In the Word: Faith For this Outcome

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals.  If you are joining us for the first time today, make sure you don’t miss the first posts in this series here.  Over several weeks, we are looking at 1 Peter 1:1-9 verse by verse.  As we study this passage together, we’d love you to use the comments as a place to dialogue with us about what you are learning and share your answers to the questions below. We pray that you hearts will be encouraged as you dig into God’s Word each week along with us! 

“obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:9

READ:

Continuing on with the theme in our 1 Peter 1:8 devotional, in which we discussed having a present experience of joy, we also have a present experience of salvation. But aren’t we already saved? How are we, according to this verse obtaining—present tense—our salvation?

We can understand salvation from the perspective of the progressing list contained in Romans 8:30. Being predestined, called, and justified in the past are all our salvation. And being glorified in the future is also our salvation. For those who have endured and have been refined through fiery trial, according to 1 Peter 1:9, we are receiving portions of our future salvation right now.

We believers have already been predestined, called, and justified. Yet, when we are refined and thereby glorify Christ and grow closer to Him, we are obtaining something important, something new. As we are refined, what’s truly good and pure come into our view, and we let the rest fall away.

Grieving the losses of our children can certainly have a way of giving this perspective to us. Our glorification will be fulfilled on the last day when we will be with Christ in glory. Yet, our closeness to Christ and our honoring of Him through all of the trials in our lives mean we are receiving some portions of our ultimate, eternal glorification now. This is why living for Christ amidst the difficulties of our lives is so fulfilling; He gave us faith for this very outcome.

REFLECT:

•  Read Romans 8:16-17 and Colossians 3:1-4.  How do these verses add to our understanding of glorification?
•  In what ways are you experiencing God’s refinement of you?  How can you allow this refinement to mold you into a greater likeness of His Son?
• Read through 1 Peter 1:1-9 in its entirety. As we have studied these verses together over the course of the last several weeks, how has your understanding of this passage increased or changed? Which of these verses spoke to you the most through the circumstances you are facing right now?