The Good News Of Salvation – Prophetically Foretold

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.