Opening illustration: In the 1980s, Northern Nevada was the site of a gold strike. The discovery would have been beyond the imagination of 19th century prospectors, for the gold in those western hills is virtually invisible. Even after being magnified 1,500 times, most of the particles remain imperceptible.
Modern technology, however, has found a way to extract the gold. First, tons of ore are crushed to the consistency of sand. Then cyanide is added to dissolve the granules into a clear solution. When zinc dust is blended in, the gold separates from the mixture. The gold was there all the time, but it couldn’t be seen.
There is a similarity here to Peter’s explanation of suffering in his New Testament letter. He saw great potential in the mountains of adversity and affliction that faced the Lord’s people. So he encouraged them to look beyond the heat and pressure produced by their suffering to the precious faith of the Lord was developing from it (1 Peter 1: 6 – 7). He showed them that the ‘faith processing’ experience was of great value to their spiritual lives. Therefore, they could actually rejoice in it (v. 8).
Introduction: The theme for 1 Peter is Suffering and Glory. It was written from Babylon (5: 13) a symbolic name for “Rome” much used by writers who wished to avoid trouble with the Roman authorities. It was addressed to the Hebrew Christians living under the persecution of Nero in Rome. Their situation was of suffering and trial. The sufferings referred to are those which often come to Christians as they live faithfully in a pagan and hostile society with wider application to all the believers in Christ. Peter pleads for steadfastness in time of suffering, in the light of the believer’s hope in the resurrected Redeemer. The readers are encouraged to rejoice and live above such reproach. The Epistle is full of exhortations to godly living and is replete with quotations from the allusions to the OT. It is the fulfillment of the commission given to Peter by Christ in Luke 22: 31 – 32.
Effects of Trials and Suffering:-
1. Benefit of Christ’s Death (vs. 1 – 2):
(v.1) The word ‘Pilgrims’ or ‘Aliens’ is applied to those who settled in a town or region without making it their permanent place of residence. The readers, whose true citizenship was in heaven, are viewed as temporary residents of the provinces of Asia Minor as stated in the verse. It would be quite wrong to think that this makes the Christian a bad citizen of the land in which he lives. It is because he sees all things in the light of eternity that he is the best of all citizens, for it is only in the light of eternity that the true value of all things can be seen. Being the chosen people of God we are exiles of eternity.
(v. 2) The idea expressed in this verse is that God in His wisdom has chosen us to salvation through the work of the Holy Spirit, applying in us the worth of the death of Christ so that we might be obedient to Him. All members of the Trinity work to bring about our salvation. The Father chose us before we chose Him (Ephesians 1: 4). Jesus the son died for us while were yet sinners (Romans 5: 6 – 10). The Holy Spirit brings us the benefits of salvation and sets us apart (sanctifies us) for God’s service (2 Thessalonians 2: 13).
The true predestination or foreknowledge of God is:-
• He that believeth shall be saved from the guilt and power of sin.
• He that endures to the end shall be saved eternally.
• They who receive the precious gift of faith thereby become the sons of God; and, being sons, they shall receive the Spirit of holiness, to walk as Christ also walked.
‘In sanctification of the spirit’ ~ means by which they become elect are pointed out. They were separated from the world by the gospel, the word of the Spirit, a sanctification which signifies "a setting apart to holy uses." They were thus separated unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. In obeying this they were "baptized into the death of Christ" (Rom_6:1-4), and their sins were pardoned. The sanctification in this case precedes obedience and pardon. sanctification of the Spirit; or else the obedience of Christ is intended; and so the Arabic version renders it, "unto the obedience of Jesus Christ"; which lay in his performing the precepts of the law, and bearing the penalty of it, death; and by which the chosen seed are justified, or made righteous in the sight of God, and have a title to eternal life and glory, and are safe from wrath to come; and to the enjoyment of this grace. Through sanctification of the Spirit - through the renewing and purifying influences of his Spirit on their souls, unto obedience - to engage and enable them to yield themselves up to all holy obedience, the foundation of all which is, the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ - The atoning blood of Christ, which was typified by the sprinkling of the blood of sacrifices under the law; in allusion to which it is called "the blood of sprinkling."
At the beginning of v. 2 Peter calls us elect (chosen by God) which encourages the Christians by this strong declaration. In the OT the only elect were the Israelites but now as they had rejected Christ the son of God and continually disobeyed God and worshipped idols, God opened the window of being the elect to the Gentiles through Christ’s death. We have the honor of being specially chosen by God. But there is also a challenge and responsibility here. God always chooses for service. The honor that God gives a man is the honor of being used for His plans and for His purposes. The fact that we are chosen means that the honor and work of God are delivered into our hands. It was precisely there that the Jews failed, and we have to see to it that the tragedy of a like failure does not mark our lives. Election is according to the foreknowledge of God (1Pe_1:2) and wholly of grace, apart from human merit. (Rom_9:11); (Rom_11:5); (Rom_11:6). [For many are called, but few are chosen. ~ Matthew 22: 14]
v. 2 Ends with ‘grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied;’ grace that we don’t deserve ‘coz of our sin & peace through the blood of Christ, which surpasses all understanding, and a more established and well grounded hope of enjoying eternal peace hereafter. The phrase is Jewish, and is used in their salutations in this form; (SHALOM) "let your peace be multiplied."
2. Result of Christ’s Resurrection (vs. 3 – 5):
If Jesus had just died on the cross, we could not have been saved. That may be shocking to say that - not saved by the death of Jesus Christ? If Jesus had just died on the cross, we could not have been forgiven. But Jesus did not stay dead. He died for us but He also rose from the dead. His resurrection proved that His sacrifice was accepted by God. His resurrection proved that our sins are really forgiven. His resurrection proved that He is able to give us new life, that we too are raised from the death of sin into the glory of new life, that He is able to keep us forever, that He is able to take us to heaven when we die. Here then is a sure and certain hope; here is a hope that cannot fail; here is a hope that is firmly anchored in heaven in the person of Jesus Christ.
v. 3 meaning either the grace of hope, which is implanted in regeneration, and not before; for then, and then only, is a good hope through grace given; and it may be said to be "lively", or "living", inasmuch as it is fixed, not on dead works, but on a living Christ, on his person, blood, and righteousness; and is not the hope of a dead sinner, of a lifeless hypocrite, and formal professor, that has a name to live, and is dead, but of a living believer, one made truly alive by the spirit of life, from Christ; and is what is sometimes, at least, in lively exercise, and makes the heart of a believer cheerful, brisk, and lively; and is what is lasting and durable, and will never be lost, but will be held fast unto the end: or else the thing hoped for is intended, the hope laid up in heaven; the blessed hope regenerate ones are born unto, and are looking for, even eternal life and happiness; and the Syriac version renders it, "unto hope of life": that is, or eternal life; and so reads one of Stephens’s copies. Saints are both begotten again to the grace of hope, and to the glory which that grace is waiting for: the means is,
‘To His abundant mercy has begotten us’ (Born Again) ~ Regeneration (begotten) is the blessing thanks are given for; and if we are to be thankful to God, and bless his name, because he hath made us creatures, and hath given us a natural being; much more should we praise him for making us new creatures, and giving us a spiritual being. To be "begotten again", and so to be born again, is opposed unto, and distinguished from our first birth, when we were conceived, and shaped in sin; and designs a birth, spiritual, holy, and heavenly; it is signified by a being quickened, or made alive; so as in a spiritual sense, to see, and hear, and breathe after divine things, and to live a life of faith and holiness; by Christ being formed in the heart; by a partaking of the divine nature, and by being made new men, or new creatures: God, and not man, is the efficient cause of this, which is sometimes ascribed to the Spirit, and sometimes to the Son, and here to the Father; and it is not men’s works, but his own good will and pleasure, his great love and free favor, his rich grace and abundant mercy, are the impulsive, or moving cause of it; and abundance of grace and mercy indeed is displayed in the regeneration and conversion of sinners.
v. 4 ‘To an inheritance’ - For if we are sons and daughters, then we are heirs. It is “Incorruptible” - it is indestructible. It cannot be damaged in any way - no rust, no moth, no germ, no fire can touch it. There was a man who was willed a beautiful home in Louisiana, but the very night the original owner died, the house caught fire and burned down - and it was not insurance. The wonderful home that he was to inherit went up in smoke. It not like any earthly treasure. Peter is talking about an inheritance that cannot decay, rot or ruin. The inheritance is a hope not merely of eternal existence, but we become heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ.
Romans 8: 17 ‘and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.’
Ephesians 1: 18 ‘the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,’
“Undefiled” - it has no spot of dirt or pollution on it; it is pure. It is sinless and eternal. Pure and holy, incapable of being itself defiled, or of being enjoyed by any polluted soul.
“That does not fade away” - we won’t inherit it and then find it to be worthless, like some stock that once had value and then became completely valueless. That never decays in its value, sweetness, or beauty, like all the enjoyments of this world, like the garlands of leaves or flowers, with which the ancient conquerors were wont to be crowned. This phrase is an allusion to the reward given to athletes in Peter’s day. Today, winners in the Olympics are give medals, but back then were rewarded with a crown made of leaves which, although considered very valuable, would very quickly fade and lose its beauty.
“Reserved in heaven for you” - The word “reserved” means it is guarded. God is taking care of it for us. We couldn’t have it in a better safety deposit box than that. Such a place as that described above is not to be expected on earth; it is that which was typified by the earthly Canaan, and in reference to which the patriarchs endured all trials and difficulties in this life, as seeing Him who is invisible. Who "by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory and honor and immortality."
v. 5 Salvation does not only refer to the initial experience of accepting Jesus Christ as Savior. It also the final, inclusive result of salvation; eternal bliss in the presence and service of God. What does the consummation of salvation include? No one knows, for as Paul said, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard” what “God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
We are told that we are kept by the power of God until that day. This is a military term for the protection of a city by means of a military garrison. In the picture here, the power of God corresponds to an army with the sole function of protecting believers. Isaiah 49: 16 says, “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.” Some people say a Christian can lose his salvation. But if God’s power is keeping our salvation, how can we lose it. The answer is - we can’t. Philippians 1: 6 tells us, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” The inheritance is reserved for those who are kept safe by God’s power, through faith, so that they endure to the end.
‘Ready to be revealed’ - Or rather, prepared to be revealed. The inheritance is prepared for you; but its glories will not be revealed till the last time - till you have done with life, and passed through your probation, having held fast faith and a good conscience. Some by salvation understand the deliverance of the Christians from the sack age of Jerusalem, the end of the Jewish polity being called the last time; others suppose it to refer to the Day of Judgment, and the glorification of the body and soul in heaven.
3. Hope through our faith-test (vs. 6 – 7):
Peter mentions suffering a number of times. It does not refer to natural calamities or God’s punishment but the response of the unbelieving world to people of faith.
Why were / are Christians persecuted?
• Refused to worship the emperor so they were considered traitors
• Refused to worship at pagan temples thus their business dropped
• Refused to support the ideals of the Roman government and the Romans scorned the Christian ideal of self-sacrificing service
• Reject being part of the common pagan culture surrounding them
• The Christians exposed and rejected the horribly immorality of pagan culture
v.6 If need be ~ if your situation and circumstances be such that you are exposed to trials and persecutions which you cannot avoid, unless God were to work a miracle for your deliverance, which would not be for your ultimate good, as he purposes to turn all your trials and difficulties to your advantage. Sometimes there is a kind of necessity that the followers of God should be afflicted; when they have no trials they are apt to get careless, and when they have secular prosperity they are likely to become worldly-minded. “God,” said a good man, “can neither trust me with health nor money; therefore I am both poor and afflicted.” But the Disciples of Christ may be very happy in their souls, though grievously afflicted in their bodies and in their estates. Those to whom St. Peter wrote rejoiced greatly, danced for joy, while they were grieved, with various trials. The verb λυπεω signifies to grieve, to make sorrowful: perhaps heaviness is not the best rendering of the original word, as this can scarcely ever consist with rejoicing; but to be sorrowful on account of something external to ourselves, and yet exulting in God from a sense of his goodness to us, is quite compatible: so that we may say with St. Paul, always sorrowing, yet still rejoicing.
The Bible makes it clear that some suffering is the result of evil action or sin in the world. This type of suffering came upon man after the FALL in the Garden of Eden
Suffering also helps believers to identify with Christ, which is more than suffering for Christ. Through persecution and tortures, people have suffered for the sake of Christ and His kingdom
The KJV in v.6 stated ‘manifold trials’ (poikilos) ~ which literally means many colored. Our troubles may be of many colors but so in the grace of God. There is grace to match every trial, and there is no trial without grace. We can stand anything, because at the end of it, when Christ appears, we will receive from Him praise, glory and honor.
v.7 Another comforting fact about our trials is that they are actually for our own good. Peter uses the word “precious.” This is often considered a feminine word. To some women everything is “precious.” You don’t often hear a man saying, “That’s a precious car” or “That tractor is a precious machine.” But notice who uses the word “precious” here - it’s the rugged fisherman Peter. And of all things to call precious, he says the trial of the genuineness of our faith is more precious than gold.
They can stand anything that comes, if they remember that every trial is, in fact, a test. Before gold is pure it has to be tried and tested and purified in the fire. The trials that come to a man are tests of his faith, and out of then his faith can emerge is stronger and clearer and firmer than ever it was before. The rigors which the athlete has to undergo are not made to make him collapse; they are meant to make him able to develop more and more strength, stamina and staying-power. In this world trial and affliction are not meant to take the strength out of us, but to keep the strength into us. The object of the gospel, "the faith," and of their faith was salvation.
In Jeremiah 29: 11 God tells us that, ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.’
Why would Peter say that our trials are precious? Because God uses them to make us better. He was looking at the end result of our trials, not the process. We know that gold is purified by intense heat. When the gold reaches a certain heat, the impurities float to the top and can be skimmed off. In a similar way, God uses trials to make us more like He wants us to be. Trials test the genuineness of our faith. Trials tell us who is really trusting in God. James wrote that “the trying of your faith works patience” (James 1:3). God does not try us because He wants to be mean to us, but because He wants to teach us patience, help us grow, and prove the genuineness of our faith. Suffering for Christ is going to sanctify us and prepare us for His coming and future glory.
David Watson said, “It’s sometimes only through suffering that we begin to listen to God. Our natural pride and self-confidence have to be stripped painfully away and we become aware, perhaps for the first time, of our own personal needs.” [e.g. cancer and types of diseases etc.]
Future Glory: This is to come to pass so that when Christ is revealed / appears, you will be praised, glorified and honored before all flesh. Do you look forward to hearing from God himself, ‘Enter into the Kingdom, My true and faithful servant.’ [Look at the end of v. 7]
Illustration: Vance Havner said, “God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to produce rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume . . . it is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.”
Conclusion: Don’t give into life’s troubles. You may not see in them the rich potential of a strong faith, but it’s there. To have it developed is much more precious than gold!
Faith-Testing Times Can Be Faith-Strengthening Times.
