Remembering Our Great Salvation
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
1 Peter 1:10–12
Application Question: What things bring you the greatest joy in life?
Peter writes to believers who are being persecuted in Asia Minor, which is current-day Turkey. They were being persecuted for their faith. Some wives were married to husbands who would not respond to the gospel, and they needed to be encouraged.
Peter starts off his letter encouraging these suffering saints with praise to God for their salvation (1 Pet 1:3). He then goes on and talks about what makes it so great. We have a living hope and the new birth. We are being protected for this salvation by God. We have an inheritance that will not fade (1 Pet 1:3–6). Peter writes to them about the greatness of their salvation in order to encourage them and bring them joy in the midst of suffering.
Most people find their joy from family, friends, career, or hobbies, but when family is sick or when there are problems at work, they lose their joy. No doubt, many among these congregations had lost their joy as well since the world around them was falling apart. The greatest joy in our life should be Christ, and the salvation we have received from him. It is from this relationship and the benefits of salvation that we can have enduring joy.
In this passage, Peter wants the Christians to refocus on how great their salvation is so they can have joy and persevere. He starts off with “concerning this salvation,” calling them to remember things they already knew so they can again stand in awe.
Similarly, there are some truths that we already know about our salvation that can help us restore our joy even in midst of trials. In this lesson we will see eight truths about the greatness of our salvation.
Big Question: What does Peter teach us about the greatness of our salvation that should help us have joy in our salvation and encourage us in the midst of our trials?
Remember the Greatness of Salvation in that It Is a Work of God’s Grace
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you.
1 Peter 1:10
The first thing that makes salvation great is the fact that it is a work of God’s sovereign grace.
Interpretation Question: What is saving grace?
1. Grace is “unmerited favor.”
Salvation is not something we deserve because of our good works but is something given as a work of unmerited favor from God. We see this in Ephesians 2:8–9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (emphasis mine).
2. Grace is given regardless of our sins, or in spite of our sins.
Romans 5:8 reads: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (emphasis mine). This truth makes our salvation even more wonderful. It’s in spite of us and based on God’s grace that we have received salvation.
Interpretation Question: Peter said this “grace” was spoken of by prophets about how it would eventually come to us. Does this mean that people in the Old Testament did not experience grace (v. 10)?
The Old Testament saints did experience God’s grace, but they did not fully understand it as we do today. Scripture says the benefits of Christ’s cross were applied to their sins as well. But they did not fully understand the unmerited favor they were receiving from God. God dealt with them in forbearance on the basis of the sacrifice that would come for their sins. They were looking forward to Christ as pictured through the sacrifices. Listen to Romans 3:25–26,
God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
This shows the application of Christ’s blood. It applies to those who by faith have followed God since the beginning of the world. We see God accrediting righteousness to Abraham because of his faith as mentioned in James 2:23: “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend.”
Abraham was saved by grace. God accredited the righteousness of Christ to his account on the basis of the future grace that we have received. Yet, Abraham did not fully understand why this grace was applied to his life. He did not have a full understanding of the coming Messiah and his future death for the sins of the world.
Application Question: How should the fact that our salvation is based on grace affect us?
1. This truth should make us worship God.
He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord”(emphasis mine).
1 Corinthians 1:28–31
God’s amazing grace should draw us to worship him and boast only in him.
2. This truth also should encourage us when we fail and humble us when we succeed.
Many people, though saved by grace, still relate to God on the basis of their works. For some people, if they read their Bible or went to church, then they feel like they can approach God or relate to him. When they fail, they feel unworthy to go to church or read their Bibles. They relate to God based on their works, and therefore, Satan continually discourages them when they fail or tempts them to pride when they succeed. When we understand that we are saved by grace and Christ is the sole basis of our relationship to the Father, it should encourage us when we fail and help us remain humble when we succeed.
Look at how Paul rebukes the Galatians who were trying to relate to God based on law and legalism. “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort” (Gal 3:3)?
Understanding the grace given in salvation should make us joyful. We didn’t deserve it; it came from God on the basis of his mercy and grace. This should give us joy. Amazing grace should make us rejoice even in suffering!
Application Question: What ways are you tempted to still relate to God based on works instead of grace?
Remember the Greatness of Salvation in the Sufferings and Glory of Christ
To which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you (emphasis mine).
1 Peter 1:11
What other ways was Peter calling these Christians to remember the greatness of their salvation? We see the greatness of it in that Christ suffered to bring us this salvation.
One of the qualities of something that many times makes it special is its cost. We are very protective over a house, a car or electronics because of how expensive they are. There is a great cost. In the same way, one of the things that make our salvation so great is its tremendous cost. It cost God his Son and it cost Christ tremendous pain and suffering. He bore the wrath of God on the cross. We see the afflictions and suffering of Christ clearly in Isaiah 53:3–5,
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
It is no surprise that when Peter is trying to encourage suffering saints, he points out that Christ was prophesied to suffer and receive glory after. We can be sure Peter’s mention of the Savior’s sufferings was strategic to encourage the saints.
In essence, these words show us that the prophets were given a particular insight into salvation’s mystery—that the Christ would be a suffering Christ—and that only after suffering would he be given “subsequent” glories. For the typical first–century religious Jew, this thought was simply unacceptable. They wanted a Christ of glory. They had no time for a Messiah given over to suffering. Yet Peter’s early readers had been saved by just such a gospel. For the discouraged believer in Peter’s audience, this reminder would have been greatly encouraging. The life they were living, filled as it was with trials and difficulties, mirrored the life of the Messiah, in whom they had put their trust.
This is very important to remember. Our Lord suffered on this earth and now has glory in heaven. This should help us persevere in our trials. Look at what the writer of Hebrews said:
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood (emphasis mine).
Hebrews 12:2–4
We should consider Christ’s sufferings as we suffer. The writer of Hebrews says we should consider him so that we will not grow weary and lose heart. We must focus on the sufferings of Christ and also the glory that followed Christ as he sat down at the right hand of God (v. 2). Our salvation is great because of its tremendous cost, the sufferings of Christ.
Application Question: In what ways do you find encouragement in suffering by looking or “fixing your eyes” on Christ?
Remember the Greatness of Salvation in that It’s a Fulfillment of Prophecy
To which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you (emphasis mine).
1 Peter 1:11-12
Another thing that makes our salvation great is the fact that it is the fulfillment of many biblical prophecies. The first prophecy in the Bible predicted Christ’s sufferings and his glory. Look at Genesis 3:15: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
The woman would have an offspring that would be bitten by the serpent and this offspring would crush the serpent’s head. There has only been one seed of the woman throughout history and that is Christ. When a child is born, he or she comes from the man’s seed. But, Christ was the woman’s seed because he came through a virgin birth. His flesh wound was his death on the cross. His sufferings were predicted from the beginning of time. However, Christ crushed the head of the serpent, Satan, at his resurrection and he will complete the work at his second coming (Rev 20:10).
The prophecies fulfilled in Christ’s suffering and subsequent glories are seen throughout the Old Testament. In fact, there were twenty-nine prophecies fulfilled in one day, the day of Christ’s death. Let’s look at a few:
1. He would be betrayed by a friend (Ps 41:9).
2. The price of the betrayal would be thirty pieces of silver (Zech 11:12).
3. The money would be used to buy a potter’s field (Zech 11:13).
4. He would be forsaken and deserted by his disciples (Zech 13:7).
5. He would be accused by false witnesses (Psalm 35:11).
6. He would be silent before his witnesses (Isaiah 53:7).
7. He would be wounded and bruised (Isaiah 53:5).
8. He would be hated without cause (Psalm 69:4).
9. He would be struck and spit on (Isaiah 50:6).
10. He would be mocked, ridiculed, and rejected (Isaiah 53:3).
11. He would collapse in weakness (Psalm 109:24-25).
12. He would be taunted with specific words (Psalm 22:6-8).
13. People would shake their heads at him (Psalm 109:25).
14. He would be executed among sinners (Isaiah 53:12).
15. His hands and feet would be pierced (Psalm 22:16).
16. He would pray for his persecutors (Isaiah 53:12).
17. His friends and family would stand afar off (Psalm 38:11).
18. His garments would be divided and won by casting lots (Psalm 22:18).
19. He would be given gall and vinegar (Psalm 69:21).
20. His bones would be left unbroken (Psalm 34:20).
21. He would die for our sins (Isaiah 53: 4–6).
22. His side would be pierced (Zech 12:10).
23. He would be buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9).
Now as we look at this list, we must say, “Wow! That is pretty convincing.” If Jesus fulfilled all those prophecies, he must be the Son of God—he must be the seed that everybody was waiting for.
What is the probability that a person would fulfill only eight of these prophecies? Professor Peter W. Stoner states that the probability of just 8 prophecies being fulfilled in one person is 1 x 10 17th. That is 100,000,000,000,000,000.
It has been illustrated like this: if you take 1 x 1017 silver dollars and placed them over Texas (the second largest US state), you would not only cover all of Texas but would have a coin pile two feet deep. If you blindfolded yourself, took one of the coins and threw it back into the pile, and walked from the beginning of Texas, stopping only once to find that coin, that is the chance that one person would fulfill only eight of these prophecies, let alone the sixty major prophecies fulfilled in Jesus. This again shows the greatness of our salvation. It is the fulfillment of many prophecies given in the Old Testament.
Application Question: What applications can we take from these prophecies about Christ’s sufferings?
It reminds us of the accuracy of Scripture and that we can trust it. God fulfilled his prophecies “to the letter” concerning Christ. We can trust them for our lives, and we can trust them specifically as we look forward to the glories that will come with Christ at his second coming. Listen to what Paul said about Scripture:
All Scripture is God–breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (emphasis mine).
2 Timothy 3:16–17
Because Scripture is God’s breath, we can be sure it is accurate and trustworthy for God cannot tell a lie (Titus 1:2).
One of the reasons our salvation is great, is because it was prophesied from the beginning of time. It is the fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies. We now are walking in the fulfillment of them.
Application Question: Do you think fulfilled prophecy is a great witnessing tool? Why or why not? How can you use it more affectively in your ministry?
Remember the Greatness of Salvation in the Prophets Labor to Understand It
Searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow (emphasis mine).
1 Peter 1:10-11
Observation Question: What ways does Peter describe the labor of these prophets in seeking to understand the prophecies about Christ in 1 Peter 1:10-11?
1. They tried to understand the time (v. 11) when the Messiah would come.
2. They tried to understand the circumstances, or person, in which he would come (what person or time, as in the NASB).
We only labor to understand important things. The prophets labored because the knowledge of this saving grace was so special, and it should be special to us as well. We get a hint of how draining the prophetic work was through the words of Daniel. Of the sufferings he had to go through, he writes:
My spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me (Daniel 7:15). And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king’s business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it (8:27). When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute. And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breadth is left in me” (10:15–17).
The prophets labored to understand God’s Word, even becoming sick and worn out in the midst of these visions. Listen to what Christ said in Matthew 13:17: “For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it” (emphasis mine).
Application Question: What applications can we take from the prophet’s labor in seeking to understand prophecy?
1. It reminds us of our need to labor hard and search the Scripture intently to understand it as well.
Peter said they “searched intently and with the greatest care.” They studied Scripture looking forward to much of what we have experienced. Yet, we find ourselves often less enthusiastic than them, in our pursuit of truth. Look at what Paul told Timothy: “Do your best to present (emphasis mine) yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15).
We must do our best as well. We must labor to understand Scripture. That is an application we can take from the zeal of the prophets.
2. It should encourage us to study prophecy specifically.
No doubt, many in those times had wrong ideas of this coming Messiah, which eventually affected their reception of him. Some saw only his coming as a conqueror and missed his sufferings. Some did not study prophecy at all and were simply not ready to receive Christ at his coming.
Let us take an application from this that the study of prophecy is important. Often people neglect the study of prophecy, specifically end-time prophecy, saying it’s too difficult or too controversial. However, the all-wise Father has still chosen to give us these teachings. He deems them important for our sanctification and preparation for the second coming of Christ.
Let us never think they are not important to study. No, they are important, and that’s why Satan works so hard to bring division or frustration over them. He realizes that in the same way a faulty understanding, or lack of understanding, of prophecy negatively affected Israel’s readiness for the coming Messiah, a lack of understanding also will negatively affect us in being prepared to receive his second coming.
Our salvation is great, and that is shown in how the prophets devoted their lives to studying and understanding its coming through the Messiah. We should devote our lives to studying and understanding it as well.
Application Question: What ways is God calling you to search the Scripture intently in order to know him more? What are some practical ways you can implement this discipline?
Remember the Greatness of Salvation in the Worldwide Proclamation of It
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven (emphasis mine).
1 Peter 1:12
Today people are really big into social media. Everybody has a Facebook or Twitter. There are people who constantly post on YouTube. If something posted does really well, it could have thousands of hits. A person who is really well-known on Facebook or Twitter might have thousands of friends. What these “hits” and “friends” indicate is popularity. Some videos with humble beginnings actually get world-wide acclaim.
Similarly, this is something that makes this gospel so special. It was revealed to a small group of people by the Holy Spirit but now is being preached everywhere around the world. God sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles to reveal it and to the preachers to proclaim it to all who would listen. Listen to what Paul said about this gospel:
In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power (emphasis mine).
Ephesians 3:4–7
The apostles and prophets were the original recipients of the gospel and its messengers. The word apostle actually means “sent one.” They were sent all over the world to preach the gospel to people, and it reached those in the Roman Empire. No doubt, there is a sense in which 1 Peter 1:12 also refers to other missionaries and teachers teaching the gospel through the Holy Spirit.
One of the things that makes this gospel great, is its worldwide acclaim. It has been preached all around the world and still is being preached. Romans 10:15 says: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Application Question: How is God calling you to share in the spreading of this great gospel? Whose salvation are you praying for at this time?
Remember the Greatness of Salvation in the Blessing of Hearing It
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven (emphasis mine).
1 Peter 1:12
In this passage, Peter says the gospel was preached to “you.” One of the greatest things about salvation is the miracle of us hearing the gospel. Many of us have grown up in Christian homes or with great exposure to Christianity. However, many have not. It is a tremendous work of grace that we have been exposed to this wonderful message that saved our souls. Because of our exposure, many of us have lost the awe of this reality, and maybe that had happened to these Christians in Asia Minor who were scattered. Thus he reminds them that this great message had been preached to them.
I remember hearing the story about a Chinese lady who had just heard the gospel and accepted Christ. She asked the missionary, “How long have you known about this gospel?” The missionary shrugged and said, “I was taught it as a kid.” The Chinese lady responded, “How come we are just now hearing about this?”
Let us not forget how great this salvation really is and how great it is that we have been exposed to this message by God’s sovereign grace.
Application Question: How should we respond to this sobering reality of how fortunate we are to have heard the gospel?
1. It reminds us of how thankful we should be for hearing the gospel. Not everybody has heard it. I think we also should be grateful to those who specifically shared it with us.
2. It reminds us of our need to share the gospel. When something is really great news, you want to share it with others. The apostles and preachers went all over the world sharing this good news through the power of the Holy Spirit. We must seek to do the same.
When we remember how we heard the gospel and how it is being spread around the world, it should give us joy.
Application Question: How did you first hear and receive the gospel?
Remember the Greatness of Salvation in that the Gospel Came through the Holy Spirit
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven (emphasis mine).
1 Peter 1:12
Peter says this gospel is great not only because it is being preached everywhere by apostles and ministers, but it is great because it came through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the author of this gospel. Listen to what Paul said about the gospel:
I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ (emphasis mine).
Galatians 1:11–12
The gospel was given to the apostles through the Holy Spirit, who was sent by Christ. This makes the message of the gospel great, and therefore, salvation great. It does not come from man but from God.
Application Question: What applications can we take from the fact that the gospel came through the Holy Spirit?
This reminds us of the certainty of our salvation since it is not a gospel of men but one that came through the Holy Spirit.
Religion comes from men. That is why when we look at the religions of the world, we see things that largely reflect man’s nature. In ancient Greek religions, the gods made war, came down and had sex with women, were jealous and power hungry. Religion reflects man, but the gospel reflects God and his work of grace. No other religion has a savior. All religions show man working for their salvation. This is the gospel.
Peter says the “Spirit of Christ” prophesied through the prophets and the Holy Spirit through the apostles (1 Pet 1:10-12). It reminds us that these truths about our salvation were not given by man. It was Christ, through the Holy Spirit, working through prophets to teach us the Word of God (2 Tim 3:16). Look what Peter says in his second epistle:
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (emphasis mine).
2 Peter 1:20–21
This also is a tremendous comfort in the midst of persecution and trials. We can stand in the midst of persecution or trials because our salvation is real. The message comes from the Holy Spirit. We can trust and put our faith in it; even if we die, we will go to heaven. This reality should comfort the believer.
Remember the Greatness of Salvation in that Even Angels Desire to Understand It
Even angels long to look into these things.
1 Peter 1:12
This salvation is great because even angels desire to look into it. It was not only the labor of prophets, the endeavor of preachers, but also the focus of angels. In what way?
The word long in the Greek means “an intense desire to know something”—it is not a whimsical thought but an intense desire. The word look means to “stretch one’s head forward” or “to bend down.” It was used of Mary stooping down to look into Christ’s tomb (John 20:11). These words show the strong interest that angels have in understanding the experience of our salvation.
In the same way that believers stand in awe of such realities as the angel’s communion with God and the doctrine of the Trinity, angels stand in awe of the grace in our salvation. Look at what Paul says in Ephesians:
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord (emphasis mine).
Ephesians 3:10–11
It has been said that when the original angels fell, God gave no grace but only justice. He judged them by kicking them out of heaven. Therefore, the angels never knew God’s grace but only his justice. However, with man, God chose to not only give them justice but also grace. Therefore, the angels stand in awe at an experience they have never had. No doubt, this is not just a fascination, but a desire to know God more so they can more fully worship him, which is their primary reason for existence. In fact, Scripture declares this is one of the reasons God chose to save man, in order to show his grace in the coming ages (Eph 2:7).
Made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus (emphasis mine).
Ephesians 2:5–7
Maybe this makes Satan a little angrier at man. David himself said, “What is man that you are mindful of him?” Why does God choose to give grace to one and not to another? For this reason, the angels stand in awe.
Application Question: What applications or encouragements can we take from the reality of the angels looking at the mystery of the gospel?
It again reminds us of the grace we have received and our need to worship God. God did not give the angels grace but justice. We cannot but respond as the psalmist:
What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet.
Psalms 8:4–6
Conclusion
Why is our salvation so great and why should we be encouraged from it during suffering?
Listen to what one commentator said:
• Prophets labored their entire lives to present the true gospel to us.
• Preachers have traveled around the globe to ensure that it has gained a hearing before us.
• Angels would like nothing better than to gaze into what God has done for us.
“Surprise!” says Peter. “This is how much God cares for you.” I can almost hear the shouts of joy rolling across the rugged topography of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. This is amazing love. Ancient prophets, itinerant preachers, and exalted angels have for ages stood in service to this salvation that has come to us! The fullness of your salvation has been the joyful business of God’s servants over the centuries.
Knowing this, I hope you have a surge of spiritual fortitude to remain faithful wherever God has placed you. Hearts were made to rise in worship. And looking ahead, our minds are to be made ready for action.
Our salvation is great and should encourage us even in suffering because
1. it is a work of God’s grace, not merited by us
2. it was acquired for us through Christ’s sufferings and glory
3. it was the fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies
4. it was the labor of the prophets to understand it
5. it was proclaimed by apostles and preachers around the world
6. it was proclaimed to us
7. it is the work of the Holy Spirit
8. it is the fascination of angels.
Remember how special this salvation is and let us have joy in the midst of our suffering.
Copyright 2014 Gregory Brown
