1 Peter 1:6-9
Peter begins verse 6 (NKJV) by saying, “In this you greatly rejoice,” so we need to look back at the preceding verses to see what it is in that we “greatly rejoice.” We see in verse 3 that it is through our Lord Jesus Christ that we are given a “living hope” by His abundant mercy and through His resurrection from the dead. But we must also not miss a very important part of verse 3 in that He, being our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, has “begotten us again” as Peter, one of the three apostles closest to Jesus proclaims. God created man, and man fell from God’s grace through the sinful nature that overtook him. Yet this word “begotten” brings us to John 3:16 where we find that God loved the world so much that He gave His “only begotten” Son so that whoever believes in Him would receive eternal (spiritual) life. As man is forever lost to sin, which leads to death, we learn in 1 Peter 1:3 that God, “has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” This is what we greatly rejoice in as Peter states in verse 6 of 1 Peter chapter 1. This great rejoicing, however, does not prevent us from experiencing the trials of this life, but thorough them our faith in Christ Jesus is proven genuine and as Peter states in verse 7, “much more precious than gold.” Peter goes on to say that it is through this genuine faith that allows us to come through the trials of life and give praise, honor, and glory to Jesus, and that even though we have not seen Him with our own eyes, we still yet love Him. It is through our faith in Jesus that we may, “rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” and then receive what our genuine faith leads to – “the salvation of your souls” as Peter states in verse 9.
This is a promise for those with genuine faith in Jesus Christ.
This is a promise of salvation for all who will believe in Jesus.
God has given us physical life that is temporary, and it is God who gives us spiritual life that is eternal. We all are presently experiencing the physical life, but it is only those who acquire a genuine faith in Jesus Christ that opens the door to spiritual life. Jesus said in John 10:9 “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” Without a genuine faith in Christ Jesus we cannot overcome the trials of this world, but as we trust Jesus to see us through them, our faith grows, and we find ourselves giving praise, honor, and glory to Jesus. And even though we cannot see Him, our genuine faith in Him produces a love for Him that leads to joy so great that it is beyond words to explain other than that it is full of glory and leads to the act and being of salvation for one’s soul.
Dear LORD,
It is my prayer today and every day that we all will open our hearts to Jesus and experience a joy that is so great that it is beyond words and full of glory. As we launch into this study of 1 Peter I pray that You will touch our hearts through Your Holy Spirit, and even though we cannot see Jesus physically, I pray that You would allow our faith in Him to grow into salvation for us all. In Jesus name I pray, amen.