1. Romans 15:4
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
Context: Bearing with brother with weak conscience (Rom. 14)
Point: Consider others – not just self (v. 2)
Illustrated with example of Christ (v. 3; Psa. 69:9)

2. Romans 15:4
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
Old Testament – written for our learning
Old Testament – not outdated
God expects the Old Testament to be read
God thought of us and our needs centuries before – recorded the stories – knowing it would help us live the Christian life

3. Patience
& Comfort
Hope
Assurance
Result
Learn

5. Patience and Comfort
of the Scriptures
Rom. 15:4

6. Patience
& Comfort
of the Scriptures
Patience of the Scriptures

7. Patience What is patience?
Not merely being calm in midst of problems or dislikes
Lit. “to remain under” – stay – endure under pressure
BDAG: “the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty, patience, endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, perseverance”
Liddell: “a holding out, patience endurance”
It is “of the Scriptures” – for God & his word are the source of such patience / endurance

8. Patience What is patience? The need for patience
We serve a God of patience (context – v. 5)
If don’t endure (remain or hold out) we give up or quit!
Needed to receive the promise (Heb. 10:36; Jas. 5:7-8)
Needed to grow to maturity (Jas. 1:3-4)

9. Patience What is patience? The need for patience
Gaining patience from the Scriptures
Christ endured and suffered (v. 3; Psa. 69:9)
Abraham remained when going was tough
Answered the call to go to a country (Heb. 11:8; Gen. 12:1-3)
Endured family strife (Gen. 13)
Held up under the stress of offering son (Gen. 22; Heb. 11:17-18)

10. Patience What is patience? The need for patience
Gaining patience from the Scriptures
Christ endured and suffered (v. 3; Psa. 69:9)
Abraham remained when going was tough
Joseph remained when things went south
Brothers want to kill him but sold him (Gen. 37:28)
Denied his father’s home for many years
Seduced by Potiphar’s wife (Gen. 39)
Cast into prison for 2 years (Gen. 39:20; 41:1)
Never lost his faith & service to God (Gen. 39:9; 50:20)

11. Patience What is patience? The need for patience
Gaining patience from the Scriptures
Christ endured and suffered (v. 3; Psa. 69:9)
Abraham remained when going was tough
Joseph remained when things went south
Job never gave up when it lost it all & falsely accused
Lost all possessions & children (Job 1)
Lost his health (Job 2)
Friends accused him of sin (Job 4-ff)
Yet Job never gave up (Job 19:25-ff; Jas. 5:11)

12. Patience & Comfort of the Scriptures Patience of the Scriptures

13. Comfort What is comfort?
Not a mere pat on back that says, “you are good!”
BDAG: “1. act of emboldening another in belief or course of action, encouragement, exhortation…3. lifting of another’s spirits, comfort, consolation”
It is “of the Scriptures” – for God & his word are the source of such encouragement or consolation
Our spirits are lifted by considering the examples of patience or endurance - it says, “I can too!”

14. Comfort What is comfort? The need for comfort
We serve a God of comfort (context: v. 5)
The Scriptures are comforting & encouraging to strengthen us and confirm our direction
Lenski: “The Scriptures offer us their abundant ‘admonishing or admonition,’ mixed with encouraging and comforting, in order to keep us in perseverance, steady, steadfast, true.”

15. Comfort What is comfort? The need for comfort
Gaining comfort from the Scriptures
Abraham endured & received promise (Heb. 6:15)
Joseph was blessed & a nation preserved because he endured (Gen. 41:38-41; 50:20)
Job was richly blessed again (Job 42:10-13)
All the great examples of faith give us comfort about staying the course (Heb. 11; 12:1ff)

16. Patience & Comfort of the Scriptures Patience of the Scriptures
Hope of the Scriptures

17. Hope What is hope? Not a mere desire to enter heaven
Confidence & expectation
BDAG: “the looking forward to someth. with some reason for confidence respecting fulfillment, hope, expectation”

18. Hope What is hope? Hope is based upon patience and comfort
It is “through” (because of) patience and comfort (v. 4)
Have hope because we endure – remain
Have hope because we our spirits are lifted to persevere
We serve a God of hope (context – v. 13)
Hope comes through faith in Spirit’s teachings (v. 13)
Possible to abound in hope (v. 13)

19. Patience & Comfort of the Scriptures Patience of the Scriptures
Hope of the Scriptures