I am studying the letter of 1 Peter and want to mention some things I considered from 1 Peter 3:-12. One thing that I am struck by when reading these verses is in verse 3 where Peter talks about why we are born again. This occurs, not because of what we have done, but because of the mercy of God. I read this quote recently from Charles Spurgeon about God's mercy that says:
"No other attribute could have helped us had mercy refused. As we are by nature, justice condemns us, holiness frowns upon us, power crushes us, truth confirms the threatening of the law, and wrath fulfils it. It is from mercy of our God that our hopes begin."
Another place that mentions this in in Ephesians 2:4 where it says, "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved loves us, even when we were dead to our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). You notice in this verse also that the emphasis is on God's love and mercy, not on what we have earned. In fact, it isn't really grace if we had earned it. It describes us as not having earned it, but when we received it being dead to transgressions.
Mercy is one of the great qualities of God that opens the door for us to be offered salvation and that gives us hope. Peter says that this is a "living hope" of a inheritance. In various places throughout scripture, it says that this inheritance is great and undefiled, just as it mentions it here. In Romans 8:17 it goes on to call the believer, "heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ." Whatever it is that we are to inherit then it is great and awesome. Our minds simply cannot contain all of it.
Until that point, Peter says that our faith is going to be tested. This is repeated over and over again throughout scripture. While we are here on earth, we will go through times where the trials will be like a furnace. The furnaces purpose is to purify. The purification process is in order to bring glory and honor to God's name. James says the same thing in James 1:2-5, that we should consider it joyful when we go through various trials knowing that they have a higher purpose. As well, so does verses such as Romans 5:3-5. God wants to grow within us the qualities that his own son has qualities such as faith, goodness, love, mercy, gentleness, kindness, self-control.
"and not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance, and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given for us." Romans 5:3-5
How many times do we understand when going through them that trials for the believer serve a purpose. Not that we want to cause trials or suffer due to poor decision making or the sins of others or ourselves. But, God takes even the bad and difficult things in life and uses them for his glory. James doesn't tell people to be joyful because we like pain. Rather, because he says that trials produce endurance and endurance works to make us complete.
"No other attribute could have helped us had mercy refused. As we are by nature, justice condemns us, holiness frowns upon us, power crushes us, truth confirms the threatening of the law, and wrath fulfils it. It is from mercy of our God that our hopes begin."
Another place that mentions this in in Ephesians 2:4 where it says, "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved loves us, even when we were dead to our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). You notice in this verse also that the emphasis is on God's love and mercy, not on what we have earned. In fact, it isn't really grace if we had earned it. It describes us as not having earned it, but when we received it being dead to transgressions.
Mercy is one of the great qualities of God that opens the door for us to be offered salvation and that gives us hope. Peter says that this is a "living hope" of a inheritance. In various places throughout scripture, it says that this inheritance is great and undefiled, just as it mentions it here. In Romans 8:17 it goes on to call the believer, "heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ." Whatever it is that we are to inherit then it is great and awesome. Our minds simply cannot contain all of it.
Until that point, Peter says that our faith is going to be tested. This is repeated over and over again throughout scripture. While we are here on earth, we will go through times where the trials will be like a furnace. The furnaces purpose is to purify. The purification process is in order to bring glory and honor to God's name. James says the same thing in James 1:2-5, that we should consider it joyful when we go through various trials knowing that they have a higher purpose. As well, so does verses such as Romans 5:3-5. God wants to grow within us the qualities that his own son has qualities such as faith, goodness, love, mercy, gentleness, kindness, self-control.
"and not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance, and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given for us." Romans 5:3-5
How many times do we understand when going through them that trials for the believer serve a purpose. Not that we want to cause trials or suffer due to poor decision making or the sins of others or ourselves. But, God takes even the bad and difficult things in life and uses them for his glory. James doesn't tell people to be joyful because we like pain. Rather, because he says that trials produce endurance and endurance works to make us complete.
