The Testing and Genuineness of Faith

The apostle Peter compares genuine Christian faith to gold (1:7). He makes this comparison because faith, like gold, must be tested to know it value. In order to purify gold, it is placed in a crucible and incredibly hot fire is applied to it (4:12). Through this process, the gold is proven true as it is purified, which is the desired result. In this passage, the apostle Peter describes the process of testing and the results: praise, honor, and glory -- and salvation.