1 Peter - Following Jesus Sample

Before we start reading Peter’s letter from the beginning, we are going to look at one verse right at its end. Here Peter tells these stressed and suffering Christians what he hopes his letter will do for them. This verse tells us what this letter can do for us too. Peter writes: 

With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it (1 Pet. 5:12).  

• Peter says he has been doing two things in his letter. What are they? 

When we are finding things tough, we need someone to come alongside us and encourage us. Peter wants to spur these believers on to keep going. He has also been telling them why it is so important that they do. 

‘Testifying’ sounds like something you might do in a law court under oath. It means declaring something is really true, whatever anyone else may say. Peter has been writing about Jesus and about following him. He wants to reassure his friends and convince them all over again. This gospel about Jesus really is the only way to experience God’s grace. 

• What does Peter also call on his Christian friends to do? 

Embracing this gospel will bring suffering as well as joy now, but these believers mustn’t be thrown off course. They are on the right track. There are always counterfeit ‘gospels’ around that offer an easier path through life. But these counterfeits will not bring us God’s grace. As rebellious sinners deserving God’s judgment, we need God’s grace so much. 

Peter’s readers had already received ‘the true grace of God’. The gospel about Jesus’ death and resurrection had been preached to them. They had been born again spiritually as they came to believe in Jesus. We will read all about that in chapter 2.

So they have begun as Christians. These believers have taken their stand on the great truths of the gospel of Jesus. But they must also ‘stand fast’ in ‘the true grace of God’ as the pressures mount. It is the only way they, and we, will stay safe in eternity. 

 Pray

Pray that this letter would encourage you and reassure you that the gospel is ‘the true grace of God’ so that you do ‘stand fast in it'.