How does 1 Peter 1:12 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? The Prophetic Preview and the Mission Mandate • 1 Peter 1:12: “It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.” • Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Peter explains that Old-Testament prophets anticipated a gospel message intended for future hearers, while Jesus commands His disciples to deliver that very message worldwide. The two passages fit together seamlessly—prophecy fulfilled through mission. The Centrality of the Gospel • In 1 Peter 1:12 the “things now announced” are the saving events of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. • In Matthew 28 the heart of disciple-making is “teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you,” which centers on the same gospel truth. • Galatians 1:11-12 reminds us that this gospel is “not according to man,” reinforcing its divine origin hinted at by Peter. Both texts insist that the gospel is not optional information; it is the non-negotiable core entrusted to believers for proclamation. The Role of the Holy Spirit • Peter: the gospel is preached “by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.” • Jesus: disciples baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” and His continual presence (“I am with you always”) is realized through the Spirit (cf. John 14:16-17). The same Spirit who inspired the prophets now empowers the church for mission, guaranteeing that the message remains pure and powerful. Global Reach: “All Nations” • Prophets “were not serving themselves, but you”—pointing beyond Israel to a wider audience. • Jesus says, “make disciples of all nations,” explicitly extending salvation’s benefits worldwide. • Acts 1:8 echoes both texts: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses...to the ends of the earth.” God’s redemptive plan has always aimed for every ethnicity and language, fulfilling promises like Genesis 12:3 (“all families of the earth will be blessed”). Our Place in the Story 1 Peter 1:12 shows that believers stand at the privileged climax of revelation; what prophets foresaw we now experience. Matthew 28:19-20 adds responsibility: the revelation we enjoy must be shared. • We inherit a finished message—no need to invent, only to announce. • We carry forward a divine chain: prophets → apostles → us → future believers. • Hebrews 11:39-40 affirms that earlier saints “did not receive the promise” apart from us; their fulfillment depends on our faithful witness. Living Out the Connection Today 1. Treasure the gospel like the angels who “long to look” into it. 2. Trust the Holy Spirit’s enabling presence; He authored the message and fuels the mission. 3. Take the initiative—local neighborhoods and distant nations alike are in view. 4. Teach comprehensive obedience, not mere decisions, replicating Jesus’ pattern. 5. Remember Christ’s promise of continual presence; we never go alone. The prophets set the stage, Christ issued the command, and we now stand in the middle of God’s unfolding story—announcing, discipling, and watching heaven rejoice. |
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