“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 obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls”
I realized that I am taking this study far too slowly, and at this pace, I might never finish 1 Peter! Yet I cannot help but stop at every word, ponder, and gaze anew at the glories of His promises! They are truly new every morning… and so I’ve decided to spend a whole post on two verses!
I love Peter’s perspective. Out of all the disciples, Peter arguably spent the most time with Jesus. Yet he denied Christ 3 times, and was asked by Jesus, “Do you love me?” For him to write these verses “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him” is significant to say the least!
It is Peter’s humility in this passage, his encouragement that is so uplifting. Though they had not seen Jesus, they believed in Him and greatly rejoiced because of this belief! How many people did Peter see reject Jesus on earth?
The unshakable confidence that these people had in a God that they could not see was remarkable, and Peter wanted them to recognize it – intending to spur them on in their faith and not lose hope.
Love-Belief-Joy. Those who love Christ cannot help but believe His promises. A true faith and love in Him results in a joy inexpressible! What a marvelous truth! The deeper we study His character and more intimately we know Him, the stronger our love for Him grows. Yet how can we respond otherwise?
There are no faults in Him, no mask that hides His sin. Therefore, the fuller our understanding, the more beautiful His character, the more wonderful His grace and love to us. Has He not “freely given us ALL things? (Romans 8:32).
Our joy is inexpressible because the “outcome of our faith is the salvation of our souls”. We are constantly, presently delivered from the penalty and power of sin – from its guilt, condemnation, and wrath. It is our deliverance and fellowship with this Savior that enables us to have a joy inexpressible!
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