1 Peter (Written)

Thursday, 3 October 2019

…but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 1 Peter 1:15

Several scholars, and several translations, translate Peter’s words here as a title rather than a description. For example, the NASB translates this as –

“…but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;”

What seems more likely is that Peter is reaching back to the heart of the book of Leviticus where, in Chapter 11, the Lord says this –

“For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44

The Lord gave instructions to Israel concerning what He expected of them, and then He proclaimed the reason why He did so. It is because He is holy, and they had been called by Him to be His people. In His calling, He expected them to emulate Him. It is as if God is saying, “I am the Pattern which you should form yourselves after.”

It is to be noted that the Lord’s calling was to Israel alone in Leviticus. Here in 1 Peter, some could argue that Peter is addressing the Jews (which is correct) and, therefore, the calling that Peter is speaking about is one directed solely to the Jews. This is incorrect. Christ established the New Covenant in His blood. In this, He has called both Jew and Greek (meaning the Gentiles – see Romans 1:16; Romans 2:9, 10, Romans 10:12; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11, and etc.).

The fact that the Jews (for the most part) did not accept the gospel does not negate that the call was made to them as well as to the Gentiles. Peter’s epistle is a call to the Jew, but specifically a call to the Jew of the end-times (as can be deduced by its placement after Paul’s Gentile-led church-age epistles). The Jews, after their rejection of Christ and extended time of punishment for this rejection, are being called to the one gospel which is found in Christ Jesus. That it is the same message to both Jew and Gentile is confirmed by Paul’s words of Ephesians 4 –

“But you have not so learned Christ, ²¹ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4

Paul speaks of living according to the holiness of God, putting off the old man and being adorned in the new. This is the same calling as Peter now speaks of. And so, based on the unchanging nature of God, who is holy, Peter says, “you also be holy in all your conduct.”

The call is made, the individual responds to it, and the standard is expected. Peter ties the expected character of the one who has called on the Lord to emulate His character. Again, this is a principle that Paul speaks of in Philippians 1:27 –

“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

A change in one’s life to that which is Christ-centered is expected of those who have, in fact, come to Christ.

The word used by Peter, and translated as “conduct,” is a favorite of his. It is used three times by Paul, once in Hebrews, and once by James. However, Peter uses it six times in this letter, and 2 times in his second letter. It is anastrophé, and it gives the sense of a change of one’s outward behavior based on one’s inner beliefs. If one has called on Christ, having believed the gospel message (an inner belief), that person should then reflect, in his outward conduct, a change which conforms to the One upon whom he has trusted.

It would make no sense for a person to accept the conservative views of hard work, lower taxes, moral uprightness, normal-brained thinking, and so on, just to continue to vote for left-leaning politicians. Nor would it make any sense for such a person to continue to support lazy indolence, higher taxes, perversion, and crazy ideologies. A change to right thinking should have a corresponding external change in the person. If this is true with an earthly political system, how much more should there be a change in a person to a life of holiness when calling on the HOLY GOD through Christ Jesus!

Life application: From eternity past, the Father has called us to be saved. This is known as the doctrine of “predestination.” It tells us that our salvation was and is set in stone; it was a done deal even before creation. And yet the Bible says that we must receive Jesus in order to be saved – an act of our free-will. How are these two concepts reconciled?

God doesn’t think like we do. We think thought after thought, sequentially. We may think discursively in random thoughts, or we may think syllogistically, making deductions where “this plus this therefore equals this.” But God knows everything intuitively and immediately. Nothing is unknown to Him including the free-will decision we make when we receive Jesus. Because of our salvation, it follows then that we need to be holy just as God is holy.

However, because we think sequentially – thought after thought – we get caught up in life as it comes our way. We are challenged with trials, troubles, woes, and difficulties as the moments turn into hours, and then the hours pass into days. This is why we so desperately need to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit.

Just as we asked for and received salvation, we need to ask forgiveness when we sin (a reactive action) which prepares us for being renewed in the Spirit. Also, we need to pray for wisdom, patience, and especially God’s direction in advance (acting proactively). And further, we need to know what God expects of us. This comes about through reading and meditating upon His word. By living in this way, we open the doors to holiness and right living.

It simply is not possible to go to church once a week, raise hands, and shout “Hallelujah,” and then spend the rest of the week relying on that short experience to keep us holy. Please make a daily commitment to –

1) morning – rise and praise;
2) daily – walk and talk;
3) evening – lay and pray; and
4) always – read the word and apply what you have heard.

The Bible reveals that we are always in the presence of the Lord. Remember this and act accordingly. And…be holy in all your conduct.

Lord God, the more we trust in You and the closer our walk is with You, it seems the more evident our sin is. Give us wisdom to confess our sins as they occur, and also to ask for guidance each day that we may be protected from sinning even more. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit as we seek You through Your word so that we may be pleasing vessels of holiness to You. Amen.

Wednesday, 2 October 2019

…as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 1 Peter 1:14

Peter just told his audience to gird up the loins of their minds, to be sober, and to rest their hope on the grace that is being brought to them. He now continues with his exhortation to them by saying, “as obedient children.”

The Greek uses two nouns here, and it is therefore better rendered as “as children of obedience.” Vincent’s Word Studies explains this as, “The Christian is represented as related to the motive principle of his life as a child to a parent.” In other words, this is speaking of the state of the Christian at all times in relation to the Lord, and not specifically of the ongoing conduct of the children in general.

One can see the reason for this relationship by looking back to verse 3 where Peter says that the Lord “has begotten us again to a living hope.” Because of this state of being begotten, we are implored to live as “children of obedience.”

Next, Peter explains what this means with the words, “not conforming yourselves to the former lusts.” Here Peter uses a verb only seen elsewhere in Romans 12:2 where Paul implores his reader to not be conformed to this world. This word gives the sense of identity, or assuming an outward form.

Here Peter is specifically speaking of identifying with a life of lusts. Instead of looking for gratification in all temptations, the believer is to find his satisfaction in Christ, and in the hope which He provides. This is because we have been enlightened to the truth of the resurrection and a future hope. This is something that was previously unknown. If unknown, then the thought is obviously that this world is all there is. If that is so, then one might as well grab for all he can get. But that is, as Peter says, “ignorance.”

Without knowing of the truth of God in Christ, there exists a state of ignorance. In hearing the gospel, and in knowing what God has planned for His people, we are to emulate Christ, walk in holiness, and not conform to (or pursue recklessly) the conduct of this world.

Life application: Many people have a problem with the concept of total depravity. This means that we are all bound under sin and totally incapable of saving ourselves. It also gives us an understanding of why God can command the Israelites to march into Canaan and destroy everything that lived – including women and children. As Jesus said in John 3:18 –

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

We are “condemned already.” This means even from the moment of conception. All humans receive Adam’s sin-nature and do not need to do a thing to be separated from God. However, even on those who are separated in this way, God is merciful – He provides them food, rain, and the good things of life.

As an example of His mercy, He waited 400 years to destroy the people of Canaan because of His longsuffering and because “the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete” (Genesis 15:16). Likewise, God spared Nineveh at the preaching of Jonah because they repented. This doesn’t mean they were saved for eternity, but from destruction in this life; they were allowed to continue on under the sun.

Peter says that we were all in this depraved state and that we once conformed ourselves to these lusts. He then says we did this in “ignorance.” Ignorance of the law is, however, no excuse. If you can come to this realization and accept it for what it is, then you can understand the infinite grace and mercy demonstrated at the cross of Jesus. Glory to God for His favor upon the sons of Adam!

Truly O God, You are merciful and full of grace. Glory be to You for sending Jesus, born into the stream of humanity in order to save us from the depraved state we were in. Surely, You are worthy of all our praise! Yes! Glory to You, O God! Amen.

Tuesday, 1 October 2019

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1 Peter 1:13

The word “Therefore” is given to sum up everything Peter has thus far said. In verse 5, he spoke of the believer’s “salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” In verse 7, he then spoke of “the revelation of Jesus Christ.” His words have been built around those things as instruction and for clarification of how things are in the life of the believer, especially in regard to the surety of the salvation which they possess.

Because of this hope found in the gospel, which was so hungrily searched out in order to be understood by the prophets who wrote of it, Peter says for his audience to “gird up the loins of your mind.”

This term is used as a metaphor in a few different ways. In 1 Kings 18, we read this –

“Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.” 1 Kings 18:46

Elijah “girded up his loins” in order to run as quickly as possible. The garments of the people of Israel were long and flowing. If one tried to run in them, he could easily get his legs tripped up. And so, when a quick pace was needed, they would pull the garment up to their waist and tie the sash they wore around that which was pulled up. Thus, they “girded up” their loins.

In Job 38:3, we read this –

“Now gird up your loins like a man,
And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!” (NASB)

Here, the same metaphor is used, but the purpose is different. Instead of running, the Lord is basically saying, “It is time to wrestle.” When a person was set to wrestle, he would gird up his garments, just as when he ran. Thus, the Lord is saying to Job, “We are going to mentally wrestle through this. Be ready!”

One must now question, which was on Peter’s mind? The answer is, probably both. First, Peter was looking ahead to a long race. As he noted in verse 5, the saints are kept for salvation which was “to be revealed in the last time.” As that is an indeterminate amount of time, they were to be girded up for a long race. This is seen in Paul’s words to those in Corinth –

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. ²⁵ And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” 1 Corinthians 9:24, 25

However, Peter is also contending for the faith which has been delivered to the saints. He is writing to Jews who could easily get caught up in the legalism of the law once again. In fact, he had to gird himself up and wrestle with this issue himself. He was challenged by Paul for falling into this trap in Galatians 2:11-21.

Paul had told the Galatians about what happened to remind them of the importance of holding to the one and only gospel, delivered to both Jew and Gentile. In summary of his thoughts, he called the Galatians “foolish” in Galatians 3:1. They had failed to gird up the loins of their mind, and they had suffered defeat in the wrestling match of sound doctrine. Peter is instructing his audience to be prepared for such a race and such a wrestling match.

And so, in his instruction, he says, “be sober.” The words are a present participle which should read “being sober.” Understanding this, it is not speaking of literal soberness, but a spiritual soberness. Believers are to be calm, wakeful, circumspect, and morally grounded by knowing and adhering to the word. In acting in this manner, we will always be ready for the Lord’s coming. It will not be a moment of sad surprise when it happens, but rather a moment of joyous surprise. This is Peter’s intent.

He next says, “and rest your hope fully.” Here, the verb is active and imperative. You are to do this, and you are to keep it up. “Rest your hope and keep resting your hope.” And that is to be “upon the grace.” Grace is unmerited favor. It is something that one cannot work for, but simply receive. Peter is saying that the gospel is that of grace, and what it will deliver is solely of grace. In essence, “NO WORKS!” He is adamantly telling his readers the same message that Paul told the Gentiles – “It is not of the law, but of grace.”

He then notes that this grace “is to be brought to you.” Again, as with the words “being sober” above, the verb here is a present participle. It rightly reads, “is being brought to you.” There is salvation in Christ, and it is coming to you and it will not fail. It is an implied note of eternal salvation. As Vincent’s Word Studies notes: “The object of hope is already on the way.” And that hope which is coming will be “at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

The revelation of Jesus Christ is spoken of throughout the New Testament. For the faithful believer before the rapture, Christ’s revealing will be at a meeting in the clouds before the tribulation period. For those who are saved after this point, there will be a literal, physical return of Christ to the earth to judge the world. Paul speaks of these things first in 1 Thessalonians 4, and then again in 2 Thessalonians 1. Peter is imploring his audience to be sober and to have the loins of their minds girded up in anticipation of this hope.

Life application: Paul says this concerning the grace of the Lord in Ephesians 2 –

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-7

Paul’s words speak of “the ages to come.” It is a note of infinite grace. God has saved us, and that salvation shall never end. This is just what we need! Let us be thankful for the grace of God which is found in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thank You Lord for the infinite grace You have displayed and continue to display in our lives. We fail You continuously and our only hope is in Your faithfulness despite our faithlessness. We trust in You alone for both our salvation and our continued state of favor in Your eyes. Thank You for the cross and thank You for the garments of righteousness it provides. Amen.

Monday, 30 September 2019

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 1:12

It is an amazing set of words from Peter. He has been speaking of the prophets who were led by the Spirit of Christ who was in them, and who wrote of the “sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.” Now he says that “To them it was revealed that…”

This thought goes along with what he said in verse 10. There, Peter noted that these prophets “inquired and searched carefully.” But their search was to no avail. It was revealed to them that the words they had received were “not to themselves.” In other words, they spoke out prophecy that did not apply to their lives, but to the lives of others, both in time and, at times, in location.

In other words, it often surely seemed obvious that prophecy of the Messiah to come was future. But some of the prophets prophesied from their homes in exile, such as Daniel. Not only were the prophecies future, but they were pointing to the coming of Messiah in a land that they were not even in. It may seem obvious to us now, but in the ancient world, gods were often considered localized gods of places, nations, or people groups. But the prophetic word of the true God extends beyond such limits.

Peter then continues noting that what was revealed was not to them, “but to us.” Peter is writing the words and making the claim that because Christ had come, the prophetic word was to those who were alive since His coming. The span of years spent in waiting had ended, and the time of waiting for the prophetic word to be fulfilled had arrived.

With this understanding, Peter includes himself now in the process of revealing that once hidden word by saying, “they were ministering the things which have been reported to you.” Peter and the other apostles had seen the fulfillment of the prophecies. They were able to see what the prophets of old could not, and they were able to put the otherwise obscure writings into the context of the Person and work of Jesus the Messiah. Because of this, they reported the message, proclaiming that the prophecies were fulfilled.

It should be noted that the words “were ministering” are in the imperfect active. The prophets of old are still ministering to those who read their words even today as they are explained to us by the apostles. This reporting was “through those who have preached the gospel to you.”

The prophets of old vicariously ministered through the apostles. The words they had received were being passed on for the hearer to know and understand the truth of what was written. As noted already, the truth is that even today the writings of those prophets would make no sense to someone who picked them up and read them, unless they had the accompanying words of the apostles found in the New Testament. This is why Paul could say in his epistle to the Corinthians –

“Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— ¹³ unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. ¹⁵ But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. ¹⁶ Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” 2 Corinthians 3:12-16

Without the explanation of the apostles, either in person, or by the writings they have left behind, the mysteries into which the prophets inquired and searched carefully are still veiled to the reader. But since the coming of Christ, these things were made known. And this process was not only directly, as if by personal sight and understanding, but more especially “by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.”

It is true that the apostles witnessed much of the fulfillment of what the prophets wrote about. Further, Jesus explained many things from the Scriptures after His resurrection (e.g. Luke 23:13-27). However, there are still other things which were not directly revealed at those times. Rather, the Holy Spirit revealed them through the apostles as they were inspired to do so.

Their writings, which have been compiled into the New Testament, allow the Scriptures to be understood from a Christ-centered perspective which would have been otherwise impossible to understand. This is so much so that Peter finishes the verse with, “things which angels desire to look into.”

Of the word translated as “desire to look into,” Vincent’s Word studies says –

“A very graphic word, meaning to stoop sideways (παρά). Used by Aristophanes to picture the attitude of a bad harp-player. Here it portrays one stooping and stretching the neck to gaze on some wonderful sight. It occurs in James 1:25, describing him who looks into the perfect law of liberty as into a mirror; and in Luke 24:12; John 20:5, John 20:11, of Peter and John and Mary stooping and looking into the empty tomb. Possibly the memory of this incident unconsciously suggested the word to Peter. The phrase illustrates Peter’s habitual emphasis upon the testimony of sight.”

The angels desired to know what the prophetic word said, not as participants in it, but as those viewing the redemptive plans of God from the outside, like spectators in an arena. The astonishing work of God in redeeming man, including the cross of Christ, was a complete surprise to them. This is obvious from the words of Pilate’s wife in Matthew –

“While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, ‘Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.’” Matthew 27:19

Pilate’s wife was given a dream which caused her to warn her husband. But if Pilate had not participated in what occurred, Christ would not have been crucified. The next verses confirm that he did not fully heed her words. The serpent went through the woman in the Garden of Eden to thwart God’s plans, and he had some inkling that the day ahead was one which would see his defeat. Is it that being unable to determine what action to take, he went through a woman again by attempting to have her influence her husband to thwart what seemed to be an inevitable, but as yet unrevealed, part of God’s plan?

If so, this shows us that the devil may know God’s word, but he also does not understand the complexities of the prophecies which are future, nor can he discern those things which have not been revealed, but which remain sealed until God reveals them.

Life application: The prophets of old received God’s word and then turned around and read what they had written out. They searched the words carefully and looked for hints about the glory to come. When they read of the sufferings of Christ and compared them with verses like the one proclaiming Him the everlasting Father, they must have been completely baffled.

This coming One would be buried in a grave and yet He would rule the nations forever? It must have been incredibly hard to understand and reconcile the concepts… maybe there would be two Messiahs? Maybe the passages weren’t to be taken literally?

Finally, they realized that it was simply not for them to know. Instead, others would be the recipients of the revelation which was received; they were merely the conduit by which God was revealing the mysteries that would be revealed in Christ. And who are the favored recipients? They are those who hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We have received enlightenment of the verses which were veiled in times past because Jesus’ ministry fulfilled them. Once His work was complete, the prophetic word came alive. Truly we are a favored generation. As we wait on the return of our Lord, we have the pages of the Bible to guide us and instruct us in our daily lives. Be sure to read your Bible daily, and to share the gospel always.

Thank You Jesus for sending Your Spirit to illuminate Your word to us through the preaching of the gospel and the study of its contents. Thank You for allowing us to be the recipients of the fullness of the writings which tell us of You and Your glorious work in and through humanity. Amen.

Sunday, 29 September 2019

…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. 1 Peter 1:11

The words here speak of “the prophets” of the previous verse. He said that they “inquired and searched carefully … of the grace that would come to you.” Now, he continues with that thought, explaining what it was like for these men who spoke out and wrote down the oracles of God. He says they were “searching what, or what manner of time.”

The idea of “searching” is to make a diligent inquiry. These prophets wrote out the prophesies transmitted through them, and then they thoroughly investigated what they had written out. They wanted to know “what,” meaning the details concerning the Messiah they had prophesied about. They were given a broad brushstroke of His coming, but they lacked the details. They could see aspects of Him, but the Man Jesus was out of their ability to see – who He would be, what He would be like, and how He would accomplish the things they wrote of.

They also wanted to know “what manner of time” these things would come about. This may be speaking of the actual timing of the coming of Messiah, but more probably it is speaking of the state of the world at the time of His coming. How could the things they wrote down be fulfilled? What would be the condition of the people who anticipated His coming. What would be the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles? On and on, “what manner of time” lay ahead when Messiah would be revealed?

Peter next gives an indication of the means of the prophetic word coming to these men. He refers to “the Spirit of Christ who was in them.” Charles Ellicott notes that the term “Christ” here speaks of the office, and not specifically a title of the Man – meaning Jesus Christ. This may be a correct analysis. The “Spirit of Christ,” is that which anticipates the coming of Messiah, it speaks of Him and His work, and so on.

It is not impossible, however, that Peter is speaking of “the Spirit of Christ” as referring to the Holy Spirit, whose role in the Godhead is to reveal the Lord Jesus before His coming, during His advent, and continuing on after His ascension. The work of God within the Godhead has one united purpose. Thus, the term “Spirit of Christ” would then be synonymous with “Holy Spirit,” “Spirit of God,” and etc. This is seen, for example, in Romans 8 –

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” Romans 8:9

Peter continues on, noting that “the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand.” Whether “Spirit of Christ” refers to the office, or to the inspiration which comes from Christ personally, the words “was indicating” show that the men were influenced by a force which led them to record what was instilled in them by God. The things He purposed for them to know were revealed. There was enough information to make the work of Christ fully understandable in relation to what was written once it occurred, but not until it occurred.

Until Christ came, it remained veiled even though specific words were given by God as “He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ.” In Scripture, it is the Lord who speaks out prophecy, and yet it is the Spirit who speaks out prophecy, and it is God who speaks out prophecy. And in those words which point to Christ, they – like all other Scripture – were recorded in the word. And the word itself then speaks out prophecy. In this word, the sufferings of Christ are clearly indicated, even from the earliest chapters of Genesis.

In Genesis 3:15, it is now quite clear that Messiah is being referred to. There it says that the serpent would “bruise His heel.” From that point on, countless examples of the sufferings of Christ are recorded. The sacrifices and offerings of the Levitical priesthood point to the sufferings of Christ. His sufferings are detailed in small and in great ways in the prophets. They are obscurely referred to in the account of the birth and naming of Benjamin in Genesis 35:18, where he was first named Ben-Oni, or Son of my Suffering.

A complete record of the study into how many times the sufferings of Christ are mentioned in the Bible would take up innumerable pages of analysis. Vincent’s Word Studies explains why Peter highlighted this. He says, “Peter was especially concerned to show that the sufferings of Christ were in fulfilment of prophecy, because it was a subject of dispute with the Jews whether the Christ was to suffer (Acts 3:18; Acts 26:22, Acts 26:23).”

By testifying to the sufferings of the coming Christ in advance, there was no excuse that Israel – the stewards of the oracles of God – should have missed the coming of Messiah. Along with these sufferings, Peter also refers to “the glories that would follow.”  This refers to everything that would come in successive steps after the sufferings of Christ.

The cross was a point of suffering, but it was also a point of glory. The resurrection, the proofs of His resurrection, the ascension, the continued work of the apostles and the church since, the coming rapture, the physical return of Christ, the millennium, and the eternal state are all referred to in the glories that would follow.

These were recorded by the prophets, and they were all carefully searched out by them, but they could not sufficiently peer into the words they had been inspired to write in order to see what they desired to see. Those things were reserved for those who came after they occurred, and which could then be pieced together in order to be seen in the revealed light that God so intended for them to be seen.

Life application: Today, we have the revelation that the prophets searched out in hopes of knowing, but to them it was a mystery. Paul uses this term quite a few times as he speaks of the ministry of Christ. For example –

“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began ²⁶ but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— ²⁷ to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.”  Romans 16:25-27

Here we see that the work of Christ was a mystery kept in the mind of God since the very foundation of the world. However, it was made manifest in the gospel. This mystery was presented in the “prophetic scriptures” which is exactly what Peter is talking about. The prophets of old wrote of the coming glory, and yet to them it was veiled.

Likewise, the times of the coming of Christ and the fulfillment of the ages is veiled. We can search carefully, get out our calculators and computers, look at calendars of coming events, and strain our minds over the times and the seasons, but in the end, we must simply wait on the Lord’s timing. As Jesus said in Acts 1:7, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.”

When He is ready, He will be back – but not a moment sooner. It won’t come by the desires or uninspired guesses of prognosticators; it will come by the wisdom of God.

Lord God, we sure would love to see Jesus, and we would very much like to sit in His presence and dine together. May that day be soon. But Lord God, Your will be done, not ours. Our garments are washed, our hearts are ready, and Your invitations are in our hand. When You call, we will respond with joy. Until then, we love You and we will be about the business You have for us. Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen.