You have been through hardships, been through tests. pain, setbacks, floods of tears until you could cry no more, mental anguish. and knockdowns, of all sorts and have come out the other end still trusting God, praising Him, more secure in His faithfulness because your faith is GENUINE SAVING FAITH, THE REAL DEAL, and one reason for these trials, troubles, and testings, is to PROVE TO YOU, your faith in the LORD JESUS is GENUINE! AND ONE REASON FOR THESE TRIALS, TROUBLES, AND TESTINGS, IS TO PROVE TO YOU, YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST IS GENUINE! “…THESE TRIALS WILL SHOW THAT YOUR FAITH IS GENUINE”- {1 PETER 1:6 NLT}.
These dear believers in 1 Peter to whom Peter writes to were suffering greatly as the word “distress” in verse 6 indicates. The word speaks of “mental anguish.” Nero had burned Rome and they had been blamed for it. They were slandered, and suffering and in the midst of it Peter reminds them of the Greatness of God and the Greatness of His salvation for them gives them reasons to Praise the GOD and Father of our LORD Jesus through His great mercy has caused them to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of the LORD Jesus from the dead!”-{Read 1 Peter 1:2-9}. And in the midst of all the suffering, and slander that they encounter they are still standing by the grace of God, still being encouraged to live for Christ and as Godly citizens as a testimony to those who would oppose the gospel.-{1 Peter 2:1-15}. So they have a TESTIMONY to the LOST but their standing to TESTIFY to themselves of the genuine saving faith they possess courtesy of God!
And this brings ASSURANCE that you are HIS, Not based on a profession but based on a FAITH that has been proven, that relies on trusts, leans on, depends on, confides in the LORD JESUS CHRIST in times of crisis and deep, deep trials, sufferings, and troubles!
The intense suffering is real! But it has not turned them aside they are still standing and shining by the Grace of God, empowering them against the background of evil!
And though we falter at times yet we too by His grace are and can still stand, buoyed on by the comfort of the truth of the Greatness of God and The Greatness of His Salvation for us as we contemplate, meditate 1 Peter 1:2-9 listing out who it reveals Him as and what He has done for s. And as a result, we can join in the chorus of countless others to “Bless,” – “speak well of, ” and “praise Him in our own struggles! Thank God for His grace towards you that you have Great Savior and A Great Salvation and by His grace you are still standing, and your response to these trials shows that your faith is genuine!
YOU HAVE THE STAMP OF GOD’S APPROVAL ON YOUR LIFE AS BEING AUTHENTIC, THE REAL DEAL, GENUINE SAVINGFAITH, AND THESE TRIALS HAVE TESTIFIED THROUGH YOUR RESPONSES, YOU ARE HIS, AND YOUR SAVING FAITH IS GENUINE!
it is not perfection in performance but a new affection and direction of your life!
“You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.”-{1 Peter 1:8}
YOU ARE STILL STANDING BY THE GRACE OF GOD BECAUSE YOUR FAITH IS REAL- GENUINE!
God bless,
Aidan,