Untitled Sermon

C. Know the Truth About Trials & Temptations, 1:6–9

1. Know this fact: Life is full of trials & temptations

a. They are only for a season

b. They bring heaviness

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

2. Know the purpose for trials & temptations

a. To test & prove our faith

b. To bring praise, glory, & honor when Christ returns

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

3. Know how to conquer trials & temptations

a. By your love for Christ

b. By your belief in Christ

c. By your joy

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

d. By your salvation

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

C. Know the Truth About Trials and Temptations, 1:6–9

(1:6–9) Introduction: this passage is one of the great passages dealing with the trials and temptations of believers.

1. Know this fact: life is full of trials and temptations (v. 6).

2. Know the purpose for trials and temptations (v. 7).

3. Know how to conquer trials and temptations (vv. 8–9).

1 (1:6) Trials—Temptations: know this fact—life is full of trials and temptations. Any thinking person can look around and see that life is bombarded with all kinds of trials and temptations. There are all kinds of trials, such as …

• sickness

• disease

• suffering

• sorrows

• ridicule

• abuse

• loss

• disappointment

• criticism

• loneliness

• emptiness

There are also all kinds of temptations such as …

• greed

• selfishness

• hoarding

• drunkenness

• deceit

• strife

• immorality

• sorcery

• indulgence

• backbiting

• whispering

• revellings

• drugs

• anger

• gluttony

• envy

• jealousy

• uncleanness

The list of trials and temptations in the world are as unlimited as acts of behavior. For every act there can be the sin of too much or the sin of too little, the sins of commission or the sins of omission. Life is fraught with trials and temptations.

This is especially true with genuine believers, for believers stand in opposition to the selfish, immoral, greedy, and unjust ways of the world. This goes against the grain of the world because the world is in opposition to God. Just note the world’s cursing of God and its flaunting of sex even for advertising purposes. These are excellent examples of the world’s opposition to God. Therefore, the world often persecutes believers who proclaim the need for man to turn to God. The world persecutes believers through ridicule, mockery, abuse, and silence; through bypassing them, holding them down, shutting them out, and ignoring them; through confiscating their property, destroying their reputation, and in some cases imprisoning and killing them. Every genuine believer who lives for Christ knows what it is to be shunned and withdrawn from and to be persecuted to some degree, no matter what society he lives in.

This was the case with the believers to whom Peter was writing. They were being severely persecuted because of their stand for Christ. They had been forced to flee for their lives and to leave everything behind: homes, property, estates, businesses, jobs, money, church, friends, and fellow believers. They were suffering trial after trial, experiencing what we see so often portrayed in the media: people flooding the roadways fleeing with whatever possessions they can carry by hand, fleeing the tyranny of the persecution of dictators and evil men. The difference with believers is that they often suffer at the hands of people because of their testimony for Christ. And this was, in fact, the case with the early believers who were receiving this letter from Peter.

As stated, the fact of trials and temptations is clear to any thinking person: we live in a world of trials and temptation. In addition, the believer has to bear the added trial of persecution because of his testimony for Christ. Now, note two things that are said.

a. Trials and temptations are only for a season; they are only for a little while, for a short time. The idea is that our salvation is at hand; we shall soon be delivered from the sufferings of this earth. Therefore, we can stand up under whatever suffering is attacking us.

b. Trials and temptations cause a heaviness within us. The word heaviness (lupethentes) means to be grieving; to suffer sorrow, stress, pressure, and mental anguish. We all know what it is to feel heavy and weighed down with grief; to suffer stress and pressure; to be mentally in anguish, wondering, questioning, and suffering under the weight of trial or temptation.

Thought 1. This is a dark picture of the world and of life, a picture of all kinds of trials and temptations. But we must face reality; it is a fact. As we walk throughout life, we are bombarded with all kinds of trials and temptations. Our human experience proves it. But why face it? Why think about it? Why not ignore the fact, think positively, and look at only the good and move on? There is one reason: facts cannot be handled unless they are dealt with. Ignoring and denying trials and temptations will not conquer them, not permanently and not eternally. The only way we can ever conquer anything—no matter the trial or temptation—is to squarely face it and fight against it. The way to conquer the trials and temptations of life is the subject of this great passage.

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” ().

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience” ().

“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I” ().

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” ().

“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair” ().

“For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know” ().

“I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” ().

“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble” ().

“Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights” ().

2 (1:7) Trials—Temptations: know the purpose for trials and temptations. When a believer is saved, why does God not just go ahead and give him a trouble-free, perfect life? Sometimes it would seem that God should do this. If God loves us and really cares for us then He should not let terrible things happen to us. Why does God let them happen? Why do the trials and temptations of life fall upon us, especially with such heaviness and sorrow? Scripture says there are two reasons why the believer is tried and tempted.

a. The believer’s faith must be tried. The word tried (dokimion) means to prove; to test; to strengthen; to show that your faith is genuine (A.T. Robertson. Word Pictures In The New Testament, Vol. 6. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933, p. 83).

It is just like gold. Gold has to be put to the fire in order to clean out all the impurities and dross and to make it pure and clean. Now note what this verse says: we are much more precious than gold. Gold perishes, but not believers. Believers are to live forever. Therefore, if gold has to be put to the fire to be made clean and pure, how much more do we?

The point is striking: God uses the fire of trials and temptations for a good purpose. He uses them to make us clean and pure and to make us trust Him more and more.

⇒ When we are faced with some trial or temptation, we draw nearer to God. We cry out to God more than when things go well. We even tend to clean up our lives in order to secure His help us as we go through the trial. We just live more pure, clean, and righteous lives. In fact, the greater the trial and temptation, the more we see that we need God. And the more we see our need for God, the closer we usually draw to Him; and the closer we draw to Him, the cleaner we live. The fire of trials causes us to live purer, cleaner lives, while learning to trust God more and more.

This is a most wonderful point: our trials and temptations are purposeful. God uses them to make us much more pure and to stir us to draw closer and closer to Him and to trust Him more and more. We become a stronger person through trials—much stronger, much more steadfast, persevering, and enduring.

There is another fact that should be noted as well. When our faith is tried and proven, when we walk strongly through the trials and temptations of life, the world sees it. They see the power of Christ in our lives and the rejoicing of our hearts in Him. Some are attracted and want to know Christ for themselves. Standing fast through the trials and temptations of life wins people to Christ. God uses the trials and sufferings of life to pour His strength into us and to attract the lost to want Him in their lives.

“For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried” ().

“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction” ().

“In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old” ().

“He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock” ().

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” ().

“Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress” ().

“Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word” ().

“And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The lord is my God” ().

“And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the lord an offering in righteousness” ().

“But he knoweth the way that I take when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” ().

“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” ().

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” ().

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you” ().

b. The believer’s faith is tried in order to show forth the praise, honor, and glory of Jesus Christ and of the believer. When Jesus Christ appears—when He returns to earth—two things are going to be seen.

⇒ First, Jesus Christ is going to be seen exalted higher than the heavens themselves; He is going to be seen in all the honor and glory of the universe.

⇒ Second, believers are going to be seen exalted higher than anyone could ever ask or even think; they are going to be exalted in the very same honor and glory of Christ Himself. They are going to be seen as joint-heirs with Christ in receiving all the inheritance that God Himself possesses. Just imagine! All the honor and glory that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself possesses shall be poured out upon believers.

This is the reason God allows us to suffer trials and temptations on earth: not only to make us purer and stronger, but to better prepare us for the honor and glory of heaven. The more we suffer here on earth, the more we ache for heaven. There is also the idea of vindication, of proving that the claims of Christ and of our faith in His claims are true. In that glorious day when Christ returns, the world of unbelievers—all of them—will see once for all that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God and that our faith in Him is real. Christ and His followers will be vindicated. Christ and all believers shall be exalted in the honor and glory of all the worlds and of all the dimensions of beings. And all unbelievers shall witness the glorious event.

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” ().

“Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear” ().

“Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them” ().

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” ().

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” ().

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” ().

“Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Ph. 3:21).

“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” ().

“That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” ().

“For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance” ().

“Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward” ().

“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” ().

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” ().

3 (1:8–9) Trials—Temptations: know how to conquer trials and temptations. The trials and temptations of life are not to defeat or discourage us. On the contrary, we are to conquer them. We are to use them as stepping stones to become stronger and stronger in life. But how? How can we conquer trials and temptations when they are so devastating, destructive, powerful, damaging, and threatening?

Scripture gives four ways.

a. Trials and temptations are to be conquered by our love for Jesus Christ. We do not see Christ, but we love Him. Think about it: we have transgressed God’s law. We have ignored, neglected, and disobeyed God; rejected and cursed God. We have even committed high treason and rebelled against God. Therefore, we are guilty and must bear the judgment and condemnation. We must bear the punishment for our rebellion against God. We are to die without God—to be exiled and cut off from God forever and ever. But note the glorious love of Jesus Christ. He has stepped forward and offered Himself as a substitute and sacrifice for us. Jesus Christ has taken our guilt upon Himself. He has died for us; He has borne our judgment, condemnation, and punishment. No one could ever do any greater thing for us than what Jesus Christ has done. He has loved us supremely: He has died for us even when we have rejected and disbelieved Him. This is the great love of Jesus Christ for us. And this is the reason we love Him. We love Him because He has done so much for us—gone to the ultimate limit to save us by bearing the judgment for us.

Now, note what the verse says: we have not seen Him, but we love Him. We do not have to see Christ to stand up for Him and to please Him. Christ does not have to be standing over our shoulder for us to stand against trials and temptations. We love Christ; therefore, we …

• obey Him

• keep His commandments

• turn away from temptations

• walk through trials

It is our love for Christ that stirs us to stand up for Christ against all the trials and temptations of life, no matter how severe and ferocious they are. True love does all it can to keep from hurting the person loved. In fact, when we love someone, we do all we can to please that person, no matter what it may cost us—even if it costs us our life. So it is with our love for Christ. If we truly love Him, then we will never hurt Him—not by displeasing Him, not if we can help it. On the contrary, if we really love Christ, we do exactly what He says: we stand against all the destructive trials and temptations that devastate human life and doom it for eternity. We stand and bear all the sufferings in order to prove the power of Christ. We want some people to see the power of Christ and the great hope He gives—we want them to see so that they will turn to Him for salvation. How do we overcome trials and temptations? First, we conquer them by our love for Christ.

“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” ().

“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” ().

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.… Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (, ).

“Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity” ().

“I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints” ().

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” ().

b. Trials and temptations are to be conquered by our belief in Jesus Christ. Again, note the verse: we do not see Jesus, but we do believe in Him. The word believing (pisteuontes) is in the present continuous tense. That is, it is continuous action, continuous belief—a belief that continues on and on in believing and trusting in Jesus Christ. The point is clear: if we are continuing to believe in Jesus Christ, then we are following Christ. We are doing what He says …

• rejecting and turning away from all temptations.

• standing firm and relying upon His presence and power to conquer and to carry us through all trials.

“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” ().

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” ().

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” ().

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (Js. 1:2–6).

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (Js. 2:17).

“And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment” ().

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” ().

c. Trials and temptations are to be conquered by rejoicing and by the unspeakable joy that fills our hearts. The unspeakable joy of Christ is not always present, but it often is. We are creatures of emotion, creatures who do not experience any one feeling for more than a brief period. But every genuine believer experiences the unspeakable joy here and there. Words cannot describe it: it is just being full of glory, just as Scripture says in this verse. Matthew Henry states:

“This joy is inexpressible, it cannot be described by words; the best discovery is by an experimental taste of it; it is full of glory, full of heaven. There is much of heaven and the future glory in the present joys of … Christians” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary, Vol. 6, p. 1007.)

The point is this: joying and rejoicing in the Lord and His presence will stir us to stand against temptations and trials. Joy and rejoicing will help us to focus upon Christ and His glorious power.

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” ().

“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full” ().

“And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” ().

“And when they had laid many stripes unto them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” ().

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” ().

“As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things” ().

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Ph. 4:4).

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” ().

“For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” ().

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” ().

“Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them” ().

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels” ().

d. Trials and temptations are to be conquered by keeping our eyes focused upon the salvation of our souls. This is the end, the very goal toward which we are moving, the salvation of our souls. As in any work or task, we must keep our eyes upon the goal. The more focused we are upon the goal, the stronger we become to stand against all obstacles. So it is with salvation. The more we focus upon the salvation of our souls, the stronger we become …

• to reject and turn away from temptation

• to conquer the trials of life

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” ().

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” ().

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” ().

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” ().

“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” ().

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” ().

“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (Js. 1:21).

“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” ().

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” ().

D. Know the Wonder & Greatness of Salvation, 1:10–12

1. Salvation required special prophets to share the message

2. Salvation was the personal experience of God’s grace

10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

3. Salvation was a mystery

4. Salvation was to be accomplished by the sufferings & the glory of the Messiah

11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

5. Salvation was destined for future believers

6. Salvation is now proclaimed in the gospel

7. Salvation is so glorious that even the angels stand in stark amazement, eagerly watching salvation take place

12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

D. Know the Wonder & Greatness of Salvation, 1:10–12

(1:10–12) Introduction: this is a great description of salvation. It describes the wonder and greatness of salvation, the glorious truth that God saves men from death and exalts them into the glories of heaven. Salvation is so glorious a work that even the angels are aroused to look into it and to understand what it means (v. 12).

1. Salvation required special prophets to share the message (v. 10).

2. Salvation was the personal experience of God’s grace (v. 10).

3. Salvation was a mystery (v. 11).

4. Salvation was to be accomplished by the sufferings and the glory of the Messiah (v. 11).

5. Salvation was destined for future believers (v. 12).

6. Salvation is now proclaimed in the gospel (v. 12).

7. Salvation is so glorious that even the angels stand in stark amazement, eagerly watching salvation take place (v. 12).

1 (1:10) Salvation—Prophets: salvation required special men, special prophets, to proclaim the message. The message of salvation was so important that a whole new order of men was required to proclaim it: that of prophets. The prophets were men who were called and chosen by God to do two things:

⇒ to proclaim God’s salvation to man.

⇒ to prophesy and predict how God was going to save man.

Both functions were necessary. The prophet had to proclaim salvation to the people of his own generation and to predict how God was going to save the people of all generations. But note this: the predictions of the future salvation were not the prophet’s own predictions. He had not been called to proclaim his own ideas and message; he had been called to proclaim the salvation of God Himself. He was a man given a very special call, a call to the most important task in all the world: the task of proclaiming the glory and wonder of God’s salvation. God was making it possible for man to be saved and to live eternally.

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe” ().

“The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come” ().

“And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind” ().

“And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face” ().

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me” ().

“Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord god, and his Spirit, hath sent me” ().

“And the Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear” ().

“I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me” ().

2 (1:10) Salvation—Grace: salvation was to be the personal experience of God’s grace. Grace is the favor of God showered upon men—men who do not deserve His favor. Grace is the mercy and love that God gives to men who …

• ignore Him

• neglect Him

• rebel against Him

• curse Him

• reject Him

• disobey Him

• disbelieve Him

• transgress against Him

• sin against Him

• fail to love Him

This, of course, includes us all, for we have all come short of God’s glory. We are all imperfect; we all have the seed of corruption within our bodies that causes us to age, deteriorate, and move ever so rapidly toward the grave. But this is the grace of God: a way has been provided for us to be counted perfect—a way for the seed of corruption to be removed out of our body and to be replaced with a seed of incorruption—a way for us to be delivered from death and to live forever. How? By God’s grace. The grace of God is the message of eternal salvation. We can now be saved from death and judgment—eternally saved—by experiencing God’s grace.

“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they” ().

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” ().

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” ().

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” ().

3 (1:11) Salvation: salvation was a mystery. The prophets did not understand all that God was telling them to proclaim. Note the verse: in particular, they did not know when the Messiah would be sent to earth. The Greek scholar A.T. Robertson states it well: “The prophets knew what they prophesied, but not at what time the Messianic prophecies would be fulfilled” (A.T. Robertson. Word Pictures In The New Testament, Vol. 6, p. 85).

The prophets prayed and asked God time and again, and they diligently sought to understand the age when the Messiah would be sent to save man. They wanted to know what the age would be like, the characteristics and signs of the time.

⇒ They wanted to know the very same thing that the Lord’s disciples wanted to know when they asked about the Lord’s return: “When shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” ().

⇒ They wanted to know the very same thing that believers want to know today when they discuss the Lord’s return: When is Christ going to return and what are the signs of His return?

The picture is this: they actually hungered and thirsted to understand all they could about God’s promised Messiah and salvation. They prayed and diligently sought, sought just as diligently as miners who dig and dig down through the earth and then drill and drill through the rock until they reach the pure ore (Matthew Henry. Matthew Henry’s Commentary, Vol. 6, p. 1008.).

Thought 1. What a challenge to us! If these great men of God had to search and search for the truth of God’s Word and salvation, how much more do we? We are without excuse. We have the prophets as dynamic examples of men who hungered after God’s salvation.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter” ().

“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now” ().

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures)” ().

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began” ().

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” ().

“Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” ().

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” ().

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious” ().

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” ().

4 (1:11) Salvation—Jesus Christ, Death: salvation was to be accomplished by the sufferings and the glory of the Messiah. The Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, told the prophets that God was going to save man by doing two things. (See note— for a complete list of the prophecies about Jesus Christ and their fulfillment.)

1. God would send the Messiah into the world to die for man’s transgressions; the Messiah would take the guilt of man’s transgressions upon Himself and bear the judgment and punishment of man’s guilt.

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (; see ; ; ).

“But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled” ().’

2. God would raise up the Messiah from the dead and exalt Him to the throne of God Himself.

“He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord god will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the lord hath spoken it” (. Fulfilled in .)

“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” ().

“For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited” (. Fulfilled in .)

“And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David” ().

“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (. Fulfilled in , .)

“For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.… He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption” (, ).

“Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles” ().

“Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” ().

5 (1:12) Salvation—Fullness of Time: salvation was destined for future believers, for all who have lived since Christ came. The prophets proclaimed salvation through the coming Messiah. They even proclaimed that He was to suffer and die and be raised and exalted to God’s right hand. But they never had the privilege to see Christ nor to know exactly how He would suffer and be raised from the dead and exalted. The fullness of time—zero B.C. and A.D.—had not yet happened. But now it has: the fullness of time has come and God has sent forth His Son, made of a woman, to redeem all mankind. Salvation and the full picture of how the Messiah would die for the sins of the world are now known. All men are, therefore, without excuse if they refuse the wonder and greatness of God’s eternal salvation.

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” ().

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain” (Js. 5:7).

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” ().

“I have waited for thy salvation, o Lord” ().

“And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation” ().

“Yea, in the way of thy judgments, o Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our souls is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee” ().

“o Lord, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble” ().

6 (1:12) Salvation—Gospel: salvation is now proclaimed in the gospel. The word gospel means good news and good tidings. It is the glorious message of God’s salvation, of the death of Jesus Christ who died for our sins and was raised again for our justification. It is the glorious news that if we truly believe in Jesus Christ, then …

• God counts our faith as the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are able to stand before God as righteous, as acceptable to Him.

• God counts us as having already died in the death of Jesus Christ. Therefore, having died in Christ, we never have to die. We shall never taste or experience death. When we are ready to depart this world, in the blink of an eye God will transfer us into heaven and into His very presence.

This is the gospel, the good news of God’s eternal salvation. The duty of man is clear: he must believe the gospel and commit his total being to Christ Jesus the Lord and begin to follow and live for Him. Note a significant fact: salvation is the good news of God. It is not the ideas, opinions, and thoughts of a man. Men may have their own ideas about how man can be saved, but their ideas are just that—ideas. Their thoughts are not the thoughts of God; their good news is not the good news of God. The end result of their ideas and opinions is the grave. No man can save men—not beyond the grave. At most, all man can do is delay and extend life a little while longer. No man can give life to any other man. The messages of men about life and the salvation of life are meaningless and empty. The only gospel that is true is God’s gospel. His gospel and His gospel alone is the gospel of salvation. The wonder and greatness of salvation is just this: God has loved us and spoken to us. He has loved us so much that He has sent His Son into the world to die for us and to save us. God has saved us; He has spoken to us in His Son—spoken the glorious gospel of eternal salvation.

“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” ().

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” ().

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” ().

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” ().

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” ().

“Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” ().

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” ().

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” ().

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” ().

7 (1:12) Salvation—Angels: salvation is so glorious that even the angels stand in stark amazement, eagerly watching salvation take place. The angels are not able to experience salvation, for they are of the spiritual world. But what God is doing in salvation is so astounding and glorious that they stand in stark amazement at God’s workings (see note— for more discussion).

Thought 1. No believer, layman or minister, should ever treat the gospel of salvation lightly. It is so glorious and so astounding that it demands the utmost diligence and effort …

• in studying

• in witnessing

• in praying

• in living

• in teaching and preaching

• in ministering and serving

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” ().

“For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God” ().

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Ph. 2:9–11).

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seal thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever” ().1

1 Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). 1 Peter–Jude (pp. 19–29). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.