Text: 1 Peter 1:8-12 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith — the salvation of your souls. 10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things which angels desire to look into. NKJV
Big Idea: Christians can experience overwhelming joy, (especially in times of trial) through our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Introduction: Peter statement that our "hope" is not built upon the temporal, "not seeing" or the human senses which are of the flesh but our love for Jesus exist in the spirit. the love the repentant heart has developed a love for Christ through the Spirit. Jesus told to the woman of Samaria that her relationship with God was to be connected to a place or through the use of our senses but we would worship God in the Spirit. The love that is a developed through use of our senses is shallow and temporary. It is but a shallow heart that can tell its treasures. "He is a poor man who can count his flock," says a proverb. All deep emotions pass beyond speech. The deepest love can but "love and be silent." The great river slides along with equable and noiseless motion, while the brook chatters among its pebbles. The Christian joy is not in need of laughter, nor of words, nor of any outward signs. Mirth is noisy; deep joy is calm, gave, still. It sits at the Master's feet, and moves not in its deep restfulness; only the light in the eyes and the holy glow on the still face tell the depth of the blessedness. Earth's joys are the crackling of thorns; Christian joy burns steadily.
(from The Pulpit Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." NKJV
Peter states that his readers were rejoicing "with joy inexpressible and full of glory." At the center of this overwhelming joy was their relationship with Christ. According to Peter we find this joy through:
1. Waiting for Jesus
"Jesus Christ. . . .whom having not seen. . . .Though now you do not see Him."
Peter states that his readers were rejoicing "with joy inexpressible and full of glory." At the center of this overwhelming joy was their relationship with Christ. According to Peter we find this joy through:
Waiting for Jesus-Our faith is tested by the fire for a purpose--that it may be found to praise, honor, and glory, at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen Him, you love Him. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, and you rejoice with joy inexpressible and filled with glory (v. 8).
A. Our relationship is evidenced by our genuine love and trust.
It is hard to say which of these is first or chief. We cannot love without believing (trust), and we cannot trust (believe) without loving. No man is a genuine believer who does not love the Lord Jesus. The agape love we have for Jesus produces great joy and rejoicing.
B. Peter also commends the faith (trust) of his readers. To love Him goes hand in hand with believing in Him. Jesus told the doubting, must-see, disciple, Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed, (John 20:29). Believing is not based on seeing. God places a premium on faith that is the substance of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). Faith accepts the revealed, written record of Christ, which portrays Him in His reality (Col. 1:15-20), and leads believers to love Him. The more faith can know of Christ, and the more such knowledge possess the heart, the stronger the believers' love for Him. Seeing will be the portion of believers at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
C. Our relationship is evidenced by our great rejoicing.
The relationship caused Peter's readers to greatly rejoice. Inexpressible (aneklaleto) literally means "higher than speech." Words can never adequately describe. This joy, which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, is ineffable. It defies description. And this joy is full of glory (doxazo), meaning "to render highest praise." In their relationship with Christ, believers have both a supernatural love and a transcendent joy.
Peter's point in the verse is clear. Believers who suffer are not overcome with defeat by their trials. They love and rejoice in Christ Jesus, even though they have never seen Him and do not see Him now. Their lives are characterized by a hope that fills the present with love and joy.
Sources:
The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Peter, Jude
R.C. Sproul: 1-2 Peter
MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 1 Peter
Hope Again: Charles Swindoll
Tried by Fire: F.B. Meyer
D. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. NKJV
John 20:29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." NKJV
2. Loving Jesus
"Jesus Christ . . .whom . . . .you love."
1Peter 1:8 states that " Though now you do not see Him (Pet 1:8)" we have a love (agapao) for Jesus Christ and the outpouring of our love fills us " with joy inexpressible and full of glory". Before the world began we were chosen to be His children and "joint heirs" (Eph 1:4) that before this world was spoken in existence that God "had us on His mind" and it was His great love for us that He sent His Son to redeem us from the hand of sin and to save us from eternal separation..
Eph 1:4-6 Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. 5 Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) 6 He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
A. Having Not Seen
1. As we observed the attributes of God through His Son Jesus (John 14:9) we see the very nature of God's love for us. From the Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:20 has one central theme, God's love for us and desire is to have a personal relationship with each and "is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9)". Even in the times when we experience the "fiery trials" (1 Pe1:7) that God's love is refining and defining who we are in order that we can achieve a greater and deeper personal relationship with God the Father and His Son.
1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us. NKJV
Rom 5:8-9 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. NKJV
2. Peter had the opportunity to see Jesus and states that even though we have not seen Jesus with our eyes we love Him with love (agapao). The love we have for Jesus is rooted and grounded in and through faith. Our love for Jesus is not contingent up on seeing, touching or feelings but in a personal relationship with Jesus. Our faith has produced a love of for Jesus without seeing Him. Many people have said that if they could just see Jesus they would believe. However Jesus said that we who believe and have not seen would be blessed as a result of not seeing but believing.
Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. NKJV
Ephesians 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, NKJV
John 20:29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." NKJV
B. Whom You Loved
1. The word love (agapao") speaks of a love which is awakened by a sense value in an object which causes one to prize it. It is a love that springs from apprehension of the preciousness of an object, a love that is called out of a person heart by an awaken sense of value in the object loved that causes one to prize it. (Word Studies in New Testament Greek, Wuest's Word Studies, p.60). The Greek language (the language of the New Testament) uses two different words to describe and define love. The most commonly used Greek word translated "love" in the New Testament is "agape." This love is depicted by God's love for us.(John 3:16) It is a sacrificial love that is best exemplified by God's provision for our rebellion, God loved us "while we were yet sinners" (Rom 5:8). The second Greek word "phileo" is defined as "brotherly love." Phileo is fleshly (connected through our emotions) kind of love - something that can be experienced by both Christians and un-believers. On the contrary Jesus love for us is unconditional and limitless. This is in contrast to agape, which is love extended through the spirit. "Agape" love requires a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, since the non-repentant soul is unable to love unconditionally ("agape"). Agape love gives and sacrifices expecting nothing back in return. Love will always act, whether, it comes with an alabaster flask of expensive ointment to give (Mark 14:3-9), or stands unashamedly and broken at the foot of the cross (John 19:25-30), or boldly anoints a body for burial (John 19:38-42)...love always acts (John 14:21; 1 John 4:7-8). This love is called out of one's heart by the preciousness of the One loved.
Rom 5:8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved).
John 20:29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." NKJV
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. NKJV
Rom 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJV
1 Peter 2:7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," NKJV
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. NKJV
2. Peter's statement that we love Jesus even though we had not seen Him with our eyes implies that a love relationship with the risen Savior has out of our engrafted faith in an unseen Redeemer. This love (agape) is deeper than seeing, talking or even in person contact but, it is born of our heart and that kind of love can only be experienced by a person who is "born again" (Jn 3:3). That kind of relationship between our Redeemer and the redeemed will last forever and will produce joy that cannot be measured, described or lost. It is not about but about Him.
Text Illustration: LOVE IS THE GREATEST
"God’s love is not cheap or sentimental. It is priceless and incomparable. The way of love is God’s way, and His way is the only way to abundant and victorious living. It is the best way. Life apart from God's love is failure. In fact, living without love is merely existing! The prize of love can be gained when we are willing to pay the price. It may involve heartbreak, suffering, disappointment, frustration, exhaustion, and tears. The call to love is not for the halfhearted. It is a full-time, lifelong vacation. Though it is not an easy road, it is a satisfying one. Those who embark on it would never turn back for any simple pleasures of the old turned-in way of life. It is the exciting peak that must be climbed, the zenith of all Christian experience. Love is the greatest!" ( George Sweeting – Love is the Greatest - page 122:)
3. Believing And Receiving Jesus
1 Peter 1:8-9 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith — the salvation of your souls.
A. Believing On Jesus
1. Now, because we love Jesus. Now because we believe in Jesus. Now because we have confessed with our mouths and believed in our hearts that the Jesus is our Savior and our Lord … because of this … Peter tells us in verse 9 "9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls." Peter is saying that one of these days when you see Jesus and when it all comes together, - we will receive our full and final salvation.
2. John 20:31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. NKJV
Rom 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. NKJV
B. Receiving From Jesus
1 Peter 1:9: 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. (NKJV )
1. Peter tells us even more about the characteristics of our salvation. The word “receiving” (the Greek participle-komizomenoi) is best understood as “perpetually receiving.” In the original language “receiving” is in the present tense and is understood as not only does a person “receive” their salvation immediately and instantly when they confess their faith in Jesus Christ. Peter tells us that this salvation is “perpetually received,” it is continually received – it is never lost from that moment. This is confirmed by Jesus in John 10:28 “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (NKJV).
Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: NKJV
2. Starting with the end of verse 9, “the salvation of your souls” what encouragement Peter gives us. A person is made up of body and soul. The “soul” is that part, which on our bodily death, is immediately changed from a fleshly orientation to a spiritual orientation (Patterson, A Pilgrim Priesthood, page 41). Jesus told the thief on the cross “today you will be with me in Paradise (heaven).” When we die our spirit is immediately with Jesus – the salvation of our soul from death itself. Hallelujah and Amen.
3. So Peter says we “perpetually receive” our faith but then he adds “end of your faith.” The word “end” (Greek noun, telos) suggests that a future gift is in view also. It is possible that we have here the “now” and “not yet” tension that is so common in the New Testament. Believers now enjoy salvation now, right now, and yet will experience it fully at the revelation of Jesus Christ (New American Commentary, Schreiner, T. R. (2003). 1, 2 Peter, Jude (Vol. 37, p. 70). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers).
4. Believers now enjoy salvation and yet will experience it fully at the revelation of Jesus Christ at His Second Coming. In any case, believers are full of love and joy even now because of the hope of salvation.
