You are blessed to live NOW

Sermon Text

1 Peter 1:10-12

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

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

• Old Testament prophets carefully searched the revelation given through the Spirit of Christ, believing God's promises even when they could not see how or when the Messiah's sufferings and glory would unfold.
• Promises to Abraham and David, the Passover, the tabernacle, the Psalms, and the prophets form one divinely planned testimony to Jesus rather than disconnected religious stories.
• The prophets ministered for later believers, announcing beforehand a Christ who would suffer for sin, rise, reign on David's throne, and bless the nations.
• Angels themselves longed to look into this salvation and rejoiced when Christ's birth revealed the fulfillment of God's ancient plan.
• Christians living after Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension possess privileges the prophets desired: the gospel has been plainly preached by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.
• This privilege calls for faith, wonder, praise, and longing for Christ's return rather than boredom, discontent with one's place in history, or indifference to salvation.

• Do I read the Old Testament as one unfolding testimony to Christ, or merely as a collection of isolated stories?
• How do Abraham, the Passover, David's throne, and Isaiah's suffering servant prepare me to understand Jesus?
• Am I willing to trust God's promises when I cannot yet see how or when he will fulfill them?
• Do I value the gospel clarity I have received as much as the prophets and angels longed to understand it?
• Does God's faithfulness across centuries strengthen my confidence in Christ's promised return?
• Is the salvation accomplished by Jesus personally mine through faith, or only a familiar story?
• What praise should rise from seeing God's eternal purpose fulfilled in the Lamb who was slain and now reigns?

Spirit of Christ

The Holy Spirit who spoke through the prophets and testified beforehand about the Messiah's suffering and subsequent glory.

Progressive revelation

God's unfolding disclosure of one saving plan across history, with earlier promises and patterns becoming clearer in Jesus Christ.

Messiah

The Anointed One promised as prophet, suffering servant, Davidic king, Savior, and Lord; the Greek title is Christ.

Prophetic ministry

The prophets' Spirit-guided service of proclaiming God's Word for their own generation and for those who would later hear the fulfilled gospel.

Sufferings and glories of Christ

The Messiah's humiliation, rejection, atoning death, resurrection, ascension, enthronement, and everlasting reign.

Gospel privilege

The blessing of living after Christ's saving work has been openly announced and explained through apostolic preaching.