The greats gift of all our salvation

Under the Old Covenant system salvation was a promise of God. Beginning in verse 10 Peter writes of this salvation the the prophets have inquired and searched carefully. (Peter 1:10) The Spirit took up residence within the writers of the Old Testament. That's why 2 Peter 1:21 says, "No prophecy was ever made by an act of human will...listen to this...but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." Salvation was the theme of the prophets' study, it was the theme of the Spirit's inspiration, it was the theme of the Apostles' testimony.

During the start of the New Covenant the Apostles  were living in a period of time were (all was ready but not yet). The old Covenant system was ready to vanish away (Hebrews 8:13)

Many Christians have assumed over the years that redemption/salvation was completed at the cross. However scri pture clearly says the Apostles were looking for complete salvation some years after the cross. Complete salvation was the first century saints "earnest expectation."

Paul writes of this in the epistle to the Romans:...... and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for i] with perseverance. (Rom. 8:17-25). ...Thus they spoke of this redemptive work as a hope.

Salvation i.e., "deliverance" was inaugurated in the ministry of Jesus. It was ratified or confirmed through the Cross [not at the Cross], and consummated in His Parousia. Think about it - if salvation was all in all secured at or on the Cross, then what need was there further for the Resurrection of the saints??? - do you follow? The Cross was the central part in securing our salvation..

Salvation came through or via the Cross of Calvary. The Victory of the Cross had an out working to completion in that generation. In 1 Peter 1:9 it says. receiving the end of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Weren’t the Apostles and their converts already saved? Yes they were, but not in the fulness that came with the Parousia......In Hebrews 9:28 we read..... so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. The Parousia of Christ and complete salvation are synonymous according to scri pture.

The cross was a process of salvation. Paul and all the Apostles know they hadn’t received all that was to be theirs, at the cross and their writings reflected that truth. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; (for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed). The night is far spent, the day is at hand. (Romans 13:11 emphasis added) Paul know the cross was the start of salvation not the final end to salvation.

Peter confirms this truth in his epistle as well. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heave for you, who are kept by the power of God through (faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time). ( 1 Peter 1:3-5 emphasis added) The inspired Apostles here writes some years (after the cross of salvation ready to be reviled). And I believe he was correct?

Complete salvation for believers living in the "last days" of the Old Covenant "age" had not yet been realized. They had not yet been "clothed upon" with the redemption for which they were waiting.

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. (2 Corinthians. 5:1-4).

We must be careful not to divide the two covenants to such an extent that we make them totally disconnected from each other. God introduced his plans of salvation, to Israel in the Old Testament. God used the types and shadows of the High Priest under the old covenant system to show the people of Israel his plans of working out salvation.

In Leviticus we read were Moses called Aaron the High Priest to going into tabernacle to make atonement for yourself and for the people sins. So they brought what Moses commanded before the tabernacle of meeting. And all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. Then Moses said, "This is the thing which the LORD commanded you to do, and the glory of the LORD will appear to you. "And Moses said to Aaron, "Go to the altar, offer your sin offering and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people. Offer the offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as the LORD commanded." (Leviticus 9:5-7)

According to the pattern of the Old Testament, forgiveness of sins (did come when the High Priest went into the tabernacle) but when the (High Priest came out of tabernacle and blessed the people of Israel). In Leviticus 9: 22-23 we read. Then Aaron lifted his hand toward the people, blessed them, and came down from offering the sin offering, the burnt offering, and peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting, and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people.

Notice here that Israel's did not know their sins were forgiven until Aaron the High Priest (came out of the tabernacle to bless the people). Question how could the people of Israel have known their sins had been forgiven if the High Priest Aaron had not came out of the tabernacle to bless them with the good news that God had accepted their atonement for sin another year? No one dear go into the tabernacle to see what happen because they know they would die on the spot. This is of vital importance, to understand how complete salvation was working out by Christ our High Priest in the New Testament.

All the Apostles understood this simple Old Testament High Priest concept and their writings reflected that truth. They understood the second reappearance of Christ simply as our High Priest coming out of the Holiest of all during the same age unto salvation..... so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time apart from sin, (for salvation). (Hebrews 9:27-28 emphasis added) " The earth High Priest pointed to a great spiritual truth or higher reality which is Christ This is of vital importance, to understand scri pture.

The writer of Hebrews as we see shows Christ Jesus fulfilling the type and shadow of Leviticus 9 placing the return of the High Priest in the same generation. Hebrew 9:24-26 (is out High Priest going into the tabernacle). For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another. He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

And Hebrew 9:28 is our High Priest (Coming out of the tabernacle). so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. There is also no such distinction made by the writer of Hebrews and Leviticus 9. The language used closely connects both appearing The Jews never had the concept of more then one coming with two phases to it. They saw one short fulfillment period with two phases to it. A atonement for sin phases 9:24-26 and a complete redemptive/salvation phases 9:28.

Thus Paul could write. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; (for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed). The night is far spent, the day is at hand. (Romans 13:11 emphasis added) If, we received complete salvation at the cross as many have assumed why did Paul mentioned within this verse "now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed"

Their Christian hope rested on the oath and promise of God. They knew their High Priest would return before that generation passed away. Jesus emphasized this in His teaching many times. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. (Matthew 10:23)

So they waited in eager anticipation for the finished work of salvation, or atonement. Peter wrote of these very things: “. . . who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:5)

So on thanksgiving we have a lot to be thankful for. We should be thankful for God keeping his holy words. We should be thankful for the blessed assurance of complete salvation not just the hope of salvation. We should be thankful to the Lord for the redemptive work through your Son. We should be thankful for the gift of complete salvation.