“The Just Shall Live By Faith”
New King James Version Written by: David Hicks
Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
“Articles of Faith”
(A Study in I Peter)
Lesson 2 - We Have, What the Prophets Searched For:
A better title for this second lesson in I Peter would be, ‘Living Hope'. However, in the title, I am trying ascribe value to that which is the theme of this book, ‘hope'. The essential quality of hope is that it is oriented to something in the future that one expects but does not yet posses. The sureness of the hope that comes from an election sure ‘in' Christ Jesus, to the believer, becomes something tangible toward which believers look as an eventual reality and around which they orient their lives.
This tangible future possession has certain coordinates that become natural attachments; such as:
• Joy.
Romans 5:2 “through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
• Faith.
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
• Perseverance – Endurance.
Romans 5:3-5 “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
1 Thessalonians 1:3 “remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,”
Peter adds something within the opening of the theme to this book by describing this hope as ‘living'. It is a living hope, as it is assured by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Likewise, all who are raised to newness of life participate in this living hope ( Romans 6:3-4 ). They participate now as citizens of the kingdom, however, just as they are pilgrims and sojourners here on earth, and flesh and blood will not inherit the kingdom of heaven ( I Corinthians 15:50 ), they live to inherit the incorruptible kingdom. This is the value ascribed to that which we hope for that far surpasses any temporal thing. It is this valued possession we work for, prophets sought, and angels desire to look into.
Text:
1 Peter 1:3-9 “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, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 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, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.”
Blessed be God: Peter begins this assessment of the hope we live for by crediting God as the originator of our salvation from sure death in sin. We must never forget that it was God that gave Christ all authority ( Matthew 28:18 ); it was Christ who fulfilled God's eternal purpose in the church ( Ephesians 3:11 ); and it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is the power of God to salvation ( Romans 1:16 ). So, blessed be God, who is worthy of all our praise. He is the Father of salvation and mercy for the children of men.
Begotten: This term begotten has the equivalence to “born again” ( John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. " ). Jesus would go on to describe to Nicodemus that he must be born of water and the Spirit. The water is the baptism of salvation described by Peter in 3:21 ; the Spirit is the revelation that the Spirit would relate to men through New Testament prophets and described by Peter as incorruptible in 1:23 (The Word).
It is this rebirth through the incorruptible word and water baptism that has brought us to our living hope, and just as our living hope is assured by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, so our salvation in Baptism is assured by that same power ( I Peter 3:21 ).
Inheritance: In this verse Peter would define the hope stated in the previous verse that disciples are begotten to. Incorruptible means it cannot decay, and undefiled means it is pure and unsoiled. So, we learn that we live for a pure and perpetual hope.
Reserved: In temporal matters, when something is said to be reserved, it is understood that only certain persons have a right to it. Such is true of this heavenly inheritance and the certain persons are described in the next verse.
Are Kept: Not only is the inheritance safely cared for, but the heirs are also assured that they will live to see the estate settled. As heirs, we must additionally cooperate in faith and faithfulness until the time of the distribution (see: II Peter 1:8-11 ).
Distressed by Trials: The living hope that brings joy, faith, and endurance in this life comes from the natural contrast to its intrinsic value compared to earthly things. Fact ! The great and precious promises of God do not include wealth, health, or earthly pleasure; however, they do include all things that pertain to life and godliness ( II Peter 1:3-4 ). Here Peter draws attention to this fact. So, it is a practical statement that he makes by telling them to rejoice, even though for a little while (their temporal pilgrimage) they suffer trials. A Christian's true comfort in this life comes from his love and hope in God through Christ; never in temporal things (read: I Peter 2:21 ).
Genuineness of Faith: The joy that is to be found in hope is only realized or obtained if that faith is an enduring faith . This was the thoughts of the Hebrew writer; who wrote to Christians that were about to fail in their faith and faithfulness, note:
Hebrews 4:1 “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.”
In addition, they would find that their faith would become refined and more precious than gold as they endured the trials of this life. The trials of this life only increase the value of the precious promises of God that are realized in the next, eternal life.
The End of Your Faith: We do not have to see Jesus to know Him, if we believe the multitude of evidences of His love for us. The Gospel revelation of Jesus Christ reveals the magnitude of the love of Christ for us. This is the evidence of things not seen and the substance of the things we hope for, that allows us to love Him because He first loved us ( Hebrews 11:1 ; I John 4:19 ).
This love for the Savior and the hope that He provides, helps us to develop an abiding faith. It is this abiding faith that will provide for the faithful the salvation of his soul.
Text:
1 Peter 1:10-12
“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into.”
(Also read: Matthew 13:17 ; Luke 10:24 )
The prophets refer to those under the Old Law who were inspired to speak concerning the salvation that would come through Christ. They inquired and searched diligently with great interest concerning the things that they were allowed to glimpse concerning this living hope in Christ. However, the only inside information that they were able to acquire, was that the glories that would follow Christ was not for them, but for us.
It is now revealed in the Gospel preached by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, that we who have been begotten by God in Christ are participants in the glories that would follow the Christ. We have been blessed with being God's eternal plan in Christ Jesus (the church).
If that which was spoken by the prophets through the Spirit of Christ was steadfast; and that which was delivered by angels (the old Law – Hebrews 2:2 ) was steadfast, how then can we neglect so great a salvation ( Hebrews 2:3 ), that they all wanted to know?
We can't ! “We must give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard and obeyed, lest we let them slip ( Hebrews 2:1 )”. If our focus is on the steadfastness of the promises of God, the trials of this life are easier to overcome for the understanding of their temporary state.
This hope and love is what Peter is requiring them to build the foundation of their lives on. Thus as they live before God, as they devote themselves to the word, as they submit to governments and men, and even as they suffer for the cause of Christ, they will receive the end of their faith – “the salvation of their souls”.
Likewise we also must build on the same foundation of hope and love for God the Father and the Christ of salvation, in which our hope lies. Makes you want to run out and give an answer for the hope that is in you ( I Peter 3:15 )! It should!
Next: “ Therefore, Be Obedient Children ”