1 & 2 Peter (Bible in 90 Days)

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Peter wrote to those who were suffering. He had been beaten, jailed and persecuted for his faith, but he knew Christ and his confidence would not be shaken.

In this time the first century church was being persecuted by both the Jews and the Roman government. Peter offered comfort and hope to a scattered and suffering church urging them to keep their faith in Christ.

1 Peter 1:7 -- "These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."

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Peter explains that it is through trials that we refine our faith. He encourages the people to live holy lives, trying to become more like Christ who died for them and rose again. He outlines the right attitude for troubled times, that it is inevitable but that God delivers.

1 Peter 4:12-13 -- "Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world."

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Second Peter was written three years after his first letter. These are his final recorded words to the church before his death and they are a warning. It is not a warning of the external persecutions, but of the attacks from within the church itself. These take the form, most often, as complacency and hearsay. He encourages each individual to know the facts of faith in Christ, to allow yourself to continue growing and maturing in that faith, and to reject all who would distort that truth.

2 Peter 2:1 -- "But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves."

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Even as Christians of present day, it is like Peter is speaking directly to us. We still have false prophets and teachers who claim to speak truth and fight for attention. But the  way to overcome them is to know Jesus Christ personally and actively read God's Word. By continuing to learn and grow in faith, you can confidently reject any teaching inconsistent with God's Word.

2 Peter 1:3-4 -- "By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires."

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Walk confidently in God's love and share with the world what it means to truly know Christ.