SALVATION - Our salvation is a gracious gift from God. He chose us out of his love for us ... Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins & the Holy Spirit cleansed us from sin when we believed. Eternal life is a wonderful gift for those who trust in Christ.
Our safety & security are in God. If we experience joy in our relationship with Christ now, how much greater will our joy be when he returns, & we see him face to face. Such a hope should motivate us to serve Christ with a greater commitment.
PERSECUTION - Peter offers faithful believers comfort & hope. We should expect ridicule, rejection, and suffering because we are Christians. Persecution makes us stronger because it refines our faith. We can face persecution victoriously, as Christ did, if we rely on him.
Christians still suffer for what they believe. We should expect persecution, but we don’t have to be terrified by it. The fact that we will live eternally with Christ should give us the confidence, patience, & hope to stand firm even when we are persecuted.
GOD’S FAMILY - We are privileged to belong to God’s family, a community with Christ as the founder & foundation. Everyone in this community is related - we are all brothers & sisters, loved equally by God.
Because Christ is the foundation of our family, we must be devoted, loyal, & faithful to him. By obeying him, we show that we are his children. We must accept the challenge to live differently from the society around us.
FAMILY LIFE - Peter encouraged the wives of unbelievers to submit to their husbands’ authority as a means of winning them to Christ. He urged all family members to treat others with love, compassion, & humility.
We must treat our families lovingly. Though it’s never easy, willing service is the best way to influence loved ones. To gain the strength we need for self-discipline & submission, we need to pray for God’s help.
JUDGMENT - God will judge everyone with perfect justice. We all will face God. He will punish the evildoers & those who persecute God’s people. Those who love him will be rewarded with life forever in his presence.
Because all are accountable to God, we can leave judgment of others to him. We must not hate or resent those who persecute us. We should realize that we will be held responsible for how we live each day.
Next we will take our first look at Peter’s 2nd letter. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.
In His Name & for His Glory,
Richard Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
Source: The Life Application Study Bible
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