“Things into which angels long to look”
“THE CHOSEN “
A Bible Study
– Lesson 4 –
Preface to Lesson 4
As a reminder from Lesson 3, the outcome of our faith, our goal is “the salvation of your souls.” Now we pick up in verse 10…
1 Peter 1:10 “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.
1. Which prophets?
2. Tell me about their “careful searches” and why is that important?
3. What did they prophesy?
4. What were they seeking to know?
v12 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. What does it mean “It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you by the Holy Spirit”?
2. What are these things “which angels long to look”?
1st Peter 1
This Salvation which was Prophecied
The Old Testament was written hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, and contains over 300 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled through His life, death and resurrection.
Mathematically speaking, the odds of 1 person fulfilling 8 prophecies are 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000.
1 person fulfilling 48 prophecies have 1 chance in 10 to the 157th power (that’s 157 trailing zeros!!)
1 person fulfilling 300+ prophecies? Well, that number is too big for this page.
There are dozens of prophets and scores of prophecies foretelling the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
It was important to Peter to demonstrate that his teaching was testified to beforehand by the prophets. Understanding this, helps us understand the incredible grandeur of our Salvation.
These Prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah: Moses, Isaiah, Samuel, David, Daniel, Jeremiah, Hosea and Malachi, and Peter tells us that “the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.”
These prophets searched to know the truth and were watching diligently for the One (The Messiah). The reason it is important for them and for us to know the truth of the matter (of the prophecies of the Messiah that is, Jesus the Christ) and to be convinced of them is that all our future hopes are based in Him and we will be and are now are commanded to give our lives, fully over to Him, in faithful obedience, even to death, if necessary.
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejectedb by men,
a man of sorrowsc and acquainted withd grief;e
and as one from whom men hide their facesf
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
In other words, the impossible was made possible. The incredible became credible. The prophecies of a coming Messiah have come to pass. His Name is Jesus!
If you have not received Him into your heart and mind as Lord and Savior, you have no true hope. Do it now. Find yourself in Him and find your true purpose, find peace and the power to live.
1st Peter 1
Things into which the
Angels long to look
The prophets came to understand that they were ministering to people beyond themselves and beyond those in their own day. And, these things the prophets predicted were reported as fact by the apostles.
Then there are things into which angels long to look. Angels are created by God to serve His purposes, therefore, they long to look and learn. This word denotes “a strong interest or craving”. The present tense portrays a present, continued inner yearning to comprehend more of the mystery of human salvation.
In speaking of the angels He says,
“He makes His angels spirits,
and His servants flames of fire.”
1. God created the angels to serve the people God saves. One purpose of angels is to minister to the elect of God: “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14).
2. God created the angels to deliver messages. The word angel literally means “messenger.” In the Bible, angels usually appeared as men when they delivered messages from God to people (see Genesis 18:1–3). The angel Gabriel appeared to at least three people in the Bible. He interpreted a vision for Daniel (Daniel l8:16), told Zechariah about the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:19), and proclaimed to Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah (Luke 1:26). Angels in the form of men also warned Lot of God’s impending judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1).
3. God created the angels to wage spiritual battle. Another purpose of angels is to fight the forces of spiritual darkness who try to thwart God’s plans (Ephesians 6:12t; Jude 1:9). When an angel appeared to Daniel to deliver the interpretation of a vision, the angel stated that Michael the archangel had to help him fight his way through enemy forces (Daniel 10:10–14).
4. God created the angels to worship God. Angels constantly surround the throne of God, worshiping and shouting His praises (Psalm 148:1–2; Isaiah 6:3, Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 5:8–13).
5. God created the angels to serve. Angels exist to do the will of their Creator. They go where God sends them, say what He gives them to say, and minister to His children on earth (Psalm 103:20; Revelation 22:9; Hebrews 1:14).
6. God created the angels to execute judgment. Angels are not all radiance and joy. They also carry out God’s orders for destruction. The book of Revelation foretells many angelic acts that will bring about the ultimate destruction of the world (Revelation 7:1, 8–10
7. God created the angels to aid in the transmission of God’s Word. Hebrews 2:2, speaking of the Mosaic Law, calls it “the message spoken through angels.” Somehow, angels were involved in the process of Moses receiving the law on Sinai, revealing yet another purpose of angels.
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