³ And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope …

And not only this”—there’s more. If we dare to think our justification with the peace and hope it brings were not enough, remember we just read that this is just our “introduction into” grace. Paul later says, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Rom 8:32). Justification was just the beginning; there’s more to come, and that’s exciting!

Think about this truth. We have been given the greatest possible gift (which is the essence of what grace means), and God says that is just the beginning. Rather than seeing all else He will do for us as an afterthought or residual benefits, Paul sees them as building on what began at our justification. Peter conveyed the same sense in the last words he wrote: “… grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18). It keeps getting better, so we need to keep discovering God’s grace to which we have been introduced!

One could almost say His grace keeps getting better and better, building upon the grace of salvation, except that runs the risk of presuming there is something better than the grace of saving sinners. Growing in grace, though, means growing in our understanding of it. For example, an introductory course in history gives a broad overview of world history, while advanced history courses focus on specific time periods to give greater appreciation of each area of study. But it is all history. Likewise, understanding that justification is by faith is like learning the introductory course to God’s grace. But life experiences make up the advanced study of God’s grace, as we increasingly discover that His gracious dealings in our life (which we first saw in our salvation) are pervasive throughout our lives. We discover more and more how deep was His grace in our salvation (which we didn’t fully realize at the time of our salvation but we grow in our understanding of it as we learn more of God and His ways). And we keep coming back to the “introduction” as a reminder, when we break bread as He asked us to do.

One of the greatest ways we grow in grace is through our tribulations—and so Paul turns us to understand the most common of all human experiences as a means to exulting in God’s hope of glory!

Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for opening my eyes increasingly to the nature and depth of Your grace toward me.