This Salvation

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. I Peter 1:10-12

“This salvation” was obtained as the outcome of our faith in the One whom we have not seen, but we love. We do not now see Him, but we believe in Him (verses 8-9).

The Old Testament prophets knew about the Messiah. They prophesied about His birth, His suffering and his glory, but did not know these things would be fulfilled in two separate advents. This was not because they didn’t want to know, for they diligently searched and inquired about Him. The Holy Spirit revealed many details about His person and His work of grace to both Jews and Gentiles; about His glorious eternal reign; but did not reveal to them the time frame of these events. They knew Him through the prophecies and believed. We know Him from history and believe, because we have the testimonies of the disciples and apostles to compare with the testimonies of the OT prophets. They anticipated His birth and life and His ascent to rulership. We have historical evidence of His birth and life and are anticipating His universal rulership. There are still prophecies to be fulfilled, regarding the coming revelation of the glorified Christ and His people. We know that day is coming, but like those OT prophets, we don’t know when. They knew they were prophesying for future generations, but had no clue when or to whom these prophesies would apply.

The OT prophets had special, temporary enablement from the Holy Spirit Who revealed Truth to them before the crucifixion of the Messiah. We who live after His death, burial and resurrection and who believe in Him are given the Holy Spirit to permanently indwell us, revealing Jesus to us on a moment-by-moment basis. We know Him because we are IN HIM and He is in us. Angels would love to have this intimate knowledge of Christ and His Church. Whatever their relationship with God involves, they are not Royal Family of God. 

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,  but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” I Peter 1:13-16

“Therefore,” in view of these profound truths which have been passed down through the generations of God’s people, let’s be ready for what comes next. Be clear in your thinking. Confidently anticipate (“set your hope on”) the grace that will be revealed in Jesus Christ. We are children of God. Our obedience to God means we will not continue in the old culture of a depraved and ignorant pagan society. Jesus Christ is holy—set apart for rulership of God’s kingdom. We who identify with Him also must set ourselves apart from the pagan lifestyle. He reminds us that we shall be holy because we belong to Him, Who IS holy. Set apart unto Him. Totally identified with Him. There should never be a moment’s doubt about whose we are and what we represent. We bear His likeness and superscription and are rendered unto Him (Matthew 22:21). He is our standard of holiness. He is absolute righteousness. God cannot think evil. God cannot do evil. God cannot tolerate evil.

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,  knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,  but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. I Peter 1:27-20

Our Father is perfect Justice, and the fair judge of all our thoughts and actions. That is our motivation to be reverent throughout our earthly exile (we are citizens of heaven). He ransomed us out of the degeneracy that was practiced by our pagan ancestors. He ransomed us, not with money, but with the  precious blood of Christ. As Jesus hung on the cross, bearing our sins, He cried out in agony because of His separation from the Father and the Holy Spirit. That is what the term “ blood of Christ” represents. This was His destiny from eternity past, but was not physically fulfilled until the end of the age of Israel. The atonement of that act applied to everyone in all ages. The OT believers looked forward to the atonement and were saved. We Church age believers look back to the atonement and are saved.

This is the work of God. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all personally involved in our salvation. God doesn’t live in time, so the atonement was an accomplished fact even before He created the universe. God the Son, however, to make the atonement, had to become a perfect human, live a perfectly sinless life and be sacrificed for our salvation as a perfect lamb without spot or blemish. To do that, he had to enter time as a physical being who could die.

God raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory.

Now our faith (what we know) and hope (what we anticipate) are in God.