Gospel: The Source of Joy When we suffer as Christians

Note: Last week I posted “My Rough Translation of 1 Peter 1:3-7” that was part of my sermon preparation for a retreat.  Some of you shared you would like to see the finished sermon outline. Here it is.

1 Peter 1:3-12

Establish the need:  I do think our world will become more Post-Christian and with that I do think there will be an increase of Christian suffering both in the West and already the case outside the west.  Yet can we have joy in the midst of suffering as a Christian?

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various [b]trials, 7 so that the [c]proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and [d]full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of [e]your souls.

10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 [f]seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories [g]to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to [h]look.

Purpose: Today we want to see 3 S in regards to Christian joy in the midst of suffering.

In the midst of suffering…

• You should have joy centered on salvation (v.3-5)
• You should have joy knowing there’s a sufficient reason for suffering (v.6-9)
• You should have joy knowing the spectacular prophecies of our Savior (v.10-12)

Context

• Persecuted believers (1:1-2)
• Verses 3-12 is one long run off sentences (Hiebert, 56).
• Peter’s main focus is to adore God (Hiebert, 55): Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (v.3a)
• A compound word with the word “well” and “spoken” (Hiebert, 56).
• To praise God is thus to speak well of Him.
• Who do we praise? Grandville sharp rule is found here (article + nominative noun + kai + nominative noun) that indicate God and Father is same person.
• Yet in adoring God that doesn’t mean there won’t be suffering.

You should have joy centered on salvation (3-5)

Passage: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time..”

Proof

Section for verses 3-5: We see here the author of salvation in verses 3a-b, two aspects of nature of salvation (v.3c-4a) and two sided certainty (v.4b-5) (Hiebert, 57).

Rejoice at the nature of salvation

1. Concerning the nature of salvation we see the grounds of salvation is God and Christ’s resurrection (3) and also the glorious inheritance is yet to be revealed (v.4a) (Hiebert, 59).
2. Truth 1: Grounds of salvation is God and Christ: “who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (3c)
   1. “who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again”
      1. Mercy is feeling of pity and compassion (Hiebert, 59).
      2. “has caused us to be born again” in Greek is one word, a participle.
         1. Participle to show the manner in which God the Father shows mercy.
         2. It’s a compound word of born and “again” (Hiebert, 58).
         3. Not found in Classical Greek nor the Septuagint (Hiebert, 58).
         4. It is found elsewhere in 1 Peter 1:23 in the New Testament (Hiebert, 58).
      3. “to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”
         1. “Hope” is thee subjective attitude of expectance (Hiebert, 59). In the New Testament this term always have the expectation of future good (Hiebert, 59).
         2. This hope is described as “living” as oppose to empty false hope (Hiebert, 59).
   2. Preposition “through” is indicating the means of how we are born again with hope. 1 Corinthians 15:22-20 incate without Christ’s resurrection we will have no hope (Hiebert, 60).
      1. Christ raised from the dead!
3. Truth 2: Glorious inheritance is yet to be revealed: “to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (4a)
   1. Inheritance in Greek appears 14 times in the New Testament (NIDOTTE 2:697). It has salvific (salvation) and future eschatological dimensions (NIDOTTE 2:698).
   2. We have an inheritance; but what is like? Three adjectives used here to show the contrast between heavenly inheritance with earthly inheritance (Hiebert, 61).
   3. These three negative adjectives reinforce the truth that sometimes the most important things in life are hard to describe so we describe it with negation; likewise the spiritual inheritance we have (Hiebert, 61).
   4. “imperishable”=This adjective is a combination of a word meaning “corrupt, destroy” and an “a” negation of it such as “atheism, asympthomatic, etc.” The root word in verbal form is used to describe a country ravaged by an enemy’s army (Hiebert, 61).
   5. “undefiled”= This word as a verbal form means to have stain or something which has change of color (Hiebert, 61).
   6. “will not fade away”= In Greek this is all one word. This word as a verbal form means to have stain or something which has change of color (Hiebert, 61).

Rejoice at the Certainty of salvation

1. With the certainty of salvation we see two passive participles where the certainty is from the inheritance itself (v.4b) and the heirs (5) (Hiebert, 62). That is, the heirs also are protected  by God (Hiebert, 62).
2. The certainty is from the inheritance itself: “reserved in heaven for you” (4b)
3. For “reserved” I translate that as guarded.
   1. It is passive voice showing what is done to it.
   2. Perfect tense here shows what is done in the past but effect remains.
   3. This word involves guarding from loss or harm by being vigilant (Hiebert, 62).
4. As if it is enough to be guarded notice where it is stored: “in heaven”
5. The certainty is from God working in the “heirs:” “who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (4b)
   1. The participle “protected”
      1. This is a military term as seen in its usage (Hiebert, 62).
      2. It is a passive voice showing what is being done to the subjects
   2. This indicate the instrument by which believers are guarded. The phrase “by the power of God”
   3. While this clause is over all future looking still the word “ready” shows there’s things already accomplished with salvation (Hiebert, 63).

Practice

1. There are few things that are promised and we see this post-2020; therefore we should treasure the inheritance we have in Christ.
2. How do you live your daily life? Do you live a life that shows how much you treasure salvation?

You should have joy knowing there’s a sufficient reason for suffering (6-9)

Passage: “6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various [b]trials, 7 so that the [c]proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and [d]full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of [e]your souls.

Proof

1. Section-Comment for verses 6-9: This section focuses on the Christian experience and notes it paradoxical nature (Hiebert, 64).
   1. Verse 6a shows great joy (Hiebert, 64).
   2. Verse 6b-7 shows great distress (Hiebert, 66).
   3. Verse 7 show the purpose of trials (Hiebert, 67).
2. There is a mention of great joy in verse 6 and yet also grief, opposite emotions (Hiebert, 64).
3. “greatly rejoice” (v.6a)= Middle voice to show what is being done to oneself .Term used to describe great joy (Hiebert, 64). This is a distinctively religious joy (Hiebert, 64).
4. The contrast
   1. “been distressed” (6b)
      1. It refers to things internally troubling oneself.
      2. Q: Why is this an aorist participle? A: Contemporaneous with joy (Hiebert, 66).
   2. “by various [b]trials,” (6b)
      1. The word “various” in Greek is literally means multicolor (Hiebert, 67). It is used to describe the skin of a leopard (Hiebert, 67). Thus it is conveying not just numerically many but various kinds of trials (Hiebert, 67).
      2. “Trials”= First reference to suffering in this book (Hiebert, 67). These are not trials in general but related to Christians not conforming to the world (Harink, Kindle Location 127).
5. We need to know we need to suffer, note “if necessary” (A)= Nuanced, appearing before the main verb.  It should imply to use the purpose of grief (Hiebert, 66).
6. Why should we suffer? “so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire” (v.7a)
   1. “so that”= Purpose conjunction. It shows the reason for suffering.
   2. Suffering is proof that we have real faith!
      1. “proof”= The word is used in Greek translation of the Old Testament in Psalm 12:6 to refer to “refined” silver (NIDOTTE 1:756). Also used in Proverbs 27:21 with the imagery of a burning test and also man also treated by his mouth (NIDOTTE 1:756).
      2. It is “your faith”
      3. Your faith is important! How precious is your faith: “being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire,”
         823. Gold Prices Per Ounce= $1,823.00 but one bitcoin is 41,854.90. Yet unlike Bitcoin the faith of a believer lasts.
         824. “gold which perishes though tested by fire”=Gold is destroyed at 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. But true faith doesn’t get destroyed!
         825. “tested”= It is a gnomic present tense stating a general truth.
         826. <WORD STUDY> The word is used in secular Greek by Athenians to refer to confirmation of a reliability of an informant (NIDOTTE 1:756). It also is used to refer to examination of an individual being worthy of political office (NIDOTTE 1:756).
   3. The results of a proven faith are also reasons for suffering:
      1. You love him more: “may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” (7b)
      2. Supernatural love of God: “and though you have not seen Him, you love Him,” (8a)
      3. Supernatural joy: “and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and [d]full of glory” (8b)
      4. Salvation: “9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (9)

Practice

1. 1. Sometimes it is hard to think these are good things to have compared to suffering; but then when we think of how others have those results and we want them in others, let that help us to be more willing to see the blessings of the reasons for suffering.

You should have joy knowing the spectacular prophecies of our Savior (10-12)

Passage: “As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 [f]seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories [g]to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to [h]look.

Proof

1. Joy that we know something that is prophesied (v.10)
2. What we do know: suffering and glory (v.11)
3. Joy that we know things angel look into (v.12)
4. Have you wondered why the disciples of Jesus were able to turn from those who ran away when Jesus was crucified to being bold witness for Christ in Acts 2 onwards? It was because Jesus Christ was resurrected and also this event is fulfilled Messianic prophecies!  Look at Luke 24:13-35.

Practice

Study Messianic Prophecies to be joyful that the Gospel is true!

From knowing the Gospel is true, let it amaze you so much it is Jesus you seek instead of other things as idols!

Let it be you know the Gospel is true that you are willing to suffer for the Gospel, even if you are heavily persecuted, just like the Apostles did.