Title: Our Salvation: Full of wonder

Text: I Peter 1:10-12 and more

FCF: We often struggle taking for granted how privileged we are as new covenant believers.

Prop: Because men and angels have sought what God has revealed about His redemption, we must marvel at our salvation.

Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to I Peter chapter 1.

Last week we had an amazing service. I can honestly say it was one of the highest highs of ministry that I have had in 12 years of being a pastor. Just an incredible time of praising the Lord for and rejoicing in His work of redemption for us.

And this was exactly what Peter was desiring for his audience to do. To praise the Lord and rejoice in His saving work.

Today, Peter continues to talk about their salvation. However, rather than focusing on praising God or rejoicing – he has a different desire for his audience. He wants them to marvel at the mysterious plan of God and then to realize that they have been privileged to be part of the final steps of God’s salvific work for His people. That revealed to them and received from God is a salvation that men and angels have longed to understand since God spoke it to Adam and Eve in the garden. Now it has been revealed in these later times to us who are new covenant inheritors!

Today we will be left with wonder at the mysterious plan of God and how it has been revealed to us.

Transition:

Like last week, this doesn’t promise to be an overly long sermon – but it presents a unique enough concept about our salvation that I feel is important for us to spend a Sunday considering. Let’s look together.

I.) The prophets of old searched for this salvation as they spoke of grace, so we must marvel at our salvation. (10)

a. [Slide 2] 10 – Concerning this salvation,

i. Which salvation is Peter talking about here?

ii. Well, we could go back to the most recent verse in which Peter spoke of the goal of our faith being the salvation of our souls.

iii. But I believe Peter is speaking in reference to the whole concept of salvation that he has been unpacking since the beginning of the book.

iv. That God did elect us according to His own predetermination through the consecration of the Spirit to obey the gospel and be sprinkled clean by the blood of Christ.

v. A salvation that is unfading and sure because of the mercy of God given in new birth and held secure by the resurrection of Christ.

vi. A salvation secured for us by the power of God through His gift of a Divinely given divinely sustained faith which we exercise and cling to.

vii. A faith that continues even now because of the quality of this faith through which God is powerfully guarding us.

viii. This is the salvation which Peter will continue to speak of.

b. [Slide 3] The prophets

i. Who are “the prophets?”

ii. When New Testament writers say the prophets they mean the oracles of the Old Testament given to Israel.

iii. Every book of the bible after Song of Solomon would be considered along with certain prophecies given throughout the Pentateuch, historical, and wisdom books that precede them.

iv. But what did the prophets do, concerning this salvation? Well before we answer that, Peter wishes to relay something about these prophets.

c. [Slide 4] Who predicted the grace that would come to you

i. These prophets predicted long ago, through the revelation of God, that God would give grace in abundant ways.

ii. Ways that had not, up to that point, been given.

iii. It is important for us to not misunderstand what Peter says.

iv. He is not describing a time when God operated under a different style of redemption. He is not describing a time when salvation was not by grace.

v. He is talking about a special outpouring of grace, different from their time. What could that be?

vi. Under the Old Covenant, even though people were saved by grace, through faith, not of works. Even though salvation was still by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone – It was not a salvation in which the Spirit indwelled God’s people. It was not a salvation in which the mystery of the Messiah was fully known or understood. And it was not a salvation with the truth of a past atonement but rather the promise of a future atonement.

vii. So, if Peter is not referencing what would be a new way of getting saved, what is the grace that would come to the present audience of Peter and by extension, to us?

viii. [Slide 5] Deuteronomy – 30:1-10

1. Moses is known as the first prophet of God for Israel.

2. After giving the whole law, Moses tells the people that they will not obey it. They will experience the curses of the law.

3. But that there will come a time when, if they turn back to God, He will bring them back from exile and that they will be cleansed in their hearts. That they will obey all the commandments of the Lord.

4. That they will be blessed immeasurably.

5. If they obey the whole law the Lord will rejoice over them – but they must turn to Him with their whole mind and being.

6. The problem, as Moses prophesies this, is a statement of seeming contradiction. If their hearts must be cleansed, how can they turn to God with their whole mind and being? How can you come to God with something that is, by definition, unworthy of coming to Him?

7. Here we see the problem that the prophets have. They only see pieces of the plan of God.

8. But let’s fast forward to Ezekiel and see if he clears up the confusion.

ix. [Slide 6] Ezekiel 36:22-38 – now unfortunately there is just no possible way for this to fit on the screen, it is far too long, but let me read it to you. I have took the liberty of at least putting all the I Will statements of the Sovereign Lord on the screen.

1. God, the sovereign Lord says:

a. I will act to protect and magnify my great name which you have defiled among the nations.

b. I will magnify myself among you in their sight

c. I will bring you back to you land

d. I will sprinkle you with pure water and clean you from impurity

e. I will purify you from idols

f. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you

g. I will remove the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh

h. I will put MY Spirit in you

i. I will take the initiative and you will obey my statutes and carefully observe my regulations

j. I will be your God and you will be my people

k. I will save you from your uncleanness.

l. I will call for the grain and multiply it – without famine

m. I will multiply the fruit of good and you will loathe yourself on account of your sin and abominable deeds

n. UNDERSTAND – it is not for your sake that I am about to act.

o. The day after I cleanse you

i. I will populate your cities

ii. I will give you fertile farm land

iii. The nations that surround will know that I did it

p. I have spoken and I will do it

q. I will allow the house of Israel to ask me to do this for them.

r. I will multiply their people like sheep and they will know that I am God.

2. Grace is God’s power – what God does to help us do what He wants us to do

3. Ezekiel 36, describing the new covenant, is grace. New grace. Grace with an assured end.

x. [Slide 7] Jeremiah 31:29-34

1. Punishment and reward will no longer be according to blood but according to promise.

2. That promise is a new covenant. How will it be different?

3. The old one was abused and violated. God kept his side, but they failed their side.

4. The new covenant will not be one where the law is written on scrolls and obeyed by a measure of God’s power and covered over by the blood of sheep and goats when there is failure. Rather it will be an outpouring of the Spirit’s indwelling and a full and final atonement for all sin.

5. They will be God’s people and He will be their God, without exception and without uncertainty.

6. Full and final forgiveness of sin and Spiritual illumination to all.

7. This is more grace!

d. [Slide 8] Searched and investigated carefully

i. This phrase goes back to before we spoke of the prophet’s revelation of God’s coming grace.

ii. The prophets searched and investigated carefully. What? What did they search and investigate?

iii. Salvation!

iv. How would God bring about the promise of a new heart? What does it mean to be circumcised in heart? How would God put His Spirit in us? There will be a time when God forgives all our sin once and for all? There will be a time when we perpetually and perfectly keep His law? How?

v. These are the questions they searched and investigated.

vi. How is all of this possible?

vii. Peter’s audience knew the answer! Jesus Christ!

e. [Slide 9] Passage Truth: And so Peter highlights the wonder and mystery behind the salvation that his audience presently has. That this salvation, this work of grace, was looked into and investigated by the Old Testament prophets. They spoke of this great day when God’s plan would come about.

f. [Slide 10] Passage Application: And so for his audience they must marvel at the great mystery of the cross that has been revealed to them in these latter days.

g. [Slide 11] Broader Biblical Truth: As we go back and look at all the prophesies that have been revealed in the whole of scripture, we too much trust our Lord even when things seem murky and unclear. But we, like Peter’s audience, are privileged to know the mysteries of our faith and the reason behind the sufferings of Christ. And we still look toward His future glory, where we will reign with Him.

h. [Slide 12] Broader Biblical Application: And so we too must marvel in the great mystery or our redemption that has been revealed to us. We must marvel and trust our God that He will fulfill the remaining promises He has made to us, even if we don’t quite understand them all.

Transition:

[Slide 13 (blank)] So these prophets sought more information about this salvation and the grace coming from God. But they also sought more about the mechanism for that grace; the coming messiah and His sufferings and promised glory.

II.) The prophets of old diligently sought when the suffering Christ would come, so we must marvel at our salvation. (11)

a. [Slide 14] They probed into what person or time

i. The exact idea of what these prophets were probing for is difficult to interpret.

ii. The primary reason for this is that the Greek sentence is not overly clear.

iii. Ultimately, we know that they were trying to understand the tension of their revelations from God which portrayed the coming Christ as a suffering and even dying Christ, yet receiving glory also.

iv. But specifically, Peter says they probed into what person or time. But what does this mean?

v. Well, because the Christ was said to suffer and die, they had to understand him as a human or a person. And so, they looked around them for a human who could be this suffering servant.

vi. However, because He would also receive glory like the Most High God, they certainly knew that no man alive at their time would be worthy of such exhalation even if he did suffer and die.

vii. And so, when Peter says they probed into what person or time, he puts emphasis on when and how this would all come about. Time and circumstance seems to be the focus.

b. [Slide 15] The Spirit of Christ within them was indicating

i. What an interesting phrase.

ii. First, we need to deal with the identity of this person. Who is the Spirit of Christ? Then we can deal with the ramifications of that Spirit being “within them.”

iii. So first, who is the Spirit of Christ?

iv. This is a noun case that indicates possession, but what kind is the question.

v. Is this Jesus’ human spirit? Is this another Spirit that belongs to Christ? Is this a Spirit that ministers to Christ?

vi. [Slide 16] Fortunately for us, the apostle Paul uses this title in Romans chapter 8:9-11

vii. What do we see here? We see the ministry of Christ and the Holy Spirit are so woven together in the present aspect of our salvation that they are difficult to untangle from one another.

viii. The Spirit of Christ then, is another name for the Holy Spirit. In the sense that He is the Spirit that Christ sent to continue the application of His work.

ix. [Slide 17] So here is the tough question. If the Spirit of Christ is the Holy Spirit – how is He within these prophets before the new covenant?

x. We just read God’s revelation in Ezekiel and Jeremiah saying that He will put His Spirit in people. So how is it that these prophets already have the Spirit?

xi. At times we use the preposition “in” to speak of the Spirit of God inhabiting or indwelling. However, it does not always follow that this is a permeant indwelling or the redemptive work of the Spirit’s indwelling.

xii. I am sure that these prophets were, for a time, indwelt with the Spirit of Christ, but that is altogether different than the New Covenant’s permeant indwelling of the Sprit of God with God’s people. That is unique to the new Covenant which was ratified in the blood of Christ.

c. [Slide 18] When he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and His subsequent glory.

i. But what did the Spirit of Christ tell these prophets?

ii. He testified, He bore witness to the sufferings appointed for Christ and His subsequent glory.

iii. Where do we see these?

iv. [Slide 19] Isaiah 52:13-53:12 – Again I cannot possibly hope to fit all this on the screen. But please turn and follow along or listen closely.

1. Such is the case of the suffering Messiah.

2. He is wounded and cut off from the land of the living

3. But will somehow, after that, stand in power and victory.

v. And the prophets probed the question….

vi. HOW? How is this possible?

d. [Slide 20] Passage Truth: Not only did the Old Testament prophets look into the mystery of grace that God was promising through their prophesies – but they also probed deeply into the times and circumstances behind the coming of the Messiah and His death and glorification. They longed to understand how all this could be.

e. [Slide 21] Passage Application: But Peter’s audience knows. They have seen through the eyes of faith, how all this came to be. And so they ought to gaze in wonder and amazement at the great mysteries that they now understand about redemption.

f. [Slide 22] Broader Biblical Truth: Zooming out, we too understand this redemption is gradually revealed to God’s people. Not that His method of redeeming them changes – but rather it develops into the fullness of the plan He set in motion before time began. What a mystery!

g. [Slide 23] Broader Biblical Application: So we too marvel at its intricacy. We’d be lying if we said we understood it all. We simply marvel at His great work.

Transition:

[Slide 24 (blank)] But how does the prophet’s seeking of the mysteries of redemption connect to where Peter’s audience is, and to where we are?

III.) The prophets of old were shown the future wonder of the new covenant, so we must marvel at our salvation. (12)

a. [Slide 25] They were shown that they were serving not themselves but you

i. One thing they arrived at, clearly. Is that although the promise of the Messiah was for the people to whom they wrote.

ii. Although they saw clearly the immediate application of the work of Christ for the people of God when they wrote…

iii. They knew that the fullness of time had not yet arrived for the Messiah to come and suffer and be glorified. They knew that this was a future reality for God’s people.

iv. Although it was unclear, hard to see, they spoke with surety because the Lord had said it will be – and so it will be!

b. [Slide 26] In regard to the things now announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you

i. Now, all their prophesies have been unveiled.

ii. All the mystery has been removed

iii. The veil was torn and the truth is now plain.

iv. This Messiah, prophesied by these prophets, has shed His own blood as Son of God and Man, and has ratified the New Covenant, securing for Himself a people who are His and will never not be. Who will obey. Who are indwelled with the Spirit of God. That all who are His people will have His fullness dwelling in them richly.

v. Truly, this covenant, is a far superior covenant. One that gives the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of future glory by being united to the Son of God. Not simply forgiveness but eternal and abounding grace.

vi. This message was preached through these old Testament Prophet’s words by the apostles. And those to whom Peter is speaking, heard and received this divine gift of faith.

vii. Given…

c. [Slide 27] By the Holy Spirit sent from heaven

i. The same Spirit who testified about the coming Messiah’s sufferings and glory now reveals the fulness of the redemption of God that He has predetermined before time began.

ii. Furthermore, He has come down and dwells in us as the guarantee, the down payment, the eternal deposit which seals us until that day of full redemption.

iii. Such a marvelous mystery…

d. [Slide 28] Things angels long to catch a glimpse of.

i. Not even the spiritual beings that dwell in lofty places

ii. Not the spiritual beings that dwell on the earth

iii. Not the spiritual beings that dwell under the earth

iv. None knew what God was up to. Only the prophets had small pieces of this message. And they probed and searched for answers.

v. But now, the Spirit has revealed it all… to men. Not to angels, although they see it now.

vi. Even while Christ was here and walking the earth the demons had no idea what He was up to.

vii. Satan tempted Him, Demons tried to run and hide from Him, and ultimately Satan through Judas had Him killed… but all this… was in fulfillment of the Sovereign Lord’s divine decree which He spoke before the demons had fallen…

viii. My friends…

ix. WOW!

x. Do you feel small yet? This is our God! This is His plan for His people.

xi. And it isn’t done yet. There is still more to come!

e. [Slide 29] Passage Truth: Peter explains both future wonder of the prophets who looked at these things before they were revealed and also the privileged place of his audience who are now the recipients of the message the prophets only vaguely understood. Men and angels have longed to see what Peter’s audience now see clearly.

f. [Slide 30] Passage Application: So his audience must look with wonder and in amazement on this great salvation.

g. [Slide 31] Broader Biblical Truth: Zooming out from all of this we recognize the intricacy of this great redemptive plan made by God to rescue His children from sin and death. A plan that once again puts Him at the center of our salvation and magnifies His mighty works. Men and Angels have longed to look at and understand what we now as the church comprehend.

h. [Slide 32] Broader Biblical Application: So we must also marvel and wonder at the greatness of our God and His marvelous work in our salvation!

Conclusion:

[Slide 33(end)] Once again, we can apply this text immediately.

But rather than fanfare, rather than music, rather than shouts and claps and stories of how God has saved us…

Let’s simply sit in our seats. It may be a little awkward for us at first – but let’s just sit here quietly and think on and marvel at the plan of God to redeem us.

Let each of us pray, thanking him for allowing us to live in a time of privilege where we can know many of the intricacies of the new covenant.

Let us worship the Lord in quietness, praising Him for His work.

After giving you some time to marvel at the plan of God – I will close us in prayer.