Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Churched

Home
Evangelical
Gospel at Arm’s Length

Gospel at Arm’s Length

Last updated on: May 22, 2018 at 10:27 am by Matt Pearson

Gospel at Arm’s Length 2018-05-22T10:27:08-05:00 Matt Pearson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

8Â Though you have not seenÂ him, you love him;Â though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoiceÂ with inexpressible and glorious joy,Â 9Â because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10Â Concerning this salvation, the prophets,Â who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated.Â 11Â They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of ChristÂ within them was indicating when he testified in advanceÂ to the sufferings of ChristÂ and the gloriesÂ that would follow.Â 12Â It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to youÂ by the Holy Spirit sent from heavenâ€‰â€”â€‰angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.

1 Peter 1:8-12

This text has always fascinated me. For one, the fact that I get to live on the other side of the cross is nothing but grace. If you are reading this, you do too. By â€œother sideâ€ I mean after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. None of us chose this. We didnâ€™t tap God on the shoulder in heaven and say, â€œexcuse me, God, can I live after Jesusâ€™ resurrection from the dead?â€ He decided to let us live now, during this time.

Sheer grace.

Another reason I love this text is Peter is careful to tell his readers that when the prophets in the Old Testament (before the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus) prophesied, they really wanted to know what it was all about. They had knowledge of a coming Messiah. They had God-given insight. The Spirit of Jesus was in them, prompting them to say and write what we have recorded for us. Jesusâ€™ Spirit was in them, even then, to predict His coming. That is amazing. They didnâ€™t get to see it or experience it. But they knew enough to serve us with Godâ€™s plan to send Jesus.

Not only that, but Peter tells us even angels long to get a glimpse of such things. The angels in heaven long to experience the Gospel and enjoy Jesus as redeemed sinners.

The fact that we live on â€œthis sideâ€ of the cross means we are envied by both angels and prophets. Both had a knowledge. Both had a solid understanding. But neither were able to experience Godâ€™s love for people in the person of Jesus.

Iâ€™ve always liked this passage.

Until…

Until I looked at these words from a different angle.

I wonder if I am more like the prophets and angels than I care to admit? I wonder if they had higher hopes and reverence for this Good News than I ever have? I wonder if I have knowledge and understanding and insight into the truths and realities of the Gospel, but havenâ€™t really experienced the life-transforming depth of it? The way Peter presents the Prophets and angels here is they were on the outside looking in. Peterâ€™s point is that his readers are able to enjoy something no other generation or group of people (and angels!) ever imagined. I wonder if I am okay with the Gospel being at an armâ€™s length, content to let it be â€œout thereâ€ somewhere?

Couple that with what Peter says about his readers in verse 8: Though they havenâ€™t seen Jesus, they love Him. AND they believe in Him with a faith that leads to â€œinexpressible and glorious joy.â€

Does that describe your life?

Which more accurately describes you: the Prophets and angels who were on the outside looking in? Or the believers Peter addressed who were known as lovers of Jesus whose lives exhibited â€œinexpressible and glorious joyâ€?

Hereâ€™s the thing. Joy that is glorious and inexpressible that results from a real belief in and love relationship with Jesus is available and possible. The Prophets of old and the angels with God knewÂ aboutÂ it – but didnâ€™t/canâ€™t experience a rich and redeemed and life-giving relationshipÂ withÂ Jesus.

This is the difference between Peterâ€™s audience and the Prophets/angels. The Christians Peter addressed let all of Jesus love all of them. They were with Jesus and wanted Jesus to be with them. They didnâ€™t hold Jesus at an armâ€™s length. They let Him in and enjoyed His resurrection presence.

What is keeping you from enjoying a real relationship with Jesus? Why are you guarded? Why stay on the outside looking in? The Prophets and angels didnâ€™t have a choice. They longed for it and couldnâ€™t. I fear we can, yet desire to stay â€œsafe.â€

What area of your heart do you think cannot be loved and redeemed by Jesus?

What are you afraid to tell Him? What are you afraid to let Him see?

The Prophets knew about, but couldnâ€™t.

The angels are intrigued and jealous.

Learn from them. Jesus isnâ€™t out to make life miserable. In fact, quite the opposite. When He has you – all of you – real life actually begins.

Biblical Reflections

Previous Post

May 21, 2018

A Week of Lasts

Next Post

May 25, 2018 Sermon Illustration: Yanny or Laurel?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Biblical Reflections Devotions Fridays are For Illustrations General Challenge General Preaching Resources Letters to West Franklin Preparing to Preach Table Talk Questions The Preaching Event Top Ten Quotes Uncategorized West Franklin West Franklin Talks

Select a Month March 2023 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 September 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many children did Job lose in the disasters at the beginning of the book?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Seven Ten Twelve Five