Inexpressible and Glorious Joy 1 Peter 1:8-9

Can a heart be full of rejoicing and heavy with grief and sorrow at the same time? The answer is absolutely, but it certainly doesn’t come naturally to us, not to any of us. For those of you who have placed your faith in Jesus, those who are followers of Jesus, the more we grow in our love and passion for the Lord the more we will understand His love and presence in our lives. The more time we spend in God’s Word the more familiar we will become with what He has done for us in reconciling us to Himself, giving us a new birth into a living hope, and giving us an inheritance that can never be taken away, spoil, or fade. 

Every person, whether you are a follower of Jesus or not, we will all go through many trials in life. For those who are followers of Jesus, God’s Word teaches us that our trials and troubles are not random, we are not victims, but God desires to use our trials to draw us to Himself, to teach us that He is forever faithful to His people, and to mold us and shape us into the image of His Son Jesus. 

Just this past Wednesday morning I was meeting with the men in our church for Bible study. One of the questions in our study asked, “What is your reconciliation story? How did you come to see your need for Jesus?” It was so interesting to listen to the men share. Several of them talked about a time in their life when they were empty or broken by pain and sorrow. God used the situations they were having to deal with in life to show them their need for Jesus. 

We tried to make it through 1 Peter 1:6-9 in our study last Sunday, but we only made it through verses 6-7. I promise that we’ll finish our study this morning. Let’s read 1 Peter 1:6-9 once again. 

6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith– of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire– may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:6-9 NIV)

We will skip verses 6-7 since we spent all of our time talking about them last Sunday. I want us to focus our time on verses 8-9. Remember, Peter is writing to the followers of Jesus who are scattered throughout five provinces of the Roman Empire about 60-62 A.D. Jesus had been crucified and resurrected almost 30 years prior to Peter writing his letter. The churches that would receive this letter were filled with men, women, and children who were being persecuted because of their love and faithfulness in serving Jesus. Peter writes,

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, (1 Peter 1:8 NIV)

Peter makes a remarkable statement at the beginning of verse 8 when he writes, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him…” This is a statement that most people living in our day find truly unacceptable. 

I remember many years ago when I was asked to speak in a class at the old John Marshall High School. The teacher asked me to share my story with her class and leave the last few minutes open for questions. I knew several of the kids in the class because they came to our church to play basketball or attend youth group. After I shared my story one of the kids spoke up and said, “How can you believe in someone you have never met, someone you aren’t even sure ever lived?” 

I shared some historical evidence, like the writings of the first century Jewish historian Josephus and the first century Roman historian Tacitus, neither were followers of Jesus and yet both wrote of a man named Jesus who lived and died under Pontius Pilate. I thought it was pretty convincing, but the young man said, “I could never believe in anyone I couldn’t see. If I’m going to believe then I need to see for myself.” I said, “So you don’t believe in anything or anyone you can’t see?” “That’s right.” I said, “Let me ask you a question. Have you ever been to Australia?” He said, “No.” I said, “Do you believe there is a place in our world called Australia?” He said, “Yes.” I asked, “If you have never been there, why would you believe it actually exists?” He said, “I’ve seen video and pictures of it.” I said, “Well, I’ve seen video of lots of things that Hollywood has created that don’t actually exist. I would think that you would want to actually go there, stand on the shore, watch a kangaroo hop around, and see Australia for yourself for you to actually believe?” He didn’t say anything so I asked a couple of more questions: “Do you believe in the wind?” “Of course,” he said. I said, “But you can’t see the wind. You can see the effects of the wind, but you can’t actually see it. If you go out and fly a kite you know something is holding it up in the sky, but you can’t see the wind that’s holding it up. Or how about radio waves? This room is filled with radio waves, but none of us can see them. If you bring a radio into our classroom, turn it on and turn the dial–you can find them, but you’ll never see even one.” 

I told the kids that my belief in Jesus is called faith. All people have faith and we exercise our faith every day in many ways. Sometimes we place our faith in people that let us down and sometimes we put our faith in things that later show us we should have never had faith in them. I put my faith in Jesus. I believe He is who He claimed to be, I believe He did what He said He would do, He died for me so that I might be forgiven, and He rose from the dead so that I might have eternal life. Everyone I have ever put my faith in has failed me in one way or another, but Jesus never has and I have faith He never will. 

I have spoken with so many people who said the same thing as the young man at John Marshall. I just can’t believe in someone I have never seen before. One man told me, “I have a scientific mind. I can’t understand faith, my mind doesn’t work like that.” He was engaged to a Christian and somehow he knew the Bible said a follower of Jesus shouldn’t marry someone who is not a follower of Jesus. He asked me what I thought? I said, “I think you should give your life to Christ and become a follower of Jesus.” He said, “But I don’t have faith.” I said, “Yes you do, you just don’t have faith in Jesus.” He argued with me for a bit and reminded me that he had a scientific mind and can’t understand faith.” I said, “What evidence do you have that if you marry her she will love you and not abandon you? How do you know the marriage will last?” I could see the wheels turning. I said, “I can answer those questions for you…you have faith. Why in the world would you put your faith in a person who is as fallible as you, but refuse to put your faith in Jesus? It clicked. His eyes were opened and he realized he did have faith. He prayed to put his faith in Jesus, we filled up the baptistery, and he was baptized that day. 

Seeing does not equal believing. There were so many people in Israel who saw Jesus, they witnessed His miracles, they heard Him teach over and over again, but they refused to believe. John tells us,

37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. (John 12:37 NIV)

Thomas was one of Jesus’ disciples. No one had a greater opportunity to see Jesus’ life up close than His disciples. Thomas was there when Jesus turned the water into wine, He was there when Jesus fed 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish, and Thomas saw the raging wind and waves on the Sea of Galilee become absolutely still at just a word from Jesus. Thomas heard Jesus teach like no other teacher he had ever heard on a hillside in Galilee when He delivered the Sermon on the Mount, when He spoke on the steps of the temple in Jerusalem, and as Jesus and the disciples sat around a campfire. None of that mattered when Jesus hung His head, as He hung on the cross, and said, “It is finished!” Jesus was dead. 

After Jesus had been resurrected from the dead and appeared to some of His disciples, Thomas was missing, he wasn’t with them that day. When the disciples told Thomas they had seen Jesus, Thomas said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25 NIV) “I won’t believe it unless I see it with my own eyes!” In John 20:26-29 we read,

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:26-29 NIV)

Did you hear that? Jesus said, “Thomas, you have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Those early followers of Jesus, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia had never seen Jesus, but they believed in Him. They were blessed and so are all of you who, though you have never seen Jesus with your eyes, you have put your faith in Him as your Lord and Savior. 

Those followers of Jesus who received this letter from Simon Peter did not just believe in Jesus with some kind of intellectual ascent, but they loved Jesus. “Though you have not seen him, you love him;”  I have mentioned to you before that the Greek language is much more precise than our English language. In Greek there are different words for “love” which we don’t have in English. The word, translated “love,” in this phrase from Peter, is the word, “agapao” and it describes a kind of love that is not based in emotion, but in a choice to love.  This type of love, even though it is not rooted in emotion, stirs deep emotion in those who know this kind of love. This type of love is a love of the will, it is a choice to love, regardless of the circumstance or situation. This type of love, “agape love,” is most often used to describe the kind of love that God has demonstrated towards us. Let me give you some examples so we can better understand the choice of love. Turn with me to John 13:1 and let’s read together.

1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (John 13:1 NIV)

“…he loved them to the end.” Peter’s denial of Jesus wouldn’t diminish Jesus’ love for Peter. Thomas’ doubts couldn’t diminish Jesus’ love for Thomas. Jesus chose to love His disciples and He chooses to love you and me…to the end. Turn with me to Romans 8:35 and let’s take a look at another example. Paul writes,

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:35-37 NIV)

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” The answer is “absolutely nothing.” His love for you and His love for me is not based on our performance, our ability to walk the straight and narrow, or the consistency of our faithfulness to Him. He has chosen to love you. How freeing is that, when you consider that our love for others is most often based on their performance, on their meeting the expectations we have of them. He has chosen to love you in the past, He loves you at this very moment, and His love for you will never fade in the future. Let’s look at just one more. Turn with me to Ephesians 2:4-5. 

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions– it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV)

It is because of God’s love for us and not because of anything we have done to earn His love, that He has acted through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection to reconcile us to Himself and give us a new purpose, a new mission, and a new joy in this life. Once we become aware of all that the Lord has done for us it stirs an even deeper love in our hearts for Him. John wrote, 

19 We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 NIV)

There is something that is important for us to recognize and understand about the love those early, persecuted followers had for Jesus. The word Peter used to describe their love is in the “present tense.” Their love for Jesus was unaffected by the various trials they were going through in life. Persecution could not persuade them to stop loving Jesus. The loss of loved ones couldn’t turn their hearts away from loving Jesus. Being made an outcast in their community because they were followers of Jesus couldn’t crumble the love they had for Jesus. 

I’ve thought about this so much during the past week. Is my love for Jesus “present tense?” Is my love for Jesus as strong and bold during the dark, stormy times of life as it is on those calm, enjoyable days? Do the tough times of life cause me to question His love for me and reveal my weak, feeble trust in Him? I want a present tense love for Jesus like those Peter praised so long ago.  

Most of you have been around long enough to know that this world is filled with trouble, hardships unimaginable, and sorrow that can sap your strength and leave you hopeless. If our love for the Lord is dictated by the degree of good things that come your way then you will never experience a present tense love for the Lord that will carry you through the most trying times of life. 

Many years ago there was a man named Cyprian who lived in Carthage, on the northern coast of Africa in what is today Tunisia. Cyprian was born about 200 A.D. to wealthy parents who were not Christians. Cyprian was educated in rhetoric, the ancient art of persuasion. Cyprian was so respected in his field that he opened his own school. He would often debate philosophers and Christians. When Cyprian was 45 years old he was persuaded by a close friend and became a follower of Jesus. In the same way that he poured himself into rhetoric, Cyprian poured himself into learning more and more about Jesus and the Christian faith. He became a deacon and then a priest in the church. When the bishop of the church in Carthage died, Cyprian was chosen as the new bishop in 248 A.D. 

Just after he became bishop of Carthage, Emperor Decius unleashed a horrible persecution of Christians that took many lives. Bishop Cyprian lost all of his earthly possessions, but he avoided losing his life. Then, in 252 A.D., a pandemic came to Carthage and countless lives were lost. Cyprian was overwhelmed with ministering to those who were dying and encouraging his congregation not to run away, but to stay and minister to their neighbors. Then, just six years after the plague broke out, and after Emperor Decius’ death, a new emperor, Emperor Valerian rose to power. 

Valerian’s armies were battling the Persians when he sent a letter demanding that all Christians make sacrifices to the Roman gods or they would face severe punishment. Cyprian, on September 14, 258 A.D. was interrogated by the Roman authorities and asked to sacrifice to the Roman gods. He couldn’t do it so they took him out and beheaded him with the sword. It is recorded that when Cyprian was given the death sentence a vast number of Christians followed him out to the place where he would be beheaded. They watched as Cyprian knelt down and prayed just before the sword ended his life.  Seeing their beloved bishop executed didn’t stir fear in their hearts, it caused them to be more bold in their witness for Jesus. 

Ten years of leading the church. Ten years of sorrow, persecution, death, and unrest. Ten long years and yet Cyprian’s love for Jesus never faded, not even when he was sentenced to die because of his love and commitment to Jesus. Cyprian had a young friend that he wanted to encourage so he wrote Donatus a letter. Listen to what he wrote,

This is a cheerful world, as I see it from my garden under the shadow of my vines. But if I were to ascend some high mountain and look out over the wide lands, you know very well what I should see, brigands on the highways, pirates on the sea, armies fighting, cities burning and the amphitheaters men murdered to please applauding crowds, selfishness and cruelty and misery and despair under all roofs. It’s a bad world Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it, a quiet and holy people, who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy, which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of arts and full life. They are despised and persecuted, but they don’t care. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are the Christians and I am one of them. (Cyprian to Donatus)

In the midst of a broken, tear-stained, bloodied world filled with suffering, oppression, persecution, loss, and inhuman treatment of one person against another, one people against another, and one nation against another–there is a group of people who have found joy. Their joy is not in this world, but it is found in Jesus. This statement was true when Peter sat down to write his letter, it was true when Cyprian wrote his letter to young Donatus, and it remains true to this day. Let’s read 1 Peter 1:8-9 one more time.

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9 NIV)

Isn’t that beautiful?! In loving Him and believing in Him you “are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” The joy we experience in our relationship with Jesus is an “inexpressible joy,” a joy that is “higher than speech,” that’s the meaning of the Greek word. We might say, “Words cannot describe the joy I know because of Jesus’ love for me!” This joy is much like the peace that surpasses all understanding that we read about in Philippians 4:6-7. Read it with me.

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)

If you have ever been in a situation that should have crumbled and crushed you and yet you felt such an overwhelming sense of peace because you knew the Lord was with you and would lead you through, then you know the “peace that exceeds anything we can understand.” His peace is indescribable and yet you know it. It is the same with His joy, it is indescribable, yet you know it. 

Last of all, Peter reminds them that they are receiving the end result of their faith, the salvation of their souls.” When Peter writes that “they are receiving,” the Greek word is once again in the “present tense.” Most Christians look back to a time when they were “saved,” or a time when they became followers of Jesus. That’s not a wrong way of looking at salvation, but it falls short of the full extent of our salvation. We are presently being saved by the Lord and we have the full experience of our salvation ahead of us when Jesus returns for His own people. John MacArthur writes,

There is really no reason for believers to lose their joy when they can tap into all the present and future spiritual realities mentioned in this passage–present proven faith, fellowship with Christ, and deliverance; and a protected future inheritance and promised honor. As Jesus assured the apostles, ‘These things have I spoken to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.’” (John 15:11). (MacArthur, John. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 1 Peter. pg. 48).

I want to ask you, as we wrap up our time together this morning, when you walked into this sanctuary were you experiencing the inexpressible joy that comes from having a living, intimate relationship with Jesus? If you are a follower of Jesus then I need to ask you, “Why not? Is life stealing His joy from your heart? Has the loss of someone so precious to you robbed you of His joy? Has disappointment, that life is not going the way you thought it would go, stolen His joy from your heart?” If so, then I hope you are encouraged that He wants to restore His joy to your heart this morning if you will just cry out to Him. 

If you are not a follower of Jesus then there is no way for you to know this “inexpressible joy” outside of a relationship with Jesus. You can’t know that because you have never known His inexpressible joy, but you can trust me. The way to know His inexpressible joy is not to seek “joy,” but to trust Jesus. Won’t you invite Him in this morning to be your Lord and Savior?

Mike Hays

Britton Christian Church

February 11, 2024