1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,100 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open The Bible. 2 00:00:07,100 –> 00:00:15,620 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN365 or visit our website OpenTheBible.org. 3 00:00:15,620 –> 00:00:17,320 Let’s get to the message. 4 00:00:17,320 –> 00:00:18,920 Here is Pastor Colin. 5 00:00:18,920 –> 00:00:24,440 Well please, open your Bible at First Peter and Chapter one. 6 00:00:24,440 –> 00:00:29,840 We’re continuing our series entitled Growing in Faith and today we’re going to look together 7 00:00:29,879 –> 00:00:33,360 at how our faith is tested. 8 00:00:33,360 –> 00:00:39,080 Now, I want to begin today with a very simple definition of faith. 9 00:00:39,080 –> 00:00:41,279 Faith involves two elements. 10 00:00:41,279 –> 00:00:45,160 The first is belief and the second is trust. 11 00:00:45,160 –> 00:00:49,000 They’re really two sides of the same coin. 12 00:00:49,000 –> 00:00:56,040 Someone asked me just last week if believing is the same as faith and that’s a very good 13 00:00:56,040 –> 00:00:57,040 question. 14 00:00:57,240 –> 00:00:59,020 The answer to it is well, sometimes. 15 00:00:59,040 –> 00:01:07,040 You see, sometimes the word belief is used in the Bible simply of knowing that something 16 00:01:07,040 –> 00:01:09,080 is true. 17 00:01:09,080 –> 00:01:15,080 For example, James tells us that even the demons believe and they shudder. 18 00:01:15,080 –> 00:01:21,000 In other words, the demons know that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. 19 00:01:21,000 –> 00:01:23,120 They have no doubt about it whatsoever. 20 00:01:23,120 –> 00:01:26,180 They believe it and because they know it to be true. 21 00:01:26,220 –> 00:01:30,099 They even tremble in the light of it. 22 00:01:30,099 –> 00:01:34,940 The demons believe but they do not trust. 23 00:01:34,940 –> 00:01:42,519 Despite what they know to be true, they remain in rebellion against God. 24 00:01:42,519 –> 00:01:47,900 So faith is more than believing that certain things are true. 25 00:01:47,900 –> 00:01:53,260 Faith involves trusting the one we have come to believe. 26 00:01:53,360 –> 00:02:00,139 Sometimes the Bible uses the word, believe, in a way that includes trust. 27 00:02:00,139 –> 00:02:04,379 For example when Paul said to the Philipian jailer, 28 00:02:04,379 –> 00:02:08,539 believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. 29 00:02:08,539 –> 00:02:12,800 He’s saying more there than simply that the jailer should believe 30 00:02:12,800 –> 00:02:15,160 that Jesus died and rose. 31 00:02:15,160 –> 00:02:17,720 Yes, he must believe this but more than that, 32 00:02:17,720 –> 00:02:21,839 he must trust the Lord Jesus Christ to save him. 33 00:02:21,979 –> 00:02:24,600 That’s what the apostle Paul is saying. 34 00:02:24,600 –> 00:02:26,720 Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 35 00:02:26,720 –> 00:02:30,720 Trust him to save you and the reason that you trust him to save you 36 00:02:30,720 –> 00:02:34,440 is because you have come to believe that he is the Son of God 37 00:02:34,440 –> 00:02:38,080 and that he died and that he rose again. 38 00:02:38,080 –> 00:02:41,679 So faith involves these two dimensions. 39 00:02:41,679 –> 00:02:45,539 It involves believing and it involves trusting 40 00:02:45,539 –> 00:02:51,279 and these are two sides of the same coin. 41 00:02:51,279 –> 00:02:56,199 Now I’ve found it helpful to put these two dimensions of faith 42 00:02:56,199 –> 00:03:03,779 alongside a distinction that God makes in Deuteronomy chapter 29 and verse 29. 43 00:03:03,779 –> 00:03:05,500 The scripture says 44 00:03:05,500 –> 00:03:10,580 the secret things belong to the Lord our God 45 00:03:10,580 –> 00:03:15,179 but the things that are revealed belong to us 46 00:03:15,179 –> 00:03:18,880 and to our children forever. 47 00:03:18,919 –> 00:03:22,440 So there are some things that God has revealed 48 00:03:22,440 –> 00:03:27,580 and there are other things that God has kept hidden 49 00:03:27,580 –> 00:03:33,960 and very simply faith then is believing God in what He has revealed 50 00:03:33,960 –> 00:03:39,080 and trusting God in what He has kept secret. 51 00:03:39,080 –> 00:03:41,440 God has revealed his son, 52 00:03:41,440 –> 00:03:43,580 God has revealed his promises 53 00:03:43,580 –> 00:03:48,300 and faith believes what God has revealed 54 00:03:48,539 –> 00:03:51,500 but there are many things that God has kept secret. 55 00:03:51,500 –> 00:03:55,720 I mean for example none of us knows what tomorrow holds. 56 00:03:55,720 –> 00:03:57,880 God has not revealed it, 57 00:03:57,880 –> 00:04:00,800 so we have to trust him 58 00:04:00,800 –> 00:04:05,440 and faith trusts God in what he has kept hidden 59 00:04:05,440 –> 00:04:07,820 and we trust Him in what He’s kept hidden 60 00:04:07,820 –> 00:04:12,699 because we believe Him in what he has revealed. 61 00:04:12,699 –> 00:04:16,579 God has said I will never leave you 62 00:04:16,619 –> 00:04:19,660 and I will never forsake you 63 00:04:19,660 –> 00:04:23,820 and so faith says well now I can trust God for tomorrow 64 00:04:23,820 –> 00:04:26,059 because I believe the promise 65 00:04:26,059 –> 00:04:30,119 that God has given to me today. 66 00:04:30,119 –> 00:04:35,119 So faith involves believing God in what he has revealed 67 00:04:35,859 –> 00:04:40,279 and trusting God in regards to what he has kept hidden. 68 00:04:40,279 –> 00:04:42,600 So when we pray as we were looking 69 00:04:42,600 –> 00:04:44,779 at the disciples prayer last week, 70 00:04:44,799 –> 00:04:47,739 Lord increase my faith, 71 00:04:47,739 –> 00:04:50,459 well then what we’re asking is 72 00:04:50,459 –> 00:04:55,459 Lord help me to believe you in what you have promised 73 00:04:56,140 –> 00:05:01,140 and help me to trust you in what I do not understand. 74 00:05:02,859 –> 00:05:03,720 That’s faith. 75 00:05:04,619 –> 00:05:06,619 Now today we’re going to look together 76 00:05:06,619 –> 00:05:10,140 at how faith is tested 77 00:05:10,220 –> 00:05:12,700 and every believer knows what it is 78 00:05:12,700 –> 00:05:15,179 for our faith to be tested. 79 00:05:15,179 –> 00:05:16,739 If we were to have a sign-up sheet 80 00:05:16,739 –> 00:05:19,220 and pass it all the way around the congregation 81 00:05:19,220 –> 00:05:22,459 for folks to sign up for faith to be tested, 82 00:05:22,459 –> 00:05:24,579 well I don’t suppose we would have many folks 83 00:05:24,579 –> 00:05:27,000 who would immediately volunteering. 84 00:05:27,000 –> 00:05:30,579 But the reality is all of us experience 85 00:05:30,579 –> 00:05:34,220 what it is for our faith to be tested. 86 00:05:34,220 –> 00:05:36,160 We’re going to see today 87 00:05:36,160 –> 00:05:41,160 that tested faith is more precious than gold. 88 00:05:41,779 –> 00:05:45,279 And we’re going to see that the same trials 89 00:05:45,279 –> 00:05:48,760 that cause you grief and sorrow right now 90 00:05:48,760 –> 00:05:53,760 will one day bring praise, glory and honor 91 00:05:54,059 –> 00:05:56,859 when Jesus Christ is revealed. 92 00:05:57,779 –> 00:06:02,779 Right now, you are grieved by the trials of your life. 93 00:06:03,720 –> 00:06:05,200 But a day is coming 94 00:06:05,220 –> 00:06:08,019 when you will rejoice 95 00:06:08,019 –> 00:06:11,100 in what God has accomplished through them. 96 00:06:12,260 –> 00:06:14,260 Now, I hope you have the Bible open 97 00:06:14,260 –> 00:06:16,579 at first Peter and Chapter One. 98 00:06:16,579 –> 00:06:19,579 And you will see in verse three 99 00:06:19,579 –> 00:06:23,459 that Peter begins by reminding us of the blessing 100 00:06:23,459 –> 00:06:26,660 that is ours in the Lord Jesus Christ. 101 00:06:26,660 –> 00:06:30,899 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 102 00:06:30,899 –> 00:06:32,779 According to his great mercy 103 00:06:32,820 –> 00:06:36,579 he has given us new birth to living hope 104 00:06:36,579 –> 00:06:41,059 through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 105 00:06:41,059 –> 00:06:45,679 We have new birth, we have living hope. 106 00:06:45,679 –> 00:06:49,600 These gifts are ours through the mercy of God 107 00:06:49,600 –> 00:06:51,260 and they have come to us 108 00:06:51,260 –> 00:06:55,140 because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 109 00:06:55,140 –> 00:06:57,579 And then Peter goes on to say, 110 00:06:57,579 –> 00:07:00,540 we have an inheritance that is kept in heaven. 111 00:07:00,559 –> 00:07:03,179 You know that God can’t ever spoil or fade 112 00:07:03,179 –> 00:07:07,260 and God keeps the inheritance for you. 113 00:07:07,260 –> 00:07:08,760 And then on the other hand, 114 00:07:08,760 –> 00:07:11,859 Peter says God keeps you for the inheritance 115 00:07:11,859 –> 00:07:14,019 so that you will actually arrive in heaven 116 00:07:14,019 –> 00:07:16,859 and receive what he has prepared for you. 117 00:07:16,859 –> 00:07:18,019 So it is as it were, 118 00:07:18,019 –> 00:07:21,260 God keeps the inheritance for you in one hand, 119 00:07:21,260 –> 00:07:24,320 he keeps you for the inheritance in the other 120 00:07:24,320 –> 00:07:28,779 and one day he will bring these two marvelously together. 121 00:07:28,779 –> 00:07:33,500 And Peter says, in this you rejoice, 122 00:07:33,500 –> 00:07:36,579 look at what is yours in Christ. 123 00:07:36,579 –> 00:07:40,500 New birth, living hope, 124 00:07:40,500 –> 00:07:42,299 an inheritance kept for you, 125 00:07:42,299 –> 00:07:44,559 you kept for the inheritance. 126 00:07:44,559 –> 00:07:47,100 A God who one day will bring the two together 127 00:07:47,100 –> 00:07:50,579 when his salvation is revealed at the last time 128 00:07:50,579 –> 00:07:54,899 and in this you rejoice. 129 00:07:55,700 –> 00:08:00,700 Then Peter says, in this you rejoice, 130 00:08:02,399 –> 00:08:06,339 though now for a little while, 131 00:08:07,779 –> 00:08:12,779 if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials. 132 00:08:15,239 –> 00:08:18,820 Why would God who has blessed his children 133 00:08:18,820 –> 00:08:22,299 so richly in the Lord Jesus Christ 134 00:08:22,299 –> 00:08:25,859 allow his own dearly loved children to be grieved? 135 00:08:25,859 –> 00:08:27,239 Why would God do that? 136 00:08:29,220 –> 00:08:32,940 This is the great enigma of the Christian life. 137 00:08:34,460 –> 00:08:38,659 If God really loves me so much, why is my life so hard? 138 00:08:40,059 –> 00:08:43,880 How can it be that if you are truly a child of God 139 00:08:43,880 –> 00:08:48,500 and an heir of heaven that you would be grieved 140 00:08:48,500 –> 00:08:49,640 by various trials? 141 00:08:49,659 –> 00:08:54,200 That’s what Peter is about to address. 142 00:08:55,479 –> 00:09:00,280 You have been grieved he says. 143 00:09:01,640 –> 00:09:06,359 Now grief is what we feel when we experience loss. 144 00:09:07,599 –> 00:09:11,280 Dr. Jim Packer says very helpfully that grief 145 00:09:11,280 –> 00:09:15,820 is the inward desolation that follows the losing 146 00:09:15,820 –> 00:09:18,820 of something or someone we loved. 147 00:09:20,099 –> 00:09:25,099 A child, a relative, an actual or anticipated life partner, 148 00:09:28,659 –> 00:09:33,619 a pet, a job, one’s house, one’s hopes, 149 00:09:35,900 –> 00:09:39,219 one’s health or whatever. 150 00:09:40,880 –> 00:09:42,979 Now notice that Peter says here 151 00:09:42,979 –> 00:09:47,260 you have been grieved by various trials. 152 00:09:48,260 –> 00:09:53,039 There’s a broad range of what this looks like 153 00:09:53,039 –> 00:09:54,960 in Christian experience. 154 00:09:55,820 –> 00:09:59,179 Some are tried with physical pain, 155 00:10:00,080 –> 00:10:03,659 others are tried with mental anguish. 156 00:10:05,059 –> 00:10:06,900 Some live with the stress 157 00:10:06,900 –> 00:10:09,299 of responsibility that they carry. 158 00:10:10,580 –> 00:10:14,099 Others grieve the loss of responsibilities 159 00:10:14,099 –> 00:10:15,520 that they once enjoyed. 160 00:10:15,520 –> 00:10:19,179 Some would wish that they could have 161 00:10:19,179 –> 00:10:21,299 and enjoy the gift of marriage, 162 00:10:22,380 –> 00:10:24,359 and others endure a marriage 163 00:10:24,359 –> 00:10:26,679 from which they would gladly be free. 164 00:10:28,419 –> 00:10:31,500 Some live with great anxiety over a loved one, 165 00:10:32,719 –> 00:10:35,880 and others grieve with great pain 166 00:10:35,880 –> 00:10:39,200 because a loved one has been taken away from them. 167 00:10:41,080 –> 00:10:43,299 Everyone has something in their life 168 00:10:43,299 –> 00:10:44,760 that they wish was different, 169 00:10:45,580 –> 00:10:48,840 and Peter says, covering the whole range, 170 00:10:48,840 –> 00:10:53,840 “‘You have been grieved with various trials.’” 171 00:10:55,280 –> 00:11:00,280 And you can fill in the detail of what that means for you. 172 00:11:01,880 –> 00:11:05,359 Now, here’s the question, why? 173 00:11:06,820 –> 00:11:11,820 What purpose could God have in these trials? 174 00:11:12,460 –> 00:11:17,460 What good might we hope would come out of them? 175 00:11:19,219 –> 00:11:23,960 And Peter says, “‘You have been grieved by various trials,’ 176 00:11:23,960 –> 00:11:26,340 “‘so that,’ so that.” 177 00:11:26,340 –> 00:11:27,979 And you see, he’s gonna tell us, 178 00:11:27,979 –> 00:11:31,520 something good will come out of the trials 179 00:11:31,520 –> 00:11:33,940 that cause you to grieve. 180 00:11:33,940 –> 00:11:37,080 And Peter’s going to tell us what that is. 181 00:11:38,219 –> 00:11:40,780 And we’re going to see three things today. 182 00:11:40,780 –> 00:11:45,059 First, that tested faith is genuine faith, 183 00:11:45,059 –> 00:11:49,859 second, that tested faith is more precious than gold, 184 00:11:49,859 –> 00:11:53,580 and third, that tested faith will result in praise, 185 00:11:53,580 –> 00:11:58,580 glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 186 00:11:59,679 –> 00:12:03,460 First then, tested faith is genuine faith. 187 00:12:03,460 –> 00:12:04,280 Look at what he says, 188 00:12:04,280 –> 00:12:08,460 “‘You have been grieved by various trials,’ 189 00:12:08,700 –> 00:12:13,700 “‘so that the tested genuineness of your faith 190 00:12:16,099 –> 00:12:18,580 “‘may be found to result in praise and glory 191 00:12:18,580 –> 00:12:23,059 “‘and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.’” 192 00:12:23,059 –> 00:12:28,059 I love these words, tested genuineness, 193 00:12:28,619 –> 00:12:33,619 faith that has been proved genuine by testing. 194 00:12:35,140 –> 00:12:36,979 That’s what he’s talking about here. 195 00:12:37,979 –> 00:12:40,219 So, the question then that’s before us 196 00:12:40,219 –> 00:12:44,200 is how do you know that your faith is genuine, 197 00:12:44,200 –> 00:12:46,940 and that is a real question 198 00:12:46,940 –> 00:12:50,140 because there are many people who at one time 199 00:12:50,140 –> 00:12:54,219 professed some kind of faith and then turned back. 200 00:12:54,219 –> 00:12:55,380 Jesus speaks about this 201 00:12:55,380 –> 00:12:58,799 very clearly in the parable of the sower. 202 00:12:58,799 –> 00:13:00,500 Remember He says, now some people, 203 00:13:00,500 –> 00:13:02,739 they’re just like a rocky soil, 204 00:13:02,739 –> 00:13:05,820 and when the seed of the word is sown in them, 205 00:13:05,820 –> 00:13:07,299 they receive it immediately 206 00:13:07,299 –> 00:13:09,380 and they receive it with great joy. 207 00:13:09,380 –> 00:13:13,419 But, Jesus says, they have no root in themselves 208 00:13:13,419 –> 00:13:17,500 but endure for awhile, just for awhile. 209 00:13:17,500 –> 00:13:21,979 And then, when tribulation or persecution 210 00:13:21,979 –> 00:13:25,799 arises on account of the word immediately, 211 00:13:25,799 –> 00:13:28,400 they fall away, they’re gone, 212 00:13:29,299 –> 00:13:33,219 they turn their back on what they once professed. 213 00:13:34,219 –> 00:13:37,500 And then, Jesus says, there are others who are like 214 00:13:37,500 –> 00:13:40,159 ones sown among thorns. 215 00:13:41,179 –> 00:13:44,679 They are those, says Jesus, who hear the word 216 00:13:44,679 –> 00:13:48,539 but the cares of the world, 217 00:13:48,539 –> 00:13:52,219 the deceitfulness of riches, 218 00:13:52,219 –> 00:13:55,979 and the desire for other things 219 00:13:55,979 –> 00:13:59,460 enter in and choke the word 220 00:13:59,460 –> 00:14:01,960 and it proves unfruitful. 221 00:14:04,200 –> 00:14:08,020 Now we all know someone who at one time 222 00:14:08,020 –> 00:14:10,200 professed faith and then has turned back. 223 00:14:11,080 –> 00:14:15,520 So how do you know that your faith is genuine? 224 00:14:16,659 –> 00:14:18,539 Well, Peter has the answer. 225 00:14:19,359 –> 00:14:24,359 He tells us that, when you are grieved by various trials, 226 00:14:24,760 –> 00:14:28,960 and despite them, you continue to love 227 00:14:28,960 –> 00:14:32,599 and to trust and to obey the Lord Jesus Christ, 228 00:14:32,599 –> 00:14:37,599 then you have decisive proof that your faith is genuine. 229 00:14:39,460 –> 00:14:41,239 And here’s why. 230 00:14:41,239 –> 00:14:44,559 If your faith was simply a human decision, 231 00:14:44,559 –> 00:14:48,020 if it was simply a sort of religious interest, 232 00:14:48,020 –> 00:14:50,900 if it was simply a passing phase, 233 00:14:50,900 –> 00:14:53,179 then you would renounce your faith 234 00:14:53,179 –> 00:14:55,239 as soon as it became too costly. 235 00:14:56,099 –> 00:14:58,679 If God did not do what you wanted, 236 00:14:58,679 –> 00:15:01,099 if he did not give you what you asked, 237 00:15:01,119 –> 00:15:04,479 well, if your faith was simply a human decision, 238 00:15:04,479 –> 00:15:06,119 you would turn away from worship, 239 00:15:06,119 –> 00:15:08,380 you would turn away from the word of God, 240 00:15:08,380 –> 00:15:10,219 you would give up on prayer, 241 00:15:10,219 –> 00:15:11,820 you would no longer believe, 242 00:15:11,820 –> 00:15:15,000 and you would no longer obey the Lord Jesus Christ. 243 00:15:16,719 –> 00:15:19,619 The natural response, 244 00:15:19,619 –> 00:15:21,380 the natural response, 245 00:15:21,380 –> 00:15:25,440 when Jesus Christ leads a person into hard places, 246 00:15:25,440 –> 00:15:30,219 would be to turn back and no longer follow him. 247 00:15:31,739 –> 00:15:33,159 But you see, 248 00:15:33,159 –> 00:15:35,539 Peter is writing here 249 00:15:35,539 –> 00:15:38,659 to people who have endured great trials 250 00:15:38,659 –> 00:15:40,979 and they did not turn back. 251 00:15:42,539 –> 00:15:44,500 And he’s saying to them, 252 00:15:44,500 –> 00:15:46,859 well there can only be one explanation. 253 00:15:49,000 –> 00:15:50,780 You have been born of God. 254 00:15:51,739 –> 00:15:54,440 You have a living hope through the resurrection 255 00:15:54,440 –> 00:15:56,659 of Jesus Christ from the dead. 256 00:15:57,719 –> 00:16:00,960 The life of God is in you. 257 00:16:00,960 –> 00:16:04,479 The Spirit of God in dwells you. 258 00:16:04,479 –> 00:16:08,359 Your faith has been proved genuine. 259 00:16:09,460 –> 00:16:12,640 You belong to Jesus Christ 260 00:16:12,640 –> 00:16:15,080 and he is yours 261 00:16:16,239 –> 00:16:17,159 forever. 262 00:16:21,080 –> 00:16:22,080 Tested faith 263 00:16:23,520 –> 00:16:24,900 is genuine faith. 264 00:16:26,340 –> 00:16:27,239 And now Peter 265 00:16:27,479 –> 00:16:31,020 goes on to tell us why that is so important. 266 00:16:31,940 –> 00:16:33,599 Because, 267 00:16:33,599 –> 00:16:37,859 tested faith is more precious than gold. 268 00:16:39,679 –> 00:16:43,719 The tested genuineness of your faith, he says, 269 00:16:43,719 –> 00:16:47,359 more precious than gold 270 00:16:48,500 –> 00:16:49,599 that perishes. 271 00:16:50,919 –> 00:16:53,520 Now do you see that Peter is talking here 272 00:16:53,539 –> 00:16:58,140 about the value of a genuine faith? 273 00:16:59,119 –> 00:17:04,119 Now the world looks on with condescending disdain 274 00:17:04,239 –> 00:17:06,079 in regards to faith. 275 00:17:06,079 –> 00:17:07,920 Well faith is a good thing you know, 276 00:17:07,920 –> 00:17:10,219 especially for those who feel that they need it. 277 00:17:10,219 –> 00:17:12,380 That’s the way in which the world views faith, 278 00:17:12,380 –> 00:17:16,280 it’s something of very little value indeed. 279 00:17:17,239 –> 00:17:22,040 The world sees faith as a kind of crutch for weak people. 280 00:17:22,439 –> 00:17:25,199 But you see Peter tells us here 281 00:17:25,199 –> 00:17:27,500 that far from being a crutch, 282 00:17:28,439 –> 00:17:33,140 genuine faith is a gift of infinite value. 283 00:17:35,199 –> 00:17:38,359 And to press home how valuable it really is, 284 00:17:38,359 –> 00:17:40,319 he makes this comparison. 285 00:17:40,319 –> 00:17:42,719 He puts it alongside money, 286 00:17:42,719 –> 00:17:45,719 not just a little money but a lot of money. 287 00:17:45,719 –> 00:17:48,060 He talks about pure gold. 288 00:17:48,300 –> 00:17:49,880 Let’s just imagine this. 289 00:17:51,280 –> 00:17:56,280 Suppose a man has millions of dollars, millions. 290 00:17:58,900 –> 00:18:00,079 He is blessed. 291 00:18:01,540 –> 00:18:03,660 There are many joys of life 292 00:18:03,660 –> 00:18:06,739 that he can savor because of his money, 293 00:18:08,880 –> 00:18:10,459 but only for a short time. 294 00:18:12,300 –> 00:18:16,439 Very soon he will have to kiss his money goodbye. 295 00:18:18,060 –> 00:18:20,500 Gold is of finite value. 296 00:18:22,180 –> 00:18:25,380 But genuine faith, Peter is telling us, 297 00:18:25,380 –> 00:18:28,199 is of greater value by far. 298 00:18:28,199 –> 00:18:31,500 It is more precious than gold. 299 00:18:34,060 –> 00:18:38,479 Gold will give you access to many pleasures 300 00:18:38,479 –> 00:18:39,660 for a short while. 301 00:18:40,939 –> 00:18:45,939 Genuine faith will give you access to the presence of God 302 00:18:46,060 –> 00:18:48,819 where there is fullness of joy and pleasures 303 00:18:48,819 –> 00:18:51,979 at His right hand forever more. 304 00:18:53,900 –> 00:18:58,719 So faith that is tested and proved genuine 305 00:18:58,719 –> 00:19:03,719 is more precious, Peter says, than gold. 306 00:19:04,900 –> 00:19:08,739 Spurgeon says, if you have faith, 307 00:19:09,540 –> 00:19:11,479 you don’t need to ask for much more 308 00:19:12,739 –> 00:19:14,680 except that your faith will grow. 309 00:19:16,300 –> 00:19:19,180 And then Peter takes this comparison 310 00:19:19,180 –> 00:19:22,859 between faith and gold a step further. 311 00:19:22,859 –> 00:19:26,020 Notice that he speaks here about gold that perishes 312 00:19:26,020 –> 00:19:30,579 though it is tested by fire. 313 00:19:30,579 –> 00:19:32,280 He’s talking, of course, about the way 314 00:19:32,280 –> 00:19:37,280 in which gold is purified or refined in the fire. 315 00:19:37,540 –> 00:19:40,280 And he’s saying, in the same way, 316 00:19:40,280 –> 00:19:42,560 faith is strengthened, faith grows. 317 00:19:42,660 –> 00:19:47,520 But faith is refined when it is tested 318 00:19:47,520 –> 00:19:49,180 and when it is tried. 319 00:19:50,800 –> 00:19:54,640 Amy Carmichael was an Irish missionary 320 00:19:54,640 –> 00:19:58,479 who started a rescue home for young girls 321 00:19:58,479 –> 00:20:02,520 who had been trafficked in India. 322 00:20:02,520 –> 00:20:04,839 And she tells of an occasion when she went 323 00:20:04,839 –> 00:20:09,500 with the girls under her care to visit a goldsmith 324 00:20:09,579 –> 00:20:13,280 who was refining gold in a charcoal fire, 325 00:20:14,880 –> 00:20:19,880 and they watched as he put the gold into a curved tile 326 00:20:20,459 –> 00:20:24,859 and then put this crucible into the fire, 327 00:20:24,859 –> 00:20:27,959 and then he’d take it out and have a look at the gold. 328 00:20:27,959 –> 00:20:29,660 Then he’d put it back in. 329 00:20:29,660 –> 00:20:30,900 Then he’d take it back out 330 00:20:30,900 –> 00:20:33,699 and have a look at the gold again. 331 00:20:35,079 –> 00:20:36,359 And someone asked him, 332 00:20:37,060 –> 00:20:41,560 How do you know when the gold is refined? 333 00:20:42,540 –> 00:20:45,439 And the goldsmith gave this answer. 334 00:20:46,880 –> 00:20:51,500 When I can see my face in it, 335 00:20:51,500 –> 00:20:54,000 then it is pure. 336 00:20:56,359 –> 00:21:00,780 When your faith is tested, it will grow. 337 00:21:01,959 –> 00:21:03,380 It will be refined. 338 00:21:04,380 –> 00:21:07,180 And when the refining is done, 339 00:21:07,180 –> 00:21:11,219 God will produce a reflection 340 00:21:11,219 –> 00:21:16,219 of his own image and likeness in you. 341 00:21:18,260 –> 00:21:23,260 And that is why faith is of greater worth than gold. 342 00:21:28,339 –> 00:21:32,819 Faith that is tested and proved genuine 343 00:21:33,979 –> 00:21:35,900 is of infinite value. 344 00:21:37,339 –> 00:21:40,560 Tested faith is genuine faith. 345 00:21:40,560 –> 00:21:43,859 Tested faith is more precious than gold. 346 00:21:43,859 –> 00:21:47,560 Then Peter tells us that tested faith 347 00:21:47,560 –> 00:21:52,439 will result in praise, glory, and honor. 348 00:21:52,439 –> 00:21:53,420 Look at what he says here, 349 00:21:53,420 –> 00:21:57,500 you have been grieved by various trials 350 00:21:57,500 –> 00:22:00,900 so that, here’s what will come out of it, 351 00:22:00,900 –> 00:22:05,420 the tested genuineness of your faith 352 00:22:05,420 –> 00:22:09,760 may be found to result in praise, and glory, 353 00:22:09,760 –> 00:22:14,739 and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 354 00:22:17,339 –> 00:22:19,500 Now the obvious question is, 355 00:22:19,500 –> 00:22:23,719 whose praise, glory, and honor are we talking about? 356 00:22:23,719 –> 00:22:27,260 And there are two answers to that question. 357 00:22:28,239 –> 00:22:30,880 You remember that Jesus tells us 358 00:22:30,880 –> 00:22:34,599 that faithful servants will be praised 359 00:22:35,619 –> 00:22:37,119 by the master himself. 360 00:22:38,239 –> 00:22:40,119 Well done. 361 00:22:40,119 –> 00:22:45,119 Good and faithful servant enter into your master’s joy. 362 00:22:47,920 –> 00:22:51,400 And in Romans and chapter two Paul says 363 00:22:51,400 –> 00:22:54,420 of a person who has come to love God from the heart 364 00:22:54,420 –> 00:22:57,900 and a person who is in dwelt by the Holy Spirit 365 00:22:57,900 –> 00:23:02,900 that his praise is not from man but from God. 366 00:23:07,680 –> 00:23:10,199 Then as we think about honor 367 00:23:11,160 –> 00:23:14,000 in 1 Corinthians chapter four and verse five 368 00:23:14,000 –> 00:23:15,719 Paul speaks about the great day 369 00:23:15,719 –> 00:23:17,640 when God will bring to light 370 00:23:17,640 –> 00:23:19,839 the things that up until that point 371 00:23:19,839 –> 00:23:21,839 have been hidden in darkness. 372 00:23:21,979 –> 00:23:26,979 And then God will disclose the hidden purpose of every heart. 373 00:23:28,579 –> 00:23:29,939 What a day that will be. 374 00:23:31,040 –> 00:23:34,459 And then the Apostle says this, 375 00:23:35,380 –> 00:23:40,380 each one will receive his commendation from God. 376 00:23:43,900 –> 00:23:48,680 Now, you read that and you may find it very hard to imagine 377 00:23:48,680 –> 00:23:51,420 God Himself commending you. 378 00:23:52,579 –> 00:23:54,880 But look at what it says. 379 00:23:55,939 –> 00:23:58,079 If you are in Christ, 380 00:23:59,020 –> 00:24:02,020 if by faith you persevere through trial, 381 00:24:03,420 –> 00:24:07,500 the Bible says that God Himself will commend you, 382 00:24:09,119 –> 00:24:09,959 honor you. 383 00:24:11,979 –> 00:24:15,800 And then Peter uses the word glory, 384 00:24:15,800 –> 00:24:19,619 and later in this first letter that he writes, 385 00:24:19,619 –> 00:24:21,640 there are some words given to elders 386 00:24:21,640 –> 00:24:24,219 that can rightly be applied 387 00:24:24,219 –> 00:24:26,219 to all who extend themselves 388 00:24:26,219 –> 00:24:28,719 in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. 389 00:24:28,719 –> 00:24:29,920 This is what Peter says. 390 00:24:29,920 –> 00:24:32,880 When the chief shepherd appears, 391 00:24:32,880 –> 00:24:34,119 here’s what will happen, 392 00:24:34,119 –> 00:24:38,939 you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 393 00:24:42,339 –> 00:24:43,260 Glory, 394 00:24:44,719 –> 00:24:46,420 praise, 395 00:24:46,420 –> 00:24:48,140 honor, 396 00:24:48,140 –> 00:24:49,079 glory. 397 00:24:50,060 –> 00:24:53,680 And here, Peter brings the three together. 398 00:24:55,239 –> 00:24:57,760 Faith that is proved genuine, 399 00:24:57,760 –> 00:25:01,280 he tells us will result in praise, 400 00:25:01,280 –> 00:25:02,280 glory, 401 00:25:02,280 –> 00:25:03,680 and honor 402 00:25:03,680 –> 00:25:08,140 when Jesus Christ is revealed. 403 00:25:09,780 –> 00:25:12,280 Now, who are these people 404 00:25:13,140 –> 00:25:15,180 who are praised 405 00:25:15,180 –> 00:25:18,500 and honored by the Lord Jesus Christ himself? 406 00:25:18,500 –> 00:25:20,819 Well, they are those 407 00:25:21,719 –> 00:25:24,760 who in the face of great trials, 408 00:25:24,760 –> 00:25:26,540 great darkness, 409 00:25:26,540 –> 00:25:27,760 grief, suffering, 410 00:25:27,760 –> 00:25:28,900 and loss, 411 00:25:28,900 –> 00:25:33,000 they have loved and trusted Christ still. 412 00:25:34,180 –> 00:25:36,719 The greatest honor that you can give 413 00:25:36,719 –> 00:25:39,619 to the Lord Jesus Christ in all of your life 414 00:25:40,719 –> 00:25:41,599 is to love him, 415 00:25:42,680 –> 00:25:44,359 trust him, 416 00:25:44,359 –> 00:25:46,359 and obey him 417 00:25:46,400 –> 00:25:48,760 in the midst of sorrow and loss 418 00:25:49,800 –> 00:25:51,680 that you do not understand. 419 00:25:54,119 –> 00:25:56,699 Now, what will those 420 00:25:56,699 –> 00:26:00,640 who have endured great trial do 421 00:26:00,640 –> 00:26:03,319 with this praise 422 00:26:03,319 –> 00:26:05,160 and this honor 423 00:26:05,160 –> 00:26:07,000 and this glory? 424 00:26:07,000 –> 00:26:09,040 Well, you know what they will do. 425 00:26:09,040 –> 00:26:11,020 They will lay any praise, 426 00:26:11,020 –> 00:26:11,859 any honor, 427 00:26:11,859 –> 00:26:14,680 and any glory that they receive 428 00:26:14,680 –> 00:26:18,040 at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ. 429 00:26:18,040 –> 00:26:18,859 And they will say, 430 00:26:18,859 –> 00:26:20,439 any strength that we had 431 00:26:21,380 –> 00:26:24,060 and any perseverance that we showed 432 00:26:24,060 –> 00:26:26,699 and any faithfulness that we sustained 433 00:26:26,699 –> 00:26:28,819 was by your grace 434 00:26:28,819 –> 00:26:31,459 and by your grace alone. 435 00:26:32,900 –> 00:26:35,619 John tells us in the Book of Revelation 436 00:26:35,619 –> 00:26:37,260 that the elders 437 00:26:37,260 –> 00:26:39,400 cast their crowns 438 00:26:39,400 –> 00:26:42,239 before the Lord Jesus Christ. 439 00:26:43,020 –> 00:26:45,020 And picking up on that, 440 00:26:45,020 –> 00:26:47,000 Charles Wesley wrote these words, 441 00:26:47,000 –> 00:26:50,719 finish then your new creation. 442 00:26:51,619 –> 00:26:54,099 Pure and spotless, 443 00:26:54,099 –> 00:26:55,959 let us be. 444 00:26:55,959 –> 00:26:59,199 Let us see your great salvation 445 00:26:59,199 –> 00:27:02,079 perfect in eternity. 446 00:27:02,079 –> 00:27:05,140 Change from glory into glory. 447 00:27:05,140 –> 00:27:08,619 Till in heaven we take our place, 448 00:27:08,619 –> 00:27:12,680 till we cast our crowns before thee. 449 00:27:13,619 –> 00:27:17,219 Lost in wonder and love 450 00:27:18,660 –> 00:27:19,780 and praise. 451 00:27:21,939 –> 00:27:25,119 And notice that Peter says 452 00:27:25,119 –> 00:27:28,819 that this praise, glory, and honor will come 453 00:27:28,819 –> 00:27:33,579 at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 454 00:27:33,579 –> 00:27:35,300 Now, Peters, of course, is speaking here 455 00:27:35,300 –> 00:27:38,699 about the return of our Lord Jesus Christ 456 00:27:38,699 –> 00:27:43,140 and the Bible often speaks about this as his coming 457 00:27:43,140 –> 00:27:45,459 but that’s not the word that Peter uses here. 458 00:27:45,459 –> 00:27:48,780 Here, Peter speaks of his being revealed. 459 00:27:48,780 –> 00:27:51,459 He uses the word revelation. 460 00:27:53,099 –> 00:27:54,619 Now, what is the difference 461 00:27:54,619 –> 00:27:58,579 between Christ coming and Christ being revealed? 462 00:27:58,579 –> 00:28:00,819 They clearly refer to the same event 463 00:28:00,819 –> 00:28:02,420 but there’s a different emphasis 464 00:28:02,479 –> 00:28:03,780 and there’s a different focus 465 00:28:03,780 –> 00:28:07,339 and Peter chooses his word carefully 466 00:28:07,339 –> 00:28:11,900 under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God. 467 00:28:12,979 –> 00:28:13,939 Revealed. 468 00:28:15,359 –> 00:28:18,219 When you have a reveal 469 00:28:18,219 –> 00:28:22,260 at the end of a show or at the end of a project 470 00:28:22,260 –> 00:28:27,060 it is the unveiling of something that is already there 471 00:28:28,939 –> 00:28:32,300 and a scholar by the name of Alan Stibbs 472 00:28:32,400 –> 00:28:34,880 has made this very beautiful comment. 473 00:28:36,260 –> 00:28:39,219 He says, the revelation of Jesus Christ 474 00:28:40,160 –> 00:28:44,839 is not the coming of someone hitherto absent 475 00:28:46,260 –> 00:28:49,079 but the visible unveiling 476 00:28:49,979 –> 00:28:53,699 of someone who has been all the time 477 00:28:53,699 –> 00:28:58,479 spiritually and invisibly present. 478 00:28:59,280 –> 00:29:04,280 When Amy Carmichael took her girls 479 00:29:04,619 –> 00:29:06,560 to watch the goldsmith at work, 480 00:29:06,560 –> 00:29:08,280 she pointed out to them 481 00:29:09,339 –> 00:29:12,979 that the refiner never leaves the gold 482 00:29:12,979 –> 00:29:14,359 when it is in the fire. 483 00:29:16,979 –> 00:29:20,739 In every trial that you have faced, 484 00:29:21,939 –> 00:29:24,979 your Savior has all the time 485 00:29:26,359 –> 00:29:28,300 been invisibly present. 486 00:29:29,400 –> 00:29:32,479 Brother, Sister in Christ, 487 00:29:32,479 –> 00:29:34,280 your faith will be tested. 488 00:29:35,300 –> 00:29:37,699 When your faith is tested, 489 00:29:37,699 –> 00:29:40,800 it will be refined, it will grow. 490 00:29:41,939 –> 00:29:45,180 Tested faith is genuine faith. 491 00:29:46,079 –> 00:29:48,479 And a tested faith that proves genuine 492 00:29:48,479 –> 00:29:51,459 is more precious than gold. 493 00:29:53,459 –> 00:29:56,180 And the tested faith that proves genuine 494 00:29:56,300 –> 00:29:59,160 and a tested faith that proves genuine 495 00:29:59,160 –> 00:30:02,900 will result in praise and glory and honor 496 00:30:04,099 –> 00:30:05,739 when Jesus Christ is revealed. 497 00:30:07,040 –> 00:30:10,339 The same trial that brings you pain, grief 498 00:30:10,339 –> 00:30:15,180 and sorrow right now will bring praise, glory, and honor 499 00:30:16,180 –> 00:30:18,699 when you see Jesus Christ face to face. 500 00:30:21,040 –> 00:30:23,420 Now, I want to end with a very simple parable 501 00:30:23,459 –> 00:30:27,180 to press the main point of the message today home. 502 00:30:28,739 –> 00:30:33,739 It’s a parable that I call the parable of the pit. 503 00:30:33,979 –> 00:30:37,979 And it’s a very simple analogy to remind us 504 00:30:37,979 –> 00:30:41,780 that there are discoveries of God’s grace 505 00:30:41,780 –> 00:30:44,520 that we can only make in the darkest places. 506 00:30:45,579 –> 00:30:47,540 There’s something that you can gain 507 00:30:47,540 –> 00:30:49,900 in the hardest places of your life 508 00:30:49,900 –> 00:30:51,739 that you will not gain anywhere else. 509 00:30:53,619 –> 00:30:55,500 Imagine then with me for a moment 510 00:30:55,500 –> 00:31:00,359 that you are told that you will be in a pit for one week. 511 00:31:00,359 –> 00:31:02,380 You’re told that after that week in the pit, 512 00:31:02,380 –> 00:31:04,660 you will never, ever go that again, 513 00:31:04,660 –> 00:31:06,219 never in all of your life, 514 00:31:06,219 –> 00:31:07,900 and that while you are there, 515 00:31:07,900 –> 00:31:11,300 you are to use the time and the opportunity 516 00:31:11,300 –> 00:31:14,239 to make a life and a future. 517 00:31:15,699 –> 00:31:17,260 You’re lowered into this pit. 518 00:31:17,839 –> 00:31:19,420 It’s dark. 519 00:31:19,420 –> 00:31:20,479 It’s damp. 520 00:31:21,479 –> 00:31:22,719 And it smells. 521 00:31:24,020 –> 00:31:27,800 You feel around, the walls are like glass. 522 00:31:28,660 –> 00:31:30,140 You cut your finger. 523 00:31:31,079 –> 00:31:34,880 You think, what can I do here to make a life and a future? 524 00:31:37,400 –> 00:31:39,380 You sit miserably in the darkness. 525 00:31:41,380 –> 00:31:43,260 You think, well, at least I’m only gonna be here 526 00:31:43,260 –> 00:31:45,140 for one week, and I have been promised 527 00:31:45,619 –> 00:31:49,839 that after one week I will never be here again. 528 00:31:49,839 –> 00:31:54,359 And so you count the hours, you count the days, 529 00:31:55,280 –> 00:31:57,800 you simply wait for the time to pass, 530 00:31:57,800 –> 00:31:59,920 you do nothing, you just sit there. 531 00:32:01,439 –> 00:32:06,439 And finally, one week later, the day comes 532 00:32:06,920 –> 00:32:08,599 when you are lifted out of the pit 533 00:32:08,599 –> 00:32:11,699 and you rejoice, because you know 534 00:32:11,699 –> 00:32:14,400 that you will never be there again. 535 00:32:16,119 –> 00:32:19,859 But as you leave the pit, you look backwards 536 00:32:21,900 –> 00:32:23,979 and you see a sign that tells you 537 00:32:23,979 –> 00:32:27,479 that the place you have been for an entire week 538 00:32:27,479 –> 00:32:29,780 was a diamond mine. 539 00:32:32,140 –> 00:32:37,140 There are gems of grace that can only be found 540 00:32:37,859 –> 00:32:40,260 in the darkest of places. 541 00:32:40,939 –> 00:32:44,439 So when your faith is tested, 542 00:32:46,140 –> 00:32:51,140 make sure that you don’t come out empty-handed. 543 00:32:53,180 –> 00:32:54,699 Let’s pray together, shall we? 544 00:32:57,680 –> 00:33:02,819 Father, as our faith is tested, 545 00:33:02,819 –> 00:33:05,479 we pray that by Your grace, 546 00:33:07,079 –> 00:33:08,660 it will be proved genuine 547 00:33:10,439 –> 00:33:11,099 and trustworthy. 548 00:33:13,920 –> 00:33:17,920 We thank You that a genuine faith, 549 00:33:19,040 –> 00:33:20,560 tried and tested, 550 00:33:21,739 –> 00:33:26,099 is of greater worth than gold by far, 551 00:33:28,239 –> 00:33:30,339 and that it will result 552 00:33:31,939 –> 00:33:34,380 in praise, glory, and honor 553 00:33:35,640 –> 00:33:37,420 when Jesus Christ is revealed. 554 00:33:38,219 –> 00:33:41,800 So strengthen us in faith that we may bear up 555 00:33:42,979 –> 00:33:44,800 under whatever trials You call us to face, 556 00:33:46,119 –> 00:33:48,099 that we may love You, 557 00:33:48,099 –> 00:33:51,260 trust You, worship You, 558 00:33:51,260 –> 00:33:53,839 serve You, obey You, 559 00:33:55,199 –> 00:33:56,400 in all things, 560 00:33:57,560 –> 00:33:58,859 at all times, 561 00:34:00,140 –> 00:34:02,180 and under all circumstances. 562 00:34:04,040 –> 00:34:06,780 So may we honor Christ 563 00:34:07,920 –> 00:34:13,459 until the day when any honor 564 00:34:13,459 –> 00:34:16,479 that comes to us by Your grace 565 00:34:16,479 –> 00:34:19,459 will be laid at the feet of the Savior, 566 00:34:21,000 –> 00:34:25,459 and we shall enter into the fullness of His joy 567 00:34:25,459 –> 00:34:27,560 for ever and ever, 568 00:34:27,560 –> 00:34:29,560 through Jesus Christ our Lord, 569 00:34:29,560 –> 00:34:30,939 in whose wonderful name we pray, 570 00:34:32,840 –> 00:34:33,860 Amen. 571 00:34:34,739 –> 00:34:36,820 You’ve been listening to a sermon 572 00:34:36,820 –> 00:34:38,379 with Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 573 00:34:38,379 –> 00:34:43,379 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 574 00:34:43,639 –> 00:34:46,540 or visit our website, opennessbible.org.