Many today do not live in a home with running water, a flush toilet, a hot shower, a soft bed, plenty of food, a closet full of clothes, and several Bibles. We are a privileged people, both physically and spiritually. It is likely that Peter’s first readers had none of these privileges, yet he reminded them that they were privileged.

Transition

This morning, I want us to note three privileges from Peter’s text for which we ought to thank God.

We ought to thank God because…

We are Privileged Above the Prophets (v.10-11)

  1. God only gave prophets partial information.
    All the prophets of the O.T. through John the Baptist had a limited understanding of God’s great salvation.

    1. They inquired (sought) and searched diligently (explored) but could not fully understand (v.10). God lifted the veil covering salvation a bit, but He never removed it until the N.T. dispensation.
    2. They prophesied of God’s grace (His gift of salvation through Christ’s atonement and resurrection), but it did not come in there day (v.10).
    3. They searched (investigated carefully) what would take place and what sort of time it would be, but they never fully learned the secret (v.11).
      1. They followed the leads that the “Spirit of Christ” gave them. Their leads were inspired of God.
      2. The Spirit testified of both the sufferings of Christ and the glory of Christ that would follow. However, they could not see the Church Age between Christ’s suffering and His glories.
  2. We enjoy the complete revelation about salvation.
    1. The Bible explains the sufferings of Christ for our sins. He paid our ransom. “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4:25)
    2. We can have the privilege of receiving God’s cleansing through Christ. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12)
    3. We are living in the mystery age, the age of the church. O.T. saints could not see this age. During this age God is offering the gospel to the Gentiles. It is our privilege and duty to tell this good news near and far. “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:” (2 Corinthians 4:3)
    4. The Bible is now complete and explains the church age and Christ’s glories (His resurrection, ascension, and coming kingdom, eternal glory). We have a clear view of what the O.T. prophets could not see. We are truly privileged and ought to thank God. Remember, with greater privilege comes greater accountability.
      We ought to thank God because…

We Are Privileged Above the Untold Millions (v.12)

  1. Millions have never heard the gospel.
    1. Millions have been born, reared, lived and died in spiritual darkness. Countless generations of heathens lived in the jungles, mountains, and remote places of the world without ever hearing the truth of the Gospel. The Lord’s last command before returning to heaven was, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)
    2. Christians started well but became careless and self-centred, and failed to take the Gospel to the untold millions.
    3. The untold millions do not just live in remote jungles, many live right in our suburbs. Can it be right for us to forget them and fulfil our own ambitions? Is it right to live extravagantly when untold millions are still untold?
      ² A missionary in Africa was once asked if he really liked what he was doing. His response was shocking. “Do I like this work?” he said. “No. My wife and I do not like dirt. We have reasonable refined sensibilities. We do not like crawling into vile huts through goat refuse…But is a man to do nothing for Christ he does not like? God pity him, if not. Liking or disliking has nothing to do with it. We have orders to ‘Go,’ and we go. Love constrains us.” Our Daily Bread
  2. We have heard the Gospel many times.
    1. The Gospel is openly preached in our country (v.12).
      1. We have heard the way of salvation many times.
      2. The Holy Spirit now convicts of sin (Jn 16:7-11)
      3. We have no excuse for not trusting Christ.
    2. This privilege gives us a responsibility to the lost.
      1. We must evangelize. Be like Paul who said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16) Pass out tracts. Talk about Christ.
      2. We must pray for labourers. (Matthew 9:38) Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
      3. We must pray for our missionaries and the untold millions. Paul wrote, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:” (2 The 3:1)
        We ought to thank God because…

We Are Privileged Above the Angels (v.12)

  1. Angels desire to look into our salvation
    1. Angels are God’s holy messengers that need no salvation.
      1. They rejoice when people get saved. “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)
      2. They minister to those who are saved. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14)
      3. But being holy, they need no salvation themselves.
    2. Being curious, angels desire to look into our salvation.
      1. The word used here means to gaze with outstretched necks, to lean over. Metaphorically to look carefully into, inspect curiously. You see, angels want to know about our salvation, but being holy, they just cannot fully understand it.
      2. Angels are only spectators when it comes to salvation. They watch the saints in the church in order to learn about our salvation.
        ☆ “For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” (1 Corinthians 4:9) (See also Eph 3:10)
  2. We who have salvation ought to live it sincerely.
    1. We know the burden of guilt and the blessing of God’s grace. We have experienced forgiveness, justification, reconciliation, transformation, and the Holy Spirit’s indwelling.
    2. Right now, angels are looking through the clouds of heaven watching you that they might learn what it is like to be saved.
      1. Does your life give them an accurate picture of what it is like to be a Christian?
      2. If they wrote a book about salvation and you were their main character, would the book accurately reflect the wonders of salvation and the changes it produces?

Conclusion

We ought to thank God for the privilege we have. Being saved, we are truly privileged above the prophets, above the untold millions, and above the angels.

If you are saved, do not be ashamed of the Gospel. Untold millions still need the Gospel. What are you doing to get the message to them? Are you regularly witnessing and passing out tracts? Are you giving financially to help reach the lost? Have you volunteered to God to be a missionary or preacher (or preacher’s wife)? Angels are watching you. Are they getting a good picture of God’s gracious salvation?

Song: Thank You Lord – 221
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We Are Privileged
17 May 2015 – 1 Peter 1:10-12 – 1Pe15 – Scott Childs