Title: "So Great A Salvation"
Big Idea: (I) Salvation Promised, (II) Salvation Realized, (III) Salvation Received
Text: 1 Peter 1:10-12 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things which angels desire to look into. NKJV
Introduction: Hebrews 2:1 states that we "must give more attention"; attention to the salvation message. The message of the Good News of Jesus Christ. This salvation is prophetic in the sense that the Old Testament prophets foretold of its coming in of the incarnate Jesus Christ. Just as God promised to deliver the Children of Israel from the bondage of Egypt,(Ex 3:8) God foretold through the prophets of old of the coming of not only a Deliver, a Redeemer, a King who was to free His people from the bondage of sin and death. Not only to deliver us but take us to a city whose builder and maker is God (Heb11:10).
Heb 2:1-4 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? NKJV
Ex 3:8 So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. NKJV
Heb 11:10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. NKJV
I. Salvation Promised
a. As we consider Peters statement concerning the prophets and the realization of our "great inheritance" 1 Peter 1:10-12 the living hope of the new birth springs not only from believers' future inheritance but, also from their faith in God's written Word (v. 11). Peter stress that faith is not based on the mere writings of men but, on the Word of God. Concerning this salvation (cf. "salvation" in vv. 5,9) the prophets...searched intently and with the greatest care their own Spirit-guided writings. They longed to participate in this salvation and coming period of grace and tried to discover the appointed time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing. They pondered how the glorious Messiah could be involved in suffering. Again Peter echoed the teachings of Christ (from Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries; Bible Knowledge Commentary/New Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries. All rights reserved.)
b. The Old Testament prophet's revealed through the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit of the coming of the salvation, the greatest gift man that has ever been known "Jesus Christ". Yet it was their faith in God that pointed them to the future coming of Jesus. It is much easier for us to look back and see that the revelation of the Christ that was spoken by the Old Testament prophets. for we have God's Word to reinforce our faith.
Luke 10:24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it." NKJV
c. 2 Peter 1:21 states that the prophetic proclamation of scripture was not the words of men but, the coming of promise (Jesus) was foretold as a result of Holy men of God "as they were moved" (2 Pet 2:21). The Greek word used for "as they were moved" is (en-eng'-ko) is defined as "to bear" or "to carry". The Message by Eugene Peterson put it this way "Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God's Word". Genesis 49:10 points out that our King will stem from the tribe of Judah and His reign will always be. The Old Testament Prophets face death and persecution for their prophecies, to deliver the announcements concerning the coming of our Redeemer.
2 Peter 1:21 And why? Because it's not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God's Word. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
Genesis 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. NKJV
Matthew 13:17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. NKJV
Luke 24:25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! NKJV
Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, NKJV
Text Illustration: SPURGEON ON THE FINAL PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS
In the words of Charles Spurgeon:
When I heard it said that the Lord would keep His people right to the end, --that Christ had said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of My hand," I must confess that the doctrine of the final preservation of the saints was a bait that my soul could not resist. I thought it was a sort of life insurance--an insurance of my character, an insurance of my soul, an insurance of my eternal destiny. I knew that I could not keep myself, but if Christ promised to keep me, then I should be safe for ever; and I longed and prayed to find Christ, because I knew that, if I found Him, He would not give me a temporary and trumpery salvation, such as some preach, but eternal life which could never be lost, the living and incorruptible seed which liveth and abideth for ever, for no one and nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (From a sermon by Freddy Fritz, Jesus Presents Believers to God, 6/25/2010)
II. Salvation Realized
1 Peter 1:12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things which angels desire to look into. NKJV
a. Peter states that the revelation of these prophecies spoken by the OT Prophets was revealed by the Holy Spirit sent from God to us. Realization came as a babe in a manager, who lived a sinless life and criminals death and buried in a borrowed tomb only to be resurrected. Jesus, One who paid the price for our sin. John 8:56 states that "Abraham rejoiced to see Jesus" but, Abraham did not see Jesus with his physical eyes he saw Him with and through his faith. James 2:23 "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. (NKJV)
b. Hebrews 11:13 tells us that the Old Testament Prophets were "strangers and pilgrims" and this world was not our home and Peter echo's the words of Hebrews that we too are pilgrims and strangers.
John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." NKJV
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. NKJV
c. Unlike the early day Christians and disciples which had the opportunity to witness and observed the incarnate Christ, we have not seen the 'Promise" with our eyes however we have seen Him through the working of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. It is our faith revealed through the Word of God to live for that day of the revealing of Jesus
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; NKJV
Text Illustration:
There was a pastor from a small rural congregation who visited an old farmer from time to time in an attempt to share the gospel with him. Each time the farmer would tell the pastor, "I believe in God. It is impossible not to when you look around at the beauty of this earth and the way in which life is created. It’s just Jesus I don’t understand. Why would a perfect and all powerful God have to come down as a man, and then die, just to make things right." The pastor was never able to come up with an answer that the pastor found satisfactory.
Then one night, as the farmer was sitting in his living room, he heard a thump on his window. He went to see what it was and outside he saw a group of birds floundering in the snow. They were trying to get into the warmth but they couldn’t figure out how, and so they were dying in the snow. So the farmer went outside and opened his barn doors, and turned on the lights, and tried to herd the birds into the warmth of the barn, because he realized it was their only hope for salvation. But the more he tried to direct them the more they scattered. At that point the farmer thought, if only I could become one of them then I could lead them into the warmth. At that moment, he had an epiphany, and he fell to his knees and accepted Christ as his savior.
III. Salvation Received
1 Peter 1:12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things which angels desire to look into. NKJV
a. The revelation of Jesus was "reported" to us through the preaching of the Gospel under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The word Peter use "reported" means to declare, rehearse, report, show, speak, tell. or we could say by "preaching" of the (Lógos) Word. When Paul said "preach the Word" (2Tim 4:2) Paul was not just saying preach words but, he was saying to "preach (Lógos) Christ and Him Crucified"
b. Where or who shall we go to for salvation for enticing words will not save, but Jesus Christ the perfect sacrificed died for us and paid the price for our disobedience and redeemed us that we can have the unspeakable joy and an inheritances reserved for us in the eternities.
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. NKJV
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. NKJV
1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. NKJV
Ephesians 3:8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, NKJV
Text Illustration:
Perhaps you’ve heard of Watchman Nee. Watchman Nee became a Christian in mainland China in 1920 at the age of seventeen and began writing in the same year. Throughout the nearly thirty years of his ministry, Watchman Nee was a unique gift from the Lord to the church. Though imprisoned for his faith in 1952 and remaining there until his death in 1972; his words have become an abundant source of encouragement to Christians throughout the world. And so they are for us today.
Nee once told of a new convert who came to see him in deep distress. "No matter how much I pray, no matter how hard I try, I simply cannot seem to be faithful to my Lord. I think I’m losing my salvation." Nee said, "Do you see this dog here? He is my dog. He is house-trained; he never makes a mess; he is obedient; he is a pure delight to me. Out in the kitchen I have a son, a baby son. He makes a mess, he throws his food around, he fouls his clothes, he is a total mess. But who is going to inherit my kingdom? Not my dog; my son is my heir. And you are Jesus Christ’s heir because it is for you that He died." We are Christ’s heirs, not through our perfection but by means of His and His grace.(Sermon Central, Text Illustrations)
Conclusion: Our "Salvation was Promised", our "Salvation was Realized" and our "Salvation was Received" as a results of birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have the conformation of this from the prophetic teaching of the Old Testament, the eye witness accounts of the disciples and the working of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. All of this has but one purpose and that is to bring men, women, boys and girls to an eternal inheritance reserved for us by God Himself. That inheritance is freely given to us "for God is not willing that any should perish but have eternal life". Jesus has prepared a place that "where He is there we may be also." Like Abraham people are searching for "a City whose Builder and maker is God." By faith will you come to Christ today and you too can have the grace that the Old Testament Prophets spoke of.
