The Angels' Delight in Salvation

Q: What does the Bible say about salvation?

The Bible reveals salvation as a planned act of God, detailed by Old Testament prophets and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Salvation is a central theme of Scripture, as highlighted in 1 Peter 1:10-12 where the apostle Peter discusses how the prophets inquired about the grace that would come through Christ. This salvation, which the prophets searched diligently, is linked to the sufferings of Christ and the glory that would follow, emphasizing its importance in God's redemptive plan. The prophets ministered truths that were ultimately revealed to the apostles, who preached about this salvation with the help of the Holy Spirit, making it a consistent subject throughout both Testaments. Therefore, salvation is depicted as planned by God and intricately linked to the life and work of Christ.

Q: How do we know the doctrines of grace are true?

The truth of the doctrines of grace is rooted in Scripture and affirmed through the witness of the Holy Spirit. The doctrines of grace, often expressed through the acronym TULIP, find their foundation in the biblical narrative and systematic theology that emphasizes God's sovereignty in salvation. The sermons and writings that explore these doctrines substantiate that all aspects of salvation—total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints—are clearly articulated in Scripture. Key passages, such as Ephesians 1 and Romans 8, support the premise that salvation is wholly initiated and completed by God. Moreover, the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit assures believers of this truth, leading to a deep conviction of God’s unchanging grace and mercy.

Q: Why is the concept of angels important for Christians?

Angels are important in Christianity as they confirm God’s majesty and minister to believers in the realm of salvation. In Scripture, angels serve vital roles as ministering spirits, as highlighted in themes presented in sermons based on 1 Peter 1:10-12. They express a longing to understand the depths of salvation, which is unique to humanity, as seen in their desire to look into God's redemptive work for sinners. Furthermore, angels were present in key moments of Christ's incarnation, ministry, and resurrection, signifying their role as God's messengers. Believers are reminded of their presence and actions that affirm God's greatness, as angels rejoice over each sinner that repents. Their interest in the workings of grace underlines the profound nature of salvation and the cosmic significance of Christ's work.

Q: What is the significance of the mercy seat in relation to salvation?

The mercy seat symbolizes God's mercy and the place where atonement and communion between God and humanity occurs. The mercy seat, described in Exodus 25:17-22, represents the culmination of God's covenant relationship with His people through atonement. It serves as a type that points to Christ, the ultimate mercy seat, revealed in the New Testament as being central to the work of salvation. The high priest would sprinkle blood on the mercy seat on the Day of Atonement, symbolizing the propitiation of sins and the reconciliation between God and man. This foreshadowing demonstrates the perfect fulfillment found in Christ, who became a merciful High Priest and made atonement for His people, thereby covering the law with His grace and ensuring that justice and mercy unite at the cross.

Let us turn again to God's Word and turn into the portion of Holy Scripture that we were considering last Lord's Day in the First General Epistle of Peter chapter 1 and our text remember was verses 10, 11, and 12. So turning to that same portion once again in 1 Peter chapter 1 at verse 10 through 12.

Of which salvation? In the previous verse Peter addressing these strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia who are the elect he says according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. He speaks of them in verse 9, receiving the end of their faith. even the salvation of their souls. And then, as I was saying at verse 10, 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. 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 these words and we were considering and I spoke last time of how here we see that there is a threefold interest in this salvation which the Apostle is writing. We thought then it's the salvation that was actually preached by the prophets of the Old Testament. That's quite clear from what he says in verses 10 and 11 through to the beginning of verse 12.

And then in verse 12 he goes on to say that this salvation the great theme of the Old Testament prophetic ministry remember the testimony of Jesus the spirit of prophecy that this salvation is also the same as was being preached by the apostles of the New Testament that's made quite clear in verse 12 he speaks there at the beginning of the prophets unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us, that is us of this day of grace, these last days, this gospel dispensation, unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves in the Old Testament 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 and so it's not only the subject matter of the Old Testament prophets but this salvation is the great subject matter of the apostolic ministry in the New Testament and The last Lord's Day, of course, we read there in Acts 2 of the great and auspicious day of Pentecost, when that day was fully come, when that day had its accomplishment with the outpouring of the Spirit of God and the preaching, the preaching of Peter.

We read Peter's sermon and how clearly that man was under a remarkable unction of the Spirit of God all of the apostles of course we see there were so anointed by the Spirit of God that they were able to speak in tongues and the tongues that they spoke it was nothing to do with gibberish No, it says in verse 4, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

And the tongues were languages, no languages. When it was noised abroad, we're told in verse 6, the multitude came together and they were confounded because every man heard them speak in his own language. They had not learned these languages, and yet they're uttering the gospel of the grace of God in these diverse languages of all these who have gathered for the feast of Pentecost Galileans, Parthians, Medes, Elamites, dwellers in Mesopotamia and so on and so forth. A multitude of different languages. What is this then? It's a miracle.

We're told, aren't we, concerning those Old Testament prophets, they spake as they were moved by the Spirit of God. They spake, those prophets, as they were being carried along, borne along by the Spirit of God. They weren't speaking their own words, the prophets. They would say, Thus and thus saith the Lord. And it's the same sort of ministry that these apostles are also exercising. they're speaking inspired words. They were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. And the verb, the choose there, this verb to utter as reference to speaking revelatory language.

There is a certain uniqueness and we have to recognize this about apostolic ministry. There's no apostles anymore. but of course these men are speaking the words of God before the complete canon of scripture is completed, the Old Testament was there but we also now have the New Testament scriptures they didn't have the New Testament scriptures and they're speaking these remarkable words and of course this really comes out, I made some little reference to it last week but I thought it might be profitable just to read the article, our articles of faith the gospel standard articles And there in Article 32, and it's much disputed and debated, but this is what it says, Article 32, we believe that it would be unsafe from the brief records we have of the way in which the apostles, under the immediate direction of the Lord, addressed their hearers in certain special cases and circumstances to derive absolute and universal rules for ministerial addresses in the present day, under widely different circumstances. And we further believe that an assumption that others have been inspired as the apostles were has led to the grossest errors amongst both Romanists and professed Protestants. We recognize then that there is something quite unique about that apostolic ministry. But they're speaking, aren't they, of salvation.

They're speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ. the one who was the great subject matter of those Old Testament prophets the testimony of Jesus the spirit of prophecy we read in Revelation 19.10 but these are some of those things we were considering last time so we thought of Old Testament and the prophets we thought of New Testament and the apostles But then, strangely, at the end of verse 12 we find these words concerning this salvation which things the angels desire to look into.

How remarkable that angels, angelic beings, have this desire to look into the salvation that they have no real interest in. There are elect angels and there are fallen angels. But the fallen angels, no provision was ever made for fallen angels. When the Lord Jesus Christ came, he was made a little lower than angels for the suffering of death. He came to save sinners of humanity.

And yet, all the elect angels, how they love to look into these things. And so, That's the theme I really want to take up for a while tonight, that salvation that is the delight of the angels. And we see it throughout the Scriptures, and so I want to speak of it in terms of Old Testament and New Testament, as the salvation is the subject matter of the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament apostles, so we see how in both Testaments the angels are taking an interest in that salvation. First of all we see it being foreshadowed in the Old Testament and then of course we see all the fullness of that salvation in the New Testament.

And so I read that short portion in Exodus 25 concerning the tabernacle and the furniture of the tabernacle. and there of course in that portion that we read Moses is being directed by the Lord God with regards to the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat and how significant these things are He is to be so careful that he makes everything according to the pattern that was shown to him there in the mount. It says that, doesn't it, in Exodus 25 verse 9. And in the other portion that we read, in Hebrews, we have the 8th chapter there, and the words that we have in verse 5. Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle for Sesephi that they'll make all things according to the pattern shown to thee in the mount. There's something significant about these various furnishings that they're going to employ in the tabernacle when they come to worship God.

There's something very important about these things. Because of course, what we have there is that that is typical, it's type. And Christ is the anti-type. There we have a foreshadowing. When we come to the New Testament we see that the body is of Christ, but there's an anticipation as it were. There's Christ there in type and in figure.

And again, last Lord's Day when we were thinking about the Old Testament prophets and how they had that great interest in the salvation which is in the Lord Jesus Christ. I referred you to the language that we have in the last chapter of Luke's Gospel, Luke 24, when we see the Lord speaking to his disciples after his resurrection.

Those two on the road to Emmaus, remember? as their eyes were holding they didn't recognize who this person was and the Lord begins to speak to them and question them concerning the reason for their sadness and they explained that the one that they thought was the promised Messiah had been crucified And now they're hearing strange tales from some of the womenfolk that he's risen from the dead. And the Lord begins to speak to them. Their eyes are whole and they don't recognize it. And what does he say?

Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and at the prophets, He expanded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. We said last week, you see how He speaks of the prophets, but He also speaks of Moses, beginning at Moses and all the prophets. And then as those two return to Jerusalem, and we subsequently find them with the others there in the upper room, how the Lord speaks to all of them later that same first day of the week. And what does he say?

Verse 44, These are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Lord of Moses. Those things written in the Lord of Moses, as well as the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning me, they opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures. Christ is there then not only in the prophets of the Old Testament Christ is there in the books of Moses I know the law was given by Moses grace and truth came by Jesus Christ that's all the fullness of grace and truth but be not mistaken there's gospel in the first five books and there's much gospel there of course in the book of Leviticus much in the book of Exodus where we read of the tabernacle and all those furnishings and when we come over to Leviticus of course it's all that they had to do there in the tabernacle the sacrifices and the great feast that they had to celebrate and all of this is type and it's all pointing and directing the true spiritual Israelite to him that was to come the Lord Jesus Christ and so think of the significance of what we read there in that 25th chapter of Exodus the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat that was to form, as it were, a covering over the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark, we read, was to contain the testimony that God would give them. What was the testimony?

Well, that's the Ten Commandments. That's the Law of God. The purpose of the Ark was that it should contain the covenant in terms of those two tables of the law, the Ten Commandments. They were laid in it. Now, what is the purpose of the law of God?

Well, by the law we are told is the knowledge of sin. In 2 Corinthians 3 Paul speaks of the law as the ministration of condemnation, the ministration of death. Whatsoever things the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, as all men are brought in guilty before God. That's the ministry of the law. Whosoever commiteth sin transgretteth also the law. Sin is the transgression of the law.

And we see remarkable things here in Exodus. Remember in Exodus 32-33 we are told, aren't we, how when Moses is in the mount receiving all this instruction and the people are weary, what not, what's become of the man? And they speak to Aaron and Aaron makes the golden calf. and they think they can worship God by means of an idol. And God sends Moses down from the mount. Oh, how God, you see, sees that they've already transgressed his commandments.

They shall not make unto thee any graven image. Moses comes down from the mount and he has the two tables of the Lord in his hand and he breaks the tables there at the foot of the mountains, indicating, you see, that the transgressors, they've broken the law.

This is telling us what the law is. It's administration of death and condemnation. It requires that men are to keep those commandments perfectly. It's a wonderful law. The law is holy, says Paul. The commandment is holy and just and good. But how it shows men what they are as sinners.

And men are to keep the whole of it. Whosoever shall keep the whole law and offend in one point is guilty of all, says James. There must be that complete, that perfect obedience in thought, in word, in deed. All the significance then of what's in the ark, the law of God.

And it shows us what we are as sinners. Ah, but then the wonderful symbolism when we think of the covering. How is the law that's in the Ark of the Covenant covered? It's covered with what God refers to as a mercy seat. It's a seat. It's the throne of God really. Thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark says God and he says there he will meet with the children of Israel and there he will commune with them and what happens there at the mercy seat well think of the great day of atonement how the high priest on that day is to go beyond the second veil into the holy of holies and is to take with him the blood of sacrifice blood of a trespass offering and a sin offering and he's to sprinkle it above the mercy seat, upon the mercy seat, before the mercy seat. It's a blood-sprinkled mercy seat. And the mercy seat, yeah, he's read of how it was to be constructed. It's a covering, it's a lid in a sense, but how ornate it is.

On each end of the mercy seat, there's a cherub on each end, the cherubim. And the cherubim, these are angels, or an image of angels, and they have two wings and their wings are covering the mercy seat. and their eyes are towards the mercy seat. They're looking one to another but their eyes are gazing really upon the mercy seat. These cherubim, you see, the angels, they desire to look into these things, all that's taking place there in the Old Testament.

And the shedding of blood. Without the shedding of blood there's no remission of sins. but here is the high priest and he comes in that great day of atonement the most holy day in the Jewish year and the high priest sprinkles the blood the blood of sacrifice and there's the forgiveness of sins and there's reconciliation and God says there in Exodus 25, 22 how he will come and commune with his people from between the cherubims it's all a foreshadowing but when we come to the New Testament the body is of Christ we have the substance of these things there we have salvation as it were in type and in figure but when we come to the New Testament we see the Lord Jesus Christ the great anti-type and so turning in the second place to the fulfillment as we see it in the Lord Jesus Christ all the the tabernacle itself of course is a type of Christ that tent of meeting and when we read there in Hebrews 8 are we not told quite specifically of a tabernacle that was not pitched by men Moses would pitch that tabernacle as we read there at the end of the book of Exodus but remember the portion that we read Hebrews 8 verse 2 we read of a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man That tabernacle in the Old Testament is typical, but here we read of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched.

Well, what is this true tabernacle? It's a reference to God become man, it's a reference to the Incarnation. Paul speaks, doesn't he, of our own bodies as a tabernacle. There in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, he says, We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle, he's speaking of our body, were dissolved, we have a building of God and house not made with hands eternal in the heavens. For in this body, this tabernacle, we groan earnestly, desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven. If so be that being clothed, we shall not be found naked.

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened. Oh well, poor Falchitz! In me, that is, in my flesh dwelleth no good thing. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? We that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened, not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

And the Lord Jesus Christ had a body, a human body, as real as yours or mine. He was a real man, he had body and soul. And oh! He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. Now at times we see Him groaning in His body. Not that there's any sin in Him, there's no sin in Him at all. He's holy, He's armless, He's undefiled, He's separate from sinners, He's made higher than the heavens.

But He's living in this fallen world, this wicked world. and it is God who has thus clothed him with that the body is so prepared we read in Hebrews 10 Christ is the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man and Christ is the antitype of all the various furnishings of the tabernacle he is the antitype of the mercy seat Now the mercy seat you see is above the Ark of the Covenant.

There, the two tables containing the Ten Commandments. And Christ, I say, is that One who is above the Lord. The Lord is that schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. The law was given 400 years before the Ten Commandments were given, when God entered into covenant with Abraham. The Gospel as the priority in all these things.

And here we see the Lord Jesus as that one who is clearly the great antitype of the mercy seat. in Hebrews 9 the apostle goes on to speak of some of the furniture of the tabernacle and he speaks of the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat there in Hebrews 9.5 cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat and you know that word Mercy seat, it's exactly the same word that Paul uses here in Romans 3.25 concerning Christ whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood. The mercy seat was the place where the atonement was made on the great day of atonement.

Propitiation, a sacrifice, God's justice satisfied well we could read Romans 3.25 and say of Christ whom God hath set forth to be a mercy seat he is the mercy seat, he is the fulfilment of the mercy seat and as I was saying in Christ all the law is altogether satisfied or when he comes into this world he is made of a woman he is the seed of the woman isn't he? the woman is first in the transgression she's tempted of satan through the serpent and she partakes of the forbidden fruit and she gives to adam and adam partakes of the same fruit but she's first in the transgression but when we have that great first promise of the gospel there in genesis 3 15 it's the words isn't it that the lord god speaks to Eve concerning her seed That seed of the woman is going to bruise the serpent's head. Though his heel be bruised, he will crush the serpent.

The great promise of the Gospel. Christ made of a woman. He has no human father. But his human nature is derived from his virgin mother. That's the wonder of it. But he's also made under the law. made of a woman made under the law to redeem them that were under the law that they might receive the adoption of sons. What does Christ do? He comes under that law in order that he might honor that law and magnify that law. And there we see the greatest of all God's works and the angel The angels have an interest, have a desire to look into these things.

We sometimes sing that lovely hymn of William Gadsby, In his highest work redemption, See his glory in a blaze, Nor can angels ever mention Ought that more of God displays. Think of that. What theology is there in Gadsby's poetry? Nor can angels ever mention aught that more of God displays.

Angels are in the presence of God. Angels are about the throne of God. They do the bidding of God. We see it, don't we, in Isaiah's vision back in the sixth chapter of his prophecy. And yet, they behold the wondrous works of God here upon earth in redemption. in the work that the Lord Jesus Christ came to accomplish.

And what are these angels? They're ministering spirits and they're sent to minister to the heirs of salvation. But how do they actually minister to the Lord Jesus Christ here upon the earth? Well, how remarkable is that? They minister to the Lord Jesus Christ when we think of his birth. Wasn't there a great ministry of the angels? I often think when we read the Gospels, it's quite remarkable because with the Incarnation you see a great deal of demonic activity and the Lord performing miracles and casting demons out of men. But it's not just that there's a lot of activity by the fallen angels, we see so much ministry by the elect angels. And now they minister to the Lord Jesus Christ. in his birth.

Who is it that comes to speak to Mary? It's Gabriel who tells her what God is about to do. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, the power of the higher shall overshadow thee, also that holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. remarkable isn't it? it's an angel who comes to make this announcement the angel appears to Joseph and tells him he's not to put his his betrothed away she's with child yes but she's with child of the Holy Ghost it's the angel who comes to Zacharias the father of John the Baptist the forerunner of Christ All these angels, the shepherds, oh that's remarkable, isn't it? What we read concerning the shepherds. They're attending their flocks near Bethlehem.

And suddenly we're told there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying glory to God in the highest on earth, on earth peace, good will towards men. all remarkable remarkable things in this ministry of the angels and you know even in his life after Christ is baptized and anointed at his baptism of course the heavens open and the Spirit descends upon him in the form of a dove the Father giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him what an anointing there and the father speaking those words from heaven this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased and then he's led of the spirit into the wilderness and he's tempted 40 days and 40 nights he's tempted and then Matthew tells us the devil leaveth him and behold angels came and ministered unto him they're ministering spirit you see or they take an interest in the Lord Jesus Christ and all of his ministry and then at the end when we see him in all the agonies of the garden of Gethsemane wrestling with his father in prayers he's a real man, he's no stoic the Lord Jesus he's a man of deep emotions if it be possible let this cup pass from me he says now his human will is wrestling with the divine will if it be possible let this come pass from me nevertheless not my will but thine be done and we're told out there appeared an angel unto him to strengthen him he knew something of the ministry of angels those ministering spirits sent forth to be or to minister to the heirs of salvation and the Lord Jesus is that one of course who has come and in all that life that he lived has he not satisfied the holy law of God in all his life he's honoured it he's magnified it he's not concerned to do his own will, but his great burden is to do the will of him who sent him and to finish his work.

And so what do we see in the Lord Jesus? We see that Lord of God fulfilled. And when we go back, you see, to the Mercy Seat in the Old Testament and the Mercy Seat in relation to the Ark of the Covenant containing the the Lord of Gods the Ten Commandments you may have observed as we were reading through the passage that that mercy seat was such a perfect fit the measurements are exact in verse 10 and in verse 17 exact the mercy seat covers all of the Ark and so the Lord is well pleased for His righteousness sake.

He will magnify the law and make it honourable. That's what Christ has done. Always the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes. And that one who obeyed every commandment throughout his earthly life is ultimately obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. He doesn't just honour the law and magnify the law in terms of all its precepts, obeying every commandment, every statute, but he also honours the law in terms of all its dreadful penalty, because he dies. And he dies for the unjust to bring sinners to God.

God hath made him to be sin for us says Paul writing to the Corinthians he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believe that's the Lord Jesus Christ but those those angels they take such an interest in him they are there aren't they at the resurrection as they were there at the birth they are there about the empty tomb you think of the empty tomb that passage that we have in John's account in John chapter 20 John's account of the resurrection of Christ and the words that we find in verses 11 and 12 here is Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb what do we read verse 11 Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre and seeth two angels in white sitting the one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lay. How significant is that?

The tomb is empty, Christ is risen, but where Christ's body lay Mary witnesses an angel at one end where his head lay and another angel at the end where his feet lay. Does he not remind us of those cherubim, one on each end of the mercy seat and their eyes towards the mercy seat? here they are, they witness to his resurrection from the dead, he's no more there and even when he comes to his ascension is he not angels that we read of there in the opening chapter of the Acts of the Apostles where we see the Lord ascending to heaven he'd shown himself over 40 days to his disciples as proof of his resurrection But now he must ascend on high, he must return to his father in heaven. And so there in Acts 1 verse 10, while they looked, that's the disciples, while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go to heaven." They not only witness his ascension, but they speak of his coming again. All the angels, they love to look into these things.

They love to look into these things. and still they love to look into these things throughout this day of grace they love to behold the accomplishment and the application of all that remarkable work that was accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ all that fulfillment of what we have back in Exodus 25 which we see in the mercy seat with the cherubim one on each end looking to the mercy seat and all that God does in mercy in order to the salvation of sinners we've preached in times past on that remarkable little theological gem that we find in in 1st Timothy 3.16 interesting isn't it chapter 3 verse 16 it's not unprofitable to go through the Bible and to see what striking words often appear chapter 3 verse 16, and there in Timothy, without controversy great is the mystery of godliness.

God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. In all of those statements full of remarkable gospel truth and amongst them of course we read of him as one who was seen of the angels manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit seen of angels seen of angels which things the angels desire to look into I was struck by a simple comment by Robert Layton in his his commentary on Peter he says of these angels they are but beholders they are but beholders and he goes on yea they seem to be losers what does he mean they are but beholders yea they seem to be losers well Christ took not on him the nature of angels he took upon him the seed of Abraham and for as much as the children were partakers of flesh and blood he likewise took part of the same he was made a little lower than the angels or we see Jesus made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death he does not come to save any angels no provision was ever made for the fallen angels Oh, but what a wonder! What a wonder all of this is to the angels! And how Joseph Swain brings it out really in his hymn, angels here may gaze and wonder what the God of love could mean when he tore that heart asunder, never once defiled by sin.

Oh, how the angels delight to look into these things, the wonder of these things. And they take an interest, you see, in what goes on in the church. That's clear from what we are told in Ephesians 3 verse 10. "...to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God." All makes that quite clear. Principalities and powers, that's referring to angelic beings. to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers, the angels, those glorious heavenly beings might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.

That's why when the apostle is dealing with the matter of the practical matter of the women's head covering for example in 1 Corinthians 11 10 women are to have power the woman is to have power on her head it says because of the angels because of the angels angels take an interest you see is there not joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth angels have an interest in this salvation of which the Apostle Peter is speaking in these verses look at the context as we close those previous verses he speaks of Jesus Christ at the end of verse 7 and then he says 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. The salvation of your souls, of which salvation? The salvation of your soul, the salvation of my soul. Of which salvation?

The prophets have enquired. And they searched diligently, searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did testify. And it's revealed to them that not unto themselves but unto us they minister these things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you." The great theme of the apostolic gospel is salvation, is wondrous salvation, which things the angels desire to look into.

Do we really look into these things? Do we really trouble ourselves to look into these things, to understand these things, the wonder of these things? All this truth that God has shown to us in His Word. We're not worthy. We're not worthy of the least of His favours. And all the truth that He has shown unto us in His Word are we those who would inquire into these things and want to understand these things and know these things and not just with our minds not just have an intellectual awareness of the wonder of these things but also have the experience to know what it is for that gospel to be preached unto us with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven what is all your hearing of sermons or my trying to preach sermons if we know nothing of that blessed ministry of the Spirit and if we know that ministry of the Spirit we'll want surely to look into these things the angels look into these things or do we desire to look into these things and that God would come and open our our understanding and grant such a gracious application that we believe these things in our hearts and we will be obedient to the Lord's voice as he comes and speaks to us in the gospel of his grace what's the mark of his sheep they know his voice Lord you know that voice the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ he gives eternal life and those who have that eternal life shall never perish or that it might be your possession tonight that it might truly be my possession that we might know these things and have an interest in these things which the angels can never have they might desire to look into these things but they can never know them in their in their experience because this salvation is for sinners of mankind sinners like you and like me and thank God for that or the Lord Bless His Word to us.

Amen.

The Angels' Delight in Salvation

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about salvation?

How do we know the doctrines of grace are true?

Why is the concept of angels important for Christians?

What is the significance of the mercy seat in relation to salvation?

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The Angels' Delight in Salvation

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about salvation?

How do we know the doctrines of grace are true?

Why is the concept of angels important for Christians?

What is the significance of the mercy seat in relation to salvation?

Sermon Transcript

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