Sermon Text:

There is an old joke about a Sunday school teacher who tells her class she is going to describe something and asks them to raise their hand when they know what it is. She tells them it climbs trees, eats nuts, and has a big bushy tail. One little girl nervously raised her hand and said, I know the answer is supposed to be Jesus, but that sounds a lot like a squirrel to me.

If you ever spent time in church, you get the joke. Obviously, Jesus is not the specific answer to every question, but there is a good reason we focus on him as the ultimate answer. Colossians 1:16–17 says,

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  

Everything really does ultimately come back to Jesus. Today we continue our series, working our way verse by verse through 1 Peter. So far, Peter has encouraged believers to persevere in difficulties knowing that their salvation is secure and the rewards for faithfulness are worth it. In our passage this morning, he will share an astonishing truth about God’s faithfulness in keeping his promises to his people as encourages believers to remain faithful in the face of opposition.

The Main point of the message is 

The Gospel is the central message of the entire Bible.

As believers, we participate in the blessings of the gospel, and Peter reveals that every inspired word of God was sent with the purpose of ensuring God’s elect will be with him in eternal glory in heaven. Believer God was already working through Moses, Abraham, David, to bring us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Peter reminds us that the love, grace, and great mercy of God are tireless in bringing to pass all he has promised. Last week Peter highlighted the glory of salvation and now beginning in verse 10 he says,

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 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.  

The first thing to notice is that the Old Testament prophets proclaimed a message of grace. From the beginning to end the Bible is a story of grace. Some people speak as though the Old Testament is only law and that grace comes only in the New Testament but God’s grace is at the center of both covenants. If it were not a message of grace, the Bible would only be a couple pages long.

God created man and woman in his image and placed them in paradise. He tells them they can eat of any tree except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and if they eat of that tree they will die. The next thing that happens is that they eat from the forbidden tree. The next sentence should be, “they died, the end.” That’s it.

The thing that should amaze us the most about the Bible is that the story continues at all. Sometimes when I am watching a movie and the main character gets in a tough spot, I can’t help it. I look at the clock and I’m like, well I know they don’t die here because there’s like an hour left. (I know, I can’t help it). 

But when we get to Genesis 3:6 there are a lot of pages left and the story isn’t over because it is a story of grace. Instead of getting what they deserve, they are given grace. Their sin brings a curse, but even as God declares the curse, he also gives them a promise of redemption. Speaking to the serpent who tempted them in Genesis 3:15 he says,

15  I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.

This is where the story really begins. This is the promise that God will provide a savior. The savior will defeat the enemy though he will suffer in doing so. Like a seed, this promise will continue to expand throughout the Old Testament and it finally bears mature fruit in the New. The whole Bible is the story of a single promise of grace. It has many parts as it grows, but it is one promise. 

The key organizing principle of the Bible is not covenants, Israel, or dispensations, it is the promise and fulfillment of God’s grace to sinners through the death and resurrection of Jesus. From beginning to end the central message of the Bible is the Gospel.

The next thing we see is that the prophets knew the fullness of their predictions would come at a later time and were curious about it. It says,

“ …the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.”  

The phrase “searched and inquired carefully” is forceful. It means they ardently investigated. They studied hard. The ESV translated it with them inquiring about the person and time but the Greek here is difficult and it could also mean they were inquiring as to the timing and circumstances. I am persuaded the latter is a better translation. The NIV translates it this way,

“...the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.”  

The prophets who wrote the Old Testament books were amazed at the things God was revealing through them and wanted to understand it as well as they could. I pray that is an attitude that characterizes our church. Some things in the Bible are more clear than others and those things we do understand should so excite us that we are motivated to study hard. 

Peter tells us the Old Testament prophets knew at least 5 things:

1. They knew they were writing about the Messiah.
2. They knew Messiah would suffer.
3. They knew the Messiah would be glorified.
4. They knew the suffering would come first then the glory.
5. They knew they were ministering not only for their day, but for those who would receive the promises (The Church).

I hear some preachers talk as if the church replaced Israel in God’s plan. That is wrong, God’s plan has not changed. I hear others speak as though the church is just a parenthesis in God’s work. That is also wrong, there is one promise and one redeemed people. The church are those who have entered the kingdom promised to Israel not as replacements but those who have been grafted in. Nowhere in the Bible does God make a covenant with gentiles but the promise to Israel always included the salvation of other nations.

The promise came through Israel to all who are saved by grace through faith. Listen to how the apostle Paul describes his ministry in Acts 26:22–23 

22 … I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”  

By pointing us to what the prophets knew and wanted to know, Peter is highlighting the amazing truth that we who have received the gospel and the Spirit are experiencing the beginning of the fulfillment of the ancient promise. In Luke 10:23–24 Jesus says to the disciples,

23 … “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Those of us living in the gospel age are blessed because we have seen the promised salvation. We have observed God bringing to shame the powers of darkness by the sacrifice of his son. We are partakers in the beginning of the last age where God is drawing all things to a close in preparation for the final redemption and his everlasting kingdom. 

This should strengthen our resolve. The prophets searched these things and Peter says they knew they were writing to you. In verse 12 he says,

12 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…

Let that sink in for a moment. From the very beginning of history God was working to bring all who believe to himself. These original recipients of Peter’s letter were living in a world hostile to their faith and so are we. Peter comforts them and us that what we have received is something far greater than the world.

The word of God goes forth to ensure that all whom he foreknows are brought safely to him. The good news of the grace of God has been proclaimed through history, it is being proclaimed today, and will continue to be proclaimed until every single person who will ever come to Christ has come. We are blessed beyond understanding to be living at the dawn of the kingdom of God and the redemption of all that he has created. 

It is by the power of the word that the Holy Spirit works to bring all God’s children into the fold. Rejoice, for the word of the lord has come to you. Rejoice in the patient faithfulness of the prophets, apostles, and saints of old that they were faithful in suffering so the word would come to us. Peter says, now we must be patient and faithful. We must be willing to suffer for a short time, if necessary, so that this work can be completed. 2 Peter 3:9 says we endure knowing,

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.  

Some have asked how God can be good to allow this suffering world to continue waiting for him for so long. The answer is mercy. Each person must only endure 80 or 100 years, which is but a moment in the face of eternity. God is drawing all who will come and we will all go into a glory together that is far greater than the current trials. It’s like how a teacher on a field trip will have the first group of kids line up and wait for the bus while she gathers the others so they can all get home together.

Hebrews 11:39–40 says of the past heroes of the faith,

39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.  

Are we not willing to endure knowing it leads not only to our good, but that through our testimony God will bring others to heaven? God’s word is like a great net gathering people from every nation and tribe and language. Believers are called out of the world and into the kingdom of God. Jesus has come like a shepherd to gather his sheep from among the goats and he does this by his word. In John 10:27–28 Jesus says,

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Peter says this promise which the prophets studied has been revealed to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit. The word gospel means good news. We have received the good news proclaimed by the prophets and then in its fullness by those who preach the gospel. The Spirit of God works with the word to not only to proclaim the promises, but to bring them to pass.

The Word of God is life (Phil. 2:16), truth (Jn. 17:17), and power (1 Cor. 1:18). It is the Word that creates the people of God (1 Peter 1:23), sustains them (Deut. 8:3), and defends them (Eph. 6:17). The Word is precious to those who love God and it is his gift to them.

If you have received the word in faith then you have been born again. You are living the life promised by all those who have proclaimed God’s word faithfully even as it was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The word, including the Old Testament, is a light to shine in darkness so that we don’t lose our way. Listen how Paul explains it in Romans 15:4,

4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.  

Peter doesn’t share these deep theological insights to satisfy our curiosity. He shares them because to know that we are among those who have received the promises is to know God will never abandon us. How could we doubt the one who loved us so much that he sent his son to die for us and who has given us his word and his Spirit? 

There is not a single one of us who deserves any of this. Every one of us was born with an evil unbelieving heart. We lived to satisfy ourselves and in doing so we rejected God’s love and his authority over us. We have all sinned. We have all increased the suffering in the world by our sin. But because of his great mercy, God sent Jesus to save everyone who will ever put their faith in him.

He lived the perfect life we were supposed to live and then gave it to all who believe. He earned the rewards of righteousness and gave them to those who trust him. He takes our sin upon himself and pays its penalty on the cross. He took the punishment and died the death we deserve. He experienced hell on the cross, satisfying the just wrath of a holy God, so that we would not. He died and was buried, but three days later he rose from the dead, proving the work was finished. He promises salvation from sin and resurrection from the dead to all who repent and believe in him.

This is the central truth of the Bible, that God has sent his son to die in the place of sinners who will repent and believe. Repent and abandon your own works and seek righteousness instead through grace by faith. That is the message of the bible. 

I recall several years ago when I first started watching the Marvel movies. I was three or four movies in before I realized that although these separate movies each had their own characters and story, they were all working together to tell a much bigger story. That is the way the Bible works. Many separate events and people, each with their own story, working together to tell a much bigger story. It is the story of Jesus, he is ultimately the hero of every Bible story.

Of course, we don’t want to be like the Sunday school girl with the squirrel. But we don’t need to paste Jesus into the Old Testament because he is already there. He has always been there. Even when the person and work of Jesus Christ are usually not explicitly in view, the intent of those authors and their texts was pointing to the fulfillment of the promise of redemption that would come through Him. 

In John chapter 5, Jesus is rebuking the Pharisees who for all their time studying completely missed the point. In 5:39 and 46 he says,

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me …

46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.

To read the Law without a connection to Jesus is to misunderstand what Moses wrote. The problem with the Pharisees is not that they studied too much or were too concerned about doctrine. Their problem was that they did not understand the scriptures because they lacked faith. Friends of your reading of the scripture does not draw you deeper in a love for Christ, you are missing something.

The prophets were excited to know more about how God would keep his promise and it was revealed to them that they were writing for those who would participate in it. Their entire ministry was to prepare people for the coming of Jesus. Do you remember that after his resurrection when Jesus appeared to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, he called them fools because they did not understand what the Old Testament taught about him. Luke 24:25–27 says,

25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.  

The suffering of Jesus was confusing. A suffering savior didn’t make sense. People thought the Messiah was supposed to be the conquering king not a suffering servant. They were excited about the glories to come but didn’t pay attention to the sufferings that preceded it. This is a truth Peter understood very well.

In Matthew 16:21–23 we read this,

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

When Jesus begins to talk about the cross Peter rebukes the Lord and Jesus calls him a hindrance. It was Satan, not God, that would encourage Jesus to avoid the path of faithful suffering just as he does to us. Jesus says Peter was setting his mind on the things of man rather than God. When the time does come for Jesus to suffer, Peter abandons him. Out of fear for his own suffering Peter denies Jesus three times the night he is arrested.

After Jesus is raised, in one of the most beautiful places in the Bible, Jesus lovingly restores Peter. Peter had denied him three times and the Lord asked him three times if Peter loved him. This was hard for Peter, but it also meant he was able to do what he failed to do earlier. 

His training isn’t over though. Immediately after Peter is restored Jesus tells him that he will also be crucified. John 21:20–22 records what happened next,

20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

Peter hears that he will demonstrate his love for Christ through suffering and then he is like “what about John? Does he have to suffer also?” The Lord again lovingly redirects Peter. “You follow me.”

Peter knew what it was like to be weak in the face of suffering. When the time comes for him to encourage others so that they would remain strong, he points them to who they are in Christ and reminds them of the great privilege they have to be among the people of God. He reminds them of the faithfulness of God and that if they have received the word in faith, they have all they need. He says, “you follow Christ.”

Jesus shows us how to suffer well. He suffered faithfully because he trusted God for the glory to follow. Hebrews 2:10 says Jesus was made perfect through suffering. In Jesus we have an example of what it means to trust God in suffering. In Jesus we see again that God can be trusted. Suffering leads to glory for the faithful. The apostle Paul says it this way in Romans 8:18,

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  

Ultimately friends, it is the gospel and the trustworthiness of God’s word to which Peter points us to remain faithful and strong in suffering. He learned the hard way that the grace of God was worth it. He learned that to be like Christ in this world meant to take up our cross and follow him for the joy set before us in that we get to be with him.

Peter encourages us with the truth that we have received the promises and will receive even greater ones because God’s word will not fail. If you are a believer and are facing challenges because of your faith, remember that the promises of God are yours. Your ability to find peace and joy in these promises despite suffering is one of the evidences that the Holy Spirit is at work in you. The words of the apostle John in 1 John 4:6 apply equally to Peter,

6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.  

In the same way that the suffering of Jesus should not have been unexpected and was used by God to bring about eternal glories, so too the suffering of believers while in this age should not be unexpected. In the same way, God can be trusted to bring blessing and glory from it. The word is given to us to bring us and to cling us to Jesus. These are glorious gifts in themselves but listen to how Peter ends verse 12, 

12 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.  

Everytime I read that I get chills. I considered doing an entire sermon just on that phrase because it opens up the glorious reality of what God is really doing in his church. It shows the importance and value of every step of our journey with Christ. We are part of a cosmic plan that is unfolding and that will result in unending worship of God. We, who deserve none of it, have been placed right in the center of it all. Every believer is the object of God’s unfailing love and is being fashioned to the praise of the glory of his grace so that we will be with Jesus forever.

Rather than preach another 45 minutes on that, however, I will conclude by asking you to consider carefully the words of Hebrews 12:1–2,

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.