“And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.”
(Luke 2:25)

Simeon was an old man who lived in Palestine at the time of Christ’s birth. God’s word describes him as “just and devout waiting for THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL.” The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he saw the Christ, the Messiah sent of God to be the Saviour of God’s chosen people (spiritual Israel, the church). Simeon knew and understood exactly who the Messiah would be and what the Messiah had come to accomplish. Simeon saw the baby with his physical eyes, but he saw the Lord’s Christ, the LORD our Righteousness, the consolation of Israel, with the eye of faith. This baby would grow into manhood, and in all that He would say and do up to and including His death, He would establish the only ground of peace between God and sinners. Simeon believed God’s promise to save him and bless him with all of salvation based on the merits of Christ — “For mine eyes have seen THY salvation.” (Luke 2:30)

Simeon also knew that Christ would be the Redeemer, not of the Jews only, but also of God’s people among the Gentiles — “Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:31-32). He knew that God justifies the ungodly based solely upon the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ freely imputed and received by faith. He knew that national heritage, circumcision, and religious efforts must be totally excluded from the ground of salvation. He saw that Christ’s righteousness alone justifies sinners before God and entitles sinners saved by grace to the whole inheritance of grace and glory. This is the consolation, the comfort and peace, of spiritual Israel, all who come to God seeking salvation based on the merits of the obedience and death of Christ.