Peter affirms that faith is a gift from God that is equally valuable as the robust and resilient faith of the apostles, even Peter himself. Moreover, God gives through the true knowledge of Him all that is necessary for godly living.

Peter shows us that the true grace of God is the full orbed salvation from election and regeneration to sanctification and suffering for Christ, and ultimately our future glory in Christ.

We are in a spiritual warfare. Peter, therefore, calls us to alertness and sobriety of mind, to be steadfast in our faith. He urges us with the danger at hand, portraying our enemy as a prowling and voracious lion. But God is in control. He will use every onslaught of the enemy to advance His purpose to sanctify and strengthen His people.

Submission and humility are to mark the people of God. We want God’s grace in our lives, and this means we embrace humility as the mode of life, both before God and men.

Elders are to shepherd the people of God even through times of persecution with eagerness and by example.

Persecution should not catch us by surprise, and when it comes, we fall back on these encouragements of the Apostle Peter.

Christ is coming again. Peter shows us how we are to prepare for His imminent return. We pray, love, share, and serve.

All disciples of Christ also suffer with Christ. Our obedience to the Lord is a cross-bearing, self-denying, Christ-imitating surrender to the will of God.

All who are biblically baptized share a common commitment to live in obedience to the Lord, to be dead to sin and self and alive to God in Christ. Peter reminds us that suffering is a part of the Christian life and that it is never an excuse to sin against the Lord.

Even though it is difficult to harm generous benefactors, believers do suffer persecution. How are we to respond in times of unfair treatment by unbelievers? Peter tells us how.