“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy 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.” 1 Peter 1:3-5
What a wonderful declaration of the state of the Christian’s position with God, which God Himself has purposed. Through His abundant mercy, we who believe have been born again. And we have been born into a living hope of an unspeakable inheritance; and it is reserved in heaven for us; and we are being kept by the power of God. These truths alone ought to be enough to encourage a child of God to rejoice always.
These words were expressly written for that very purpose; to encourage Christians who were experiencing bitter persecution. And so the apostle Peter continues with these words:
“In this you greatly rejoice, be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter 1:6-7
I am confident that Peter had a particular Bible event in mind when he speaks of fiery trials and gold.
There was a day, roughly 2500 years ago when these very things came into view. It was the day when three young Hebrew men, being held captive in a foreign land, were confronted by an angry king. The king had made a gold statue 90 feet tall and nine feet wide. The king had commanded all the people to assemble before the statue, and bow down to it when the musicians sounded their instruments. The citizens of that country were heathen idolaters, but the Hebrews were worshippers of the Lord God Almighty.
When the musicians sounded, the idolaters immediately bowed down to the golden image. But the Hebrews didn’t because if they did, they would be breaking the first commandment of God’s law given to Moses. When the king saw they weren’t bowing, he warned them that if they refused to bow down, he would have them thrown into a fiery furnace. Right here, they’re faith in God was tested by the threat of fire. They’re in a foreign country, if they choose to bow down, who could blame them, who would know?
To them, it wasn’t a question of circumstances or who would know; it was honoring the Lord God whom they served from their hearts, regardless. Their answer to the angry king reveals their hearts:“We do not need to defend ourselves in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from your hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image.”
The three young men were tied up and thrown into the furnace. But, instead of burning, the Lord showed up with them, and the flames didn’t touch them; they exited the furnace without even the smell of smoke on them. Daniel 3:1-30.
If you’re a believer in Jesus, God has given you a measure of faith. One way or another, your faith is going to be tested by trials and tribulations. Here’s what a man said who experienced more trials and temptations than we ever will:“…
What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory God will reveal to us later.” Romans 8:18 Tested by fire for a moment; glory forever!Brother Bill is a Bible teacher and can be contacted at bboldham@sbcglobal.net
Such a refreshing reminder!
The below article popped into my Inbox at the same time as the one above. Thought it worth putting them alongside; I feel God has something to say!
“I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies lead them astray, which their fathers followed: But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem (Amo 2:4-5)
Amos is sent to a prosperous Israel. It was a time of national optimism. Business is booming and their boundaries had never been more enlarged. Yet all that shone was not gold. The hearts of the people were far from God and they followed the traditions of their fathers. No matter what God had sent upon these people, famine, drought and plagues, nothing could shake them from a security they had based upon the traditions of their fathers. Yet, despite their traditions, they “despised the law of God.” They were not keeping His commandments. The word despised in the Greek means to reject, to cast away, to refuse. They refused to follow what the Lord had laid down, rather they followed the traditions of their fathers.
Before we judge Israelite to harshly, do we follow the commands of the Lord? And if not, then do we not also despise the Word of God? We refuse to follow the instructions laid down on how we should worship, rather we worship in the manner of our fathers. Why are we different than the audience that Amos was sent to? Why should the Lord our God not send a fire among us? Amos drew no punches when it came to sin. He spoke to a people who were very proud of themselves, after all, were they not prosperous? They were indeed, rich in the things of the world, rich in tradition, but desperately poor in the things of the Lord. Poor in relationship, poor in love and mercy and justice.
What kind of fire should the Lord send among us brothers and sisters? Should not the dross be burned up? What has the spirit to fear from the fire of the Lord? Only the flesh burns in the fire. Only material things burn in the fire. Our ambitions and our traditions would be burned up in the fire. Our positions and our standing in the communities at large will be burned up in the fire. The fire of persecution is coming towards us like some monster hurricane. God’s remnant people will not be harmed by the fire, they may be killed by it but they shall not be harmed by it. Like the Hebrew children in the midst of the flames, there we shall stand with Jesus beside us. The world will see this. The religious world will see this. It will make them hate us all the more but we shall shine like the finest gold as we render not evil for evil. By the light of this fire the enemy will be illuminated. Our love will expose their hatred and the father of hatred and lies. Listen, can you hear the Lion roar?”
By Frank McEleny.
https://acalltotheremnant.com/2023/07/16/but-i-will-send-a-fire-and-the-lion-will-roar/
1Peter1:3-5 Sounds like eternal security to me.
v3 in part says…”has CAUSED us to be born again…” God did it
v4 “to OBTAIN an inheritance which is IMPERISHABLE & UNDEFILED and will NOT fade away, RESERVED in heaven for you.” God procured it for us
v5 “who are protected by the POWER OF GOD thru FAITH…” God protects us & keeps us from Hell. Nothing here I can see where we can lose what God has obtained & keeps for true believers. Believers are the church & the gates of hell shall not overpower it..Matt16:18
No losing, walking away or “giving back” true salvation in Christ. God only gives salvation to true seekers not the fakers. Only He knows hearts. Which are u?
1John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
Translation: Faith ALONE thru CHRIST ALONE…are you truly saved? Do you depend on what Christ already has done “..It is finished” or do you think you can balance the scales of judgement by your good works considered by God as “filthy rags”?
Ephesians 2: 8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God; v-9 NOT as a result of works, that no one should boast.”
1Peter1:16 God commands us.. ” You shall be holy, for I am holy.” This is NOT a part time endeavor. You must be perfect & sinless JUST LIKE GOD, 24-7.
If you think you match up with this command by playing church & offering your filthy works which may actually be good in your sight or society then you deceive yourself. You must have the righteousness of Christ who was perfect & sinless & displayed His power over sin & death by rising from the dead after dying on the cross for us sinners. U can’t match up to that. You MUST be born again!
John 3:16 will help you get the whole picture…make your first step toward real salvation thru Christ alone thru Faith alone & look up John 3:16 & then believe it is TRUTH directly from the only God who can & will save you from hell IF you ask Him with an honest heart. Don’t try to shine Him on..it won’t work.
Posting this…….sorry – been a busy day