PRESENT TRIALS. 1st Peter 1:6 The trials, temptations, and suffering of the Jewish Christians to whom Peter was writing were severe because they did not follow the trend of humanistic religion that revered the emperor of Rome as a god. They refused to worship at pagan temples or embrace the Roman ideals of conquest, self-interest, and power. Christianity exposes the immorality of those who reject the standards of righteousness given in the scriptures. They turn away from the grace of God, and in reality, that grace condemns them. Those who reject the Gospel and exalt human effort often condemn Christians for their self-sacrifice out of love for Christ, which motivates them to pursue God's work and seek to bring souls to the Savior.
Trials are the response of an unbelieving world to people of faith. We can rejoice in trials because “in this” refers to everything promised in the previous verse – new birth, inheritance, protection, salvation. Temptations (trials) are sometimes necessary for the training God has in mind for pilgrims. The purpose of trials is to reveal the genuineness of faith. The proof is not to see if the message is true, but to test the reality of the response. If faith is lived every day, it results in praise from the Lord publicly at His revelation.
When our bodies are redeemed at the coming of the Lord, we will begin a new way of living that will bring us great joy. We can rejoice now in looking forward to this, even though we face trials beyond our control. The testimony of believers in Christ results in suffering for a “little while.” Compared to eternity, our testing times here are brief. While we are here, we can have joy in our Lord Jesus Christ that surpasses the trials we encounter.
True joy in the Lord is independent of the circumstances we may face in life. Our “living hope” that lies ahead gives us reason to find joy even in trials now. We have been born again; we have an inheritance waiting for us; the power of God protects us; and our salvation will be complete when our bodies are transformed to be like our Lord’s body of glory.
The promises of God are true and will come true, so we don’t need to worry too much about the trials we may face. Trials are necessary for our training and purification. Our joy is independent of the circumstances we experience. Our loving Father knows what is good for us and what is needed to guide us, discipline us, motivate us, and prepare us for the things He has planned. Pilgrims learn as they journey, not as they settle down and wait.
There are blessings that come through trials that we would miss without experiencing the tension, pressure, and opposition they bring. Faith is strengthened through trials. Grace is demonstrated through trials. Hope and love shine brightest in times of trial. God’s strength is shown through those who endure the opposition against God that is directed toward His people. A faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.
There is a wonderful truth for suffering saints to remember: we are shielded by the power of God, and He enables us to stay true to our faith in any trial we face. The gift of salvation carries us through the heat of persecution and teaches us patience. Patience, in turn, teaches us to become the kind of people the Lord wants to use to take His Gospel to the world. When we go through the suffering God allows, we can trust that this is not unknown to our heavenly Father. He has planned and directs our lives to accomplish the good He intends. We may not see what happens to "good" at the moment, but in love and with the help of the grace we need, His supply of grace and strength proves our faith to be real and valuable.