Proving Your Faith from the book "Drawing Near") (Protestant/Evangelical Caucus)

Grace to You.org ^ | 1993 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 1:6-7).

Proven faith brings joy and confidence.

Although some Christians fear that trials and persecutions can only rob them of their joy, Peter taught just the opposite. In fact, he said that joy comes not in spite of trouble but because of trouble. That's because it's easy to lose your joy if you doubt your salvation, but when your faith has been tested and proven to be genuine, doubts will disappear and you'll have joy and assurance.

Every trial you face is designed to test and perfect your faith, and God carefully controls their parameters to accomplish that purpose. Verse 6 specifies that they are temporary, necessary, distressing, and multi-faceted, but they should never diminish your joy. He won't allow you to undergo more than you can bear (1 Cor. 10:13).

Peter used the analogy of an assayer or goldsmith to illustrate the purging process that produces proven faith (v. 7). The fire symbolizes trials and the gold symbolizes your faith. Just as the refiner's fire burns away the dross and leaves only pure gold, so God purges you through trials to reveal the purity of your faith.

That's an appropriate analogy because gold was the most precious of metals and the standard for all monetary transactions. But as valuable as gold is, proven faith is infinitely more precious. Gold is temporal and perishable; proven faith is eternal.

So don't fear trials when they come your way. Welcome them as opportunities to prove that your faith is real. Be encouraged that "after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you" (1 Pet. 5:10).

Suggestions for Prayer

If you are currently going through a time of testing, ask God for the grace and wisdom to pass the test. Thank Him in advance for the joy and confidence you'll gain when the test is over.

For Further Study

Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, noting the trials Paul endured for His faith in Christ.

[metmom]

ping

[LearsFool]

Although some Christians fear that trials and persecutions can only rob them of their joy, Peter taught just the opposite. In fact, he said that joy comes not in spite of trouble but because of trouble.

No, that's incorrect. The author needs to read it again more carefully, including the previous sentence containing the antecedent of "In this".

Peter's writing is not complex and hard to understand. We merely have to toss our own brilliant ideas in the round file, and let the Holy Spirit replace them through the writings of this apostle.

That's a hard task. Few people are capable of doing it.

[metmom]

1 Peter 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

You're correct that the *in this* refers to the new birth and being saved.

THAT is what gives us joy in the midst of the circumstances, in spite of them.

[LearsFool]

See, you can understand the Scriptures just fine. How come you don’t write your own articles to post? :-)

(Wouldn’t that be much better than posting articles with careless, elementary mistakes in them? If a teacher is this careless with the very Scriptures by which God communicates with us, who’s going to have confidence in anything else he teaches?)

[metmom]

Because nobody is perfect and if I made a mistake, then the same could be said of me.

There’s not a thing in this world that I agree with anyone else on 100%.

[LearsFool]

Humility is good, especially when handling the Word of God. :-)

And teaching - even on FR - calls for an attitude willing to receive correction. I heard a sermon last Sunday on Proverbs 12, which begins this way:

"Whoso loveth correction loveth knowledge;
But he that hateth reproof is brutish."

Having our mistakes corrected can make us pause and reconsider what we've believed, and dig back into the Scriptures to "re-open the case", trusting not in ourselves nor our teachers, but in the Word alone. That's the response of a meek and honest heart yielding to the Master.

[kosciusko51]

There’s not a thing in this world that I agree with anyone else on 100%.

I agree 100% with this statement. Oh, wait... :-)