INTRO:
Dr. George Sweeting once estimated that "more than a fourth of the Bible is predictive prophecy...Both the Old and New Testaments are full of promises about the return of Jesus Christ. Over 1800 references appear in the O.T., and seventeen O.T. books give prominence to this theme. Of the 260 chapters in the N.T., there are more than 300 references to the Lord's return--one out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 N.T. books refer to this great event...For every prophecy on the first coming of Christ, there are 8 on Christ's second coming."
Today in the Word, MBI, December, 1989, p. 40.
TEXT: 1 Peter 1:10–12 (ESV)
10Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,
11inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.
12It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
I. Salvation is a Reality Foretold by the Old Testament Prophets.
1. How real is salvation for you? Does it matter that to you that the Lord foretold His sovereign grace centuries prior to Christ’s birth?
2. First, we want to remember who Peter is addressing his letter to the dispersed believers in the five cities in his time that would be in the current day country of Turkey.
i. 1 Peter 1:1 (ESV)
ii. 1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
3. Peter is reminding the readers in these 5 cities of their salvation and the importance of God’s divine revelation regarding Christ Jesus and the deliverance of His chosen people who receive it by faith through the favor of our Lord.
4. Verse 10 of our message regarding the prophetic aspect of salvation today, must be understood in context of previous verses, so we must look at the connection in 1 Peter 1:8-9:
i. 1 Peter 1:8–9 (ESV)
ii. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
iii. 9obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
5. So now to the next verse, verse 10, Peter disseminates the historical, prophetical aspect of the Old Testament prophets who foretold of the grace of God that was given to these five cities where they were the believers were living.
i. 10Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,
6. 2 Peter 1:21 (ESV)
7. 21For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
8. Illustration: The book The World's Worst Predictions lists some of history's all-time prophetic goof.
i. King George II said in 1773 that the American colonies had little stomach for revolution.
ii. An official of the White Star Line, speaking of the firm's newly built flagship, the Titanic, launched in 1912, declared that the ship was unsinkable.
iii. In 1939 The New York Times said the problem of TV was that people had to glue their eyes to a screen, and that the average American wouldn't have time for it.
iv. An English astronomy professor said in the early 19th century that air travel at high speed would be impossible because passengers would suffocate.
9. Application:
i. For you and I, biblical prophecy is all we need for understanding the Gospel of Christ prophetically foretold by divine inspiration from God.
II. The Characteristics of Scripture is Revealed Through Prophesy.
Revelation is of God unto those who are His chosen believers and followers of Christ by grace through faith.
5 Subpoints - Characteristics of Scripture:
1. First, salvation is the theme of Scripture:
i. Why did Peter address the prophesies?
ii. Because the prophets validate Jesus and the outpouring of His grace on His chosen people at least 400+ years prior to the birth of Christ.
iii. Peter is stressing the importance of these OT prophesies of Christ and His grace. And most important regarding salvation, and he continues in this discourse regarding salvation as foretold by the OT prophets.
iv. Peter is reminding these new believers to understand that the Christ, or the Messiah was not something new, but was foretold centuries prior by the OT prophets.
v. Apostle Paul wrote of prophetic aspect of salvation that the prophets “searched intently,” they longed to discover what the Spirit was saying.
vi. Ephesians 3:4–5 (ESV)
vii. 4When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,
viii. 5which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit
ix. Here are some OT examples in scripture:
1. Daniel 8:15–17 (ESV)
2. 15When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it. And behold, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man.
3. 16And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.”
4. 17So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.”
5. Genesis 6:7–8 (ESV)
6. 7So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
7. 8But Noah found favor (grace) in the eyes of the LORD.
2. Second, God called and appointed spokesmen to record his Word—the prophets in the Old Testament.
i. the Lord often told his prophets to write down exactly what he said:
1. Isaiah 30:8 (ESV)
2. 8And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever.
ii. Jeremiah 30:1–3 (ESV)
iii. 1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
iv. 2“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you.
v. 3For behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the LORD, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it.”
vi. God himself rewrote the Ten Commandments on two stone tablets (Ex. 34:1).
vii. The Lord can use any means he wishes to ensure that we receive his inspired Word, but this passage accents the active participation of the prophets.
3. Third, Scripture’s theme is God’s grace, given for humanity. The prophets “spoke of the grace that was to come to you” (1 Peter 1:10).
i. Grace IS the Favor of the Lord!
ii. Like Luke, who “carefully investigated” the life of Christ (Luke 1:3), the prophets were (ordinarily) active, not passive, agents of revelation.
iii. Psalm 86:15 (ESV)
iv. 15But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
4. Fourth, the Word came by the inspiration of God’s Spirit.
5. Fifth, the Words of the prophets inquired after the timing of God’s work.
i. 11inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.
ii. The prophets “searched intently and with the greatest care” (1:10). Yet God directed them, for the prophets were “trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing” (1:11).
iii. In Verse 11, Peter stresses the content of God’s work and message, which he summarizes as “the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow”
1. Peter returns to the suffering and glory of Christ in other verses written later in his first letter 2:21–24; 4:13; 5:1; and 5:9.
iv. the suffering and glory, especially the death and resurrection, of Christ are central to his work and to our relationship with him. Peter commands believers to “rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (4:13).
So in this message of my 2nd main point of: The Characteristics of Scripture is Revealed Through Prophesy.
The OT prophets who proclaimed and foretold the truth were so often unliked, murdered for the truth given by revelation, suffered greatly for their divine inspired words.
Peter reminds his readers how much Christ suffered for declaring the truth to the world and the world’s religious system, their leaders and many deceived severely ridiculed, beat, and hung Christ on a cross. Taking the wrath of God upon Himself rather than us.
v. Illustration: Suffering for Christ;
vi. Billy Graham, one of the most famous evangelist in history, wrote in his 1981 released book called “Till Armageddon”
1. “Suffering teaches us patience. These words were found penned on the wall of a prison cell in Europe: "I believe in love even when I don't feel it. I believe in God even when He is silent."”
6. Application: How is your love life with the Lord Jesus? Do you still have love for God and believe in Him even when going through trials of life?
III. The Gospel Of Christ Must be Preached by the Leading of the Holy Spirit.
1. How many of you understand the importance of solid Biblical preaching and teaching of God’s Word?
2. How many of us have been in situation where you know the Holy Spirit is not leading? Even in a Church worship service?
i. So often the Spirit is quenched, like a bucket of water will put out a fire.
ii. The Holy Spirit is essential in the lives of believes and to maintain order and give direction for the local assembly of believers.
iii. Believers must submit to the Holy Spirit leading in every day living.
iv. Otherwise worldliness will take over!
3. The prophets served God, and served prophetic words the believers to be encouraged and strengthened to affirm Biblical truths.
i. 12It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
4. Jesus Himself spoke of prophetic inspiration that they didn’t even understand at their time yet is now revealed in Christ appearance.
1. Matthew 13:17 (ESV)
2. 17For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
5. Peter emphasizes the importance of the prophetic words which has been revealed through the preaching the Gospel of Christ by the Spirit of God!
i. Illustration: D.L. Moody once said, "I never preach a sermon without thinking that possibly the Lord may come before I preach another." Source Unknown.
ii. Application:
1. Are we ready for Christ? Do you understand the importance of prophetic scriptural truths regarding God’s grace, faith, and salvation?
