Both of Peter’s letters are directed to a group of believers going through trials because of their faith. They suffered even for doing what was right and good (1 Peter 3:14). Peter’s encouraging word to all Christians is to be faithful until that day when we will “receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (v. 11).

Called by His Glory and Goodness
Jesus is a God of power and glory (v. 3). He has “called” us and generously given us “everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him” (v. 3). Jesus is also a God of extraordinary and valuable promises. He makes it possible for every believer to share in the divine nature that begins when we are born into God’s family through a spiritual rebirth (John 3:1-16). Once we surrender to Christ and receive newness of life, we are empowered to escape this corrupt world where evil desires rule the minds of men and women. Peter is reminding us that our salvation, from start to finish, is a supernatural act of God.

Called to Faithfulness
Having shared God’s part in our salvation, Peter explains what God expects of his followers. We must “make every effort” (v. 5) to maintain certain qualities. This is the language of a runner who “gives it all he’s got” to successfully cross the finish line. This should be our attitude toward living the Christian life.

Many young athletes who have the potential for greatness in a specific sport attain only mediocrity because of poor attitudes or an unwillingness to improve their weaknesses. As Christians who have a divine nature, we are called to win the race we’re in and gain victory over our enemy. This is possible because we have God’s power within us.

What are the qualities of a believer honoring his God? What virtues give evidence of faithful living? Peter lists faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (vv. 5-7). To express these qualities all the time isn’t easy, but moving toward spiritual maturity is our goal. We must “make every effort” to be faithful to our calling by developing a God-honoring lifestyle.

Three Rewards
Here are three rewards of faithful living:

1. A God-honoring Christian is effective and fruitful (v. 8). This is in contrast to a backslidden believer who no longer remembers he received a divine nature, and therefore is spiritually blind to eternal values (v. 9).

2. A Christian who honors God has a confident assurance of salvation (v. 10). How can we make our calling and election sure? Peter says, “For if you do these things, you will never fall” (v. 10). What things? The qualities listed in verses 5-7. To possess them will assure us of our salvation.

3. Next is the reward of entering Heaven, “the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (v. 11). Jesus teaches that the gate is small and the road is narrow that leads to eternal life (Matthew 7:14), but the spiritual reward for such faithful living guarantees that the best is yet to come.

An Appeal to the Faithful
In verses 12-15, Peter makes a personal appeal for Christians to be established in truth. We must receive Christ, but our need to understand truths of the Bible does not stop with our baptism. Learning new truths is an exciting part of the Christian life.

It’s wonderful to study and discover what the Bible says about Jesus as both God and man. It’s beautiful to learn about Christ’s intercessory prayer in our behalf. It’s awesome to grasp the ministry of the Holy Spirit and how he lives within us. How amazing to learn for the first time the meaning of the doctrine of justification—standing before God fully forgiven and accepted. We need the spiritual nourishment that comes from studying the Word of God.

Peter puts it this way, “I will always remind you of these things” (v. 12) and “I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things” (v. 15). Peter is gently prodding us to give attention to our spiritual growth, and not neglect the Word of God.

Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Jesus Christ, the Living Word, along with the Word of God, the Bible, will dispel the darkness in our lives. What a challenge, then, for God’s people to be faithful!