Lesson 6, May 16
Refresh our thinking
on 1 Pet 1:6
Summary: 1Pet 1:6
1. Knowledge of
doctrine, specifically here, of our position and provision in Christ, leads to
the confidence we can have in our life, the living hope and a real
appreciation of our inheritance, heritage as believers is the basis for joy,
inner happiness.
2. Point Peter makes
is that this is true even in the face of testing, pressure, which periodically
will come since it is a necessary part of God's plan for your life.
3. God in His
faithfulness provides the means of enduring, the patient endurance, the means
of handling the tests/circ that are sure to come. 1 Cor
4. Since the means is
grace, the implication then, is that facing and passing these tests has nothing
to do with our background, genetics; our lineage, academics;
education/training; natural skills/abilities
but is totally related to the
content of your soul, the doctrine, the truth in your frame of reference and
your use of that content in the circumstances of life your facing.
5. At some point we
must learn that human resources are totally inadequate to handle the tests of
life.
1:7 Relationship between the tests and your eternal reward
That the proof of your faith
being more precious
than gold which is perishable,
- No matter how great
a value man places on it, gold will be valueless in the market place of
eternity.
- But the faith of
the believer refined by the tests of life and found approved purchases an
inheritance that never perishes
even though tested by fire dokima,zw - tested and
found approved after examination
Next Peter relates
the results of the refining process and then ties it to its eternal impact.
may be found to result in praise and glory and honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1:7 "In order that the proof (testing)
of your faith (is) more valuable than gold which is perishable, even though
tested and found approved by fire may be found (by God) to result in praise and glory and
honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
B.L. These tests then are the refining
process God uses to bring us in time (ph-2) to maturation and into the sphere
of blessing not only for now but for all eternity since we're producing divine
good which will be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Tests then are an
essential part of life for the believer; it is a means of stimulating us to get
into the word and to use it in our life.
** Back to James 1:4
**
1:4 And let endurance have (it's) perfect
result, that you may be perfect and complete; lacking in nothing.