Monday, January 16, 2006
SPIRIT-GIVEN WORDS
The apostle Peter has written of the blood of Christ and the resurrection of Christ. Jesus' blood shed for us on the cross, and then His resurrection on the third day to prove that He really did take away our sins by His death. So the message of salvation is the good news that our sins are forgiven. And if our sins are forgiven, then there is nothing to keep us out of heaven, that absolutely perfect inheritance that has been reserved for us. It is already ours now by faith in Jesus, and when Jesus comes again, it will be ours as a permanent possession.
Now Peter goes on to show us that the Holy Spirit spoke through the Old Testament prophets as they talked about the coming Savior: "Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 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. 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" (1 Peter 1:10-12).
The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, was in the Old Testament prophets. He gave them the words they wrote. They did not even fully understand what they wrote. They had to study their own writings in order to learn what God was saying. The content of their message was the coming Messiah or Christ. Two things in particular they foretold concerning the Christ: namely, His sufferings and the glory that was to follow.
Think of David writing the 22nd Psalm: "They pierced My hands and My feet . . . They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots." And then later in the same psalm: "A posterity shall serve Him." David himself wondered of whom this was said and when it would be fulfilled.
Or think of Isaiah in the 53rd chapter. "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities." And then later: "He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand." Isaiah wondered what the Holy Spirit in him meant by these words. He could not fully understand them, even though he wrote them down as the Holy Spirit gave him the words.
