“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, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
This verse informs us as to the purpose of trials. Once a person becomes a Christian, does that mean he/she is free from problems? No, the Christian is not exempt from pain and problems. We all experience trouble and setbacks in this life.
That the genuineness of your faith
The word “that” indicates purpose. God’s purpose in putting us through trial is to test our souls, not our ruin. Two results come from “many-colored trials:”
1) they refine our faith
2) they test for approval of the reality of our faith.
The word “genuineness” means to test for approval. The idea is to test to find if something is genuine. This is the act of putting someone to the test to determine whether he/she is worthy of being approved or not. The test aims at approval if possible. Note these New Testament uses of the word “genuineness”:
“I bought five pairs of oxen and am on my way to test them out.” Luke 14:19
“Everyone should examine himself, and then eat the bread and drink from the cup.” 1 Corinthians 11:28
“Being tested severely by the troubles.” 2 Corinthians 8:2
“The testing of your faith produces endurance.” James 1:3
“When your fathers tested and tried (me).” Hebrews 3:9
Greek literature used the word “test” for examining candidates for a medical doctorate. Candidates for a medical doctorate must be tested. It is crucial to find out if they are the genuine thing. We do not want an incompetent surgeon operating on us. When doctors prove genuine by examining, they meet the attestation.
It is obvious that God wants to discover what constitutes our character. Character is best ascertained when we are placed under duress. God will detect our weakness and strength by giving us an exam. It will be a difficult exam. Get out your blue books. God is about to find out the genuineness of your faith!
PRINCIPLE:
God refines our faith by trial.
APPLICATION:
When it comes to trials, everyone is in one of these three stages: They are experiencing a trial, coming out of a trial, or about to go into a trial!
In the Detroit Michigan area, there are proving grounds for automobiles. The purpose of these proving grounds is to test the mechanical soundness of cars before they are out on the market. Test drivers run these cars for days without turning off the motor. The cars are put through bumps, curves, water, hills, and many more obstacles for long periods of time. The manufacturing companies want to know whether the shocks and brakes are going to hold up under punishment. In the same way, God wants to develop our faith so that we will stand up to the bumps of life.
Have you assayed your life? Have you found it genuine? Will you pass the exam?
Will God regard you as appropriate for His service? God makes His assessment after He puts us to the test. He will judge us to ensure we are real and genuine, and if we are He will approve us for service.
Thank you! This helped me out a lot. Thank you brother.
Faith is trusting God and not yourself.
I think God uses situations of pain and failure to bring us as his children to the end of ourselves.
Faith is a gift of God .. that being the case , faith is not something can earn ,deserve or work up. We’re all Peter’s elevating ourselves beyond our ability to follow through on what we preach.
We all think it’s about our faith , our love for the Lord instead of His love, His faithfulness for us.
Ego driven faith like Peter’s must be broken .
Self reliance is not faith. Testing is all about removing self from the formula.
The labor of faith is trusting in God instead of self so that we might enter into His rest.
Hebrews 4:10-11
“For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”
A new operating system (faith) must be developed and that is done through testing. Religion is the old operating system of sacrifices and offering of the tabernacle that these believing Jews needed to get out of their system.
Jim, thanks for your comment. Did you advance to further studies on this verse?
With what is going on the USA our Christian faith will be tested.
The way that the Democrats party is twisting the scriptures and the sin that is in this Nation we lost our way.
Pastors better start preaching the whole truth.
Thank you for this. Very simple yet profound.God bless.