"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 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. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:6-9
A little while and grieved by various trials
Joy is the emotion/feeling in our being (heart) produced by the Holy Spirit, as he causes us to see and savor the beauty/treasure of Christ in creation and the Word.
Sorrowing yet rejoicing (2 Corinthians 6:10).
“In this” you rejoice (v. 3-5): a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, a permanent inheritance, and divine protection.
“Those who, not satisfied with him alone, entertain various hopes from others, though they may continue to look to him chiefly, deviate from that right path by the simple fact that some portion of their thought takes a different direction. No distrust of this description can arise when once the abundance of his blessings is properly known.” John Calvin, The Institutes of the Christian Religion
We will be grieved (distressed, saddened) by various trials (1 Peter 3:14, 17; 1 Peter 4:12-13,19).
“For a little while” (v.6) versus eternity, anticipated and longed for.
The purpose: 1 Peter 5:10-11 & Romans 5:3-5
Application
Four Biblical Truths:
• All people are made in the image of God and live their lives before loving God who controls the affairs of the world - versus random chance.
• God is the person of Jesus Christ came to earth, lived a perfect life and suffering with humanity while living a life of joy and suffering and sacrificed his life for our sin versus the creator of God who’s a watchmaker and remote or non-existent.
• Faith in the finished work of Christ upon the cross means that we have eternal salvation in the one who died for our sins versus “karma” which is the repayment of previous living i.e. our difficulties in life are not payment for past sins (karma) since Jesus paid for them.
• There will be a bodily resurrection from the dead of all who believe there'll be a bodily resurrection from the dead of all who believe as they inhabit the new heavens and the earth forever, versus the impersonal absorption into an undefinable nothingness.
1. “All things are new” (2 Corinthians 5:17) because of the strong reality of Christ.
2. Believers live in the “already but not yet” kingdom. Therefore, everyone every day can simultaneously have sorrow and joy because we live in a fallen world and anticipate heaven.
3. The sorrowing and rejoicing will vary from one degree but both realities are present this side of heaven.