Grace Fellowship Church

Closing Thought: Peter encourages God's chosen exiles toremember that their hope as believers is not found in present comfort, but in the assured promise of eternal glory. They can endure life's trials with confidence, knowing that their future salvation is secured by God's power through faith—and that the eternal inheritance awaiting them far outweighs the fleeting hardships of this world. Beloved, as elect exiles, let us praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us not merely a promise, but a living hope—one that anchors our souls and guarantees our eternal destiny.

Closing Thought: In his first letter, Peter addresses thescattered Christians of the 1st century by reminding them oftheir identity as God's chosen people, the means by which they became His people through divine intervention, and the manner in which they should conduct their lives in obedience to Jesus Christ while enduring trials, temptations, and persecution during their earthly existence. May we, as Christians in the 21st century, also receive an abundance of grace and peace to navigate this same reality.

Closing Thought: Peter wrote this epistle late in the firstcentury to God's chosen people living in a land in which theywere exiles. He was writing to them to stand firm in the grace of God in the face of persecution, trials, and suffering. He begins his letter by reminding them that it is God who made them His chosen exiles. May this encourage those of us who are God's people today to rejoice as we remember that we too were chosen by God to be His exiles in a place that is not our eternal home.

Closing Thought: In the final moments of His earthly ministry, Jesus led His disciples to Bethany to bless them. As He blessed them, He ascended to glory. The disciples did not grieve; they rejoiced. Their worship flowed from the deep well of hope, fueled by the promises of Jesus. Jesus rose and ascended to the right hand of the Father where He reigns, He intercedes, He prepares a place for us. He will return to take us to glory, and until then we will live in submission to our King, filled with the hope of His return.

1. The apostles did not see Jesus completely until they saw Him in the Scriptures2. Repentance and Forgiveness of sin cannot be separated. While repentance is not a work that leads to salvation, it most certainly is an inevitable and necessary fruit of salvation.3. Understanding the Scriptures is not enough to power the Christian life. The Christian must be clothed by power from on high.