Why is it so hard to see?
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,11 inquiring what person or time[a] the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 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.
––1 Peter 1:10-12
Have you ever been lost? I’m not referring to what happens right before Siri tells you to turn around when possible. Imagine going for a hike in the woods. You begin knowing where you are, but as you explore the trails more deeply, you find yourself a bit turned around. You don’t immediately think, “I’m lost,” but, in truth, you are. And when you realize it, you panic.
Robert Webster has observed that genuine Christians all have at least one crisis moment––one moment when they realize that they are lost. It is this moment that defines them as genuine Christians. When one is lost, the most precious gift they can receive is being rescued. Just ask anyone every truly lost in the woods.
Salvation is what is offered to lost people. But it is only prized if you believe that you are genuinely lost. Peter begins his first letter to a people who were lost in this world. In fact, he describes them as exiles here because this is not their (or our) home.
As he begins the body of the letter, he describes this precious gift of salvation. First, he grounds it in faith; faith gifted to us by God the Father through God the Son. Peter describes us as recipients of a great inheritance; one that cannot be destroyed or corrupted, and is unfading in its radiance.
From there he addresses the trials that these exiles are enduring; describing them as used of God to test the genuineness of their faith. He concludes this section by telling them that the outcome of this faith is salvation.
Our verses comprise the next section. Here Peter tells us three things about our salvation. First, it was foretold. Peter tells us that the prophets “searched and inquired carefully” about the promised Messiah who would accomplish salvation for us through his sufferings and subsequent glories (death and resurrection). Salvation is not a new idea. It is not an alternate plan. It is foretold by the prophets because saving his people has always been God’s ordained plan. Second, Peter tells us that this salvation is for us. We are the blessed recipients of this precious gift of salvation… again precious only because we know just how lost we were.
Lastly, Peter tells us that this salvation is so precious a gift that even the angels long to look upon it. Why is this so? Afterall, angels do not need salvation. They are not lost.[1] I have three theories:
- Angels, being without sin, know God better than we currently do. As such, they know that if God gives a gift, it must be precious. Angels, knowing the character of God, know that this must be a beautiful gift indeed. Have you ever known someone who thought deeply about a gift for someone they loved? If so, then would it not be natural for you to want to hear about when they gave it; if possible, to witness it yourself. Why? Because you know the giver and as such, you know that it will be a beautiful gift.
- Angels, being without sin, know the Son better than we currently do. As such, they would delight to see this gift that will perfect the bride of Christ. After all, everyone––even angels––loves a wedding, and heaven is commonly described as a marriage banquet feast.
- Angels, knowing that we are made a little lower than they are, for a time (Ps. 8), would delight to see this precious gift designed to perfect us, such that we would more fully reflect the glory of God in the Son as members of his body.
Maybe you also have a theory about why the angels long to look upon our salvation, but the more pressing question before us is why don’t we?
If Peter, a recipient of salvation, and the angels who do not need salvation, both can see its beauty, why do we struggle to do so?
Of course, the answer is sin. After all, the elect angels didn’t have this problem. But Peter did. So, it would seem clear that Peter endeavored to kill sin in him because, by sheer grace, God had shown him that he was indeed lost. Of course, we could go on to discuss the particulars of killing sin. In fact, that is exactly what Peter does. But, we must first come to cherish this gift of salvation as both Peter and the angels did.
[1] Scripture teaches us that angels fall into two main categories: fallen and elect. Redemption is only for image bearers so angels do not qualify. However, one could understand why fallen angels may long to see salvation. Yet, I believe that Peter is here referring to elect angels.