our adversity than out of our prosperity. Our troubles have made men of us, whereas our joys might have unmanned us. Trials have braced us up, and we glory in them, knowing that tribulation worketh patience;.