Ryan James
n the following section of 1 Peter, we will explore how Peter establishes the source of our true joy. Peter explains that our joy does not come from the world, but rather from our salvation through Jesus Christ. It can seem almost impossible to find joy in such an evil era of history. When we look at the fallen world, it is hard not to get discouraged by a secular culture that continues to move further away from God. Every day seems to bring a new atrocity, from the slaughter of the innocent to the blaspheming of God and his word. Thankfully, as Peter points out, our joy does not come from the world but from the steadfast love of God.
In verse 6, Peter reminds us that even though we face trials, as believers we rejoice over the gift God has given us. Knowing the Gospel is not enough to produce the great joy we experience in Jesus Christ; it must also be accompanied by faith. Knowledge of the gospel and what Christ has done for us must be accompanied by faith so that it may then turn into action. Our faith acts on theology and shapes our actions to reflect the content of theology. Once we can act on our faith, we can experience the true joy that Christ provides despite the persecution we as Christians will experience.
John writes in 1 John 5:4, “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” Our faith, or living hope, allows us to rejoice even when we are called to suffer grief through trials. Our joy as Christians is not dependent on our current circumstances, but rather on God’s gift to us. The trials themselves should be seen as an occasion for joy. James makes this clear in James 1:2, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.” James then goes on to state that the trials produce endurance which results in us being made perfect and complete. Here James is referring to the theological term “already not yet”. As Christians, we are already saved through the blood of Jesus Christ, but we are not yet made perfect and complete. Once we are in heaven with Jesus Christ, we will reach perfection and be made complete, but for us to reach that point we must go through trials here on earth. In life, we will face various trials, but our true joy comes from the gospel. We are not reliant on the unpredictability and false hope the world offers but on God’s unchanging love.
When Peter references the trials, he seems to be talking about persecution rather than everyday life problems. The trials have two main results: to purify our faith and prove if it is genuine or not. The trials we face are not just a hindrance void of any meaning but rather used to prove and refine our faith. Peter claims that our faith is even more valuable than gold. Much like fire is used to refine gold and remove impurities, trials refine our faith. Trials prove whether our faith is genuine or only superficial. It is well known that gold is one of the most valuable and sought-after items in the world. Yet we see in this verse that faith holds an even greater value, and, unlike gold, our faith will not perish. Ezekiel 7:19 speaks of what will happen in the end times to gold and wealth. It states that gold will be seen as filthy and thrown out like trash and will be unable to save the unrighteous from the Lord’s wrath. This verse helps us to understand why faith is more valuable than gold as it is what leads to salvation and keeps us from facing the wrath of God. Even with all the gold, silver, diamonds, and wealth in the world, we have no hope of escaping the coming judgment. It is only through our faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved.
In verse eight, Peter establishes the results of our faith in God’s work through Jesus to make salvation possible. Without Jesus’ death on the cross, we would have no hope of being able to reconcile with God and would be subject to hell. As we discussed in our last article, God has granted us the gift of salvation through Jesus’ blood. As believers, our faith is not based on abstract knowledge but on the saving grace of God and the love of Christ. The result of the experiential joy, brought about through faith becoming manifest, is to overflow with joy even through our trials.
Once we face our trials and our faith is proven to be true, it results in praise, glory, and honor to God. Even though we as Christians have not yet seen God, our faith allows us to love God. Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we can rejoice with an inexpressible amount of joy that allows us to experience a small amount of heaven. We can rejoice because we are receiving salvation which is the goal of faith. Those who have faith and believe in Jesus Christ have been given new birth and a gift that is protected by God’s power.
After we complete the race and endure all our trials, we will be able to experience unending joy, free from all sorrow and pain. This can only be achieved through the gift of salvation freely given to us by our loving God. We cannot earn this gift; it is only through belief and faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved. As Christians, we will face trials, and we must remember that our joy is not dependent on circumstances but comes from the salvation of our souls. If we can put our faith into action, then as believers, we will bring glory to God and help spread his kingdom. We can demonstrate to the world that we, as Christians, are not citizens of this world by displaying our joy in the face of trials. If you are not a believer in Christ and would like to know more about how to find joy in hardships, please reach out to us at Pastors Vox. We are always happy to help and answer any questions you may have.
Bibliography
The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament edition – Walvoord & Zuck
The Moody Bible Commentary – Michael Rydlnik & Michael Vanlaningham
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