Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
The Apostle Peter’s target audience for this letter of Christian encouragement was the “elect exiles” (v 1) … (some versions use the word “strangers”). We can ascertain that he was directing his thoughts primarily to believing Jews, who were caught up in the Dispersion. They had been thrust from the familiarity of Palestine into the strangeness of northern provinces dominated by Gentiles practicing their paganism, and heavy-handedness of Rome. Yet, Peter can marvel that his readers love Christ in the midst of suffering in a strange environment without having seen Him!
Our verses for today celebrate the paradox of Christian faith―loving and trusting an unseen Christ. To do so reveals how such faith produces a joy and glory not easily expressed in words. Peter repeats the phrase “though you do not now see him” to emphasize the present condition of all believers living this side of the cross. However, it is not a blind faith that conjures a sense of joy, but it’s faith on a firm foundation of Christ’s life, teaching, death, and resurrection (1 Peter 1:10-11). The deepest realities of the Christian life are not dependent on physical sight but on the belief that the Spirit of God, that has entered the newly-created life of a believer, is at work transforming the heart, resulting in an ever-growing, inexpressible joy!
Faith is continually shaped by such joy within our lives. Peter’s concluding thought in these verses reminds us that a joy-filled faith is not only a future hope, but a present unfolding reality throughout our lives. Every act of trust, opportunity for obedience, and yielded expression of our experience with Christ is part of God’s continual work in shaping us for eternity.
Today, we can give thanks to our Savior for being present even when unseen. If we pause to see how God has loved us and strengthened our faith in times past, we can be filled with a contented joy that is not easily captured in words. Peter’s words to these early believers also speak forthrightly to us today. Faith in Christ is not fragile, even in the trials of life; it is being carried by God who is completing his saving work in us. That, indeed, is something to be joyful about!
By Bill Niblette, Ph.D., Friend of Bible League International, United States
