Sermon Date: March 13, 2011
Sermon Title: Higher Definition
Sermon Text: I Peter 1:6-9
Small Group Text: 1 Peter 1:1-16 Read 1 Peter 1:1-16 In 64 A.D., the Roman Emperor, Nero, mounted a vicious campaign of persecution against the Christian church in Rome. It is believed that the Apostle Peter was martyred in Rome during this period. But before his death, Peter, anticipating that this storm of persecution would spread to Asia Minor, wrote a letter of encouragement and instruction to be circulated among the churches in that region (1 Peter 1:1) Think of 1 Peter as an instruction manual written for ambassadors to a hostile foreign land. The author expected the ambassadors would be persecuted – their very lives possibly in peril. He wrote to advise them on how to respond to trouble and persecution in ways that would bring honor and glory to the King and Kingdom they represent. Specifically, Peter advised the Church that the values and priorities of the Kingdom they represent would be evidenced in how they lived in the midst of an environment that was antagonistic against Christianity (1 Peter 5:12). Peter’s letter progresses as follows. Christ’s ambassadors (Christians in the world)… •
Have been given a new birth – a living hope of eternal life.
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Must imitate the conduct of their King, just as Christ endured unjust suffering.
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Should demonstrate the truth of God’s grace to an unbelieving and hostile world.
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Must stand together as “living stones” against the mounting tide of persecution.
Should view their lives (sufferings and persecution) against the backdrop of eternity when they will receive an inheritance in heaven that will never perish, spoil, or fade. The Truth About Troubles and Persecution •
Life is full of them (verse 6) God’s people have never been exempt from difficult circumstances. In fact, since the beginning of time, God’s people have suffered for the sake of righteousness. But the church has persevered in the knowledge that God is sovereign (in control) even during difficult times. And, in fact, He is able to use trials and tribulations to the advantage of His people as they learn to persevere. Their moral resolve and spiritual commitments become strengthened through the testing times (James 1:2-4, 12). In this passage, Peter explains why Christians can withstand the onslaught of persecution and hardship: There is no trouble on earth, no trial or persecution that can counteract the Christian’s “living hope” – a source of great rejoicing throughout difficult circumstances: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, [5] who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5
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This living hope is not some vague religious notion. It is truth rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ – a reality which, when grasped by faith, liberates Christians from fear in the face of persecution and ignites a sturdy and steadfast trust in God. The Apostle John wrote, “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). Authentic faith – this “living hope” – enables the Christian to exult in Christ in any and every situation because the object of faith is independent of circumstances. This is not a naïve denial of pain. But it is a different perspective. Indeed, troubles and persecution produce a certain level of trepidation and grief. But they cannot diminish the deep and abiding hope and joy which are rooted in a future perspective that looks forward to the glory, the magnificent inheritance, and the eternal life God has promised to His faithful people. When this truth is understood and lived out in confidence, trials and tribulations become less fearsome. God will not give you more than you can bear Peter rightly observes that Christians will likely undergo “various” trials. The word Peter uses for “various” is the Greek word, poikilos, which literally means variegated or manycolored. And here’s an interesting thought: Peter uses this same word only one more time, but in 1 Peter 4:10, he uses it to describe God’s attribute of grace. Perhaps we can take courage in our various troubles in the knowledge that God’s grace is also multifaceted or “variegated” to meet each trial. There is no trial or tribulation, no persecution, but what God’s grace is not sufficient to keep the believer firmly in His grasp. In other words, there is a divine grace to match every type of trouble. But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it. 1 Cor. 10:13 (NLT) There is a purpose behind them. (verse 7) These various trials (persecution and troubles) are not random events. They are purposeful: •
They refine or purify the Christian’s faith – even as dross is removed from gold by the refiner’s fire.
They reveal the quality of the Christian’s public faith – whether it’s genuine or contrived. The word Peter uses for “proved genuine” is the Greek word, dokimion, meaning “to test for the purpose of approving.” (See also James 1:3,12.) If the believer’s faith is genuine, pressures and stress only deepen and strengthen it – and give occasion for its reality to be displayed before a watching world. Our refinement will bring glory, honor and praise The graphic image of God’s people being tested like precious metals, purified in the refiner’s fire, is a common image from the Old Testament (Job 23:10; Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 17:3; Isaiah 43:2; Jeremiah 11:4, Malachi 3:3). Ores of precious metals (the most precious of which was gold) would be melted down over a hot fire to separate out the impurities and produce purer metal. And how would the ancient refiner know when his work was done? By looking down into the molten gold and seeing the image of his own face as if in a mirror. When the undistorted image of the refiner could be clearly seen, he would know his work of purifying was complete. This was Peter’s point as he compared purified faith with purified gold. Sometimes, there is no gentle way for God to separate out the worthless stuff of a believer’s life. Only through the refining fires of trials and suffering is he/she conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. Contrasted with gold, faith is so much more precious. Refined gold may last a long time, but it will eventually come to nothing (1 Peter 1:18; cf. James 5:3). But the pure and refined faith of a Christian results in 1) an inheritance that can never perish and 2) praise, glory and honor from Jesus Christ when He returns (is revealed, 5:1) to claim his church at the end of this age. •
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Here then are the realities which strengthen the Church during times of trouble: •
We share an eternal glory with Jesus Christ.
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We are purified as the dross of our lives evaporate in the refining fires of trouble
• At the end of time, we will hear Jesus say, "Well done!" to all his faithful people. You will survive them. (verses 8-9) Through the eyes of faith, Jesus Christ becomes the focal point of a believer’s life – during both the good and bad of life. And joy is the result. Unlike Peter, his readers had never experienced Jesus in human form. But although they never knew Him in the flesh, they loved him. Although they had not seen him with their physical eyes, they believed in Him. And mystically, through the presence and power of Christ’s indwelling Spirit, their faith produced, not only joy beyond words, but absolute confidence and assurance in the promises of God. Perhaps in this passage, Peter was recalling Jesus’ own words: Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." [28] Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" [29] Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:27-29
You are receiving the goal of your faith According to Peter, “testing” could be joyous rather than dreadful if his readers would keep in mind the end goal of their faith. And it was not some, fanciful, future, pie-in-thesky goal. The goal to which Peter referred was a reward so comprehensive that it encompassed the believer’s past experience, present circumstance, and future hope. In other words, all the while they were persevering in their faith – they were also receiving the goal of their faith. Believers can rejoice in the midst of trouble because they are already (in the present tense) receiving what God promised, namely salvation, the result of their faith. For those who love God and believe in Jesus Christ, salvation is past (“He has given us new birth,” v. 3). But it is also present (“through faith are shielded by God’s power,” v. 5). And it is just as much a future reward (it is their “inheritance,” v. 4, which will “be revealed in the last time,” v. 5, and is “the goal of your faith,” v. 9). All of this – in spite of persecution – is certainly cause for “inexpressible and glorious joy”! Even though now, we are privileged to see and know Jesus through the eyes of spiritual faith, the day is coming when we will see Jesus face to face. And if we have inexpressible joy now – having not seen him, imagine the joy we can anticipate when we finally do see him in person. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Cor. 13:12 Keeping it real: None of us like to suffer. And so we instinctively want to move through the difficult periods as quickly as possible, not realizing that trials or persecution have the potential to purify and mature our souls, moving us to be more like Jesus Christ. Our best response is to accept suffering with faith, surrender, resignation and humility, the same spirit Jesus had when He unjustly suffered at the hands of others. Difficult times can shock us out of spiritual lethargy and put us on new paths of spiritual maturity and position us to receive from God a reward of immeasurable value. As counter-intuitive as it may seem, perhaps we need to welcome difficult circumstances as magnificent opportunities for life change and prerequisites to eternal rewards.
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