1 Peter 1:8-12 The Salvation of Your Souls WC
McCarter
Introduction
Last
week we began a new series in 1 Peter. I told you that I chose this book
because the first chapter has the advent theme all through it. In the first
sermon we saw that Peter was writing to pilgrims, that is, an apostle was
writing to first century Christians. The opening lines were packed with
theological significance and were filled with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We
were reminded that we have been born again to a living hope because of the
resurrection of Christ and to an eternal inheritance. We ended last week’s text
considering the second advent of Jesus Christ, that is, when He returns in
glory, and we are given our inheritance and the “not yet” portion of our
salvation. Christ has come, He has accomplished, He has ascended, and He will
return again one day. On that day we will no longer be pilgrims!
READ Scripture- This is the Word of God
Love, Faith, and Joy (8-9)
Although
we have not seen Christ, we love Him. Those first century Christians in Asia
Minor had never physically seen the historical Jesus of Nazareth, yet they had
a profound love for Him. Just think, there were people so close to the Lord
Jesus in time but are in the same category as us – having never seen Him. Of
course, all Christians have great love for Christ, knowing that He first loved
us by laying down His life for us.
Although
we do not see Christ now, like the pilgrims who received this letter, we
continue to believe. Take a look with me at John 20:29. The basis of faith is
not seeing with the physical eye. We will one day see Christ in all His glory
with our own two eyes, but until then our faith is in the Gospel message which
we have heard and received about Him.
Although
we do not see Christ now, we continue to rejoice. Our joy is (1) inexpressible
and (2) full of glory.
The
point of verse eight is that Christians continue to love and believe in Christ
even in the midst of suffering, even though they have never seen Him. Folks
want to shake their fists at God when they go through trials, but if they would
only know that God put on flesh and came to suffer with us . . . in our behalf
. . . in the person of Jesus Christ, they would know that God is on their side.
The
end of our faith is the salvation of our souls. Why do Christians continue to
love and trust Christ even through hardships? We look forward to the end of our
faith. There will be a culmination, a fulfillment, and end. Do not be confused
by the word “souls” as if only an immaterial part of us is saved. The world
“soul” refers to the whole person. Remember Jesus saying that God can destroy
both body and soul in Hell. He saves both as well.
People
can be saved from many things: a fireman may save you from a burning building;
a policeman may save you from a robbery; an advisor may save you from financial
ruin; or a doctor may save you from a disease; but there is only One who can
save your soul.
Exhortation: Rejoice in the Lord Jesus
Christ, continue to love and trust Him. In due time you will receive the end of
your faith.
The Prophets Preached Grace (10-11)
We
have already seen that salvation is through faith in Christ. Now we see more
about this salvation: (1) the prophets inquired about it, (2) the prophets
searched carefully about it, and (3) the prophets prophesied it. Let’s discuss
each of these three parts.
The
Prophets Inquired about Salvation:
The
prophets surely studied the Scriptures which had been written by those before
them; they surely poured over the revelations that they had received; and
surely they called out to God in prayer. They were consumed by the story of
salvation for mankind.
The
Prophets Searched Carefully about Salvation:
What
or what manner of time was indicated. This is an emphatic statement. The
prophets wanted to know when the salvation plan was going to take place. They
wanted to know when the Messiah was coming on the scene. When was Christmas
going to take place?
The
Prophets Prophesied about Salvation:
How?
By the Spirit of Christ in them.
When?
Beforehand. (This has always been the plan of God).
What?
Grace. Sufferings of Christ. Glories to Follow.
At
the end of verse ten, we see the first time that Peter says the grace was going
to be for us (he says, “To you”). Christmas is our salvation.
Exhortation: Be assured that your salvation
is secure. The coming of Christ in the Christmas story was no accident. The
sufferings of Christ were not by chance.
The Apostles Preached Gospel (12)
Apparently
the prophets found answers to their inquiries and searches. Verse twelve gives
the information: the prophets learned that they were not speaking for their own
time, but for those who would hear the Gospel after Christ’s first advent. The
prophets were ministering to us. Those godly men of old prophesied of the grace
that would come to us, and it did come to us through the preaching of the
apostles and the early Christians. How? By the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.
What? The Gospel.
The
last line of verse twelve is intriguing. The statement is made with no
follow-up, no elaboration, not even another reference. Like the prophets of old
who inquired and searched about salvation, we are told that the angels desire
to look into these things as well. I heard one preacher say that the angels
“stretch their spiritual necks” to see what this is all about. The angels in
heaven have been a major part of the story of redemption, but they do not have
the perspective of men and women. We are those who are saved. The angels do not
fully understand why Christ had to come and die in this world, but you know.
You know why Christ had to come – to save sinners like you and me. Maybe one
day after the second coming of Christ – maybe one day we can sit down with some
of those angels and explain to them our perspective.