1 Peter 1 – Back to the Future

A Heavenly Inheritance - 1 Peter 1    

   
³ 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, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not seen^[a] you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

[Continuing with our study of 1 Peter, this letter is to the elect pilgrims living away from Jerusalem. Last week was on the hope of our eternal inheritance, the completion of our salvation. We continue this week with a close examination of our salvation.]

¹⁰ Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,

[Remember even decades after the ascension of Christ the scripture most accessible, especially to Jews in the church, is the Old Testament. Using the prophets of old to teach of messiah. What we learn here is how much the prophets longed to see the promise of messiah revealed. So much so that through the Holy Spirit and the scripture the searched and inquired to learn all they could about the messiah to come. But even though the redemption of mankind was not complete (before the passion of Christ) the prophets were still saved by faith in a promise not yet fulfilled.

Hebrews 11:40 says of these prophets "that they should not be made perfect apart from us" – meaning that our salvation and theirs was one in the same.

¹¹ 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.

[Even as the prophets were writing of the "grace that would come", they wanted to know when messiah would appear, hoping that they might God's promise, see with their own eyes. Yet even in the dim light of revelation, through the Spirit of Christ, they knew Christ must suffer, and that God's glory would follow.]

¹² To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us 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.

[Through the Spirit, It was revealed to the prophets that they were not writing prophecies that they themselves would see fulfilled. But their prophecy was for us. So beautiful is the scripture foretelling Jesus, that angels "desire" meaning they press forward to see the wonderful words of God's promised revealed. How blessed are we, that all this was done for our benefit. Redemption is God's eternal plan, and every step of its completion is exciting. Now you understand how the angels rejoice over each sinner who repents. (Luke 15:10)]

 

(See separate document on Predestination the TULIP outline)

Go to Romans 8:29-30

Luke 13

 ¹ There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. ² And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? ³ I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

[Simple logic question – If grace really is irresistible like some holy bolt of lightning why would it be necessary to repent?]

Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

[throughout Peter's preaching we see him call men to repent, to reconsider their unbelief, and surrender to the call of God.]