Trials
A Sermon on 1 Peter 1:6-7
Scripture
6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and …
Sermon Description
No one escapes life’s trials, tribulations, or depression. The heaviness and darkness of life can surround and leave people feeling without hope. As Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains in this sermon from 1 Peter 1:6–7, it is natural for Christians to feel grieved and sorrowed. But why do trials and tribulations happen to Christians? What is God accomplishing by allowing difficult circumstances into the lives of his children? Each situation is designed by God to refine the precious character of our faith. Just as gold is refined by the fire to remove impurities, the Christian faith must be refined to remove the impurities of sin. Lloyd-Jones proclaims the words of Peter, that trials are essential in order to show the genuineness of faith, to prove that by God's power, His people can withstand the test. There is no need to despair. Christians are able to endure such times because the Lord loves his children and they can trust Him. These trials are only for a season and there is understanding that the Lord is faithful in all circumstances. The day of revelation is coming, and those who have been refined and are proven faithful will be delivered on that day. The Lord will present those who have been refined as faultless before God.
Sermon Breakdown
- Christians can experience a mix of joy and heaviness at the same time. This is not contradictory.
- The heaviness that Christians experience comes from the trials and temptations in life. These trials come in many forms - like persecution, hardship, suffering, etc.
- We must understand why these trials happen. They happen for our good, to discipline us, to prepare us for greater things, and to purify our faith.
- Our faith needs to be perfected and purified. Trials test our faith and strengthen elements like trust, patience and endurance.
- Trials show the genuineness of our faith. How we endure trials demonstrates the authenticity of our faith. Those with spurious faith will fall away under trials.
- Trials are only for a season. God knows how much we can bear and will not test us beyond our ability. He will provide an escape.
- When under trials, we must remind ourselves of the hope we have in Jesus. We have an eternal inheritance and are kept by God's power.
- Trials have an ultimate purpose - to present us blameless before God with great joy.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Spiritual Depression: Questions and Answers
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the paradox of Christian joy and heaviness in 1 Peter 1:6-7?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Peter describes Christians who are "greatly rejoicing" and yet "in heaviness" at the same time. This appears contradictory but is actually paradoxical - a normal part of the Christian experience. He explains: "This description of these people seems to be quite contradictory. He's describing people who at one and the same time are greatly rejoicing and yet are in heaviness. And yet, as we have seen again so often, there is nothing contradictory about this." The Christian can simultaneously experience deep spiritual joy while feeling grief over earthly trials.
What are the "manifold trials" Peter refers to and why do Christians experience them?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that "manifold" means "many colored" or "variegated," indicating trials come in different forms and ways. These trials include persecution, misunderstanding, rejection (even by loved ones), and various hardships. Christians experience these trials "if need be" - meaning God permits or even orders them for specific purposes: "There's a definite purpose in all this... These things happens as the apostle because they're good for us, because they're a part of our discipline in this life and in this world, because... God has appointed us to them."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the process of faith being refined like gold?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that faith is "much more precious than gold that perisheth" and therefore deserves even more careful refining. Just as gold is purified by fire to remove impurities, faith is tested through trials to strengthen and perfect it. He explains: "Our faith needs to be perfected. There are degrees of faith. There are differences in the quality of faith... There's a great deal of the flesh that we are not aware of... The process that God puts you through is this testing by trials as by fire, in order that that which doesn't rarely belong to the essence of faith may fall off." These trials develop essential qualities like trust and patience in our faith.
What is wrong with the view that Christians should always be happy and free from problems?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones criticizes the superficial view of Christianity that expects believers to be "happy all the day" without any problems. He calls this "the mark of the spurious" and associates it with cults and psychology rather than biblical Christianity. He states: "The simple answer to that, of course, is that that is not New Testament Christianity. That's the kind of thing, of course, that the cults are always offering." True Christianity acknowledges suffering while providing resources to overcome it, not immunity from trouble.
How do trials authenticate the genuineness of a Christian's faith?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, trials reveal whether faith is genuine or superficial. He explains: "His phrase is 'that the trial of your faith.' Now, trial there means the attestation of... It's the way that we endure trials that rarely certifies our faith." Like Jesus' parable of the sower where some plants withered under tribulation, trials show which faith is real: "There's nothing that so certifies the genuineness of a man's faith as his continuance, his patient endurance." The ability to remain faithful through difficulty demonstrates authentic Christianity.
What comfort does Dr. Lloyd-Jones offer to Christians going through trials?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers several comforts: First, trials are only "for a season" - they are temporary and limited by God's wisdom. Second, God never sends more than we can bear: "He knows how much you can take... He'll never send too much for you." Third, trials may indicate God is preparing us for special blessing or service. Finally, we should remember our eternal inheritance even when we can't see it: "Though you see nothing at the moment, say, 'Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ.'" The ultimate goal is to be "found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."
Spiritual Depression
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.