Sermon or Lesson:  1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV based)
[Lesson Questions included]

TITLE:  Rejoicing About The Future, Which Assists Being Prepared To Rejoice In The Future
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READ:  1 Peter 1:6-7, with vv.1-5 for context

BACKGROUND:
- - Under direct authorization from Jesus Christ, Peter is writing this letter to convey instructions from God to true believers, who, in this case, were suffering persecution for their faith in Christ.  (v.1)
- - God selects specific persons to become true believers.  (v.1)
- - And God spiritually cleanses true believers and sanctifies or sets them apart for His holy purposes.  (v.2)
- - In His abundant mercy, God also gives believers spiritual and physical regenerating resurrection, an unfading inheritance in heaven, and a security guarantee on them taking hands-on possession of salvation in heaven.  (vv.3-5)
- - Because of and through this establishing, assisting, empowering, and guaranteeing from God, true believers are to live in righteousness in every area of their life, even when they are under persecution for the faith.  (vv.2-5)
- - And thereby, God deserves "praise, glory, and honor" for all these things that He does for the benefit of true believers.  (vv.3,6,7)
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v.6 - READ

[Lesson Question:  How does the phrase "In this you greatly rejoice" correlate to and tie together the principles in previous verses to the remainder of the content in verse 6?  Discuss, analyze, determine, and describe your answer.]

SECTION POINT:  God intends that believers greatly rejoice about the future blessings that are coming for them, which will sustain believers as they endure trials and suffering in the present during this life.

- - For true believers, during our lifetime we "may have to suffer", "grieve", and "distress" "for a little while".  (Strong's #3076)
- - This suffering will come from encountering "all kinds of trials".
- - God ordains that believers encounter "all kinds of trials" during this life.
- - From this verse in its context, apparently "suffering grief in all kinds of trials" is a natural part and normal consequence of properly living a life of faith in Jesus Christ.  (v.2)
- - But notice that encountering "all kinds of trials" that produce suffering during this life is a temporary condition - "for a little while".
- - And also notice that encountering "all kinds of trials" that produce suffering during this life is a small inconvenience when considering the fabulous conditions that await us ahead in eternity, for examples: in verse 5, the coming salvation that awaits us; and in verse 4, the unfading inheritance that awaits us in heaven.

- - Believers may presume that becoming a true believer entitles them to being comprehensively protected by God from being subjected to trials and suffering during this life.
- - But clearly, God has other intentions in mind for His believers.
- - Clearly, God wants and perhaps even orchestrates that His believers are exposed to "adversities" during this life - moreover, "various" kinds of adversities, trials, and distressing situations.  (Strong's #3986, #4164)
- - God considers this exposure to trials to be "for a little while"; but we consider this exposure to trials during this life to be a seemingly never-ending onslaught.
- - God considers this exposure to trials to be "if necessary"; but we consider this exposure to trials during this life to be unsuitable, and to seriously be avoided at any cost.  (Strong's #1487 and #1163 - omitted in the NIV)
- - By implication, God considers the results of this exposure to trials to always be endurable and recoverable for each believer; but we consider the results of this exposure to trials during this life to potentially be significantly debilitating or even terminal in some way, such as psychologically, spiritually, physically, economically, relationally, and etc.
- - Our natural inclination and propulsion towards self-preservation and self-comfort lead us away from trials, adversities, suffering, grief, distress, and everything else that threatens, or hinders, or robs us of our well-being.
- - So, when we are forced into trial situations, our great rejoicing is replaced with anxiety, dread, fear, anguish, grief, distress, depression, suffering, desperation, and etc.
- - But, in the midst of suffering, God intends that we true believers are to find and cling to reasons to rejoice, some of which are cited in verses 2-5 here in 1 Peter chapter 1.
- - These reasons will act as a source of sustainment as we endure and/or pass through the suffering.
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v.7 - READ

[Lesson Questions:
-- Discuss, analyze, determine, and describe:
- - - - what the intentions of God are in exposing us true believers to the testing of our faith in various kinds of trials;
- - - - what aspects of our faith are being tested;
- - - - how the testing of our faith correlates to the similar process of the refining of gold;
- - - - and how the revealing of Jesus Christ correlates to all of these aforementioned principles, which are in this verse 7.]

SECTION POINT:  Through the proving of our faith within adverse trials, we will be prepared to give tremendous praise, glory, and honor to God and to Jesus Christ when He is revealed at His second coming.

- - God ordains that "all kinds of trials" come upon us believers "so that [our] faith... may be proved" or refined to what God desires.
- - Both the immersion into various kinds of trials and the enduring of suffering as a result of the trials are intended and designed by God to bring testing, refining, purifying, and proving of the quality of our faith.
- - The process of "proving" or "testing" of our faith is intended and designed to produce a faith that has been "proved" and "tested" to be "trustworthy" and "approved".  (Strong's #1383, #1381)

-- By implication, aspects of one's faith that are being tested and proved are:
- - - - the integrity or quality of one's faith;
- - - - the versatility of one's faith to properly handle the variety of kinds of trials that are encountered;
- - - - the consistency in properly maintaining and applying one's faith throughout each trial;
- - - - the consistency in properly staying fully committed to one's faith throughout each trial;
- - - - the strength and tenacity of one's faith when enduring intense and/or prolonged suffering or adversities; and etc.

- - Our faith is "of greater worth", "more precious, and more valuable" than gold.  (Strong's #5093)
- - Gold "perishes" or is "fully destroyed" when, in the testing of fire, it is exposed to other metals that it subsequently melts with and blends with.  (Strong's #0622)
- - But our faith should not "perish" or be "destroyed" when, in the testing of fiery adversities, it is exposed to other philosophies and courses of action that subsequently could melt or blend with it.
- - In the midst of fiery testing, our faith should become more refined and pure - not more polluted, corrupted, worldly, or humanistic.  (cf. Colossians 2:8)
- - The condition of our faith determines the success we have at living in the manner that pleases God and accomplishes His purposes.
- - By implication then, God values our faith, and He extremely values and cherishes the quality of our faith, particularly when it is properly implemented within adverse trials.

- - In addition to proving our faith, God also ordains that "all kinds of trials" come upon us believers "so that [our] faith... may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed".
- - Evidently, on the day of the glorious event "when Jesus Christ is revealed" to the humans on the earth, presumably at His second coming, the extensive grace or undeserved favor that we true believers have been given from God will be fully comprehended and exceedingly appreciated.  (cf. v.13)
- - God deserves that on that day, we true believers will stand in "praise, glory, and honor" of God and Jesus Christ for all the ways that He has blessed us, including empowering us to successfully endure the testing and proving of our faith that comes by means of our enduring adverse trials for our faith.  (cf. v.2 - empowering "through the sanctifying work of the Spirit")
- - However, if we have failed the testing and proving of our faith during this life, then on that glorious day "when Jesus Christ is revealed", how enthusiastically can we stand in "praise, glory, and honor" of God due to our own shame, disgrace, and dishonor for having failed to bring "praise, glory, and honor" to God during our life on this earth?
- - On that glorious day "when Jesus Christ is revealed" - our "salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time" (v.5), will each of us true believers "jump for joy" (v.6, Strong's #0021), expressing tremendous "praise, glory, and honor" to God?  Or will we cower in silence and shame due to our failures of our faith during this life on the earth?
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BIG IDEA:  Believers are to maintain a mindset of great rejoicing about the future blessings that are coming for them, which will assist them in enduring present trials, and will prepare them for praising God when Jesus Christ is revealed at His second coming.

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IMPLICATIONS AND APPLICATIONS:

- - For those of you who are true believers, do you accept that God ordains that believers are to encounter "all kinds of trials" during this life?
- - Do you accept that God ordains that believers are furthermore to suffer for the faith, in the midst of enduring "all kinds of trials" during this life?
- - Do you comprehend that suffering adversity during this life is a temporary condition - "for a little while"?
- - Do you accept that God is exposing you to suffering for the faith in order to prepare you for the glorious event of the second coming of Jesus Christ?

-- In consideration of the truths in 1 Peter 1:1-7, what is going to be your perspective in all kinds of trials when you are personally suffering grief for your faith?  Are you going to have:
- - - - great distress(?);
- - - - extreme avoidance(?);
- - - - excruciating anticipation of coming pain, similar to going to the dentist to get a root canal(?);
- - - - utter devastation from an unexpected or abnormal or unjust situation of suffering for your faith(?);  (v.4:12)
- - - - overwhelming dread(?);
- - - - or, instead, great joy that is derived from this wisdom?

- - When you are personally suffering grief for your faith, are you going to add and maintain in your mindset an element of great rejoicing about what God has done and continues to do in assisting you to be firmly established in the faith?
- - When you are personally suffering grief for your faith, are you going to add and maintain in your mindset an element of future perspective - remembering and joyfully anticipating the fabulous conditions that await you ahead in eternity, for examples: in verse 5, the coming salvation that awaits you; and in verse 4, the unfading inheritance that awaits you in heaven?

- - For those of you who are not true believers, are you interested in being a participant in this historic glorious event that is coming in the future, that glorious day "when Jesus Christ is revealed" at His second coming to earth?
- - Would you like to be present and involved on that indescribable day, so full of excitement that you are literally jumping for joy - great joy - so much joy that you can barely contain your excitement?  Like when your favorite team wins a world championship, but far more exciting!!
- - Well, at this point in time, right now, it is still possible for you to become qualified to participate in this future historic glorious event of the second coming of Jesus Christ.
- - So, keep coming to these meetings to learn more about the requirements that God has for you to become a true believer, thereby qualifying you to participate in the indescribably exciting event of the second coming of Jesus Christ.
- - Matter of fact, in our next study in 1 Peter, we will be discussing aspects of the requirements that God has for becoming a true believer.
- - So, come again next time.
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[Additional Lesson Questions to ponder (optional, if time allows):
-- Is the overall purpose for all of this suffering of grief for our faith because God wants to incite from us more praise, glory, and honor for Himself?  Or is there some other overall purpose?
- - - - Answer hint: Take the principles cited in verses 6-7, combine them with the principles cited in Matthew 5:11-12, then directly insert them into the situation described in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, and then extrapolate why some of us believers will be highly exhilarated with GREAT rejoicing, and giving praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed because we went through all of that suffering of grief for our faith, during our life.  (cf. James 1:2-4,12)]
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Works Cited:
Bible. “The Holy Bible: New International Version.” The Bible Library CD-ROM. Oklahoma City, OK: Ellis Enterprises, 1988.

“Strong's Greek Dictionary.” The Bible Library CD-ROM. Oklahoma City, OK: Ellis Enterprises, 1988.
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