1 Peter - Following Jesus Sample

Peter’s letter is very nearly done. Before he ends, Peter wants to lay out very clearly why he has written to his dear friends. Look over verse 12 once again and remember Peter’s purpose.

• So, why did Peter write this letter (v. 12)?

Peter has said so much that is encouraging! He has told his Christian readers about their present privileges as God’s chosen ones and the future glories which are coming.

But Peter doesn’t just want to make his friends feel better. He wants to encourage them to do better too. Every privilege of the Christian life has a job description attached. These believers have been chosen to be obedient to Jesus Christ.

Peter has written to encourage these believers to live out God’s plans and purposes for them. He wants them to declare God’s praises and to live such good lives amongst the pagans that those pagans will come to glorify God too.

But living amongst the pagans has its problems. Life as a believer now can be very tough. Peter has also written to testify that ‘this is the true grace of God’ (v. 12). There is suffering now but there is glory to come. It was that way for Christ; it will be that way for Christians too. They follow in their Lord’s footsteps.

• What is Peter’s very last command to these believers (v. 12)?

Don’t turn tail and run back to your old way of living. Don’t keel over under the pressure. You have the true grace of God. Don’t give up!

Peter is rooting for his friends, but many others are concerned for them too, as we see in verses 12–14. There is a great deal of brotherly love in these last verses. Peter’s readers may feel like strangers in the world, but they have a big Christian family who love them and want to encourage them to keep going.

If Peter’s readers thought they had it hard, the church in Rome (‘Babylon’) probably had it worse. But those believers too have been chosen by God. You can’t spot God’s chosen ones by the easy lives he organises for them.

Remember, it is not your physical location which matters, but your spiritual one. All believers live ‘in Christ’ (v. 14). That is what matters. This really is the true grace of God. ‘Stand fast in it’ (v. 12)!

Pray

Pray that what you have learnt from Peter’s letter would encourage you, reassure you that ‘this is the true grace of God’ and help you to ‘stand fast in it’.