The Salvation
of Your Souls
“...rejoicing with joy inexpressible”
By Jon W. Quinn
Peter writes "...you greatly rejoice with joy
inexpressible and full of glory." (I Peter 1:8). Moffatt's translation renders
the passage this way: "And you will thrill with unspeakable and glorious
joy..."
This means that salvation is thrilling! Of course it would not be to the
worldly minded or the disinterested. The nominal Christians at Laodicea whom
Jesus described as "lukewarm" probably were not all that thrilled. But to
those who are living by a true and mature faith our joy, confidence and love
for Jesus is our hearts' answer to the salvation of our souls which He has
brought us.
We certainly hope and pray that more will discover the value of salvation, in
both this life and the next. It is a shame that many do not perceive the
precious nature of this great gift of God, and are much like the hog that
would trample valuable pearls in the mud as it roots for a corn husk (Matthew
7:6). It is also obvious that many who claim to be Christians do not really
esteem God's salvation as highly as they ought. To take such a gift for
granted is to be ungrateful to the extreme.
The Basis of Salvation
"And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him
now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full
of glory." ( I Peter 1:8). The New Testament is quite clear that there is no
salvation for anyone apart from Jesus (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Roman 1:16). He
has paid the price; all of it. It is the gospel truth, and to say so does not
mean we do not love atheists, humanists, Muslims, Jews and Buddhists as we
ought. No, rather, our concern and commitment that they hear the truth about
Jesus affirms our loving concern for them. We desire that they share
inexpressible joy in Christ with us.
The Reception of Salvation
"...obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls." (I
Peter 1:9). It is our faith in Jesus by which we are saved. Without faith we
cannot be pleasing to God. We are saved by grace through faith (Hebrews 11:6;
Ephesians 2:8-10).
But please understand that it is an obedient faith by which God's grace saves
us. We are not justified by faith alone, which is described in the Scriptures
as "dead" and "vain" (James 2:14-26).
Peter had earlier in the chapter made it clear that our access to the blood of
Christ by which we are saved depends first upon our obeying Jesus. He said,
"...according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work
of the Holy Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled by His
blood..." (I Peter 1:2). He continues by saying it was by God's grace and
mercy that we were caused "to be born again unto a living hope" and then later
in the chapter related being "born again" to obedience: "Since you have in
obedience to the truth purified your souls... for you have been born again not
of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and
abiding word of God." (I Peter 1:3; 22,23).
The Prophesies of Salvation
“As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would
come to you made careful search and inquiry, 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." (I Peter 1:10,11). For
centuries before Jesus' birth, the prophets had been announcing His coming.
Hundreds of prophesies had been made concerning the Messiah, and One has
fulfilled them all. It is powerful evidence to see how these prophesies were
fulfilled in Jesus.
The prophets desired to know more about the salvation which they were
predicting to come. They understood how precious it was, even though seeing it
from afar off. As they looked forward, we look back to the Person whose birth
divided human history into two parts: B.C. and A.D.
The Inspired Message of Salvation
“It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in
these things which have now been announced to you through those who preached
the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven..." (I Peter 1:12a). The
gospel is not the product of the mind of man but comes to us from heaven. The
Holy Spirit inspired the writing and telling of the gospel so that our
confidence might not rest in the mind of men but rather in the power of God.
It is a gospel not to be tampered with. It is true and noble and powerful to
do that which God intended it to do; to save our souls. When men are
displeased with the gospel, it is up to men to change themselves. If men do
not like its moral teachings, then it is men who are wrong. If they do not
like the gospel's Savior, they may well attempt to find a substitute, but they
will be lost. If a vast majority of mankind believe the gospel to be
inadequate, then "let God be found true, though every man be found a liar"
(Romans 3:4).
The Interest of Angels in Salvation
“...things into which angels long to look." (I Peter 1:12). The value of
salvation is also seen in the interest of the magnificent heavenly creatures
in it. These noble and powerful creatures would not be drawn to any but the
most important of matters. Salvation captivates their attention. No doubt it
is because they are not only aware of those things concerning salvation which
have been revealed to us, but they are also aware of things which are unknown
to us; glorious and high things unutterable and incomprehensible to human
beings in our present forms. But this we know: if angels long to look into
these things, and since these things pertain to us, then we had better pay
them close attention!
Words to the hymn Mended and Whole
by Donald M. Alexander
Oh how great a salvation in Jesus, that
the prophets of old testified!
Even angels desire its revealing.
Praise and glory to Christ crucified!
You were threatened for me. You were
slandered for me.
Ev'ry thorn, ev'ry nail, ev'ry tear was
for me.
Sweet the tho't that my soul may be
mended and whole by my Lord who
was broken for me.
From The Bradley Banner 10/12//2014
Published by the Bradley Church of Christ
1505 E. Broadway
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