Keep sharing good news without ads.
No description available
Praise God. Now, speaking of praising God, we're going to talk about praising God for the greatness of salvation. The greatness of salvation. And the Apostle Peter, we go back to 1 Peter, you can go ahead and turn there, but say a few words before we actually stand for God's Word and read it, and read our text.
But keep in mind here as we return to this study, that the Apostle Peter gives us an objective view, an objective view of salvation. Not subjective, not in a theological way, but in a very practical way, and with the response, as we will look, Lord willing, later, of the response of how to live out this salvation.
But we're going to look at praising God for the greatness of salvation, the praising of God of salvation. So as we continue our study in the New Testament, from the letter of 1 Peter this morning, I would just like to say that Apostle Peter was writing to Christians in Asia Minor, a group of Christians who were severely suffering for their faith in Jesus Christ in that time period.
And in the first chapter, as we have seen, weeks back, Peter writes to them about the glory and the greatness of salvation in God. God is a Savior, God is all about salvation. He's gracious, He's merciful, He's slow to anger, He's willing to save to the uttermost.
That is the very theme that we see all the way through this wonderful book, the Bible. There is hardly another word as blessed, hopeful, comforting, as assuring as the word salvation. He wrote in such a wonderful detail by the Spirit of the living God, for good reason and very practical reason, and the Apostle desired to display the wonders of God's salvation.
To display this among the people and to encourage them in their suffering. In order to encourage them and that the end of their faith is eternal glory in heaven because of their suffering. In other words, I'm going to tell you something wonderful and because of your suffering, there is something good that waits for you at the end of the journey.
And not something bad. God has something glorious to those who are born again of the Spirit of God. And therefore, it is worth whatever it may cost them suffering Christians for Jesus' sake. And it's just for a little while on this earth.
And that's what the theme is really in chapter 1. Is the greatness of God's salvation. So in saying that, turn with me, if you're not already there, to the book of 1 Peter. 1 Peter chapter 1. I'm just going to look at 3 verses.
We're going to look at verse 10 to 12. 10 to 12 and these 3 verses are really loaded up this morning. So I'm going to have to go at a very rapid pace as much as I possibly can so we can cover this material.
But it's going to be worth our while to worship our God as we look into His holy word. So please stand with me as we read these verses just briefly. In honor of God's word. In honor of God's word. Hear the word of the living God.
Verse 10 of chapter 1 of 1 Peter. Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully. Who prophesied of the grace that would come to you. 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. To them it was revealed that not to themselves but to us or to you. 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.
Let's pray very briefly.
And seek the face of our God and His help this morning as we study His word together. Our Father in heaven we thank you oh Lord. How we thank you. For all that you have given. You give and give and give again.
No one can out give you oh Lord. You give us sunshine. You give us rain. You give us breath.
You give us life.
You give us new birth. You have given so much. You give us eternal life. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Help us oh Lord. Help us oh Lord to be truly thankful. And not take this great salvation for granted this morning.
But to be truly appreciative. Save us oh Lord from apathy this morning I pray. Oh Lord may we not be apathetic toward this great salvation. Oh Father how we need your blessed Holy Spirit this morning.
To help me speak. To help us hear your words. And only see Jesus Christ. And only see His glories and the sufferings of His cross. His resurrection. Lord give us eyes to see. Only through the spectacles of the Holy Spirit can we see.
Can we hear.
And can we have a heart to perceive. And to understand the great truth that you have given us. And so Father in the end change us with our word. Save us oh God from religion. Save us from ourselves. Save us oh Lord from apathy.
And deliver us oh God. For your great namesake. And I pray this in Jesus name. Amen and Amen. You may be seated. Thank you so much. Years back on PBS. Our family enjoyed a long time television program called Antiques Roadshow.
I'm sure you're well familiar with it. It's a very popular show. I'm sure they still air it. I haven't checked out that recently. But it's a very popular show. And this program has become an amazingly popular over the years.
Apparently watched by over millions of viewers regular on each week. For good reason like I said. Each episode of Antiques Roadshow is taped in various locations around the country. If you see it they travel about.
And people would bring their antiques or some people would say junk. As one person said. One person's trash is another person's treasure. Or rare collectible items to show. And they meet up with qualified experts in the antique field.
Who carefully look the item over and over. And to ask questions of the owners about where they got the item. Where did it come from. The rarity of it. And what they would know about it. And then these experts would tell them the actual history of this item that they brought in.
And give them an estimated dollar amount or dollar value. That they might reasonably expect to fetch for it. If they were to sell it at an auction. I personally think the greatest reason that people love to watch this show.
And it's one of the reasons I like to watch it personally as well. Is because they truly enjoyed seeing the reactions of the owners of the various items. When a qualified expert tells them the real value of the thing that they brought.
Now it may be have something that they had in their family for years. Never thought much about it. It was maybe a great find that they had. I remember one specific episode that they had a baseball. With Babe Ruth's signature on it.
It was worth a million dollars. Incredible because of the rarity of it. Or it may be something that they had picked up at a second hand five and dime store. You could say for only a few dollars. And it become a great value.
People would bring items without having a single clue. What in the world their items are. And then the expert that is qualified. Tells them the value of this item. And usually these experts were very familiar with these items.
That they would put on these shows as you well know if you've ever seen the show. And the audience joined in with anticipation. And listening in. At times they become so stunned. And quite often even brought to tears.
Believe it or not. Over certain things. Because of the great value that they had. Of what they possessed. Now when they are told how rare and precious the valuable thing that thing is. And how much that is really worth.
Again they were shocked. And sometimes they were shocked that it wasn't worth much. But the point here I'm making is. They had no idea of how precious. And how valuable the thing that they had owned was.
Until of course. They were told of its value by the experts. From someone else. That gave another perspective. Who knew far more about it than they did.
In a way.
Beloved.
This is exactly the way I feel personally. As I ministered the words of God to you this morning. And this message. Because you and I have been given a precious. Precious treasure far more than any item on this earth.
It's the pearl of great price. Through the blood of the everlasting covenant. Which is in Jesus Christ. Salvation through faith alone. That not of ourselves.
It is the gift of God.
It is a precious gift. And it has been given to us freely by God. Even though this marvelous salvation is fully ours by God's grace. We may not appreciate that true value of its greatness. Towards it as we should.
And really that's not a good thing. That's why I prayed this morning. Lord save us from apathy towards this great gift that God has given to us. When we don't know what a marvelously precious great thing that we have.
And can I say this. Salvation is the greatest thing that you can possess. Salvation in Jesus really is. As we might easily grow apathetic. And indifferent towards God's greatness. And I pray that God would save us from that.
This could have been a very big problem.
That the apostle Peter was dealing with. In his first letter. There were many Jewish Christians that he was writing to. Christians who were severely suffering greatly under Nero. For their faith in Jesus.
We looked at that. Because of their faith. Since some of them had lost their jobs. They lost their homes. They lost their friends. They lost everything. And some of them lost their very lives to martyrdom.
Some had to flee from their homelands. And dwell in Gentile lands. Which is why Peter begins his letter by calling them pilgrims. Or sojourners of the dispersion.
And what's more.
The ungodly cultures and communities to which they fled. Were also often hostile towards the faith. And in all of the surrounding pressure that might easily have been tempted.
To call it quits.
Abandon your commitment to following Jesus. Or just go with the flow.
Do the easy thing.
It's too hard to be a Christian. Too hard to carry a cross. Too hard to suffer. I believe this is what Peter was dealing with. It's the heat of the battle. And you and I know that the battle is very real, isn't it?
The world, the flesh and the devil is against. This world is not a friend of grace. As you well know. There's a hatred toward Christianity. There's a hatred toward the truth. Because it's offensive. The cross is offensive.
And it's not easy to bear the name of Jesus. But we gladly tell people. But the flesh fights us, doesn't it? The world fights us. The devil fights us. And it's not only real. Can I say it's constant?
Do you feel that?
Week by week. The constant battle.
The struggle.
Just like those Christians of old. As Peter addressed here in this wonderful letter. We can easily feel tempted to say. Hey, call it quits. Abandon our commitment to Jesus. And just go with the flow. This message is for you.
It's for me.
And actually Peter was seeking to deal with that temptation. And what he was doing. He was urging and encouraging the Christians. The saints to stay true and faithful to the end. And persevere. And then he gives them good reason to.
Praise God for your salvation. Praise God because it's worth every mile of the way. It's worth all the sufferings. It's worth all the hurt. It's worth all the pain. And even if it costs your very life.
It is worth it. And this is what he's doing. And we'll look at this. But he gives praise of the heavenly inheritance. Verse 13 he even says. 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. When Christ comes. In power and glory. As we looked at the past month. Of the second coming of Jesus. Where the apostle Peter desired to encourage these saints.
That were suffering.
Isn't that the case?
Not to give up. Don't give up.
Even though it's costing you everything.
Don't give up.
And in the contemporary way. Let me paraphrase. He's basically saying. When he says gird up the loins of your mind. He's basically saying. Roll up the sleeves of your thinking. In the battle. Roll up your sleeves.
And fight the good fight of faith. And lay hold of eternal life. With a death like grip. Be serious and be sound minded in the faith. And keep your eyes. And keep your hope fixed firmly on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Get locked in. That's what he's saying. So in doing so. He praises God for the salvation. He praises by God's help. And God's grace. To help them. To help us. As children of the living God. To appreciate the immeasurable greatness of salvation.
In Jesus Christ. The value of salvation.
By faith.
Through grace alone. By faith alone.
For the glory of God alone.
And hearing from those who knew more. And this is what he does. He directs. In this letter. He directs their attention. To those who knew more about it. The experts. Than we can ever know. They were the qualified experts.
So Peter calls in these experts.
As it were.
That have examined our great salvation. This great salvation in Jesus Christ. And who have expressed great excitement about it. Great joy about it. And who studied it diligently. And who say to us. Do you truly realize what a precious treasure.
That you have in Jesus? Do you have any idea. How great and valuable. That the gift of God. That you have in Jesus Christ. And how glorious it really is. And this is what he's saying. Salvation is of the Lord.
And salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. Is made as very rich. You are rich. If you have Jesus. You are wonderfully rich. I mean glorious really rich. In heaven. You may not have much here on this earth.
But you got everything. If you have God. You got it all. Praise God. Well we are going to look at passages. Verses 10 through 12. And we are going to look at three verses here. And the apostle calls forth.
The apostle Peter calls forth. Four experts. Four qualified experts. Divine agents.
Would you please.
Who were involved with the glorious message of salvation.
And.
I studied this from different commentators. And the best. The best points I could find was. Pastor John MacArthur. He really hits my heart. And I love just the way he brings it down so simple. So I am borrowing from him this morning.
These points. There is four points I would like to. Give four views. I would like to give to you. And give credit to him. On this.
As I studied this.
In his commentary. On first Peter. First. The Old Testament prophets who studied it. The Old Testament prophets who studied it. Second. The Holy Spirit who inspired it. Third. The New Testament apostles.
Apostles who preached it. And fourth. We will look at the angels who examined it. Isn't that beautiful. That's the theme. The theme in the opening chapter of this letter. Is the blessedness of the greatness of salvation.
It is great.
And again. The apostle Peter encourages us. Encourages the saints to be true. To our faith in God. By showing us. The great value that others have placed in salvation. In Jesus Christ alone. And no matter what trouble. Or what you are going through today.
And what I have been going through. This past week. Or whatever it may be. We can stop and pause. And praise God for our salvation. Jesus said rejoice. That your name is written in the lands book of life.
Well look.
Let's look at it. The first point is first. Salvation was the theme of the Old Testament. Prophets study. And not only was. You could say salvation. And that verb was. It says salvation is the theme of the Old Testament.
Prophets study as well. It was and it is. Look at verse 10 with me. Through the Holy Spirit. The apostle Peter says. Of this salvation. The prophets have inquired. And searched carefully. Who prophesied of the grace.
That would come to you. And then in verse 11a. Searching what. Or what manner of time. Let us stop right there. Now the apostle Peter. Described something of that grace for us. And we looked at this. And notice how he begins in verse 3 through 5.
Let me read it. I don't think this. We can. Not read this enough. Amen.
And what does he do?
He praises God.
Blessed. Be the God.
Bless the God. There is a doxology. He is praising God. For the heavenly inheritance.
Blessed.
Be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who according to his abundant mercy. Has begotten us again to a living hope. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. From the dead. To an inheritance.
Incorruptible and undefiled. And that does not fade away. Reserved in heaven for you. It is reserved. Verse 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation. Ready to be revealed in the last time.
And then he says. In this you greatly rejoice. He is telling us we rejoice in this. We rejoice in the great salvation that God has given us. In this you greatly rejoice. Though now for a little while.
If need be.
You have been grieved by various trials.
Well there is a purpose.
God does everything for purpose. Even your trials. Notice verse 7. That the genuineness of your faith. The proof of your faith. Another translation may say. Being much more precious than gold that perishes.
Though it be tested by fire. May be found to praise and honor and glory. At the revelation of Jesus Christ. Whom have I not seen you love. Though now you do not see him. Yet believing you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.
Receiving the end of your faith.
Notice what he says.
The salvation of your souls. And that is what he is talking about. He is talking about salvation. Not in a subjective way. But in an objective way. Not theologically. But very practical.
From the word of God.
That is what he is talking about. So he gives praise in this doxology. Isn't it wonderful? It teaches us a lot. In the worst of times. In the hardest of times. To praise our God. And the prophets of the Old Testament era.
Wrote about that grace that was promised. And salvation in God. And we know that God is a Savior. But they did it from afar. The prophets wrote it down. And they were looking forward to Christ. The Messiah to come.
And the Holy Spirit was breathing upon them. And by the way. Was actually residing within those who wrote this.
Centuries.
Before our Lord Jesus Christ. Walked upon the earth and came on the scene. God incarnate in the flesh. Of all the truth of the Old Testament. Prophets received through divine revelation. The truth of salvation beloved.
Was the greatest of their passion. All the way from Moses to Malachi. The whole entire Old Testament. Prophets and all the Old Testament prophets. And by the way. Not only the minor prophets and the major prophets.
In which we are so familiar with. But also the prophets within the scriptures. Spoke as the Spirit of God was breathing upon them. We had the writers. But there was also any of the prophets. Who spoke the word of the Lord.
The great story of salvation. Is it simply the product of human creativity? Aren't you glad? Is it just the product of an afterthought? It does not come from the mind. Of so called great minds of men.
This is the divine revelation of God Almighty. Incredible. The creator of the ends of the earth. Who made the worlds. Has spoken in these last days.
Through His Son.
This is the Almighty God. And they were given a specific message. From Almighty God Himself. And they were told to write it down. To declare the things that would later. Do for us. And aren't you glad?
God has preserved this great word for us. This past week.
October 6th.
A man by the year. I can't remember exactly the year. But back years ago. William Tyndall was burned to a state. Because of his translation. Of this wonderful book into English. It has come to us on a sea of blood beloved.
So every time you read this book. I want you to think of that. But the word of God declares the things. That God would do through Jesus Christ. And it was all fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Our wonderful Lord and Savior.
What the Apostle Peter tells us about this. Also please turn with me to 2 Peter. Let's go over to the next book. And he speaks about this. How the word of God came to us. And notice this is a very familiar verse.
Verses I should say. To those who study the word of God. But I think this is one that we should know diligently. 2 Peter chapter 1. Look at 19 through 21. How did the word of God come to us? Well let me back up a little bit.
And notice what he says. Verse 16. And by the way this word is trustworthy. Don't you hear the lies of today. Of the evolutionists and the atheists. And say that they do not believe. That this is the word of God.
Let every man be liar.
Let God be true.
And these are the kind of people. That tell you these things.
Believe in fairies.
Verse 16. For we did not follow cunningly devised fables. He even mentions it. When we made known to you the power. And the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. But were eyewitnesses of his majesty. Peter is basically saying.
We, we, me and the other apostles. We were eyewitnesses of the majesty of Jesus Christ. And then he gives an example of what happened. And you can read this in the gospel account. For we, he received from God the Father.
Honor and glory. When such a voice came to him. From the excellent glory. This is my beloved son. In whom I am well pleased. And verse 18. And we heard this voice which came from heaven. When we were with him on the holy mountain.
He is speaking about the Mount of Olives. The transfiguration. And that's when Elijah and Moses appeared. Representing the law and the prophets. And Christ is in the middle. And verse 19. Here it is. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed.
Which you do well to heed as a light. That shines in the dark place. Until that day dawns. And the morning star rises in your hearts. Knowing that this first. That no prophecy of scripture. Is of any private interpretation.
For prophecy never came by the will of man. How did it come? But holy men of God spoke. As they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
And read it.
These prophets suffered. Many of them died. Of giving the truth and the word of God. And they always had a message. And when they had a message. As an oracle from God.
They said thus says the Lord.
That's what we need today. I don't care what thus says so and so. Or doctor so and so says. Or what anybody so called special would say. We need to hear that thus saith the Lord. May God help us to return back to that.
Well these Old Testament prophets. Were focused. And intensely. In focusing and trying to comprehend. The person and the work of Jesus Christ. And they were centered on that. Because they spoke of the grace that would come.
And when Jesus came. And when God came in flesh. He was full of grace and truth. God's always been gracious. Since man's fall. He let man live another day. But that fullness of grace came when Jesus. And who is He gracious to?
Sinners. Sinners like you and me. Sinners like everyone else. Salvation.
Salvation.
Concerns primarily the divine act of saving lost sinners. And this is the message we have to the world. Lost sinners. Paul the apostle said. I'm the chiefest of sinners. Matthew 20, 28. Jesus said this.
Just as the son of man did not come to be served. But to serve and to give his life for a ransom for many. John 12. Verse 32 through 33. Jesus says.
And I.
If I am lifted up. And that word lifted up literally means. If I am crucified up from the earth. Will draw all peoples to myself. And he said signifying what death he would die. This salvation. This grace encompasses the entire motive beloved.
The entire motive of God's saving work in Jesus Christ. God does not delight in the death of the wicked.
If you can remember anything. And know that anything. And praise God for anything. Is that God loves to save sinners. And by the way. I was thinking about this. In the story of redemption. When God saves sinners.
He is most glorified. He is glorified in all of his creation. In all of his wonders. But he is most glorified in the saving of sinners. Salvation is the greatest work that God has ever done. And has continued to do.
This salvation. This grace encompasses the entire motive behind God's saving work. Praise God. And the Old Testament prophets sought diligently. To understand God's grace and mercy in Jesus Christ.
They sought it.
They studied it.
They studied his forgiveness. His goodness. His unmerited favor. His blessing. That was lavished on poor, undeserving, wretched sinners like you and me.
Oh beloved.
How the Old Testament prophets would have envied you and me today. Of all that we know about Jesus. They didn't have the revelation we had.
Look at Job.
He didn't even have a Bible. He had God. I believe that was enough. And look at what he did with that little revelation he did have. He puts us all to shame, doesn't he? We have all this great revelation.
And the power of the Holy Spirit residing within us. Makes me think of what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 13 verse 16 through 17. Jesus said to his disciples. And then at that time when Jesus came on the scene.
God in the flesh. But blessed are your eyes for they see. And your ears for they hear. And notice what he says in verse 17. Surely I say unto you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see and did not see it.
And hear what you hear and did not hear it. Your ears are blessed. We're blessed today to have this great revelation. That God saves to the uttermost through Jesus Christ.
Oh my.
That's so convicting, isn't it? Because we have all this revelation and what do we do with it? Do we obey God? Do we love Him more? Something so great. Something so great is our salvation. And the holy prophets long to experience such to make us blessed.
It should make us blessed and thankful. So through their own writings described the future manifestation of the salvation to come. And their desire to understand these prophecies was so compelling. It was so pervasive.
And that the prophets actually as the scripture says they inquired and searched carefully. Isn't that beautiful? Basically through the Old Testament prophets studied. They studied their own writings. Isn't that amazing?
It shows you they wrote as the Holy Spirit was breathing upon them. But they had to go back and study their own writings. About what? About the promise of salvation to come. About the Messiah to come.
They believed it personally. They were saved from their sin by faith in that. And they placed their faith in that. The Messiah that would come. Through the sacrifice that God would provide in Jesus Christ.
And they did not even fully understand it what they were involved in.
But they studied it.
Inquired in it carefully. Let's go to the second point. Second, salvation was the theme of the Spirit's inspiration. Salvation was the theme of the Spirit's inspiration. Verse 11b -12a says, The Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He was testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
And then it says, To them it was revealed that not to themselves but to us. Or to you. Now I'd like you to notice a couple of things here that are very important. The prophecies of the Holy Spirit revealed to the prophets.
The Old Testament prophets were divinely inspired. That word inspiration means God was breathing upon them.
Or in them.
As well as God was breathing. And the overall theme of those prophecies was two-fold. Underscore this. The great truth is that they spoke of was, number one, the sufferings of Christ. Second, the glories to follow.
You've got to get that.
Because that's what the promise encompasses in the person and work of Jesus Christ. His sufferings and His glories. I don't have time to go into all the Old Testament prophecies on this, but you can read about the sufferings of Christ in passages such as Psalm 22, which is a messianic psalm.
Isaiah 53 or Daniel chapter 9 verse 24 -26. And even Zechariah 12. And then He had the glories to follow including such truths as the resurrection, His ascension and His enthronement. Appear in passages like Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6 -7.
Daniel 2 -44. Daniel 7 -13 -14. And Zechariah 2 -10 -13. And Zechariah 14 -16 -17. And by the way, scores and scores of many other verses.
That's a brief.
Not only was the Spirit of Christ breathing upon them in our text here, as Peter says, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
Basically meaning that the person of the Holy Spirit took up residence of the writers in the Old Testament enabling them to write about the glories and salvation of Jesus Christ. You know that God was breathing upon them and the Spirit of God would come upon them.
But here as they were writing, it was the Spirit of Christ within them. It's great. Go with me to Acts chapter 3 and see just briefly something here. Even the Apostle Peter in his own sermon. In Acts chapter 3 as he stood up and preached, look at verse 22.
Well, let me back up a little bit. I believe it's worth speaking of. Look at verse 17 all the way to the end. Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance as did also your rulers, but those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, there it is, that Christ would suffer.
Notice what he's preaching. He has thus fulfilled, and what does he say to them? Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of His holy prophets since the world began.
For Moses truly said to the fathers, The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear all things, whatever he says to you, and it shall be that every soul who will not hear that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.
That's powerful. In other words, you're for him or you're against him.
You hear him or you don't.
You repent or you go to hell. The word of God is straightforward. In verse 24, yes, again he speaks,. And all the prophets from Samuel, and to those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days, you are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham,.
And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. And to you first, God, having raised up His servant Jesus, send him to bless you, and turning away every one of you from your iniquities.
You see how the message is given? He gives of the graciousness of God, that Jesus Christ comes, the Messiah has come, and he's basically saying, therefore you need to repent. Turn from your sins. Repent, therefore be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
You want the times of refreshing to come to you? Repent and be converted. Wonderful scripture. Well, let's go to the third point. Back to 1 Peter 1 .12. The third is salvation was the theme of the apostles' preaching.
To them it was revealed, verse 12, that not to themselves, but to us, to you, they were ministering to things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.
I'll stop right there. Now, the Holy Spirit inspired not only the Old Testament prophets, but also the New Testament apostles. They took the fully revealed gospel of Jesus Christ as the theme of their preaching.
I promise you, read the Word of God. In the book of Acts, they preached Christ crucified. They preached Christ resurrected. They preached Christ and not themselves. They preached Christ, Christ, Christ.
And isn't that what preachers should be preaching today? Spurgeon says if you don't preach Christ, go home and don't preach again. He's point blank. And by the way, when the Holy Spirit is in a ministry, the Holy Spirit always glorifies Jesus Christ.
How do we know this? The Word of God tells us this because John, it's not by some experience or emotionalism. The Word of God tells us. John chapter 16, verse 12 through 14. Listen to the Word of God.
Jesus says this, I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. Verse 13, However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth, for He will speak not of His own authority, but whatever He hears, He will speak, and He will tell you things to come.
And by the way, He's addressing specifically the apostles here. This does apply to us, but He's basically speaking specifically to the apostles and their ministry as they would write of Jesus Christ and the truths, the revelation.
Verse 14, He will glorify Me, speaking of the Spirit of God, He will glorify Me, and He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. Notice what He says in verse 12. It refers specifically to the apostles, technically what the Lord Jesus says about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in verses 12 through 15 applies primarily to the apostles because they will write of Jesus Christ and the revelation.
The Holy Spirit's ministry, it was a three-fold ministry. He would guide them into all truth, number one. Number two, He would tell them of the future, verse 13. And number three, He would help them, come alongside them to glorify Jesus Christ.
So Jesus' words were fulfilled in the apostles in their preaching and in their writings. And we saw that as we read 2 Peter chapter 1. So salvation was the theme of the prophet's study. Salvation was or is the theme of the Spirit's inspiration.
Salvation is the theme of the apostles' preaching.
And last,.
Fourth,.
Salvation is the theme of the angels' examination. The angels' examination. Look at the latter part of verse 12. Things into which the angels long to look into. Things in which the angels long to look into.
Now, this is glorious as we look into this. Believe that according to the Scriptures, that the apostle Peter is no doubt, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in which he writes this, is primarily talking about the angels of God.
The elect angels in heaven who praise and worship God, who did not fall with Satan, and even though the fallen angels look upon Christ, but they look upon Him in a different way. There's even some reserved, as Jude says, reserved in chains of judgment.
But here, these are the angelic elect angels that did not fall with Satan in his rebellion. The angels that are constantly adoring God, the sovereign God of glory, the sovereign King, the exalted Savior, and behold Him in the glories of heaven.
You see this in Revelation. Look at all what the angels do. Powerful angels. Ministering angels. Messengers. Preaching the gospel. Even in the very last days before Jesus Christ comes. And the angels before God in heaven are amazed, even themselves, of the wonderful salvation that God has brought to wicked sinners.
I want you to see this. They see and they behold, what? The marvel and the wonder of God's glorious grace.
Saving sinners.
That He would even look down from His throne in heaven in mercy to poor, wretched, ruined sinners like us who are far lower than the angels in present glory. That's a warm you heart. Fallen sinners. Unworthy as we are to redeem us from our sin.
To redeem us by God's grace through Jesus Christ. God is such a gracious, saving God. The angels are desiring to even look upon Him. Look down at this. How God saves through the blood of Christ. To secure our future in glorification by His resurrection.
To sit at the Father's right hand of power. To intercede for us continually. To destine us for heaven. To make us heirs of God and join heirs with Jesus Christ.
You know what He says?
Angels long to look at. That'll make you pause. That's a seal, isn't it? Meditate on this. Can I tell you a couple of words, means here? And this will really give some light on this. The word long in the Greek translates describing having a strong desire or an overpowering impulse that is not easily satisfied.
These angels have a strong desire, overpowering impulse that is not easily satisfied and desiring to look at this. That term indicates that angels' interest in salvation is not just merely for curiosity.
But it's a strong passion with them.
That's the word long.
What about the word look?
You'll love this.
The word look literally in the Greek here means to stretch one's head forward or down to bend. It's like they look down and they desire so much to look down from God's heaven and God's throne and say, oh God, look at how you're saving these ruined sinners.
In other words, the angels of God, as it were, want to get down close, down deeply into the matters related to salvation. We're talking about angels here that know nothing of sin. I'm talking about the fallen angels.
MacArthur says this in his commentary, quote, they have a holy curiosity to understand the kind of grace they would never experience. The holy angels do not need to be saved and fallen angels cannot be saved.
But the holy ones, he says, seek to understand salvation so that they might glorify God more fully, which is their primary reason for existence. End quote. Well said. So the angels of heaven are certainly the great experts of the value of this great salvation given to ruined sinners like you and me.
They gaze at the wonder of it and they desire to look into it. And it's not that the angels of God have been their messengers. And you know, it's not that these angels of God have not been involved in God's plan of salvation.
We know they were involved in God's plan of salvation if you read the scriptures. Here's a few things I've noticed as I was studying this. The angels of God announced Christ's birth. They ministered to Jesus while He was here on this earth in the flesh.
In His times of testing on earth, they stood by the grave when He rose from the dead. They attended His ascension in heaven. And now they serve Him ministering to all believers. And God has made His angels witnesses to what occurs in the body of Jesus Christ in the church.
And also they rejoice and they praise God in heaven when a sinner is saved. They were watching the apostle Paul, the scripture says, as other apostles as God continues to put His saving grace on display before the angels.
And the scripture says that the manifold wisdom of God might be made known through the church, rulers, and authorities in the heavenly places. Well, let me conclude. Stop and think back a little bit now to my introduction.
Antiques Roadshow. Think of how it must have felt after having a qualified expert, by the way, come alongside and tell them the remarkable value of a possession that they had. Think of how much more dearly it would mean in value that what treasure they had when the expert said, this is worth a lot.
But think much more care they would show towards it knowing so much more of the great value that they had before. Now that's something to think about, isn't it? Beloved, this is exactly what the apostle Peter has just given us as an assessment of the great value of our salvation by the experts.
The salvation of the Old Testament prophets.
Studied it.
They inquired in it. They searched diligently. The salvation that was inspired by the Holy Spirit. The salvation that the apostles preached and the salvation that the holy angels longed to look into. Oh, how great the salvation of God is.
Let me ask some personal questions. Paul Washer said it like this, and I love Paul Washer, and as you well know, I quoted a strong verse, a quote by him last Lord's Day. But I really think a lot of Paul Washer.
He's a great evangelist. He said this, the question is not, do you want heaven? Do you want to go to heaven? Rather the question is, do you want God? That's the question. And by the way, that's the question we should ask people when we go in the highways and the byways.
It's not, do you want to go to heaven?
Do you want God?
That's the question. Jonathan Edwards says, how can you expect to dwell with God forever if you so neglect and forsake Him here?
Wow.
Edwards also said this, they who truly come to God for mercy come to God as beggars and not creditors. Very to the point. Two questions, I'm going to leave you an application here. Number one, what do we need to be saved from?
And two, what do we need to be saved for? What do we need to be saved from and what do we need to be saved for? The Word of God tells us these answers. The first one, let me answer first of all from Matthew chapter 1 verse 21 that answers the first question.
What do we need to be saved from? Well, the Scripture says, and she, speaking of the Virgin Mary, will bring forth a Son and you shall call His name Jesus. That means Jehovah saves. For He will, or shall, save His people from their sins.
That's what He saves us from. From our sins. Romans 5, 18 and 19. Therefore, as though through one man's offense, judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation. Cannot escape the human race. Even though through one man's righteous act, the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
For as by one man's disobedience, speaking of Adam, many were made sinners. But also by one man's obedience, many will be made righteous. 1 Peter 2, 24. He, speaking of Jesus Christ Himself, bore our sins in His body on the tree and on the cross that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
That's the Gospel, beloved. For by His wounds, He says, you were healed. And it doesn't mean physical healing, it means spiritual healing. Christ bore our sins because we need to be saved from our sins.
They are like a terminal disease that will kill us forever. It's like a cancer that will damn us forever. That's the way sin is. It's like leprosy that will eat away with you, eat you away spiritually, and take you to damnation and hell and eternal judgment.
But God desires to save to the uttermost. Only the wounds of Jesus Christ can heal that disease. Only the blood of Jesus Christ and the Gospel is the remedy. This is our message. This is the Gospel. 1 Peter 3, 18 says, Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, to reconcile us to God.
Notice, don't you love that? The just for the unjust. He came to call sinners to repentance. Not the righteous. Who is it that needs a physician?
Is it those who are well?
No.
It's those who are sick, Jesus said. He came to save sick sinners. Christ died for our sins because we need to be saved from our sins. That's pretty plain, isn't it? 1 Peter 4, 17. It is time for judgment to begin with the household of God.
This is strong. This is Peter now. And if it begins with us first, what shall the end be for those who do not obey the Gospel of God? That's a probing question, isn't it? We also need to be saved from God's judgment.
Not only do we need to be saved from our sins, we need to be saved from the judgment to come. Flee from the wrath to come, John said. And then, by the way, John the Baptist, and when Christ came, he said, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He was basically pointing them, He's the Savior.
He's the Messiah.
There's not going to be any salvation in no one else.
Only He can save you.
Sin is not just a terminal disease that needs healing. It is also a terminal guilt that deserves judgment. You see, the Gospel is good news. It's glad tidings. It's about salvation. And God desires to save sinners.
Isn't that great?
It's good news.
The bad news, they've got to understand the bad news before they can appreciate the good news. The bad news is you're a sinner, and judgment's on you, condemnation's on you, and there's a perfect standard that you're going to stand before God one day.
And every one of us falls short of that perfect standard. And there demands a verdict. We all stand guilty. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But there's someone, there's someone that has come and fulfilled the law of God.
There's someone that lived and died for you. That took your place of judgment.
That's the Gospel.
And His name is Jesus Christ. The Gospel is good news that Christ bore the judgment, the sins of all who trust in Him alone and repent. I can't say it no more clearly than that. This is exactly why at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, in Mark chapter 1 verse 15, and He, speaking of Jesus, said this.
This is the first thing He started preaching. The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Why is the kingdom of God at hand? Because the King.
This is the King that was speaking.
What did He say?
Repent and believe in the Gospel. We need to be saved from sin. We need to be saved from judgment. And only the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the remedy that can save us from sin and judgment, beloved. Next question is this.
What do we need to be saved for? That's a good question, isn't it? What do we need to be saved for? Well, beloved, are we in danger of losing anything precious?
Anything valuable?
Is there a future life and joy that we are about to forfeit and throw away and need to be saved for? Listen to 1 Peter 2 .25. And let the Word of God, chapter and verse, answer that. Peter says, You were continually straying like sheep.
The Apostle says this. You, you were continually straying. All we like sheep have gone astray, the prophet says. Not a one of us can say we don't stray. He says, you were continually straying.
Continually.
But now you have returned to the shepherd, the guardian of your souls. Isn't that great? Salvation means being brought home and reconciled to God by a loving shepherd who will lead us into green pastures as Brother Keith spoke about this morning.
Can I quote a little bit from Psalm 23, 2 and 3? He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His namesake.
Did you notice that? He makes me. He leads me. He restores me. He leads me. And at the first of it He says, the Lord is my shepherd.
Did you get that?
He's my personal shepherd. Can I ask you this morning, is Jesus Christ who is the good shepherd, who laid down His life for the sheep, is He your personal shepherd to this morning? Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?
Do you love Him? 1 Peter 5, 4, when this chief shepherd appears, and He's talking about when He comes back a second time in His second coming. You will receive an unfading crown of glory. This is the unfading inheritance of verse 4.
So we were saved for our inheritance of glory. No more shame, but honor. No more disgrace or humiliation, but the revelation of the glory of the children of God. Last, 1 Peter 5, 10 says, that God has called us to this, that the God of all grace has called you to His eternal glory in Christ.
This is the great inheritance that we have in Christ. We are saved to share in the glory of Christ. This is what He saves us for.
For His glory.
For His namesake. And the result of this, of course, is that everlasting eternal joy in heaven.
Isn't it glorious?
1 Peter 4, 13, to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. And beloved, can I say this? What we are saved for is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
He saves you for that. To know Him. Didn't Jesus say it? He prayed it, actually. He says, and this is eternal life, that they may know you,.
The only true God,.
And Jesus Christ whom you have sent. Do you know Him today? Do you love Him? Do you cherish that unspeakable gift? It's only in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Well, let's pray.
Father, we thank You for this time of study and this wonderful, wonderful chapter. Lord, of all these wonders and the glories of salvation that is given to our souls in Jesus Christ, in which the prophets long searched into, carefully prophesied of the grace, that unmerited favor that's only in You, Lord.
They searched it out. Even the time frame. The Spirit of Christ who is in them. All of the glories that was revealed, all in Jesus, and everything that they prophesied, all in the Word of God is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Lord, we thank You and we praise You for this great salvation. Lord, we thank You today that we cannot save ourselves. This is not an act that we can do within ourselves. It's only an act that we can be born from above by the Holy Spirit.
It is all an act of You. It's not saying a prayer. It's not doing this or a performance. It's not being religious. It's not going to church. It is being born from above and solely even putting our faith in You is an act of God.
Repenting is Your granting us that. So Father, I pray that if there's anyone here today that does not know You, I pray, Lord,.
Through Your holy Word,.
Give life to them. Grant them the repentance that they need to turn from their sin and to love and serve You forever and ever. We ask this for Your glory in Your name, Jesus Christ, the Lord. Amen and amen.