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Firstly read Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Peter 1:6-9.
Look again at The Three Steps Of Salvation Diagram.
This section shows us that just as Christ suffered so we must enter in to His sufferings. We are infact called into a life where we must suffer to see His will outworked in us.
Read David Watson's thoughts on sufferings to see this truth through the eyes of one who has experienced much suffering (David Watson was a Christian author/minister who died of cancer).
1 Peter 1:5 - It is God's power and our faith in Him that sustains us through our time of Sanctification (being made holy).
The salvation to be revealed in the last time refers to the salvation of our bodies (when Christ returns we will be given resurrection bodies and enter into our inheritance based on our faithfulness and obedience).
1 Peter 1:6 - Even when we go through 'various trials' (literally 'sufferings/ distressings/ heaviness of all kinds) we can 'greatly rejoice' (Greek 'agalliao' = to jump for joy). We can have this joyful perspective in our suffering because of the 'salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.'
1 Peter 1:7The secondary purpose of suffering is that our faith would grow and we mature as Christians - through this process God is glorified.
Trials we go through test our faith as fire tests the genuineness of gold but our faith is more precious than gold as it is eternal. It is our faith that will carry us through to our eternal home, not our earthly riches.
When Christ comes back what will be the state of our faith ? The more we yield to God's dealings in suffering and allow Him to have His way, the more like Him we become and our faith gives Him praise, glory and honour.
1 Peter 1:8 - See Jonathan Edwards Exposition of 1 Peter 1:8.
This verse beautifully shows us how our faith is proven in the midst of sufferings. By our unwavering, loving belief in Him though we don't see Him. This quality of faith enables us to experience 'inexpressible joy' which is 'full of glory' (a foretaste of the glory to come) - see John 20:29.
1 Peter 1:9 - It is during this step (the saving of our souls - mind,will and emotions) that we must endure to the end (
Matthew 24:13). We are already saved in our Spirits (eternally) but this speaks of salvation into our rewards in heaven (inheritance) which is based on our faith (or faithfulness) in this present age.
The Bible shows us that we will only reign with Jesus (in our inheritance) if we also Suffer with Him ( See Romans 8:17). We must now endure Suffering for His sake if we are to enter into the full joy of His inheritance (See Philippians 1:29, Philippians 3:10 and 2 Timothy 3:12).
Return to main lesson outline to re-cap and choose the next section.