The Great Salvation Explained

The great divine purpose in the history of this fallen world is the creation of God’s holy church, consisting of all Christ’s redeemed people, those who are foreloved, chosen, and predestinated to the glorious and great salvation by God the Father. Jesus said, “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). If your name is written in heaven, you will trust in Jesus Christ today.

The purpose of history is not the creation of civilizations or scientific and technological advancements or the rise of human philosophies or the rise and fall of nations or the development of various religions for people to choose from or the production of great economies. The purpose of history is that elect sinners may be saved by the redemption accomplished by Christ, by his death and resurrection, and applied by the Holy Spirit.

God’s great salvation is the theme, purpose, and goal of history. The Lord of history is Jesus Christ, God’s eternal Son. He is the Creator and Redeemer, the only Sovereign and Judge, who is given all authority in God’s universe.

In 1 Peter 1:10–12, the apostle Peter speaks further about our great salvation, which he first spoke about in 1 Peter 1:5, 9. We experience this salvation even now, together with our sufferings. And when Jesus returns to earth from heaven, we will enjoy our salvation, our inheritance, in all its fullness and glory.

The Prophecy of This Salvation

Peter begins, “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow” (vv. 10–11).

By the Spirit, the Old Testament prophets prophesied about the Messiah—about the birth, sufferings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Prophecy is possible only for the God revealed in the Scriptures. No one else can prophesy—only God, who is infinite, personal, triune, eternal, holy, almighty, omniscient, omnipresent, just, and loving. He knows all things always, in one view. There is no past, present, or future in him. He is unchangeable. He cannot sin. He cannot die. So the prophets and apostles were able to write the Scriptures, including prophecies, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. What they wrote are the very words of God, inerrant and infallible. Peter says, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:20–21).

The Old Testament prophets prophesied by the “Spirit of Christ” in them, a term Paul also uses in Romans 8:9. The Spirit of Christ is the Holy Spirit, who speaks of Christ. Jesus told us about this: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you” (John 16:13–14). Jesus also said, “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me” (John 15:26). The Holy Spirit is sent to us by Christ himself.

Jesus Christ was baptized in the Holy Spirit. He was given the Spirit without limit to do all the will of his Father, including suffering the accursed death on the cross. So we read, “The Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’” (Luke 3:22). Jesus himself said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18–19).

Jesus lived his life and died on the cross all through the power of the Holy Spirit, as the Hebrews writer says, “Christ . . . through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God” (Heb. 9:14).

The Spirit of Christ in the prophets of the Old Testament spoke of the Messiah who would come in the future to accomplish redemption by his sufferings and glories, especially by his death and resurrection. Paul summarizes this salvation plan in one verse: “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Rom. 4:25). Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost (Luke 19:10).

Jesus came, not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28). There is no other savior of the world, because there is no other perfect God/man, one person in two natures, who died for the sins of the elect, as our atonement, and was raised again from the dead. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Peter said, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Note the exclusivism of God’s salvation. Only Jesus can give eternal life to sinners who repent, believe, and obey him. And we must never separate faith from obedience. If anyone does not want to obey God, he is not saved.

The Old Testament prophets prophesied grace, that is, free salvation, based entirely on the perfect righteousness of the Messiah who would come in the fullness of time. In Jesus alone we find grace. John writes, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). He also says that from the fullness of his grace we have all received grace after grace after grace (John 1:16).

Paul writes, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). Grace came to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Paul also says, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8). Paul also says, “[The Lord] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you’” (2 Cor. 12:9). We need grace—nothing more, nothing less. If you do not believe in and obey Jesus Christ, you will not have grace.

These Old Testament prophets understood that God in due time would send his Anointed One, the Christ, the Messiah, the Prophet, the Priest, and the King, to save his people—Jews and Gentiles—to rule the world.

The first prophecy about Jesus said that he would be the seed of the woman. God told the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Gen 3:15). Christ by his death destroyed the devil and death, and delivered his people from the fear of death. He is the son of Abraham. He is the son of David. He is the virgin’s son.

Jacob also prophesied about Christ: “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his” (Gen. 49:10). Notice, he was speaking not just about the faith of nations but also about their obedience. Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. Those who will not humble before him and cry out for salvation are arrogant fools.

Of the Messiah, Balaam prophesied, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near.  A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth” (Num. 24:17).  That is speaking about his role as judge. Christ comes to save and he comes to judge.

Isaiah prophesied, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14). That is what Gabriel said to the poor virgin Mary. Isaiah also said, “To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders” (Isa. 9:6). Jesus Christ is the Lord of all. To him is given all authority in heaven and on earth, and he commands us to repent and be saved. Isaiah continued, “And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah also said, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord (Isa. 11:1–3). Do you delight in the fear of the Lord? The key to the treasure of salvation is the fear of the Lord (Isa. 33:6).  And in Isaiah 61:1, the prophet said, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.”

The prophets predicted that the Messiah would experience sufferings. We must always understand that sufferings come first, then glory. That was the order for Jesus Christ and it is the order for us. Isaiah spoke about this (Isa. 52:13-53:12). The psalmist also spoke about the sufferings of the Messiah (Ps. 22). He also declared that justice and peace kissed each other in Jesus Christ (Ps. 85:10); in other words, he paid the price for our sins by his sufferings. This happened so that God may be just and justifier of those who believe in him (Rom. 3:26).

Peter understood about the need for the Messiah to suffer as revealed in the Old Testament. Quoting Isaiah 53, he wrote, “‘[Christ] committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Pet. 2:22-25).

Not only did the Messiah have to die, but he also had to be raised from the dead. First there are sufferings, then there are glories. The psalmist says, “I will proclaim the decree of the Lord:  He said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.’ Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Ps. 2:7–12).

Glories include both the resurrection and the session of Christ. He is ruling the universe now, having been seated on the right hand of God the Father. But he is coming again, with great power and glory, and he will raise us up from the dead. Those who have not believed in him will be cast into hell at that time.  Jesus said, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26). He also said, “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory” (Matt. 24:30). Those who do not believe in Christ will die in their sins and be raised up when Christ comes, only to be sent to hell.

Jesus is coming again. The prophets did not know specifically who would be the Messiah or the exact time of his coming into the world. Each prophet probably expected the Messiah to come in his own lifetime, even as Christians of every generation have expected Christ to come again in power and great glory in their lifetimes.

The prophets examined their own prophecies and the prophecies of earlier prophets. They studied, they searched out diligently, they researched, they investigated, and they prayed. They wanted to know who the person of the Messiah would be and when he was coming to accomplish redemption by his atoning death and resurrection. (PGM) For example, Daniel researched and studied, and God gave him a revelation in response to his research (Dan. 9). Daniel said, “I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, ‘My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?’ [The man] replied, ‘Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end’” (Dan. 12:8–9).

All Old Testament and New Testament believers are saved by grace. Even though Christ did not come in the lifetime of the Old Testament believers, they were saved by grace because the sacrificial system of sacrificing animals pointed to the death of Christ and the redemption by his blood. The Hebrews writer says, “The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22), that is, no redemption, no salvation. He also writes, “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Heb. 10:4). The blood of bulls and goats pointed to the blood of Christ. His blood was shed in the future, in the fullness of time. So the writer says, “By that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:10).

Paul articulates this most clearly:

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.  This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Rom. 3:21–26)

In Luke 10:23–24, Jesus also spoke about the research of the Old Testament prophets: “Then [Jesus] turned to his disciples and said privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.’” He was talking about the gospel that was fulfilled in him.

Old Simeon was told by the Holy Spirit, “You will not die until you see the Messiah.” He was led by the Spirit to the temple where the eight-day-old Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, was being circumcised. Simeon took the child in his hands and said, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:29–30). This tells us how we should die—seeing Jesus. Have you seen Jesus, in his sufferings and in his glories, as your Savior and Lord?

The Fulfillment of the Messianic Prophecies

Then Peter says, “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” (v. 12).

In response to their earnest study, meditation, and prayer, these prophets received another revelation, from the Holy Spirit who was in them. This revelation was similar to the one given to Daniel (Dan. 12:8–9). The Holy Spirit told them that in the fullness of time the Messiah would come to make atonement for all the elect of God, but it would be in the distant future, not in their lifetimes. They were, through their prophecies, not ministering to themselves, but to the future generations to whom the gospel would be preached, the generations of the last days, a period of time inaugurated by the first coming of Jesus Christ, which will continue until he comes again. We ourselves are living in the last days, as were also the recipients of Peter’s letter—residents of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

The prophecy of Christ’s gracious salvation, made by the Old Testament prophets, was fulfilled four hundred years after the last Old Testament prophet, Malachi. So although these prophets searched diligently, desiring to hear the full gospel and to see the Lord’s Christ, in God’s will they were not permitted to do so.

We believers who live in these last days are more blessed than the Old Testament prophets because we have a fuller understanding of the gospel. Paul explains what the gospel is: “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3–4). He also says, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Rom. 4:25).

Peter also speaks of this: “[Christ] himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been saved” (1 Pet. 2:24). And Paul writes elsewhere, “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir” (Gal. 4:4–7).

The same Holy Spirit who inspired the prophets also inspired the apostles to write the New Testament. Therefore, the Bible is a unity. The whole Bible has the same primary author, the Spirit of Christ. The subject of the entire Bible is Jesus Christ and his great salvation for the people of God. If a person does not believe in Jesus Christ, he is missing the entire purpose of history.

There is no salvation without the sufferings and glories of Jesus Christ. When Peter opposed the death of Jesus on the cross, Jesus rebuked Peter severely. Later, Peter tried to rescue Jesus from being arrested, using his sword to try to save Jesus from suffering. Peter also denied Christ three times. But later Jesus restored him, and finally Peter understood that without Christ’s atoning death, Peter could not have been saved. The sufferings and glories of Jesus Christ are central to salvation.

Jesus made the same point to his disciples, “‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem’” (Luke 24:44–47).

As we hear the gospel preached by Christ’s ministers, pastors, and teachers, in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, may we believe in Christ and be saved. May we realize that we are more blessed than Old Testament prophets and the holy angels, who eagerly desired to understand the gospel of Christ’s redemption. There is no redemption plan for fallen angels, and even holy angels are but ministering spirits for the people of God (Heb. 1:14).

We are the bride of Christ. Christ loved the church and died for her salvation. John writes, “Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready’” (Rev. 19:6–7). What a great status and dignity he gives to us who are nothing!

Paul was an archenemy of Jesus Christ and the gospel. But when God arrested him, he believed the Old Testament prophecies related to Christ and began to prove to others that Jesus was the Christ, the Savior of the world. Consider what he said:

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. (1 Tim. 1:12–16)

Jesus had to die, and Jesus had to rise from the dead (Isa. 53; Ps. 16; 1 Cor. 15:8). The gospel is the foundation of the church. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said the church “is the supreme and highest manifestation of God’s handiwork” and “the greatest manifestation of the wisdom of God.” [1]

The holy angels had never seen anything like God’s holy church, though they had been in the presence of God since their creation. But if you have trusted in Jesus Christ, you are part of this magnificent creation of God—his church—and you can look forward to a glorious future of dwelling with God in eternal happiness. Peter says, “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:4–5). He also says, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Pet. 2:9). Therefore, rejoice and believe in what Christ is saying about us.

Do not be deceived by false ministers who preach a false gospel. They say, “Believe in Jesus. He will make you rich and powerful, healthy and famous, without any sufferings, here and now.” Such people are not preaching the gospel by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Paul tells us who these people are: “For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. . . . Such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve” (2 Cor. 11:4, 13–15).

Pay no attention to false ministers. They are cursed; they are anathema. Instead, pay most careful attention to the preachers who preach the word of God, who preach Jesus Christ and him crucified, by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.

The way of Christ is the way of all Christians—sufferings first, followed by glories. The crown of thorns is followed by the crown of glory. So the Hebrews writer exhorts us, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).  And consider those who have gone before us: Stephen was stoned to death, James and Paul were beheaded, and Peter himself was crucified, and they all went to glory.

Before his crucifixion, Peter said this: “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed. . . . The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Pet. 5:1, 10–11). It is my prayer that God will encourage you by these words. And if you have not yet trusted in Christ, may you put your faith in Jesus Christ today and be saved.

[1] D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The Unsearchable Riches of Christ: An Exposition of Ephesians 3 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1989), 86-87.