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Daily Devotions

1 Peter

1 Peter 
Day 
Day 13

"The genuineness of your faith"

Text: 1 Peter 1:7a

GENUINE FAITH

It is a good thing to always check the state of our faith. It tends to fluctuate in strength and stability. But even more, it is vital to check if our faith is genuine.

“That the genuineness of your faith,
being much more precious than gold that perishes,
though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise,
honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 1:7

1. “That”

a) Literally “so that”.
b) This particle is the link between the two verses (1 Peter 1:6 and 1 Peter 1:7).
c) Recall 1 Peter 1:6
i) Peter mentioned “various trials”.
ii) These had caused the believers to be sad and sorrowful.
d) Peter explained why these “various trials” had been given.
e) The word “that” suggests a definite plan by God.
i) The faith that the believers had, had been “proven”.
ii) The word “genuine” really means “tested and proven”.

2. Genuineness of faith

a) Genuineness must be:
i) Proven
ii) Demonstrated
b) Faith is not afraid of being tested by trials.
i) Faith if it is genuine would come forth as genuine.
ii) A genuine faith is a tested and proven faith.
c) Peter had his faith tested too.
His faith through testing proved to be genuine.

3. “More precious than gold that perishes”

a) What is the value of our faith in the sight of God?
b) Peter’s suggestion:
i) If gold is precious but it perishes.
ii) Faith is more precious, for it does not perish even if it is tested.
iii) Faith is greater in more ways than gold.

4. “Though it is tested by fire”

a) Fire was the usual way in which gold is purified (like silver).
b) Fire burns away any dross or impurity in the gold.
c) Faith is compared to gold and it must also be purified.
i) Sometimes, our faith is affected by impurity.
ii) The test of fire will serve to remove the dross.
iii) Therefore, there is no need to fear the testing of fire.
iv) God’s purpose behind fiery trials is to test our faith and to make it more purified.