At the beginning of the church, most of the persecution against Christians came from Jews against Jewish believers. As Christianity grew to include more Gentiles, persecution came from Rome as well. When Peter wrote his first letter, Christians were scattered abroad. They were facing terrible persecution. Not only that, they soon would face opposition from within as false prophets and teachers arose. In response to these things, Peter encourages his readers to hope in Christ, to rest in God’s promises, and to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord. His message rings true for us today. As we face difficult opposition and even persecution for our testimony, let us rest in God’s promises and hope in Christ. Let us grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus.
Focus texts:
This series is based on Ken’s coauthored book (with John Alan Turner), The 52 Greatest Stories of the Bible. Purchase here. [vector_icon icon=”fas fa-arrow-circle-right” color=”#dd9933″]
