True Faith Is

Introduction

Engage: I am an Air Force brat. My dad served in the Air Force for twenty years making up most of my childhood. Having grown up so near airplanes I have always been mesmerized by the idea of flight and the machines that make human flight possible. There will never be a day that I won’t look to the sky when I hear and air plane to see and identify it.

Sharing this love of airplanes is of course my dad, who worked on them for son long as a mechanic in the service, and my little brother. Last memorial day the three of us were able to take a trip Wright Pat Air Force Base in Dayton Ohio where the National Air Force museum is. Its a 19 acre space comprising of three hangars and 360 aircraft on display, its spectacular.

Now, my dad’s airplane for the majority of his career was the B2 Bomber. These airplanes are still active and highly classified so they didn;t have a real one on display but what they did have was interesting. From the outside it looked just like a B2, unless you were my dad who spent 13 years working on one up close you wouldn’t be able to spot the difference, but what it was was just the shell of the airplane that they used during production for a stress test.

All airplanes undergo a stress test, to ensure that they can handle turbulence and high speeds, because we put a lot of faith in the airplanes we fly. Each time an air crew takes to the sky they are putting their faith in a tested air plane hoping, expecting it to take them to their destination.

Focus: We to have faith, a faith that hopes for a final destination. As we set out on our Christian journey we put our faith in Christ which gives us hope of life beyond this realm. But how do we know our faith is genuine? What is true faith?

Set the Stage: Much like the stress test an air plane goes through our faiths our tested to reveal their genuineness. As we look know at the second characteristic of the Christian in 1 Peter we see the apostle remind these believers, persecuted and suffering for their faith, of what true faith is. There are three texts within this letter that give us three characteristics of true faith.

True Faith is Tested (1:6-7)

First we see that faith is tested. Faith is proven to be legitimate as the Christian perseveres through trials.

Peter reminds these believers to rejoice in their suffering, in their being sidelined, because this refines their faith. Like gold this prepares them for the final prize.

1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

We Rejoice in Testing

This seems strange. Not only does the Christian endure suffering, we actually rejoice in it. Notice our passage begins with, “in this.” Peter is saying that we rejoice in what came before this verse. Verses 3-5 as a passage we looked at last week that showed us that we have an inheritance of eternal life kept for us in heaven. Before a conversation on tests and trials we should be firmly rooted in what we hope for. Why we are tested to begin with.

Testing is from God

It may seem difficult to understand, but we see that testing is from God. Peter says, “of necessary.” The Christian suffers because it is our call. We worship the suffering servant so we likewise are tested.

Romans 8:16–17 ESV

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

We said last week that when we endure the scorn of the world with grace we look like Jesus. Peter is further elaborating that point here. As we are tested by trials we are formed into the image of our savior.

But it is not as though we are tested by random, inanimate forces of fate. No, these tests, these trials are purposed by a God who deeply loves you and has provided the power to withstand for you.

God himself is using these tests to prove the genuineness of your faith. This is not to say that tests are enjoyable, but that God is still in control in the midst of them

Tested faith refines you

And what is he doing, he is refining you. He is forging you into the faithful person who may receive the eternal inheritance stored up for them.

I don’t know much about the process of refining metals other than that the metal is melted down until all the impurities are gone and this is how Peter describes the testing of our faith.

Sticking with the example of the military we are all at least vaguely familiar with the process of basic training, boot camp. A snot nosed teenager goes into boot camp and after a month long process of being torn down and built back up a solider emerges.

The Christian walk is a life long boot camp, process of testing and refining. Through the fires of tests God is working out all the impurities in us that we might be presented blameless before him, by Jesus power.

This is not by your power or your seeking of trials and tests to refine yourself. This is you submitting to whatever the Lord sees fit to walk you through.

Proverbs 17:3 ESV

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.

Such refining produces faith more valuable than gold. You reward is not material but praise honor, and glory when Christ brings you home.

When you rejoice, persevere, and grow closer to God through the midst of trials your faith is being proved genuine. True faith is tested.

So maybe you’re the young couple just starting to get on your feet. You’re both working and it never feels like you can never get ahead on bills and keep a savings account. You’ve been faithful tithers but this feels like a season where that may have to go, you’re anxious and unsure about your financial future.

Or perhaps you’re the parent of a prodigal child. Night after night you pray and petition God that he would bring your kid home, back to the faith. Yet years go by and their heart is growing harder to the things of God, its a season of great test.

In that pull your heart to question and wonder about God, who he is and what he is doing, he is doing something. He’s shaping your heart to put him first, to stand firm. He will always provide though perhaps not how we would like. He provides primarily through hope of the future.

True Faith is Hopeful (1:8-9)

True faith is also hopeful. True faith knows what it is being faithful to and for. It is waiting for the prize to come.

To Christians who didn’t see Jesus in the flesh Peter reminds them of their love for their savior as they press on to the finish line.

1 Peter 1:8–9 ESV

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

I know that the word hope isn’t mentioned in our text here but I think this is the idea being conveyed.

Hope biblically is not wishful thinking. It is not considering the future as up in the air but relatively convinced of a positive outcome. Hope biblically is being fully convinced that God will come through. Hope biblically is the expectation that God is good on his promise.

Peter says to these believers who never saw Jesus in the flesh to put their hope in him.

Hopeful faith rejoices

The message is this, Christians with real faith have lives characterized by a hope that manifests itself in love and joy.

Christians with a real faith realize they are invincible. What do I mean? Paul explains it best in Philippians.

Philippians 1:21 ESV

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Paul, from jail says boldly that they can’t touch him.

He restates it from another jail cell, this one as he awaits his certain death,

2 Timothy 1:12 ESV

which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

What are you gonna do throw me in Jail? I’ll convert your whole guard, write letters for churches that encourage people for thousands of years, and bolster the confidence of every preacher in the region.

You’re gonna kill me? To die is gain. I have put my hope in the one that is higher.

This is what it looks like to love the invisible king as you joyfully await his return.

Hopeful faith looks to the prize

Why can faith be hopeful as it is? Real faith knows it logical conclusion. Eternal life. The salvation of our souls.

Though you have not seen him you love him and you will see him, and be wrapped in his love forevermore.

Though you have not seen him you believe in him and you will see him and worship him forever more.

Though their is pain and rejection now, one day it will be no more. He will come through on his promise.

Faithful Christians express this through joyful and loving hearts and they also express it through obedient hearts.

Maybe what you see know is a dwindling savings and paycheck and rising gasoline and cost of living prices.

Perhaps all you see is news feed full of rocket attacks and drone strikes.

You look around and you see families and communities torn apart by trivial matters.

And yet Peter says look to the one you do not know see. That one holds all things together and extends a hope that says one day all your eyes will see is the glory of God filling the globe. Stand firm, hold tight, and stay the path.

True Faith is Humble Submission (5:6-9)

The tested Christian who is hoping for their reward humbly lives a life honoring to God. They submit themselves in faith to his plans.

Peter calls us to humbly give our futures over to him. As we do we display a faith that is able to withstand the enemies schemes.

1 Peter 5:6–9 ESV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Those who humble themselves will be brought high.

The language beckons back to the Exodus. A lowly Israel is brought out of slavery and established by the mighty hand of God.

The Christian who endures stands firm in testing in this life will be exalted by God. The Christian should never seek to exalt themselves in anything. In our humility Christ will exalt us.

Humility is Faith

What does humility look like before a mighty God. It looks like having true faith in him. Casting all of our anxieties on him. Being anxious is to assume that we are sovereign. That we reign over our futures. The fact that the suture causes us to be anxious is evidence that we are not in charge of it, but he is. The anxious person is assuming that they will solve their problems by their own strength rather than trusting that God has already done it by his.

Entrust your soul to the one who cares for you. Hope in the God who took on a cross to win you back. have faith in the one who created the universe and orders it even still.

The converse is death

To not humble our selves before God is to become puffed up and drunk on ourselves. Unable to remain watchful.

The humble person of faith however, remains watchful. They can see the lying deceiving attempts of Satan to throw them off of the path of God and they actively fight back.

The devil wants nothing more than to destroy true faith. He wants nothing more than for you to be crushed by trials, anxious rather than hopeful about the future, and ignorant of the ways of God.

So watch out. Very carefully like a solider on guard.

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

So how do we resist the devil? How do we wage war against the one who wages war against our souls? Stand firm in your faith.

Resisting the devil does not produce your faith, your true faith empowers you to resist him.

A tested faith stands firm in hope.

Maybe you’re the young couple struggling financially. This text doesn’t promise financial freedom. What it does promise is that God is using it. Maybe you continue to struggle yet in your faithfulness to giving the burden feels lightened. You learn how to get by and bless the Church simultaneously. You have been shaped by faith.

Or perhaps you’re the parent of the prodigal who never comes home. Yet your fervent prayers bluster into a vibrant prayer life that never dwindles and finds it prayers be lifted for other children and needs. You’re a beacon of hope for other parents. You have been shaped by faith.

Conclusion

The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is a classical as far as biblical stories go. I’m sure you know it well. The three Israelites find themselves exiled in Babylon and in the Kings court as rulers. As far as exile goes this is ideal.

The king however passes this decree saying that everyone must bow down to a exuberant statue of him or else they would die by being thrown into a fiery furnace. The three friends recognize the test and stand firm. They now where their hope lies and it is in a God who transcends furnaces and statues.

Look at how they respond to Nebuchadnezzar,

Daniel 3:16–18 ESV

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

But if not, we will not.

A faith that has been tested by fire, as its hope set on eternity, withstands temptation with ferocious gall. We believe and expect God to come through and even if he doesn’t at this moment in the way we expect it we will not bow down to the idols and craze of this world.

A faith like this will achieve what it has hoped in. This is true faith.