May 22
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HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS AND EMPOWERS
10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking 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. 12 It 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
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In this letter, Peter talks about the prophets who spoke about Jesus’ coming. He emphasizes the cautious quests and investigations that they underwent to ensure that their prophecies about the salvation for all humanity is coming from the Spirit of God himself. The focus of this letter of Peter to the believers is to give them hope about Christ’s Spirit filling all believer when the time comes. This hope that Peter talks about is that grace that the Lord God grants all his people with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit once they trust their lives to the one and only Savior, Jesus Christ. It is the Spirit of God who gives the believers all the boldness and confidence to share the gospel to others.
According to Matthew Henry’s commentary, Christ was the main subject of the prophets’ studies. Their inquiry into the sufferings of Christ and the glories that should follow, would lead to a view of the whole gospel, the sum whereof is, That Christ Jesus was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification. God is pleased to answer our necessities rather than our requests. The doctrine of the prophets, and that of the apostles, exactly agree, as coming from the same Spirit of God. The gospel is the ministration of the Spirit; its success depends upon his operation and blessing. Let us then search diligently those Scriptures which contain the doctrines of salvation.
A true believer and servant of the Lord Jesus Christ would manifest the desires that the prophets and the angels had: they are consumed with the glorious and gracious revelation of the promises of Jesus to come to fruition in their lives. The Holy Spirit is the power that is given to the pre-chosen people of God so that they can proclaim the gospel with power and confidence and give God all the glory.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to be thankful that the Scriptures have been given to us by the Holy Spirit?
• What could be the cause of losing sight of the true gospel?