1 Peter 1:8, commentary and pictures

Believers love Jesus though they have never seen Him with natural eyes, and though they do not now see Him they believe and trust in Him, rejoicing with joy beyond words and full of glory. This believing is implicit trust that does not rest on sight, visible proof or feeling, but on God's promises, on the excellence of Christ's character and on prophetic evidence that He is the Messiah. That faith lays hold of God and His promises, takes Christ into the heart by the Holy Spirit, and brings the peace only Christ can give with refreshing blessing. Faith and love must endure trials that test and purify faith as fire purifies gold, making it far more precious than perishing gold, to be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ and to receive the salvation of souls. The joy will be made complete and plain when the redeemed behold Jesus in glory, see His pierced hands welcoming them, are made like Him, and understand that infinite love ordered even the most trying experiences for good.

Loving and Believing Unseen

The standard set is that believers love Jesus though they have never looked on Him with natural eyes, and though they do not see Him now they believe and trust in Him. That loving and believing belongs to those who have received Him by faith, whose joy is beyond words and filled with glory even while trials and afflictions are their portion. Faith and love for Him must endure difficulties, disappointments, and trials, and the service given in surrender of the will measures that love.

This believing is implicit trust that does not rest on sight or personal attractions, on waiting for visible proof, or on depending on feeling. Confidence rests on God's promises and the facts of faith, on the excellence of character found in Him that was never and could never be found in another, and on sufficient evidence in prophecy that He is the Messiah to come. Those who trust God's word in this way receive the benefits of His teachings and finally of His atonement, walk by faith that works through love and purifies the soul, and live as though seeing the invisible Christ.

The verse is the language of the soul that has received Jesus by faith, when the hand of faith takes hold of Christ and He abides in the heart. Then light shines from Him into the chambers of the mind so that invisible things are seen correctly, and through the Holy Spirit believers understand truth about God and His Son. By that Spirit they discern His goodness and compassion in providence and in Christ's character, and so behold Christ though unseen.

Though unseen, He watches over those who rely on Him with tender compassion and understands their weaknesses. The pure in heart know God as Redeemer and as a Father longing to welcome a repentant child, and seeing His purity and loveliness they long to reflect His image. That longing makes securing evidence of acceptance the first duty every morning, unites hearts in prayer with and for one another, and leaves no rest while a cloud darkens the mind until it is swept away in the felt witness of pardoning grace.

Joy Unspeakable and Glorious

Believing brings rejoicing with a joy that is beyond words and full of glory, the joy of the Lord which is strength. Those who love Jesus though they have never seen Him, and though they do not now see Him yet believe in Him with implicit trust, rejoice in this way even while trials and afflictions are their portion and faith is tried as by fire. The hand of faith taking hold of Christ is when the heart loves Him and believes, and faith and love must endure difficulties, disappointments, and trials, with the measure of love found in service rendered in surrender of the will to God.

That joy comes by active faith laying hold of God and His promises, as part of the joyful life given to His people. It comes by constantly exercising faith through abiding in Christ and Christ abiding in the heart by faith rather than looking to and depending on feeling, bringing the peace Christ alone can give with refreshing blessing in prayer and testimony. It is connected with the experience of God's presence and blessing when heaven seems near and the Holy Spirit is at work, and is felt by those expecting soon to meet the Redeemer face to face through the Spirit's gracious, heart-softening power.

The joy springs from faith which works by love and purifies the soul, giving life and vigor to mental powers and spiritual exercises. It is felt in fellowship with the Father and Jesus Christ and in connection with God through sharing the divine nature, which is worth more than food, clothing, status, or wealth. The Christian's life is hidden with Christ in God, and when Christ appears believers will see Him and be like Him, with His glory shining through purified character, so that becoming God's children is worth any sacrifice even to life itself.

Beholding Christ's loveliness and perfection by the Spirit changes believers into His image and leads to renouncing self, giving the heart wholly to Jesus for His Spirit to refine and elevate. When enlightened by the Spirit of God to behold the perfection of Jesus, the believer sees in self only sin and helplessness and human weakness with little to be done by depending on self, while in the Redeemer seeing sinlessness and infinite power. Dwelling with ever-deepening enthusiasm on the sacrifice Christ made to impart His righteousness, until self is nothing and Jesus is everything, fills the soul with joy and keeps from discouragement even in much pain and human weakness.

This joy reveals the depths of the Saviour's matchless love in the salvation of even one soul. It is the testimony of those who have known the truth and accepted salvation, which should be the expression of every soul whose name is on the church books, flowing from living communication with God as a channel of His grace to give life to the church. It goes with carrying the good news to others in divine love in close connection with the future world, and the enduring joy of life with God is greater than the glittering pleasures of the world, which last only briefly and cannot compare with heaven's glory.

True religion fills the soul with this inexpressible joy full of glory. It ennobles the mind, refines the taste, and sanctifies the judgment, makes the soul a partaker of the purity of heaven, brings angels near, and separates more and more from the spirit and influence of the world. It reveals an infinite and all-wise Creator as protector and Redeemer from sin, comforter in sorrow, light in darkness, and guide in obscurity, inviting man to become a son of God and an heir of heaven. This gift is freely offered to all who will accept it, more complete, noble, and exalted than the brightest hopes and loftiest aspirations can ask, so the religious life is marked by peace and joy, not gloom and sadness, with doubts, fears, and distressing forebodings bringing no relief and to be rebuked.

The joy is the opposite of a doleful or gloomy profession. Realizing Christ as the believer's hope of glory in whom believers are complete brings rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory. The sinner who looks in faith to Christ, who died to save him at the cross, may rejoice with fullness of joy because sins are pardoned, bringing the sinner near to God and giving the highest place attainable.

Faith Tested, Salvation Assured

This love and rejoicing belong to those begotten again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, holding an incorruptible inheritance reserved in heaven and the hope of salvation. Even while for a season in heaviness through manifold temptations they greatly rejoice with joy beyond words and full of glory, with implicit trust in One they have not seen. Faith and love for Christ must endure the difficulties, disappointments, trials and conflicts that come to every child of God. Such trials test faith and prepare it and raise it to the occasion, and faith must overcome them, turning mistakes and defeats into victories, with victory given by trusting the unseen Christ.

The trial of faith is much more precious than gold that perishes and than earthly silver and gold, though tried with fire as silver and gold are purified. God tests and proves faith like silver and gold purified by fire so its worth is made plain. Under Christ's discipline it purifies believers from earthliness and prepares them to endure trials and opposition, and the tested person becomes precious like fine gold. The tested faith will be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Its growth and joy amid trials honor God and lead toward receiving the end of faith, even the salvation of souls, which is the goal and outcome joined to this joy with the heavenly inheritance and hope of salvation.

Satan's forces are arrayed in the last time with subtle temptations to overcome those who believe in Jesus and strive for the crown of immortal life. In the closing days of probation he seeks to discourage commandment-keeping believers and torture them into unbelief by pressing on the soul the idea that God is displeased with them. But the believing soul looks to Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith, is held by His pitying hand and kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, gives glory to God in temptation, and will not be overcome by the foe. Believing joy holds fast because Jesus is the only hope, shown by loyalty and keeping the way of the Lord and His commandments. Remembering God's promises comforts the heart and strengthens faith in His power to endure trials and opposition under Christ's discipline.

Christ's Saving Work Revealed

Believers now see the fulfillment of prophecy concerning Christ's sufferings and the glory that was to follow, which earlier generations did not see unfolding as it is seen now. The salvation the prophets inquired and searched diligently into, when the Spirit of Christ in them testified beforehand of those sufferings and the glory to follow, was ministered not to themselves but to those who now hear the gospel preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. That salvation brought through Christ is a profound mystery that even angels desire to look into. It concerns the redemption of the human race and the glory of the Prince of life, a wonderful theme with ever-greater depths that the mightiest powers of man cannot reach.

It was God's order for Christ to take the form and nature of fallen man, to be made perfect through suffering and to endure Satan's temptations Himself so He would know how to help those who are tempted. His victory over temptation was won on humanity's behalf, He has power to save each person, and through the merit of His sinlessness it is possible to overcome. Faith in Him as the Messiah was not to rest on sight or on His personal attractions but on the excellence of character found in Him that had never been and could not be found in another, drawing all who love virtue, purity, and holiness. In prophecy there is sufficient evidence that He is the Messiah to come, and those who trust God's word in this way receive the benefits of His teachings and finally of His atonement.

Christ died and lives again as a living, risen, exalted Saviour, not one dead in Joseph's tomb. He takes away sins and gives imputed righteousness and life in Him, having wrought the victory over temptation and the deceptive wiles of the evil one so believers need not overcome alone. Believers are to lay hold on the merits of the blood of the crucified and risen Saviour and to walk in the light and glory of the cross of Calvary and not in its shadow. Through His sacrifice every provision has been made to receive all things that pertain to life and godliness, for He is the source of strength. The perfection of His character makes it possible to reach the highest standard of glory and virtue and to gain perfection.

Looking to Jesus as the source and completer of faith delivers from the schemes of evil men and evil angels, breaks the bonds of sin and Satan, and enables serving God without fear in holiness and righteousness. Trusting Him with the keeping of the soul brings light and praise, as living faith rests and rejoices in His light each day rather than dwelling on doubts and trials. That joy is the proper response to seeing the Father's wonderful condescension in giving Jesus to the world so that all who believe on Him should not perish but have everlasting life, and to working with strong faith and hope rather than in despair. It comes by learning through personal experience the broad and deep and measureless love of God, a real love no words can describe and surpassing all thought and imagination. God offers to receive believers as His children, members of the royal family of the heavenly King, giving all that ennobles, expands, and exalts their being and fits them to dwell with Him forever with existence measuring with the life of God, on condition that they come out from the world and be separate and touch not the unclean.

The verse describes the disappointed believers who had expected Christ to return, who love and trust Jesus without seeing Him and rejoice with deep, glorious joy beyond words and full of glory. By seeing Him through faith as their compassionate High Priest in the holy of holies, they regained hope and rejoiced, knowing that God had guided them and that their work had not been in vain even though they had misunderstood the event they expected. They understood by faith that He was serving in heaven and would later appear as King and Deliverer.

Future Hope Fulfilled

The joy described as beyond words and full of glory will reach its fullness in the world to come when the redeemed receive homes, robes of righteousness, crowns of glory and palms of victory. Then all that perplexed in God's providences will be made plain, things hard to be understood will be explained, and the mysteries of grace will unfold. Where finite minds saw only confusion and broken promises, or broken purposes, the most perfect and beautiful harmony will be seen.

Then it will be known that infinite love ordered the experiences that seemed most trying, and as the tender care of Him who makes all things work together for good is realized, that joy will break forth.

The hope of seeing Jesus in His glory at the resurrection makes present joy complete, for the faithful will behold the One who gave Himself for them, see His pierced hands welcoming them, and be made like Him and see Him as He is. Present toil and suffering are worth enduring in hope of the resurrection of life, and what those who have learned to lift the cross will be cannot now be seen. Instead of complaining all the way to Mount Zion, telling all trials, putting on a sad countenance and complaining of the hardness of the way, provision is made for everyone to rejoice and to represent Christ in words, attitude and very countenance, expressing the love of God and never sowing doubt, complaint or criticism to bear fruit in distrust.

On the day of divine judgment obedient children will have no cause for fear amid the tempest that brings terror and destruction to transgressors of God's law, and that same day will bring them inexpressible joy full of glory. As Israel at the Feast of Tabernacles rejoiced in deliverance from Egypt and in pardon and acceptance through the Day of Atonement just ended, so the ransomed safely gathered into the heavenly Canaan will rejoice with unspeakable joy full of glory when forever delivered from the bondage of the curse, when Christ's great work of atonement is completed and their sins are forever blotted out.

The full joy belongs to the future occasion when all heaven and earth will rejoice together at Christ's appearing. Believers waiting for the Lord therefore hold back great expression of joy now and keep it suppressed for that time, holding back shouting and reserving it for the shout from heaven, and keeping singers silent to wait to join the angelic hosts, the choir from heaven. They give themselves instead to deep searching of heart, confession of sin and forsaking of sin and of the world, and preparation to meet the Lord.

That restrained joy returned with added strength during the seventh-month movement when believers accepted the interpretation of Matthew 25 giving the tarrying time a definite duration, with confidence and consecration, prayer and obedience, accompanied by a joy and glory understood only by those experiencing it. Those who claim to love Jesus though they have not seen Him should be filled with joy unutterable and full of glory at the joyful news that the Lord is coming. That good joyful news should electrify every soul and be repeated in homes and told to those met on the street, leaving no room for caviling and contention with believers or unbelievers.

Living the Verse Daily

The whole first chapter is a most precious representation and picture of what Christians may become if they hear and obey its counsel, given to churches in every place to be read and practiced with watchfulness and prayer as the high standard of daily obedience to all of God's commandments. It is to be studied by fathers and mothers with all powers of intelligence and expressed in words and actions, warning against lifting the soul to vanity and calling believers to evidence receiving Christ by spiritual warfare against sin. The instruction in chapters 1 and 2, and especially in 1:1-11, exhorts to a godly life and contains the very instruction and admonition of the Lord needed at this time. It feeds hungry souls with rich morsels from the living oracles and comforts and strengthens the feeble and afflicted, showing God's love bestowed in large measure on His chosen ones, while upholding the Old Testament Scriptures against the claim that they were done away with God's law. It directs believing commandment-keeping people to be faithful laborers together with God in the salvation of sinners, with every soul held responsible for the proper exercise of entrusted talents, and it is to be presented to impress that the time has come for all to work intelligently and earnestly while the world is being prepared for the closing work of the third angel's message and the loud cry.

Those who follow the Spirit of truth in willing obedience gain spiritual strength. Those afflicted by the wrong course of others are to contemplate the chapter and pray, to love and believe in Jesus because He loved them and gave His precious life for them. When wrongly accused and suffering they are to commit their case wholly to Him, to keep hold of His hand stretched out in pitying tenderness instead of letting go faith, to refuse retaliation and control by feelings of the natural heart, and to trust Him as sufficient in every trying hour and adverse circumstance. God's workers are to labor as a people chosen out of the world yet living in it but not of it and kept free from its contaminating influences. This requires the right relation between physicians and their brethren, medical missionary work bound up with gospel ministry, workers molded after Christ standing on the platform of truth uninfluenced by false theories and wrong devising, and ministers and medical missionaries united in disinterested soul-saving work.

Faith must be constantly exercised by abiding in Christ and Christ abiding in the heart by faith, rather than looking to and depending on feeling. That believing brings the peace Christ alone can give and refreshing blessing in prayer and testimony, and looks to the salvation of souls to be lived out in words and actions that inspire faith in others. This life is the educating school where that faith is trained through little things that discipline the soul and develop character, deciding eternal destiny and preparing to graduate to heaven and be welcomed in the mansions Christ has gone to prepare. Believers press from light to greater light and from strength to greater strength by grace until more than conqueror and complete in Him. The measure of love for Him is the burden borne for His sake and the service rendered in complete surrender of the will to God's will, enduring and overcoming. That love and fidelity are tested by difficulties, disappointments, trials, and conflicts that come to every child of God, and faith must overcome them, turning mistakes and defeats into victories.

Transformation of heart and character matters more than anything else, with encouraging faith and talking faith and talking of Jesus, not looking on the dark side or talking of what is objectionable in others. Love for the unseen Jesus is shown by loyalty and keeping the way of the Lord and His commandments, holding fast because Jesus is the only hope while kept by God's power through faith even in heaviness through manifold temptations in the closing days of probation when Satan seeks to discourage and torture into unbelief by pressing the idea that God is displeased. Those who come just as they are, even backsliders, receive faith working by love that purifies the soul when Jesus takes the heart and reigns there and redeems from failure. Possibility and provision are made for everyone to rejoice always and to represent Christ to the world in words, attitude, and very countenance, to express the love of God. Complaining all the way to Mount Zion, telling all trials, putting on sadness and a sad countenance, dwelling and speaking of troubles, doubts, fears, distressing forebodings, criticism, and caviling bring no relief and sow distrust in self and others, and should be rebuked and never sown.

Believers are appointed to glorify Christ with voices and whole being instead of groaning, for failure to praise in this way does not meet God's mind and expectations. They are to be thankful and praise God every moment, never continue in sin and disobedience, never complain, but lay hold on the merits of the blood of the crucified and risen Saviour — not one dead in Joseph's tomb but living, risen, and exalted to take away sins and give imputed righteousness and life — walk in the light and glory of Calvary's cross and not in its shadow, and work with strong faith and hope rather than despair. That inexpressible and glorious joy is the proper response when searching the Scriptures opens the mind to see the Father's condescension in giving Jesus so all who believe should not perish but have everlasting life. The joyful news that the Lord is coming should fill all who claim to love the unseen Jesus, electrify every soul, be repeated in homes and told to those met on the street, leaving no room for caviling and contention with believers or unbelievers. Even the sick in the open air share it as songs rise from their hearts, as nature's beauties lead minds to the home Christ prepares, and as the Bible points the way and prepares the soul for bliss.

Loving the unseen Lord makes securing evidence of acceptance the first duty every morning. It unites hearts closely in much prayer with and for one another, draws believers to meet often in secluded fields and groves with voices of intercession ascending to heaven, makes the Saviour's approval more necessary than daily food, leaves no rest while a cloud darkens the mind until swept away, and in feeling pardoning grace deepens longing to behold Him whom the soul loves. Living faith thus rests in and rejoices in His light each day, trusting Him with the keeping of the soul unto light and praise rather than dwelling on doubts and trials. Near the end of history this joy is the strength that comes when Christ abides in the heart and light shines into the chambers of the mind, springing from faith working by love and purifying the soul, giving life and vigor to mental powers and spiritual exercises, and moving believers to take active part with Christ.