1 Peter 1:9-12

I will begin by saying a little more about verse 9. The goal of our faith is the "salvation of our souls". This means much more than that we will not be condemned to hell. It means that we are being transformed into the likeness of Christ. It means that all the corrupt parts of our nature are being put to death and replaces with the new nature. It means that where we were weak we are being made strong in Christ.

The gospel is not a replacement for the Old Testament, but the fulfilment of it. The OT prophets looked forward to the salvation that is in Christ. Indeed, they searched intently for it, this implies that it was the problem to which they were trying to seek a solution. Moreover, the prophets spoke of the grace that was to come. Isaiah is the supreme example of this, but Hosea and Micah also spring to mind. They wanted to know exactly what God was talking about when He spoke of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that would follow.

The OT prophets were not serving just their own age, but also us. In practical terms this means that we should read intently the Old Testament in the light of Christ, seeing how it further explains all that Christ is about. Note the implication that both the OT prophets and the preachers of the New Testament were inspired by the Holy Spirit.