Joy Unspeakable!
1 Peter 1:3-8
Introduction: The Word of God mentions the word "unspeakable" three times:
- 2 Corinthians 9:15, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable Gift."
- 2 Corinthians 12:4, "How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."
- 1 Peter 1:8, "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."
In these verses, we find God's unspeakable Gift, His unspeakable Words, and our unspeakable joy.
- God's unspeakable Gift is Jesus. The fact, that God gave Jesus, leaves us unable to declare its wonder.
- God's unspeakable Words were too sacred to divulge.
- Our unspeakable joy is joy so full it defies description.
Today, I want to speak on Peter's words, "...ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." What an incredible statement! These believers had never seen Jesus, as Peter did, yet they were able to love Jesus and rejoice in Christ with indescribable joy. They were in great tribulation, because they had been scattered abroad. How could they have joy unspeakable?
1. Because they were born-again. - 1 Peter 1:3
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again..."
- This is what is meant by "begotten again."
- This ought to be the main reason Christians rejoice in the Lord. There was a time when the Lord had sent the disciples out to do the work of the Lord. While they were out, they found out that what Jesus had promised them was true. However, in the midst of their rejoicing, Jesus taught them an important lesson, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:17-20)
- Is there any greater reason to rejoice? Not according to Jesus. About what do you rejoice?
2. Because they had a lively hope. - 1 Peter 1:3
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
- This lively hope was the hope of living again. This life is not all there is. There is a real place called Heaven, and I'm going there someday! If you are saved, you are going there, too.
- In 1 Corinthians 15, the great resurrection chapter, the Apostle Paul writes, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (1 Corinthians 15:19)
- Some have said even if the resurrection is not true, they are glad for the life they lived as a Christian. Paul said "not so." He said those, who hope only in this life, are most miserable.
- Brethren, we have a Home beyond the river!
3. Because of their inheritance. - 1 Peter 1:4
"To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you."
- Paul wrote, in Romans 1:23, that God is "...uncorruptible..."
* Our inheritance in Heaven is as incorruptible as God. That means it is not liable to corruption or decay; it is imperishable.
* Our inheritance in Heaven is as undefiled as God. That means it is free from that by which the nature of a thing is deformed and debased, or impaired.
* Our inheritance in Heaven is as unfading as God. This beautiful word is taken from the name of a flower, the amaranth. This flower always comes back! Our inheritance may be covered by the cold winter's snow, but it will always be there!
* Our inheritance in Heaven is reserved for us. This means that God personally attends to our inheritance very carefully. It means He personally takes care of our inheritance. He takes it upon Himself to personally guard it on our behalf.
- Jesus promised, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 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." (John 14:1-3)
- When we got saved, we became rich in the riches found only in Jesus. This gives Philippians 4:19 a whole new meaning, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
4. Because they were kept by the power of God. - 1 Peter 1:5
"Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
- This is one of the most beautiful things about our salvation. You see, we are saved by grace through faith. Then, we are kept by the power of God, not our own!
- The Bible makes it abundantly clear, once a person gets saved, he is saved forever! To deny this, would be to deny much of the Bible. On the other hand, to believe that you could actually lose your salvation, would be to put something in the Bible that simply does not exist.
- God does the saving...ALL OF IT! He also does the keeping. And all God's people said, "Amen!"
Conclusion: Peter writes, "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations." (1 Peter 1:6) In other words, not even manifold temptations could take away the unspeakable joy of belonging to Jesus! They may have lost all they owned and been scattered throughout the region, but no matter what, they still had Jesus. This brought them joy unspeakable!
This reminds me of the song "Treasures."
One by one He took them from me,
All the things I valued most
Until I was empty handed,
Every glittering toy was lost.
And I walked earth's highway grieving
In my rags and poverty
Till I heard His voice inviting,
"Lift your empty hands to Me."
Till I heard His voice inviting,
"Lift your empty hands to Me."
So I held my hands toward Heaven,
And He filled them with a store
Of His own transcendent riches
Till they could contain no more.
And at that I comprehended,
With my stupid mind and dull
That God could not pour His riches
Into hands already full.
That God could not pour His riches
Into hands already full.
