The precious gift of saving faith sustains in times of suffering

In this passage we find God’s people suffering because of the incompatibility of faith with the world. The recipients of Peter’s letter were on the receiving end of persecution. He projects their minds way beyond their suffering to their salvation through undeserved grace and mercy.

Death is the ultimate weapon of the tyrant but Christ’s resurrection disarms it. Believers have a hope beyond the grave. In a world which can seemingly take everything, God gives what  can’t be taken. What all people need is faith which receives this inheritance. Faith is a shield, rejoices under trial, is invaluable, and causes us to be deeply in love with Jesus.

The prophets who ‘spoke of the grace which was to come’ to believers were consumed with the subject of salvation. The great Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, saw long beforehand that a virgin would give birth to a child named ‘Emmanuel’ which means ‘God with us.’ He also saw that ‘by his wounds’ God’s people would be healed. Peter is writing to believers who are suffering or awaiting it. He encourages them to look to the glories that will follow.