Committing by Faith

I Peter 1:8-14

God offered salvation for every person, choosing that everyone who would believe would be saved. John 3:16 tells us he did so because he loved us. Because real love is not blind to the faults of those loved, God recognized our propensity to rebel and made provision to keep us saved by his power. Only as we begin to appreciate his unselfish love for us do we begin to love him. As I John 4:19 says, “We love him, because he first loved us.”

During the settling of the West there were a lot of “mail order brides.” A young man would contact friends or relatives about his desire for a wife, and ask them to seek a suitable one. When one was found, correspondence would be established, and if everything went well, they would commit to marry. The woman would travel to where he was and marry the man, hopefully having fallen in love with him despite never having met him. While not every marriage turned out well, some of the greatest love stories of history resulted from this period. Our relationship with Christ started in a similar fashion as those marriages, without having ever seen the fiancé until the wedding.

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (I Peter 1:8-9)

We receive salvation like those women got marriage, taking Christ by faith in a similar way, assured that it will be satisfactory. The old prophets were somewhat like the acquaintances recommending the marriage. Honest ones inquired carefully into the nature of both parties before recommending they get together. Having never experienced salvation themselves, the prophets were especially curious as to what was entailed.

“Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” (I Peter 1:10-11)

While the plan had been completed before the foundation of the world was laid, the mechanism by which we are saved, the crucifixion of Christ had not been accomplished. The prophets were like people looking at a set of house plans and trying to envision the house. Even the best builders and designers find it hard to visualize exactly how the house will look. The prophets had similar difficulty. The one to whom it matters most is the person having the home built. Salvation was not for them, but for us, and the prophets needed to convey what God was creating to us. Even their best pictures only partially portray what the end result is like.

“Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” (I Peter 1:12)

Until the mail order bride commits to the marriage, travels to the place where the wedding is scheduled, and goes through with it, she is not married. If she chickens out at any point, there will be no marriage. It doesn‘t matter how bad the homebuyer wants the home, until the contract is signed, the customer can change their mind about what they want, so the builder does not start building it. Until the person makes the necessary commitment to Christ, salvation is not received. Everything is already ready, but we need to put away our doubts and commit fully, looking forward to what we expect to receive as a result. We must not let a fear of making wrong decisions, buyer’s remorse, or fear of change prevent completing the deal.

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:” (I Peter 1:13-14)

A new marriage, or a new house will require making some changes. We cannot continue exactly as before. The same is true with starting a Christian life. Some changes will need to be made.In his great discourse about counting the cost in Luke 14, Jesus states that it will be necessary to make that commitment in order to be saved. Luke 14:33 sums up the teaching. “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”