Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
1 Peter 1:10-12, 21-25 ESV
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
1 Peter 2:1-3 ESV
Rev. Dwight Yoo
The central focus of the Word of God is the Gospel, the good news. It is news, as in history. It is not good advice. It is what has already happened.
Centrality of the Gospel
Suffering comes before glory. There are many examples of this in the Bible, but the death and resurrection of Christ is foundational. The prophets, though prior to Christ, knew of the foretold suffering Messiah. From 1400BC, in Genesis, there is a passage prophesying about the coming Christ. "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." (Gen 3:15 ESV) The old testament is not just a historic record, but it is about Christ.
We cannot read the scriptures properly without a focus on Christ. This will result in legalism and self centered living. We will descend into either self righteousness or guilt ridden living. We cannot find joy in the word of God.
Children's storybook Bible
God's big picture
Getting the message
Depth of the Gospel
Angels don't need salvation. They are observing history from another perspective and the gospel is awe inspiring. While the gospel is simple, it is also full of unsearchable riches and the vastness of it's implications. The reason the gospel is mundane and boring is not the gospel, but it is the heart within us. The gospel should impact and transform all aspects of our lives and how we see things. It will take an eternity for us to wrap our minds around what the gospel is and has accomplished.
The Transformative Gospel
The gospel is an imperishable seed. It brings about eternal life. But it is not just for the start of our spiritual lives, but it is also necessary for our growth and maturity. The gospel is sustenance. The gospel is not minimal required theology, it is the full knowledge of living.
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