The Path to True Patience

Patience includes two distinct but related aspects of character. The first is steadfastness in enduring troubles. The second is slowness in avenging wrongs. I want to say that again.

The first aspect of patience is steadfastness in enduring troubles. The second aspect is slowness in avenging wrongs. Without both of these aspects, patience is incomplete.

Some people are steadfast in enduring troubles, but very quick to avenge themselves. Some people are slow to avenge themselves, but not very steadfast in enduring troubles. To have true, scriptural patience, the complete fruit of the spirit, you have to combine both these things: steadfastness in enduring troubles, slowness in avenging wrongs.

We must understand that the way into God’s kingdom is through many tribulations. This is specifically stated in scripture. At one point in their ministry, Paul and Silas went through the cities where there were new disciples who’d come to the Lord through their ministry, disciples who’d been under pressure and persecution. And it says of what Paul and Silas were doing, they were strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying,

“Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

Note that word ‘must’. Why the ‘must’? Why must we go through many tribulations to enter the kingdom of God? What is it that tribulation does for us that makes it necessary? Well, I would answer this: tribulation, or trouble, or pressure, whatever word you want to use, is necessary to work out in us the benefits of the death of Jesus on our behalf.

What Jesus did on the cross, He did once for all. It never has to be redone. It’s a complete and perfect work. But it is not worked out in our lives in just one momentary experience. There’s a continuing process of working it out in our lives, the benefits procured for us by the death of Jesus on the cross. And tribulation is one of the factors in working out these benefits.

Let me state it this way. On the cross, Jesus died to sin on our behalf. Therefore, we are to reckon His death as our death. This is stated in Romans chapter 6, verses 10 and 11:

“For the death that he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life that he lives, he lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Even so, consider yourselves to be dead to sin. In just the same way that Jesus died on the cross, consider yourselves to be dead, because His death was your death.

So that’s an accomplished fact, and we can reckon it immediately we come to realize it. However, reckoning it is one thing, working it out in daily living is another. So Paul says in Colossians 3:5, speaking to Christians,

“Put to death therefore whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”

We are reckoning ourselves dead, but to make it effective, we have to put to death those things in our lives which are the expression of the old, unregenerate nature.

Now, patience is the aspect of character which is produced in us by doing this. It’s what’s produced in us by experientially working out in our lives the death of Jesus on our behalf. Jesus died to sin. The aim of God is that we should be dead to sin. This is received by faith, but it’s worked out in experience. Working it out in experience demands patience. Without patience, we cannot enter into the fullness of the provision of God which He’s made for us through the death of Jesus on the cross.

In acquiring patience, Jesus has set the pattern for us. This is stated very clearly in 1 Peter chapter 2, verses 20 through 23. Peter is speaking primarily to people who are in the position of slaves under masters, but the principle goes far further than just the slave-master relationship. The principle applies to all of us who are believers. He says this:

“For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.”

Notice what God wants in us is that even when we’re unjustly treated, punished when we should not be punished, we patiently endure it. That’s what God is looking for.

The next statement that follows is very remarkable:

“For you have been called for this purpose.”

For what purpose? To patiently endure wrongdoing and unjust treatment. Lots of Christians who speak about being called to do various exciting things don’t mention the fact that we’ve been called for this purpose also. And then Peter goes on to say,

“Since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”

So we are clearly required to follow the example of Jesus in enduring suffering.

Now, His example is stated in verses 22 and 23:

“‘Who committed no sin,’ nor was deceit found in his mouth.”

He was entirely innocent. He didn’t deserve any of the suffering that came upon Him. But it says,

“While being reviled, he did not revile in return; while suffering, he uttered no threats, but kept entrusting himself to him who judges righteously.”

The way which Jesus responded to unjust treatment and suffering arose from His confidence in the Father. He was prepared to entrust His case to the Father, and not fight for Himself. So He endured mistreatment, wrongdoing, false accusations, rejection, patiently, without fighting back, because He trusted His Father to work it all out on His behalf. This is patience.

When we have achieved patience, we renounce the desire to justify ourselves or to revenge ourselves. As long as we’re busy justifying ourselves or revenging ourselves when we’re wrongly accused or unfairly treated, we have not yet achieved the fruit of patience.