Intro to First Peter

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. 

1 Peter 4:19 

The letter of 1 Peter was written by Peter in Rome and addressed to the believers who were dispersed throughout northern Asia Minor (1:1). The four Roman provinces are thought to have been the travel route that the letter bearer pass through in what is now modern-day Turkey. If so, then this letter would also have likely passed through many other churches including Galatia, Caesarea in Cappadocia, Iconium, Antioch, Nicea, and Chalcedon, which would have been very convenient for the messenger to hop on a ship to return back to Rome. If so, then this letter is would have been written for all Christians, Gentile and Jewish, who were facing intense persecution. Peter himself was no stranger to persecution and the main purpose for his letter is to exhort his readers to maintain trust and obedience to God in the midst of their suffering. If we were to summarize Peter’s letter in a single verse, it would probably be the 19th verse of the fourth chapter where he calls these Christians “who suffer according to God’s will [to] entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good”.

Just as Christ suffered and as God is faithful, all believers can hold fast to the hope that is in them and persevere through various forms of persecution. I think David Platt put it very eloquently when he said, “This is God saying, just as you trust in me for salvation, trust in me in the midst of suffering.” We can have faith in God to be our strength, safety, sustenance, and satisfaction through all occasions and difficulties in our lives because we know that God has already triumphed over all things and will soon put everything back to how it ought to be.

Just as an aside, if you have never attended a Secret Church before I encourage you to attend the next one in 2020. The reason I bring it up is because for the past 4 years that I have attended Secret Church, I have been humbled by the number of Christians in persecuted countries who maintain such a strong faith and joy in God even when their churches are burned down, their homes are invaded, their families are separated, and many of them lose their lives. Even more humbling is how every believer from all of those countries highlighted all ask not for the suffering to cease, but that they will remain faithful to God in the midst of it and that they will not bring shame to His name. They have embraced 1 Peter 2:21 and 4:19 and understand that in various trials, they are to remain faithful and obedient.

And this is the lesson we can learn as we read 1 Peter. That although each and every believer is guaranteed salvation, it does not mean that we are promised a life free of suffering. Rather, one way, not the only way, in which we can better identify if we are abiding in Him is when we share in His suffering. My prayer is that you will hold fast to the knowledge you are sharing in the suffering of those who have gone before you, and that you will “not be ashamed, but… glorify God” in your life by your obedience to him (4:16-19). And do so with joy, knowing that we have assurance of a future glory in Christ.

Grace and Peace,
Alex Galvez

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