THE TRIAL OF OUR FAITH

1 PETER 1:7

A. "THAT THE TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH, BEING MUCH MORE PRECIOUS THAN 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. We are in a most competitive age:
    1. Competition is so keen and intense that large companies never put their product on the market before they have tested it to their satisfaction.
    2. The purpose of testing is twofold--to discover the weakness of the product and bring out the good quality.
  2. Our text speaks of the trial of our faith, and points out that this testing of our faith is more important than the testing of gold:
B. LET US CONSIDER THE TRIAL OF OUR FAITH AND ITS IMPLICATIONS
  1. Faith is the very foundation of life:
    1. Without our faith, it is impossible to please God - Heb. 11:6
    2. We live by faith - Rom. 1:17
    3. It is, in truth, the very substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen - Heb. 11:1
  2. Faith is the power in our life which appropriates God's promises; these include:
    1. The forgiveness of our sins.
    2. The acceptance into the family of God -- think of the faith chapter, Hebrews 11.
    3. The hope of life everlasting.
    4. Can the reader think of any gospel blessing that is not channeled through faith?
  3. Since so much is dependent upon faith, it seems self- evident that it is in need of being tested to perfect its quality:
    1. A test of our faith is imperative because of the human element connected with it.
    2. This human element can be seen in the lives of the following Bible characters -
      1. Abraham - Gen. 16; 20
      2. Moses - Deut. 32:51
      3. Elijah - 1 Ki. 19:4
    3. Trials are brought upon our faith, not to destroy it but to free it from the human element of weakness.
C. BLESSINGS OF A TRIED FAITH
  1. Think of Abraham, the father of all the faithful:
    1. He laid the best on God's altar and became a type of our heavenly Father giving the best he had - John 3:16; Gen. 22:1-12
    2. We are to do the same - Heb. 12:11; Rom. 12:1
  2. Triumph of a tested faith can be seen:
    1. In Job
    2. In David
    3. In Moses and many other stars in God's kingdom.
    4. Trial of our faith develops confidence and obedience - Ps. 119:6-60; Gal. 1:15, 16; Heb. 11:19
  3. Finally, the trial of our faith reveals:
    1. God's timely intervention, as in the case of Joseph; of Abraham; of Jacob and many other witnesses tested and tried.
    2. Divine acceptance - Again I refer the reader to Heb. 11
    3. Eternal blessings shall shine forth in God's kingdom - Phil. 2:15


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