Today I would like you to turn in your Bible to the epistle of Peter, 2 Peter 1. Let's read our Bible together this morning. I'd encourage you to get your Bible and let's study this verse together.

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us, through the righteousness of God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I want to bring you a message this morning and ask you, what do you consider to be precious? What do you highly esteem or cherish above everything in this life that you possess and consider to be precious? Many would give a variety of answers. I've heard people talk about their precious children, their precious grandchildren, We sing songs about precious memories. People talk about precious jewels or even mention precious health.

But to the believer, to the believer who trusts and rests in Christ alone as all his salvation, the only things that he finds to be precious are the things that are connected to the gospel of grace that he believes, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The only thing the believer finds to be precious or the things that are connected with the gospel.

Peter, in these two epistles, mentions five things that are precious to a believer. The first one is this. He mentions in this verse that we read, precious faith, precious faith. Now, why is faith called precious? Why is faith precious to the believer? I'll give you two reasons.

First one is this. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11, 6. Those who are without faith are without Christ. Those who are without faith are without life. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. But he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. Faith is God's ordained means to lay hold of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the man who is without faith is without Christ. Christ is the only Savior of sinners. And the Lord Jesus Christ saves sinners in a way that is consistent with God's character, consistent with God's holiness, a way that is pleasing unto God. And that way, my friend, is grace and grace alone. Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in the Lord Jesus Christ. That's why faith to the believer is precious. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Without faith, we're lost and without Christ.

The second reason that faith is precious is this. Faith is a gift of God. For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is a gift of God, not of worthless. Any man should boast. It says in our text that we have obtained like precious faith. We didn't earn it. We didn't merit faith. It was given of God. Faith is not the product of a sinful creature. It is sovereignly given as a purchased gift of the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is not an offer to all men. It is given to those for whom Christ died. That's why it says in this verse that this precious faith was obtained through the righteousness of God our Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ bought faith with His own blood. That's why faith is precious to the believer.

Now here's the second thing we find that Peter writes about. These things are precious to the believer, precious promises. In this same chapter, verses three and four, according as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that called us to glory and virtue, whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lusts. Here we see these precious promises of God. The promises of His eternal word are sure, sure promises. That's why they're precious. These precious promises are based upon the word of God.

In this same chapter, verse 19, says we have a more sure word of prophecy. where unto you do well that you take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and day star arise in your hearts. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Spirit of God."

So the promises that the believer rest upon are sure promises we find in God's Word and they're precious because they're written of God, sin of God.

The second reason these promises are precious is that these promises are all realized and found in Christ. That's why they're called exceeding great precious promises. These precious promises were purchased, guaranteed and freely given because Jesus Christ secured them by his righteous sacrifice and glorious resurrection. He was delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification. All that God promised in Christ, He's able to perform. He didn't fail to secure every promise by His blessed obedience unto God.

These precious promises speak of the exceeding great and precious things that Christ has purchased for us. It mentions one of them in the text. He said that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. He's made us Through these precious promises He secured, He's made us new creatures in Christ. We have pardon through His blood, the blood of Jesus Christ. His Son cleanses us from all sin. We have peace through the blood of His cross. He made peace for us. A sinner can't make peace with God. This is the work of Christ alone. We have perfection through His blood. These are the promises of God. were justified by His blood. We shall be saved from all wrath through Him, because the blood cleanses us and presents us holy and harmless, undefiled before God. He purchased us through His blood. We are a bought church. He purchased us. God had purchased us with His own blood. Acts 20, 28.

The promises of God are precious and sure promises unto the believer. Romans 4 16 declares, therefore, it is a faith that it might be by grace to the end. The promise might be sure to all the chosen of God, all the seat of God, precious faith we rest upon and precious promises that God has given us.

The third thing we find that is precious is found over in first Peter, first Peter chapter two, first Peter chapter two, verses six and seven. You get your Bible and read with me first Peter. Chapter 2, verses 6 and 7, Wherefore, also it is contained in the Scripture, Isaiah, Behold, I lay in Zion in chief cornerstone, elect and precious. He that believeth on him shall not be confounded, shall not be ashamed. Unto you, therefore, which believe, Christ is precious.

We have a precious and most glorious Savior. Unto you who have seen something of your guilt before God. We know whatsoever thing the law saith, it saith to them that are under the law that let every mouth be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God. Unto you who have seen your guilt, unto you who have seen your inability, dead and shut out, dead in sin, unto you who have seen your need of an all-sufficient Redeemer, of an all-powerful Savior, who put away our sin, who did not fail to Accomplish all the purpose of God unto you who believe Jesus Christ is precious and altogether lovely.

He's precious in his person. Who is Jesus Christ? And my friend, he's God almighty come in the flesh. That's why Paul said without controversy, great is a mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh.

He's precious in his person. He's precious in his office. He's precious in his work. We have one God, one mediator between God and men. That is the man, Christ Jesus. He's precious in all his offices, prophet, priest, and king. He's a prophet to reveal the gospel unto us. He's the priest of God to make effectual atonement for our sin. He's the king of God, sin of God. He's God's king, God's anointed to rule and reign over us in absolute dominion. He said, all power is given unto me in heaven and earth.

We have a precious Savior, precious faith, precious promises, and we have a precious Savior.

Fourthly, Peter mentions this in 1 Peter 1, reading at verse 18. Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, who was verily foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.

Precious blood. Precious blood. Believers know beyond all doubt that their redemption from all is not by the weak and puny efforts of our sinful flesh. We're not redeemed with corruptible things. We plainly read in the scripture that we're not justified by our works, by the deed that the law shall no flesh be justified.

But thank God we know the believers knows and have experienced in our soul that sinners are redeemed by the all sufficient blood atonement that Jesus Christ made on behalf of his elect. He died as a sinner's substitute to put away their sin. He is our great high priest who came to represent us, not with the blood of bulls and goats, but with his own blood. He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Now, listen to me carefully. Our Lord was not the helpless victim of unjust men when he died. He was the appointed sacrifice, the anointed sacrifice, the sense sacrifice of a holy God. Acts 2 23 declares him being delivered by the determinant counsel and foreknowledge of God. You have taken with wicked hand and have crucified and slain the Lord of glory.

What God did that day at the cross is our hope. Not what men did. What men did at the cross didn't secure our salvation. What God was doing there is our hope of redemption. God made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God unto him.

His sacrifice, therefore, is precious unto God. God provided it. God sent it. And the sacrifice of Christ was unto the father. It was a sweet smelling sacrifice unto God. and it satisfied God's holy justice that we have offended.

His sacrifice is precious not only unto God. His sacrifice is precious unto the elect. It is the blood that justifies our soul. It is the blood that makes atonement for our soul. It is the blood that puts away our sin. Nothing but the blood, my friend. That's the believer's hope. None for whom Christ justified and redeemed by his blood shall ever perish under the wrath of God. That's why there's no condemnation to those who are in Christ. Throughout eternity, the elect of God will sing of the precious blood of the lamb who shed his blood to secure everlasting salvation for his church, for his elect.

That's why we sing unto him who loved us and washed us from our sin in his own blood. We're redeemed with the blood of Christ who was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. We have precious faith given of God, precious promises. We have a savior that's precious. We're redeemed with the precious blood.

And lastly, we read in this same epistle, first Peter, chapter one, Verses six and seven, we read of something else precious trials wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness to manifold temptations that the trial of your faith being much more precious. then of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."

God has reason and purpose for every trial and affliction that He brings into the believer's life. Psalm 119 verse 75 says, I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, and that Thou in Thy faithfulness hast afflicted me. Those to whom the Lord loves and has redeemed by this precious blood as a loving father brings trials our way for our eternal good and his infinite glory. That's why we read it. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

True faith will endure these God sent trial to the praise and the honor and the glory of Christ. And he gives us illustration found in verse seven of first Peter. He gives us this illustration of the gold. When gold's put into the fire, it comes forth more refined and more pure, having all the dross and the impurities drawn off. So, too, faith that comes through trial is purged of pride and self-righteousness and unbelief and hypocrisy. These trials don't produce faith. They just reveal and revine faith to be genuine.

That's why when he says in 1 Peter 4, verse 12, turn over there, 1 Peter 4, verse 12, He said, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you, but rejoice inasmuch as you partakers of the sufferings of Christ, that when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy. Don't be surprised when trials come. They're God sent and they're common. They're the common lot of all God's elect.

God has only one son without sin. Such a high priest became us who was holy, harmless, undefiled and separated from sin. But he has none without suffering. Our Lord was tried and tempted and tested in every point like as we are yet without sin. So don't be surprised when trials come. God sends them our way for our good and his glory. In John 16, our Lord said, These things have I spoken unto you that in me you might have peace in the world. You shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I've overcome the world.

May God give us grace to say thank you, Lord, for every trial. And thank you, Lord, for the grace to endure these trials. May these trials always be precious unto the believer. Precious trials. Things that are precious.

If you would like a copy of today's message, you write to me and I'll send it to you free of charge. My address is 6088 Zebulon Highway, Pikeville, Kentucky, 41501.