First Peter: Humility | Part 1: Trials — Tribulation Sanctification

Tribulation Sanctification - 1 Peter 1:1-9

1 Peter 1:1-2, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”

The book of First Peter is written for our sanctification: the process of being conformed to the image of Christ. Romans 8:29, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…”

First Peter is a manual on humility – one of the essential character qualities of Christlikeness. 1 Peter 5:5-6, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”

1 Peter 1:2-6, “…elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 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. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials.”

Our sanctification is forged in the fires of life’s trials. TribulationTransformationSanctification.

1 Peter 1:7, “That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

It’s in the fires of life’s trials that God is refining our faith so that we can bring Jesus greater glory! Peter teaches that in the same way a goldsmith uses fire to purify gold, God uses suffering to purify our faith. 

Remember three things in the fire…

1. Hope in the resurrection. (See 1 Peter 1:3)

1 Peter 1:3, “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.”

Philippians 3:10, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”

2. Hope in our reward. (See 1 Peter 1:4)

1 Peter 1:3-4, “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.”

Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

3. Hope in our refining. The Greek word “poikilos” is used only twice in Scripture – once to describe our trials in 1 Peter 1:6 as “various,” and once to describe God’s grace in 1 Peter 4:10 as “manifold.”

God has exactly the size and shade of grace to perfectly match your specific trial!

1 Peter 1:8-9, “…whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith – the salvation of your souls.”

God promises that the prize will one day be worth the price of having lived by faith in the fires of life.