As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven–things into which angels long to look. – 1 Peter 1:10-12 (NASB)
The passage I’ve quoted above drew me to the core of the gospel: the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And because Peter mentions preaching and the Spirit, I also thought about the apostles and others who first spread the news.
So far, so good. I’m on solid ground!
I then interpreted the passage to provide a key–the key–to the Bible. I read these verses as though Peter was saying that the gospel is what the Scriptures are all about.
And that’s when I veered off course.
I’ve long held that patience is one of the crucial virtues we need if we’re to understand the Word of God. One of the ways patience helps us is by slowing us down so we don’t skip over anything.
I must have been antsy, because I blew by the opening phrase. According to those words, 1 Peter 2:10-12 focuses on salvation. Yes, the apostle does mention the writings of the Old Testament prophets. But Peter talks about these books as they relate to the salvation Jesus achieved for us.
His main point is that the Spirit who predicted the work of Christ also promoted the message about Him. God was in control of the plan of salvation all along! From initial promises, to actual fulfillment, to getting the word out, the Lord was always in charge.
And the Holy Spirit clarifies that God’s aim was to save us through His Son Jesus. If you’ve given your life to Jesus–well, mission accomplished!
Does this mean the gospel isn’t the heart of the Bible? It could be, but this passage doesn’t tell us. In my haste, I read something into these verses that wasn’t there. I’m glad I caught it by God’s grace. The Lord corrects His children so we can grow in thinking and knowing truth like He does. As long as we follow Jesus, His Spirit will discipline us. This is nothing we should fear; it’s what discipleship is all about.
Indeed, I’d worry if God never corrected me! That would mean He didn’t care about me. But the Lord loves us; it’s why He sent Jesus to secure our salvation. And if we walk with Jesus, He will teach us His thoughts through His Word. We won’t grasp everything the first time. But since the Lord is patient with us, we can be patient with ourselves and with one another.
That’s what the Bible teaches.
Right?
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