1 Peter 1:10-12
We are looking at this letter that Peter has written to
The Rejected Selected.
These people had literally been chosen by God unto salvation,
And because they had accepted this calling,
They had been scattered throughout Asia.
This letter is to encourage them in the midst of their sufferings.
To continue obeying and to continuing enduring.
He reminded them in verse 2 that they were chosen,
“to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood”
Even though it was difficult, they still needed to be obedient.
Hardship is not a reason to not obey.
He reminded them they needed to endure
Because these various trials were tests to reveal their faith.
1 Peter 1:6-7 “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”
If they would continue in obedience, and continue in endurance,
Peter made this promise.
Vs. 9, “obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”
In short, Peter was promising that if you endure
You will have hardship now, but it will be worth it later.
There is a salvation available for those who endure.
Part of our salvation is still future.
Our salvation began when Jesus died on the cross,
It became personal when we gave our lives to Him,
It will be complete when He returns.
Peter is asking his readers to persevere,
And hold on until your salvation becomes complete.
His plea is very similar to that of Jesus.
Matthew 10:22 “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.”
It isn’t that anyone can save themselves by endurance,
But rather endurance is a characteristic of the saved.
Perseverance doesn’t make you a saint,
But true saints will persevere.
Peter wants these suffering saints to look past the trial
And to hold on to the hope of salvation.
But Peter is no dummy.
Sometimes it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Peter is asking them to place their hope in something that they can’t see.
Remember what he said in verse 8?
“and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him,”
These were a people who hadn’t been able to see the hand of God,
And who didn’t even see it now.
Peter is asking them to look past their trials,
And to place their hope in something they can’t see.
You have to understand the downside to Peter’s request.
Vs. 3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,”
He wants them to trust in this “living hope”.
He wants them to trust that they have an “inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.”
BUT WHAT IF PETER IS WRONG?
What if they determine to stick it out and Peter turns out to be mistaken?
What if this inheritance doesn’t really exist?
What Peter’s hope is a fool’s hope?
Paul put it like this.
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 “Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.”
If you are basing all your actions in this life
On a salvation that does not exist,
Then you “are of all men most to be pitied.”
I mean we know the promises of this salvation.
1 Peter 2:6 “For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
Matthew 10:21-22 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.”
John 14:1-3 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”
BUT WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE THEM?
That is why Peter pen’s this section in his letter.
This salvation is not just something he dreamed up.
This salvation is not just a smokescreen trying to get them to continue uselessly.
He wants them to see that this salvation is the plan of God.
That is why he begins verse 10 with the statement, “As to this salvation”
The sole purpose of these three verses
Is to solidify in your mind where this salvation came from.
If you are going to put your life on the line,
Hoping for something better after you die,
Then you need to know where this hope originates.
And there are 3 aspects of this salvation that Peter wants you to see,
To help you see that this salvation is truly from God.
#1 IT WAS INDICATED TO THE PROPHETS
1 Peter 1:10-11
The first thing I want you to understand is this.
The Spirit of Christ revealed to the prophets
That the Christ would suffer and then be glorified.
We know this salvation is true
Based upon the many prophecies of the Old Testament
TURN TO:
Psalm 2
(Verses 1-3) – Cross
(Verses 4-6) – Graveside
(Verses 7-8) – Second Coming
Psalm 22
(Verses 11-18) – Suffering
(Verses 25-31) – Glory
Psalm 118
(Verses 5-7) – Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36)
(Verses 8-9) – Gabbatha (John 19:13)
(Verses 10-14) – Golgotha (John 19:17)
(Verses 15-18) – Graveside
(Verses 19-20) – Glory
Isaiah 42
(Verses 1-4) – Victory
Isaiah 50
(Verses 4-7) – Suffering
Isaiah 52
(Verses 13-15) – Suffering
Isaiah 53
(Verses 1-3) – Rejection
(Verses 4-6) – Retribution
(Verses 7-9) – Redemption
(Verses 10-12) – Reward
Isaiah 61
(Verses 1-3) – Glory
There is no doubt that the Spirit
Was “predicting the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.”
And you can see as these prophets were writing these things down,
They must have been curious.
Peter says the prophets “made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know the person or time…”
The point is, the prophets believed is was true.
That is why they dug so hard to try to find out when it would happen.
Luke 2:25-26 “And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”
Isaiah 6:11 “Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered, “Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, Houses are without people And the land is utterly desolate,”
Matthew 13:16-17 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. “For truly 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.”
John 8:56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
This salvation you hope for puts you in good company.
You aren’t the first to lay down your life in hope for it.
This salvation was indicated by the Spirit
This salvation was investigated by the prophets
This salvation is not some new concept.
#2 IT WAS INTERPRETED TO THE APOSTLES
1 Peter 1:12a
Now Peter says here that the prophets figured out
That they weren’t writing those prophecies for their own sake.
They learned that they were writing those prophecies for your sake.
What use was Isaiah 53 to them?
The purpose of their writing those predictive prophecies was for you.
So when it came to pass, you would know it was God’s plan.
But even at that, God didn’t just leave it for you to figure out.
He sent His Spirit once again to interpret it to men
Who would point out these truths to you.
These men were called apostles.
Luke 24:45 “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,”
John 20:21-23 “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”
These were the men who had the authority of the Holy Spirit
To declare Scripture to you.
And they did this in two main ways.
One way they did this was to look at the life of Jesus and then show you how He fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.
For example:
Matthew 8:14-17 “When Jesus came into Peter’s home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him. When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.” (Isaiah 53)
Matthew 12:14-21 “But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all, and warned them not to tell who He was. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM IHAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL is WELL-PLEASED; I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES. “HE WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT; NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS. “A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. “AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE.” (Isaiah 42)
Matthew 21:1-5 “When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. “If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, ‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.'” (Zechariah 9:9)
After their minds were opened to understand the Scriptures,
They looked at Jesus and saw that He was the One
The Old Testament prophets had searched for.
The other way they revealed truth to us,
Was by taking the Old Testament Scriptures and preaching them to show us that they referred to Jesus.
TURN TO:
Acts 2:22-36 (Psalm 16)
Acts 8:26-35 (Isaiah 53)
Of course the that is all the writer of Hebrews does.
Preaching Jesus from 28 O.T. passages and 12 different books.
The point here to be made is simple.
God was again pointing out His truth.
If His Spirit hadn’t opened the mind of the apostles,
If He hadn’t revealed these truths to them,
They might never have seen them.
This is not some salvation hope
Based upon something Peter had dreamed up.
God has been proclaiming this hope for centuries.
Indicated by the Spirit
Investigated by the Prophets
Interpreted by the Spirit
Identified by the Apostles
#3 IT IS ENJOYED THE ANGELS
1 Peter 1:12b
As Jerry Vines put it.
The Prophets set the stage
The Apostles script the story
The Angels see the show
The point is this.
Aside from the Spirit of God revealing to all,
They are your link from past to present.
They plaid a part in the prophets receiving the message,
And they plaid a part in Jesus fulfilling the message.
We see them when many of the prophets received their visions
(Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel)
We also see them throughout the fulfillment of the prophecies.
Announced the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:8-14)
Ministered after the temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:11)
Ministered to Jesus in the garden (Luke 22:42-43)
Their eyes were fixed upon the cross (Matthew 26:51-53)
They were at the tomb of Jesus (Matthew 28:1-7)
They were at the ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:8-11)
And not only that,
But the angels will play an active role in the glorification of Jesus
As they help reign out judgment upon the earth.
The angels love to watch the story of salvation unfold.
Revelation 5:8-14 “When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.”
The point is, the continued presence of these servants of God
Reveal that God’s hand is all over this salvation
The point to Peter’s text is simple.
The Christian life is hard,
The only reason you have for continued obedience and endurance
Is the hope that you have an inheritance awaiting you.
He wants you to know without a doubt this salvation is legitimate.
It is legitimate because it was revealed long ago to the prophets.
It is legitimate because it was fulfilled in Jesus.
It is legitimate because the servants of God are devoted to it.
So if you are one of the Rejected Selected.
DON’T STOP
This salvation is the real deal.
And it has always been the real deal.
And I don’t care how bad the Christian life gets.
I don’t care how much obedience costs you.
I don’t care how long you have to suffer for Jesus.
IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL!
2 Timothy 1:8-12 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
