MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD - MUCH MORE!

What a surprise to find that everything seemed to happen in 3’s for Peter, whose first name Simon means ‘hearing’ but who sure seemed to be a slow learner (just like me!).                                                                              

However...we open this fisherman’s first letter to discover a profoundly eloquent presentation of the gospel!  Nothing can beat reading it for ourselves and we can find the key to his letter in 5:10... ‘glory after suffering’ – just like our Saviour and Lord.

Notice what gets repeated in his chapter 1 presentation, based on his very personal, very real, privileged experiences:

• Redemption... ‘with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot’ (vv2&19)
• ‘A lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead’ (vv3&21)
• ‘the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven’ (vv2&12)

...and what he shares from the Scriptures:

• “Be holy, for I am holy”  (v16)
• “All flesh is as grass, all glory of man as the flower of grass...but the Word of the Lord endures forever.”  (v24-25)

Having been imprisoned 3 times, Peter knows all about trials...and the encouragement needed:

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise, honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

We can sure take it from Peter who sure saw it all - silver and gold don’t even come close! (vv7&18)