"THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER" Joy Inexpressible And Full Of Glory (1:6-9) INTRODUCTION 1. One of the many blessings available to the "elect" (chosen) of God is a very special kind of joy... a. For reasons we shall notice in our lesson, Christians are able to "greatly rejoice" (lit., "leap for joy") - 1Pe 1:6 b. They have access to joy that is "inexpressible and full of glory" - 1Pe 1:8 c. A joy so great, so glorious, that it is impossible to truly express with words! 2. In this lesson, we shall focus our attention on Peter's remarks in 1Pe 1:6-9 concerning this "inexpressible joy" that Christians are blessed to have [Notice first that in verse 6 Peter begins by saying "IN THIS you greatly rejoice..." He is referring to those things which serve as...] I. THE BASIS FOR INEXPRESSIBLE JOY A. THERE ARE "PAST" GROUNDS FOR REJOICING... 1. We have been "set apart" by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit - 1:2 2. We have been "sprinkled" with the blood of Jesus Christ - 1:2 3. We have been "born again" to a living hope - 1:3 B. THERE ARE "PRESENT" GROUNDS FOR REJOICING AS WELL... 1. We are God's "elect" - 1:2 2. We are "kept" by the power of God through faith - 1:5 C. AND THERE ARE "FUTURE" GROUNDS FOR REJOICING... 1. We have an "inheritance" reserved for us in heaven - 1:4 2. We look forward to the "salvation" which will be revealed in the last time - 1:5, cf. 1:9 [All these blessings (past, present, future) serve as the basis for inexpressible joy. Because of them, we can "greatly rejoice!" Exactly how great is this joy? In verses 6-7, Peter explains...] II. THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF THIS JOY A. IT ENABLES ONE TO REJOICE EVEN IN TRIAL (1:6) 1. No matter what degree of suffering one may experience, in Christ there is joy to match it a. As Peter explains in 1Pe 4:12-13 b. As he and the rest of the apostles exemplified in Ac 5: 40-41 2. How can Christians find joy in such trials? a. Informed Christians understand the purifying nature of such trials - 1Pe 1:7; cf. 2Co 4:17-18 b. Knowing what trials can produce, it is possible to be joyful in trials - cf. Jm 1:2-4,12; Ro 5:1-4 B. WHAT KIND OF TRIALS? 1. The word "various" includes all kinds 2. Primarily, it includes those which come as a result of living for Christ - e.g., Mt 5:10-12 3. But we can also rejoice in the everyday afflictions of life a. E.g., sickness, heartbreak, frustration, approaching death b. For these things also provide an opportunity to test our faith, hope, love, longsuffering and patience [If one is able to rejoice even in the midst of such trials, surely they have a joy "inexpressible and full of glory"! But how can Christians be sure to possess this joy? For it must be admitted that all do not, and there are times when even the best of us do not. In verse 8, Peter alludes to two things which I suggest are necessary to...] III. POSSESSING THIS INEXPRESSIBLE JOY A. WE MUST LOVE JESUS... 1. "whom having not seen you love" 2. Jesus is the ultimate source for being able to rejoice in all things - cf. Php 4:4 a. He has promised that if we truly love Him, He and His Father will be with us - Jn 14:23 b. If Jesus is with us, we can receive that joy which is inexpressible! - Jn 15:11; 16:33 3. But can we who have never seen Jesus, love Him? Yes! - cf. 1Pe 1:8 4. How can we come to love Him we have not seen? Through a devotional study of: a. The Old Testament, with its prophecies of the Messiah b. The Gospels, with their description of His life, teachings, compassion, suffering, death, and glorious resurrection c. The Acts, with its action-packed portrayal of the Lord working together with His church d. The Epistles, where we learn of many blessings found in Christ, and of His ministry as High Priest interceding in our behalf e. The Revelation, in which we learn of the glorious victory to be won by the Lamb and His followers B. WE MUST ALSO BELIEVE IN JESUS... 1. "Though now you do not see Him, yet believing..." 2. Through believing in Jesus we can "rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory" 3. But such faith is more than a mental assent, or academic knowledge of Jesus 4. It involves the key element of faith itself, which is "trust" a. Trusting in His commands to be for our ultimate good b. Trusting in His promises to be fulfilled c. The kind of trust that prompts us to obey Jesus wholeheartedly d. This kind of faith comes from the Word of God - Ro 10:17 CONCLUSION 1. When we have this kind of faith in Jesus, and when we truly love Him with our whole being... a. A blessing we receive is that "joy inexpressible and full of glory"! b. A blessing that can sustain us till we reach the end (goal) of our faith: salvation! - 1Pe 1:9 2. And that is because this "inexpressible joy"... a. Is based upon many other blessings: past, present, and future b. Enables us to joyfully persevere through all kinds of trials in this life 3. But again, this blessing is only for those who truly love Jesus and believe in Him... a. Do you love Jesus? If you do, you will keep His commandments - Jn 14:15,23 b. Do you believe in Jesus? If you do, you will do what He says - cf. Lk 6:46 Are there commandments of Jesus you have not yet obeyed? If so, why not obey them today so that this "inexpressible joy" can be yours as well!Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011
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