Guest Speaker Dr. Daryl Schwenke
1 Peter 1:3-7
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 And though you have not seen him, you love him, and though you do not see him now, but believe in him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
ほむべきかな、わたしたちの主イエス・キリストの父なる神。神は、その豊かなあわれみにより、イエス・キリストを死人の中からよみがえらせ、それにより、わたしたちを新たに生れさせて生ける望みをいだかせ、
4 あなたがたのために天にたくわえてある、朽ちず汚れず、しぼむことのない資産を受け継ぐ者として下さったのである。
5 あなたがたは、終りの時に啓示さるべき救にあずかるために、信仰により神の御力に守られているのである。
6 そのことを思って、今しばらくのあいだは、さまざまな試錬で悩まねばならないかも知れないが、あなたがたは大いに喜んでいる。
7 こうして、あなたがたの信仰はためされて、火で精錬されても朽ちる外はない金よりもはるかに尊いことが明らかにされ、イエス・キリストの現れるとき、さんびと栄光とほまれとに変るであろう。
8 あなたがたは、イエス・キリストを見たことはないが、彼を愛している。現在、見てはいけないけれども、信じて、言葉につくせない、輝きにみちた喜びにあふれている。
9 それは、信仰の結果なるたましいの救を得ているからである。
Purpose of Peter’s letter
1 Peter is a letter to the believers (~60-65AD) who had been dispersed throughout the ancient world of Asia Minor and were under intense persecution. Peter understood persecution – he was beaten, threatened, punished and jailed for preaching the Word of God.
ペテロの手紙第一は古代世界のあちこちに散らばり、激しい迫害にあった信者たちへの手紙です。
It may seem surprising, therefore, that Peter begins here by saying “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” ほむべきかな、わたしたちの主イエス・キリストの父なる神i.e. Peter is writing with a sense of jubilation and joy!! (cf. Beatitudes!!)
What is joy? Joy ≠ Happiness. Happiness depends on circumstances, and comes and goes depending on the emotions of the moment. But joy is deeper and more profound because it comes from God.
喜びイコール幸せではありません。
喜びは神からきているものなので、より深いものです。
Why, in the face of persecution would Peter have reason for rejoicing?!?
In verse 3, we read that “According to his GREAT MERCY, he has caused us to be BORN AGAIN to a living hope”
神はその豊かなあわれみにより、わたしたちを新たに生まれさせて生ける望みをいだかせ
First, Peter understood the magnitude of God’s mercy. He understood that every single person has sinned, fallen short of God’s standard and is deserving of death (Romans 6:23; first part). But he also knew that, because of His great love and MERCY, God withheld the punishment we deserve (Romans 6:23; second part). This is the definition of “Mercy”.
God’s mercy saves! We are NOT saved by ANYTHING that we do!!
ペテロは神のあわれみの大きさを理解していました。
神のあわれみが救うのです。
And this great mercy “CAUSED us to be BORN AGAIN”. I find this term interesting, but John Piper illustrates how this solidifies the concept that our salvation/rebirth is entirely attributable to God, i.e. physical birth vs spiritual birth = neither are of our own doing!!
救い/生まれ変わりは全く神から得られるものです。
And we are born again to a LIVING hope!! This is a HOPE that is CERTAIN, assured; not the uncertainty that we normally associate with the word “hope” e.g. I hope it rains tomorrow.
私たちは生ける望みに新たに生まれているのです。
Hebrews 6:11 says “And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end”.
わたしたちは、あなたがたがひとり残らず、最後まで望みを持ちつづけるためにも、同じ熱意を示し、ヘブライ人への手紙6:11
i.e. hope is not based on earthly things, which fade and perish, but on assurance of heavenly things!!
And we see the reason of this hope in verse 4 “to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you”
あなたがたのために天にたくわえてある、朽ちず汚れず、しぼむことのない資産
Remember we are co-heirs with Christ: Romans 8:17 Now if we are children [of God], then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ”.
もし子であれば、相続人でもある。神の相続人であって、、、キリストと共同の相続人なのである。ローマの信徒への手紙8:17
What Is Our Inheritance? To be honest, it is difficult to fully grasp what this will entail, except it will be glorious!!
Our inheritance is, in essence, the riches of heaven.
私たちの資産は要するに天の富です。
It is the sum total of all God has promised us in salvation.
Better still, unlike earthly wealth our inheritance in Christ is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” Story of wedding gift…. Cordless drill that perishes!
Peter highlights that God himself is guarding our inheritance!! “kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation”
神ご自身が私たちの資産を守っておられるのです。あなたがたのために天にたくわえてある、、、救にあずかるために、信仰により神の御力に守られているのである。
Notice that Peter says “are being guarded”. i.e. NOW! This is particularly important, because God doesn’t just save you and then waits to see if you can reach the inheritance that He wants you to have. NO! He protects you NOW, all through life for the salvation ready to be revealed!
At this point, we may be finding cause for joy….. heavenly joy!! You may think, awesome, my life should be wonderful from here, without trouble!!’
OUR TRIALS AND SUFFERING
But then Peter switches from ‘joy’ to suffering in ‘trials; “6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
6 そのことを思って、今しばらくのあいだは、さまざまな試錬で悩まねばならないかも知れないが、あなたがたは大いに喜んでいる。
7 こうして、あなたがたの信仰はためされて、火で精錬されても朽ちる外はない金よりもはるかに尊いことが明らかにされ、イエス・キリストの現れるとき、さんびと栄光とほまれとに変るであろう。
It is unquestionable that everyone will face difficult periods in life.
And it may seem surprising to think that a loving God would allow you to go through times of suffering.
This is a massive topic that would be a separate sermon in itself!!
In these verses Peter first indicates that our trials will be “FOR A LITTLE WHILE”. Of course, it doesn’t feel temporary when you are in the midst of a trial (e.g. divorce).
Indeed, the term “little while” is a relative term, but seen against the endless ages of eternity, even the worst trials are brief by comparison.
永遠の終わりなき時から見れば、最悪の試練でさえ、ほんのひと時なのです。
It may seem even more surprising that God allows, perhaps even commissions, trials or suffering. Indeed Peter refers to our trials as “NECESSARY”. No Christian is exempt from trials. (e.g. Jesus)
ペテロは試練は“必要不可欠なもの”だといいます。
Why should trials be necessary??
One of the greatest mysteries of life is that through some of our hardest times bring the greatest joy.
人生でいちばん大きな謎の一つに最もつらいときが最大の喜びをもたらすことということがあります。
Peter explains the PURPOSE for our trials is “so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ”
7 こうして、あなたがたの信仰はためされて、火で精錬されても朽ちる外はない金よりもはるかに尊いことが明らかにされ、イエス・キリストの現れるとき、さんびと栄光とほまれとに変るであろう。
So often we look back at the trials we have been through and realized that God used it as part of His great plan for developing (or purifying) our faith and, ultimately, amplifying our joy in Christ!
But this joy comes through trials! Trials aren’t random, but purposeful!!
喜びは試練から来るのです。試練は偶然ではなく、目的があるのです。
Indeed, Peter uses the analogy of ‘GOLD’ to explain WHY
God uses trials to test and purify our faith.
神は私たちの信仰をためし、洗練するために試練を用います。
Apparently, it takes four tons of gold ore to produce 28 g of pure gold!! Describe the refining process to get pure gold!
That’s what God intends through our trials to “burn” off the greed, the impatience, the anger, the bitterness, the lust, and the selfishness.
For most of us, that’s a lifetime process. But each refinement creates an image that more closely resembles our Saviour Jesus Christ.
それぞれの洗練が私たちの救い主イエス・キリストにより似たイメージを造りだします。
Peter also reveals another purpose for the trials we face; God wants to prove your faith is genuine, and trials provide the most reliable proof.
神はあなたの信仰が本物であると証明したいのであって、試練がいちばん確実な証明をしてくれます。
In Matt 7:21, Jesus says “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven”.
たしにむかって『主よ、主よ』と言う者が、みな天国にはいるのではなく、 マタイによる福音書7:21
Some may go through the routine of going to church, singing worship songs, esp when things are going well, but how people respond to life’s trials reveals what they truly believe!
THE REWARD IS INCOMPARABLE TO SUFFERING!!
Peter continues his letter the same way he started – talking about the incomprehensible joy that comes through Christ!! 8 And though you have not seen him, you love him, and though you do not see him now, but believe in him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
8 あなたがたは、イエス・キリストを見たことはないが、彼を愛している。現在、見てはいけないけれども、信じて、言葉につくせない、輝きにみちた喜びにあふれている。
9 それは、信仰の結果なるたましいの救を得ているからである。
In trials, our faith is purified and strengthened! Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being sure of what we do not see.”
試練にあって、私たちの信仰は洗練され、強められます。信仰とは、望んでいる事がらを確信し、まだ見ていない事実を確認することである。ヘブライ人への手紙11:1
With a refined and purified Faith you love God “though you have not seen him”; you believe in God and “greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory”
洗練された信仰をもって、言葉につくせない、輝きにみちた喜びにあふれるのです。
I love the term “inexpressible”; can not describe; beyond anything on earth!
Paul is a classic example of delighting in hardships!! “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
ですから、わたしはキリストのためならば、弱さと、侮辱と、危機と、迫害と、行き詰まりとに甘んじよう。なぜなら、わたしが弱い時にこそ、わたしは強いからである。
コリントの信徒への手紙二12:10
In Romans 8:18, Paul says – “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
わたしは思う。今のこの時の苦しみは、やがてわたしたちに現されようとする栄光に比べると、言うに足りない。ローマの信徒への手紙8:17
Altar-call
Remembering you first ‘love’ of Christ (tell story of home-group and Jessie and Ashley Patterson).
OR
If not a Christian, invitation to experience the inexpressible joy that Christ has to offer; and join as a co-heir with Christ to inherit the imperishable riches of heaven!