Inexpressible

Inexpressible

1 Peter 1:8–9

Peter shared the Gospel with believers who were more like us than we may care to admit. They were living in a world that was hostile to their Faith... a world filled with fears and uncertainties... they were scattered, suffering, and marginalized. I think we sometimes we forget, that many of the people hearing or reading Peter’s words, were not eyewitnesses of Christ. They had never actually seen Jesus in the flesh. Yet, Peter described these un-seeing believers, and by extension, you and me, as a people marked by love, faith, and joy.

That’s remarkable when you stop and think about it... isn’t it? We’re a people who have never seen Christ… yet we love Him... we believe in Him... and we rejoice because of Him!

Of course, to those outside the Faith... unbelievers... the unregenerate... it all seems foolish. They tend to look at us with a healthy dose of cynicism. They question, how we could possibly believe in, and love, and find joy thru someone we’ve never seen.

It’s quite obvious that such love, faith and joy is NOT natural. It’s beyond us. We naturally demand tangible, hard-core, physical evidence for everything! We want to see it... with our own eyes, before we’ll believe.

Of course, God’s Word teaches us that by nature, we’re all dead in sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1). And because of that... we do not naturally love Christ—we resist Him. But, the grace of our Redeemer, poured out on the Elect, through the effectual calling of the Holy Spirit, opens our hearts to believe... and we’re changed. From unregenerate, to regenerate... from unbelief to belief... from lost, to found.

The fact of the matter is: “Faith is the principal work of the Holy Spirit” (per John Calvin). And whenever true faith is present, love for Christ follows. It’s a love that’s NOT based on sight, nor is it dependent on circumstances...

It’s rooted in the hearts of the redeemed. God’s Word put’s it simply: “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Christ takes the initiative... He makes the first move... and that’s how we come to love Him at all.

Our faith emphasizes that our ability to believe does not rests on our own efforts (our own work, our own determination)... but on:

The promises of God

The finished work of Christ

The testimony of Holy Scripture

And don’t misunderstand what I’m saying: We’re not talking about blind faith... OR a faith that’s without evidence! Our Faith is not blind—it is Spirit-enabled. The Spirit of God is our proof and strength to believe. The essence of saving faith is trusting in a Christ we cannot physically see.

Martin Luther said, “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.”

Even in suffering, even in uncertainty, and trouble... amid doubts and questions... believers cling to Christ because:

He is sufficient

His atonement is complete

His promises are sure

And that leads us, as believers, to “…rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory…”

Inexpressible, unspeakable joy! Listen: we’re not talking about shallow happiness. Emotions, feelings are fleeting! We’re talking about a grace that lavishes upon us a deep, abiding, Spirit-enabled joy that this world simply cannot offer, nor can it take it away...

Of course, the truly amazing part... for the believer... is that this joy actually co-exists, with suffering. Remember... Peter’s readers were persecuted, yet filled with joy!

Why?

Because their joy was never anchored in comfort, health or worldly stability to begin with! The joy of Faith is anchored in Christ, and Christ alone. It’s the joy spoken of in Romans 5, where Paul boasts that, “We rejoice in our sufferings…”

Not because suffering is pleasant, but because it produces endurance, character, and hope—all grounded in Christ.

And that kind of Joy is known only to believers... because we have a salvation that’s certain... it’s guaranteed... and complete... regardless of what this life and world throws at us!

We need to understand something here: Peter didn’t say to those struggling believers 2000 ago, and he does not say to us, that... we might possibly obtain/receive salvation. He didn’t even suggest that! He didn’t say that we sure do hope that we’ll receive salvation. He said, “for you ARE receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls!” That sounds an awful lot like a promise to me!

This is the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints.

Those whom God has elected, called, and justified—He will also glorify (Romans 8:30).

Our faith does not save because of its strength. Our faith saves us because of its object—Jesus Christ.

And the end result is:

The full redemption of the soul

Eternal communion with God

The completion of what God began! (Phil 1:6... “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it...”)

Peter’s words were like a breath of fresh air to the early church... and they’re no less for us.

As followers of Christ... as those who’ve heard his voice, and responded to his call upon our lives, we find that we love our Savior whom we’ve never seen. We trust our Lord whom we’ve never physically touched... we live with a joy the world cannot understand... as we rest in a Salvation we cannot lose.

NONE of this is the work of man. It’s the work of God’s sovereign grace.

Maybe we should ask ourselves:

~ Do I truly love Christ—not just the idea of Christ; not just His benefits or what He can give me– but do I truly love Jesus? For Who He is?

~ Is my faith anchored in Him alone?

~ Do I possess a joy that transcends my circumstances?

~ And... am I resting in the finished work of Christ for my salvation?

Fix your focus on Christ.

Though unseen, He is present, He’s reigning. He is worthy of our trust, our love, and our joy.

Amen.