February 12, 2022
1 Peter 1:10-12 NIV
10 Concerning this salvation, 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. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
CONSIDER THIS
Concerning this salvation . . .
What exactly is this salvation?
As I have been saying, this salvation is not the thin signal black and white television kind of fire insurance policy ticket to heaven I grew up understanding from the church. THIS salvation is thick and robust; totalizing and comprehensive, and fullness beyond fullness in infinitely pixelated color.
This salvation is not just something that happened in the past or something that will happen in the future, but a miraculous mystery that is manifesting in the right here, right now lives of ordinary saints every single day.
This salvation doesn’t begin with original sin but with original glory. It doesn’t begin with the fall from grace but the glory of Eden. It doesn’t begin with the problem of sin but with the power of God. Before there was ever a sinner there was already a Savior.
This salvation is full court Creation to New Creation, “as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end amen.” It does not end in a disembodied heaven but with the Resurrection of the Dead in the new heavens and the new earth.
This salvation does not just save sinners from the penalty of sin, it delivers saints from the power of sin. This salvation is a comprehensive, full-throated, sin has lost its power and death has lost its sting transformation.
This salvation recognizes you are created in the image of Almighty God. Darkness corrupted and sin distorted this image beyond recognition, but grace restores it utterly and completely.
And lets be clear Sin is darkness, destruction, devastating and decimating. It cost God everything, which is why Jesus paid everything to reconcile to himself everything by making peace through his blood shed on the Cross. But let’s remember—sin did not get the first word and it shall not get the last.
This salvation is not merely a spiritual solution. This salvation is the totalizing cure, as in the blind see, deaf hear, lame walk, lepers cleansed, dead raised, poor hear good news.
This salvation is not just about forgiveness, but freedom.
This salvation is not just about pardon, but power.
This salvation is not just about escaping Hell in the future but embracing the eternal Heaven right here and right now on earth.
This salvation is not just Jesus and me, but the Body of Christ and the Communion of Saints bound together and enfolded in the extravagant embrace of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
This salvation has been long awaited, eagerly sought, suffered for, patiently expected, and now revealed.
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.
Is it any wonder angels long to look into these things?
Isn’t it time we looked a lot longer and more deeply into this salvation ourselves?
No, it is past time. So it behooves me to say with gentleness and respect,
Wake up sleeper, and rise from the dead . . .
Your turn.
THE PRAYER
Jesus, you are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. You are the salvation of Heaven, the image of God, the hope of the world. You are rescuer and redeemer, Savior and Lord. Increase my comprehension of this salvation. Take it out of the thin and anemic understanding too long concealing your glory. Bring me into the fullness of understanding that I might abandon myself to you wholeheartedly and completely. This is my one life, Jesus, only you can make it all it was meant to be, now and forever. Holy Spirit, make it so. Praying in Jesus’ name, Amen.
THE QUESTION
Has your vision of this salvation been limited by the scope of the problem of sin instead of the spectacular span of the glory, greatness and goodness of God?
For the Awakening,
J.D. Walt
Sower-in-Chief
seedbed.com
One Response
Yes, as Wesley once stated it: I was once an “ almost Christian “. Praise God, I’ve seen the light! I’m now inspired to help others to experience full salvation.