Praise, Honour and Glory

1Peter 1:6-8 Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perish, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory

‘Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season’ in which salvation you rejoice, but once in a while, it is needful for you to go through manifold temptations to test your faith that it be found genuine and thus be rewarded (1Pet. 1:6-7). Trials test religion and faith and the man who stands true in them, proves his religion sound and his faith genuine. Tests work patience and patience works perfection (Jas. 1:3-4, 12; Rom. 5:3-5; 1Pet. 1:7). A trial of any kind is not necessarily a temptation to sin and remember that God never tempts anyone to sin (Jas. 1:13) to test them.

‘Heaviness through manifold temptations’ caused grieve through many kinds of trials.

‘That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ’ this is the 2nd New Testament prophecy in 1Peter that is unfulfilled.

‘Gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire’ – the fire only separates all the foreign and impure materials from gold. It loses nothing of its nature, weight, colour, or any other property. Gold has been kept in a state of fusion for months without the smallest change. Genuine faith also will be proved by trials.

‘Might be found unto praise and honour and glory’ through trials that can purify man from all impurities and sin, one should be in this condition – praise, honour and glory – at the coming of our Lord Jesus; not grumbling, complaining and busy with the cares of this life (Luke 21:34-36).

‘At the appearing of Jesus Christ’ at this time, it will manifest what rewards men will have in the eternal kingdom (Matt. 16:27; 25:21, 25:23).

‘Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory’ faith in Christ makes one a new creature and instils in him personal living confidence as strong as the faith of those who have seen Him and known Him personally (2Cor. 5:17-18; Rom. 5:5). This faith produces joy (1Pet. 1:8-9). To be strong in the Lord, we have to find our joy in Him alone, (Neh. 8:10; Rom. 15:13; 1Thess. 2:19) all else will disappoint and fail us.