1 Peter 1:6-12
1 &2 Peter - Steadfast • Sermon • Submitted
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Why exactly are trials worth rejoicing over?
Why exactly are trials worth rejoicing over?
Remaining steadfast means that we need to find better meaning in our struggles and that starts with clarifying their nature
Truths from passage
Truths from passage
Our salvation is that in which we "greatly rejoice"
Victorious testing of our genuine) faith (which is more precious than gold) is to result in praise and glory and honor at Christ's return
Your faith means you love Him whom you have not seen, and even though you do not see him now, you greatly rejoice with joy which is full of the glory of God
The outcome of the faith just described is the salvation of your soul
Those who spoke about it as something yet to come wanted badly to understand it and asked many questions and searched to understand
They really wanted to know who and when it was going to happen, even as they said that the messiah would suffer and how he would be exalted
It was then granted how they were "serving" future generations by revealing what was told to them and was subsequently announced to you through the preaching of the gospel through the power of the holy spirit sent from heaven. The angels wanted to know how all this was going to work (it was that interesting)
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Translation: It is in this full salvation [that is ready to be revealed in the last time] that you greatly rejoice - even though we know you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Central Section of Lesson
Toward a Better Theology of Trials
Toward a Better Theology of Trials
In the past two months…People in my life have lost jobs, quit jobs, broken bones, changed majors, endured breakups, initiated divorce, changed schools, relocated cities, started lives as adults, gotten engaged, lost loved ones, had family move away, and been arrested. Within these trials Christians and non-Christians alike are struggling to make decisions within the circumstances they find themselves in.
Within these trials Christians and non-Christians alike are struggling to make decisions within the circumstances they find themselves in.
Those are all things we would consider trials…such is life
What we want to deal with today is the value and necessity of “trial” in a believers life, because as Christians our perspective on this needs to change. Peter is stating in this verse that there is a positive relationship between faith and testing. The specific rub/struggle/trial is known only to believers. It is an added struggle and where the added struggle for Christians comes is when we seek to respond according to God's truth…this is what is typically called testing. For within each of the struggles avails us of the possibility to overcome through the power of the Holy Spirit or be tempted to face the thing in the myriad ways we have in the past.
Such is life - where the added struggle for Christians comes is when we seek to respond according to God's truth…this is what is typically called testing. For within each of the struggles avails us of the possibility to overcome through the power of the Holy Spirit or be tempted to face this in the myriad ways we have in the past.
I want to give several examples to see if we can get one to land...
Draw Double-Minded vs. Single Minded and their relationship with trials
MOST OF OUR "TRIALS" AS BELIEVERS ARE BORN OUT OF MOVING FROM ME PURSUING WHAT I WANT TO TRYING TO PURSUE WHAT GOD WANTS.
THEY ARE THE REALITIES OF BEING MADE MORE HOLY - AND THE STRUGGLE THAT EXISTS THERE!
This is the cause of most of our "suffering" outside of sickness, accidents and natural disasters.
We fight, struggle and win with God or we run, drink, yell, sex, degrade, hide, distract, drift, lie, manipulate, etc., because we think that God's way is "too hard."The truth proclaimed in and is a life excited to see the changes that God can make in us, as we fight through and receive that which he promises to those who take Him at his word.
Counting the Cost
Many of you have undertaken hard things for the sake of the reward. You work out in order to achieve the many great things about being fit. Feeling good about how you look, not being winded when you have to take the stairs…You study hard to make the grades you want and get the degree you are pursuing in hopes that it will take you where you want to go…you pour everything into a relationship, because it means that much to you. But the truth is no one "wants" to work out, spend the hours it takes to do the report the correct way, make any of the concessions you think it will take to make the relationship work - but at some point you decided in any of those examples that it was worth it, otherwise you wouldn't do it.
With that perspective lets read or reread , and
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James
In James, the point is perspective - the trials are inevitable, BUT consider it Joy BECAUSE your endurance in winning the fight will result in wholeness
In James, the point is perspective - the trials are inevitable, BUT consider it Joy BECAUSE your endurance in winning the fight will result in wholeness
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
In Romans, the point is the reward - proven character produces hope. Any of you struggle with your daily vacillation?, "Lord if only I could be more consistent!"
In Romans, the point is the reward - proven character produces hope. Any of you struggle with your daily vacillation, "Lord if only I could be more consistent!"
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.”
Acts
In Acts, the point is the destination - if you want to enter the kingdom of God, tribulations await you."Christian remarks in the Pilgrims Progress - "Is the celestial city of so small acclaim that it is not worth running the requisite difficulties to get there?"
In Acts, the point is the destination - if you want to enter the kingdom of God, tribulations await you."Christian remarks in the Pilgrims Progress - "Is the celestial city of so small acclaim that it is not worth running the requisite difficulties to get there?"
Helpful Quotes for understanding trials and the possible outcomes of testing
Romans, the point is the reward - proven character produces hope. Any of you struggle with your daily vacillation, "Lord if only I could be more consistent!"In Acts, the point is the destination - if you want to enter the kingdom of God, tribulations await you."Christian remarks in the Pilgrims Progress - "Is the celestial city of so small acclaim that it is not worth running the requisite difficulties to get there?"
"Present trials, we should understand, are not in spite of but are the consequence of the new birth."
Joel B. Green, 1 Peter, The Two Horizons New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2007), 30.
"Peter’s use of the term “trial” (πειρασμός, peirasmos, v. 6), which can refer to diabolic temptation just as easily as divine test, introduces this paradox: With the potential for both glory and tragedy, the very process that can develop and deepen human life (testing) is the one that can stunt and corrupt human life (temptation)."
Joel B. Green, 1 Peter, The Two Horizons New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2007), 30.
Donut Illustration - example of a trial
Take donut, even bite into donut and realize that this is not something I want to do, can stop at any time
The struggles come when faced with that temptation and decide to put it down. There is the second guessing, the hand wringing about still wanting to eat it after deciding not to eat it, the what do I do when I see another donut that could be mine?
FAITH MEETS TRIAL, IF FAITH WINS …FAITH PROVED
and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:
each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.
(NASB95)
"The eschatological reward reveals that believers have been transformed by God’s grace, inasmuch as they rejoice in God so much they are willing to undergo pain"
13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.
"The eschatological reward reveals that believers have been transformed by God’s grace, inasmuch as they rejoice in God so much they are willing to undergo pain"
Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude, vol. 37, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003), 68.
Consistent faith (Perseverance)
to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
(NASB95)
7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
“Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. “Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.
(NASB95)
22 “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.
and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
23 “Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.
“It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.
30 “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
30 “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
30 “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
(NASB95)
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
(NASB95)
13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
