Jesus, exalted of God!!
Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
God chose Jesus to spread the message of salvation to Israel, so that His glory could shine through. After the times of tribulation Jesus’s Kingdom will rule the world, and peace will reign supreme. God will turn Israel’s ashes into beauty, and everyone who lives will find rest in Him, the light of the world. Israel will become the center of government, and people from all over will come to it. God will fulfill the promises He made to Abraham and Sarah, so that the world will be blessed through them.
Acts 2:16-18 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And on My menservants and on
My maidservants I will pour out
My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
Peter mentioned the prophecy of Joel being fulfilled in their time. It happened at Pentecost! He thought Jesus would come back soon, he had no idea that thousands of years would pass before His return and that His salvation would be for everyone who believes in His salvation, not only the Jews.
1 Peter 1:10-12 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
Talking to the Jews scattered after the dispersion he spoke of the grace that should come. The sufferings of Christ and the glory that would follow would come in His return. He still did not know the mystery revealed to Paul that Jesus’ salvation would be offered to all people not only the Jews. Carla
Careful inquiry describes the trustworthy nature of the Old Testament prophets’ prediction of salvation that Christ made possible for believers. Peter comforts his audience by reminding them of the continuity between God’s promises in the Old Testament and their present-day experiences. Spirit of Christ refers to the Holy Spirit, although this designation is uncommon in the New Testament.
Peter stresses the continuity of the Spirit’s role in revealing God’s plan: The same Spirit of Christ that spoke to the prophets about Christ helped reveal the gospel to believers (1 Peter 1:12). Peter seems to indicate that angels are curious about matters of grace and the gospel. This claim highlights the privilege of Christians who have matters of salvation revealed to them. Jewish tradition often depicted angelic beings as interested in human affairs. Faithlife Study Bible
There is a final, positive outcome for trusting God through all the difficulties of life—our salvation, which here has an eschatological sense. Salvation of your souls refers to our glorification in heaven and perhaps the rewards we will receive for following Christ. Peter indicates that the Old Testament prophets knew of the gracious salvation we would one day receive and, as a result, studied it carefully and intensively.
The focus of the Old Testament prophets’ study was not the what of our salvation but the when. They wanted to know when the Messiah would suffer and when the glories of the end times would be revealed. Note that the Spirit of Christ, rather than the prophets themselves, was prophesying. The prophets were mouthpieces for God, not inventors of their own new ideas. God made known to the prophets that they would not experience all that we experience in Christ and that they were serving God for our benefit.
Although humans may preach God’s message of salvation, ultimately the Holy Spirit is the One who proclaims these great truths. Even the angels are amazed at what a wonderful salvation God has enacted on our behalf. The NKJV Study Bible
Matthew 13:17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Luke 24:25–27 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”…
Luke 10:24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”
Acts 2:2–4 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them
May Light always surround you;
Hope kindle and rebound you.
May your Hurts turn to Healing;
Your Heart embrace Feeling.
May Wounds become Wisdom;
Every Kindness a Prism.
May Laughter infect you;
Your Passion resurrect you.
May Goodness inspire
your Deepest Desires.
Through all that you Reach For,
May your arms Never Tire.
D. Simone
Ephesians 5:8 (ESV) "for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ..."
We are set free from this darkness by faith in Jesus! Our identity is now found in the light of God's love, forgiveness and grace: "Now you are light in the Lord" (Ephesians 5:8, emphasis added). Since Jesus is the source of the goodness and light that now defines us, our actions are to reflect Him. Paul exhorts us to "walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8) and to "take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness" (Ephesians 5:11).
Scripture often refers to the spiritual results of our words and actions as "fruit" (John 15:5; Colossians 1:10), and we know that biologically, a fruit-bearing plant requires light to grow and bloom. Even a good seed buried in a dark cave will not bear fruit. Similarly, in a spiritual sense, Paul tells us "the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true" (Ephesians 5:9). As children of light, we want our words and actions to align with these virtues.
Bible scholar Harold Hoehner explains this beautifully: "As light reflects the glory of God, so should the believers reflect his glory because they are to be imitators of God." The light of Christ within us reflects His goodness and glory to others and cultivates our spiritual growth.
God has always been in the business of exposing what is hidden in darkness as well as dispelling that darkness by the powerful light of His goodness and grace. He will continue to do so until that glorious day when all of His children join Him for eternity in the radiant light of heaven (Revelation 21:10-11). First5
No comments:
Post a Comment