"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."
1 Peter 1:7
Part 1
“That the trial of your faith,”
Your faith, child of God, will be put to the test. Will it be able to stand the trial? “The proof of your faith,”[1] is the way that Robertson translates this phrase. It is the identical phrase that James used when he said, “the trying of your faith – worketh patience” (James 1:3). And the implication in both verses is that our faith will be put to the test to see if it will stand valid. Peter understood this experientially from the night he betrayed the Lord when his faith was so sorely tested. Jesus said to him,
“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31-32).
If the disciple’s faith was tested, surely ours will also be tried. Believers, please understand that we all go through times when our faith is tested. But note what Peter says about that testing.
“Being much more precious than of gold that perisheth,”
These testing times are more precious to us than temporal gold.
“Even gold perishes (wears away)”[2] (Robertson).
There is a significant difference between the way that Satan would test us and the way that the Lord tests us. Satan’s goal was to destroy Peter’s faith, but Jesus’ test was designed to “test his metal” (refining fire[3]) to prove the strength of it.
“Though it be tried with fire,”
“The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts” (Proverbs 17:3).
“Faith stands the test of fire better than gold, but even gold is refined by fire”[4] (Robertson).
Elsewhere Peter calls our trials “fiery trials” (1 Peter 4:12-13). Being “tried with fire” is painful and challenging, but the Lord gives us the grace to endure. And he makes it clear that these trying times, once we have cleared them are for rejoicing because we are “partakers in Christ’s sufferings.”
Come back tomorrow, and let’s learn more about the trial of our faith.
[1] A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Robertson, ibid.
[3] This test is for “verifying faith.” See Vincent. “The expression is equivalent to your approved faith.”
[4] Robertson, ibid.