1 Peter 1:6-9
Suffering and Salvation

  1. The Revealing of Salvation in the Last Time Produces Rejoicing
    (I want to work through the first part of this slowly, because I'll be working against your translations as well as my initial impressions on this passage. Normally, I just present the results of my study in the sermon and concentrate on preaching the passage to you. Here, I feel I need to demonstrate to you that the passage means what I claim since that claim is not obviously right.)
    1. "In this" refers to "the last time" mentioned in the previous verse
      (I'm going to need to slow down and walk you through this)
      1. Many commentators want to take it as referring vaguely to everything in the prior 3 verses
      2. But the Greek phrase simply doesn't work that way.
        1. In almost 100 uses (NT and OT) about 90% of the time refers to a word that came right before
        2. In the other cases, the word occurs somewhere in the previous verse (with one exception)
        3. "In this" in Greek never refers back to an entire sentence or set of verses.
        4. And there are other, perfectly good Greek phrases Peter could have employed if he'd wanted to refer back to vv. 3-5 in a general sort of way.
        5. And—contrary to what I've said in conversation—the Greek of 1 Peter is quite good and polished (unlike 2 Peter).
        6. In other words the "this" doesn't refer to the preceding generally but to a word or group of words specifically.
        7. That word is "time" (modified by the word "last")
      3. Thus "In the last time you greatly rejoice."
    2. This rejoicing is future but immanent
      1. Peter is not here referring to the joy we get in contemplating the coming again of Christ
      2. Nor is he talking of the joy we have in the midst of sufferings
        1. This joy is clearly contrasted with the sufferings that we must endure now.
        2. He does say we have that in 1 Pe 4.13, using a different word for rejoicing
        3. But the basis of that joy is the knowledge that we will rejoice exceedingly (using the word in this verse) when his glory is revealed.
        4. 1 Peter 4:13—but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
        5. This is true of the repeat of the word in v. 8 as well
          1. Again, the verb is in the present tense
          2. but is dependent upon our receiving the goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls
          3. And as we shall see, that salvation is consummation/glorification—final and complete salvation.
      3. Peter is talking of future joy
      4. The verb is in the present, but the present takes on a future meaning in this context
        1. This is legal in Greek
        2. And when the present does this it is to emphasize the immanence, the about-to-happenness of the event (our joy)

Remember. I am not denying the NT concept of joy in the midst of suffering. Peter will get to that himself in good time. But that's not what's happening here. Rather, Peter invokes the thought of our final salvation at Christ's return so that we will not lose heart or suppose we must suffer forever. As such, he presents it as just around the corner. He is stating the theme which he will repeat at the end of the letter in 1 Pe 5.10 "10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you."

  1. We will greatly rejoice when our salvation is revealed
    1. Let's not miss out on this encouragement after all that legwork.
    2. And yet I don't need to expound too much on this because Peter will pick up the theme twice more in the next two verses alone.
    3. For now it's enough to remind you that Christ is coming; he is just around the corner
    4. Your great joy, the thing you desire more than anything else, is about to come.
    5. When that last time comes, Christ will set everything to rights and will give you such joy in his presence that you will hardly be able to stand it.
  1. We Suffer Trials Now That Our Faith May Be Refined
    1. Now, for a little while, you suffer various trials
      1. You are grieved by "all sorts of" trials
        1. Peter is very general because he is writing to so many different pilgrims in so many different situations
        2. But also, he wants to emphasize that grief and suffering characterize and pervade the believer's life
        3. "Trials" refers to the ordinary sufferings of this life
          1. Remember that when Messiah came he was supposed to comfort his people and preserve them from all harm.
          2. So why do we get sick, develop back trouble, grow old, grieve over lost loved ones (both saved and unsaved). Why is there so much in this life that distresses, that hurts, that makes us cry?
          3. Peter says this is "necessary" for a reason he'll get to....
        4. But if "trial" has a specific meaning for Peter, it's the scorn and even oppression that come to those who deny the world and trust in Christ
          1. 2.12 they speak against you as evildoers
          2. 2.15 by doing good we silence the ignorance of foolish men
          3. 3.16 having a good conscience when they defame you as evildoers
          4. And is not the name of Christian maligned today and dragged through the mud. Does not the world rejoice when one bearing that name falls into obvious sin? Are we not ridiculed as those who have small brains and reviled as those who have hateful hearts? So it was and is and shall be...
        5. Yet, lest we come to doubt God's faithfulness, Peter assures...
      2. "For a little while"
        1. It shall not be long and Christ will return
        2. Do not be discouraged; this present situation will not last forever
        3. Think of the joy that is about to come, and encourage one another in this joy.

And, even more assuring, Peter insists....

  1. Those trials refine our faith
    1. The purpose of trials is not to weaken our faith but to prove it genuine
    2. Even gold is refined by fire, Peter says; even though it perishes
    3. How much more ought we to be refined by trials that every impurity should be removed from our faith?
    4. It is essential not to sound the wrong note on the nature of trials sent to strengthen faith.
      1. They do not strengthen faith the way weight training strengthens muscle—by giving us increasing levels of difficulty as we bulk up and are better able to take it.
      2. Rather they strengthen faith the way losing our job and home might strengthen our dependence on our parents. We are constantly tempted to rely on ourselves and our abilities. God sends us trials not so that we can become better and more self-assured at conquering them, but so we will come scurrying home to him. Again.
    5. Your faith is now mingled with doubt, with the dependence on the things of this world, on others, on yourself
      1. So your faith does not shine forth as what it is—an utter confidence in God, a certainty regarding his promise, and a complete reliance on his mercy.
      2. Do not fear this refiner's fire; it's aim is to cause that faith to shine by removing those impurities.
        1. Nothing of value will be taken
        2. And God will cause your faith to grow
    6. These trials are not joyful at the time, but they point to a time of joy
  1. And the Goal of That Faith is Salvation when Christ Appears
    1. Faith will result in Praise, Glory, and Honor
      1. For God and Christ, of course, but Peter relates this first to you, the believer
        1. Faith is of no value when we have sight
        2. And so this genuine faith will be exchanged for that lasting currency, the treasure of heaven which you have laid up for yourself by faith
      2. And of course it will be your delight like the saints in Revelation 4 to cast these golden crowns at the feet of your Savior to whom be all praise, glory, and honor.
    2. When Christ is Revealed
      1. Peter does not speak of Christ as "coming" as though he has gone away, but as being revealed
      2. Because you haven't seen him
        1. Peter isn't referring to some privilege he had that they lacked
        2. Even Peter hasn't seen Christ the way he's about to be revealed—in power and glory
      3. Yet you love him
        1. Paul speaks of the crown of righteousness that the Lord will confer on all who "love his appearing" (2 Tm 4.8)
        2. and again "Eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has laid up for those who love him" ( 1 Cor 2.9)
      4. And even now you still don't see him
        1. Part of the suffering of this present time
        2. and the reason for the necessity of faith
        3. hence "believing"
        4. You live this way until the goal of your faith arrives
    3. Then You Will Fully Rejoice
      1. Here we are back again
      2. This joy is inexpressible like Rm 11.33
      3. This joy is glorious
      4. It is the joy of which the Psalmists spoke
        1. Ps 126.6 "Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy"
        2. Ps 30.5 "Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning"
        3. Finally and fully this prayer shall be answered: Psalm 90:13-1513 Return, O Lord! How long? And have compassion on Your servants.14 Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!15 Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, The years in which we have seen evil.
      5. It is about to happen!

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