Salvation of Grace: Like fine art in the eyes of an expert docent, salvation of grace is most prized and sought after by those who understand it. The prophets of old so cherished the hope God has promised to the fallen world, they searched out its details to gain just a little more insight into the gospel of Christ. And the Holy Spirit gave them revelation about His atoning sacrifice (“sufferings”) and exaltation (“glories to follow”).[1] This is what the almighty God planned from eternity past[2] and carefully wrought in history. Then, when those prophecies were fulfilled, the same Holy Spirit empowered preachers to proclaim Christ so that those chosen for this blessing may receive it. Salvation of grace sparkles before our eyes, but it is matte for the spiritually dim.

Beneficiaries: We are the beneficiaries of this gospel.[3] The prophets of old labored to accumulate for us a payoff of earthshattering proportions. The grace, which they pined after and wrote about, is a living reality for us! We now stand in that grace through faith in Christ: “through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand” (Rom. 5:2). We live in the blessing of that grace[4] which justifies and sanctifies us[5] and will one day glorify us (1:13). Moreover, our redeemed lives cue the angels to worship God as they behold in us God’s truth and wisdom.[6]

[1] In 1 Peter, “the glories to follow” not only speaks of the Messiah’s exaltation but the glory which He shares with the redeemed (1:7; 4:14; 5:1, 4, 10; cf. also Rom. 2:9-10; 8:17; 2 Cor. 4:17; Phil. 3:21).

[2] God’s plan of redemption and election was forged in eternity past (cf. 1:1-2. 1:19-20; Eph. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:9).

[3] Peter underscores this in 1:10 (“the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you”), and 1:12 (“they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things”).

[4] Cf. Acts 15:11; 20:24; Rom. 3:24; 5:2; Eph. 2:5, 7-8; 2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 3:7; Heb. 2:9.

[5] Cf. Rom. 6:14; 1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Cor. 6:1; Eph. 2:4-5, 10; Tit. 2:11-12.

[6] Cf. Rev. 7:9-12 (for angelic cue to worship); 1:12 (for gospel truth); Eph. 3:10 (for God’s wisdom).