September 24, 2025

Last Sunday, millions of Americans mourned the passing of a great Christian leader and rejoiced in his accomplishments, while some merely regretted his assassination, and others—far less noble—rejoiced in it.

Some claimed that his martyrdom marks the beginning of a Christian revival. But it also marks a new low in American history, because a man of God was murdered for exercising his sacred right to free speech. It serves as a warning that all of us are at risk—great or small, rich or poor, influential or unnoticed—because the wrath of Satan is inflamed more than ever against the servants of God in these last days.

The Apostle Peter was exposed to the wrath of God’s enemies when the Roman Emperor, Nero, encouraged the people of his empire to scorn the faith of Christians by literally throwing any to the lions who would not renounce their faith. It’s said that he even burned half of Rome, blaming it on the Christians, thus inflaming the superstitions, fears, and malice of the people of his empire against all who took the name of Jesus.

The times were, and are, harsh and dangerous, and Peter addressed his first epistle to the believers, many of whom lived in poverty in a far corner of the Roman empire, a province we now call Turkey.

If we are wise, we will look to the apostle Peter, and heed his words, for Christians became aliens as a result of their faith, and by the biases of a blind world. So Peter addressed his letter in this manner:

“…to the strangers scattered abroad throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappodeceia, Asia, and Bithynia.

1 Peter 1:1

Today, 2,000 years later, those who rule that part of the world are not the Romans, but their religious beliefs, becaause taken to the extreme, have produced an environment that is inhospitable to both Christians and Jews.

And people of that faith are no longer satisfied with occupying vast areas of the Middle East. Instead, millions who oppose Christianity and Judaism have exploited the hospitality of the nations of Western Europe and North America, by illegally crossing their open borders, enriching themselves at the expense of their hosts, and creating political and economic instability, with some radicals attacking strangers– beheading some, shooting others, knifing still others , even pushing some under trains, running over them with vehicles, burning them alive, blowning them up, robbing, raping, and murdering.

It’s not necessary to prove that a single guiding force is behind these horrendous attacks that strike in unexpected places at any time. What seem like undirected and arbitrary attacks in formerly freedom-loving nations are simply the result of fanatics following the teachings they imbibed with their milk. Religious fanatics and socialist radicals are determined to replace the political, economic, and religious institutions of their democratic hosts with those their own systems, and ultimately overthrow our governments.

Just as Christians and Jews were slandered and attacked during the apostolic age, and just as they have been ridiculed and molested under the Nazis, so they are being being targeted today. But Peter does not encourage his followers to take up arms and attack those who despitefully use them. He instead begins with words of encouragement, speaking of our incorruptible inheritance in Christ, and reminding them that they are…

“Kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.”

1 Peter 1:5

Then he follows with a reference to their suffering, their “heaviness,” and introduces what initially seems like an absurd claim,

That the trials of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 1:7

Peter goes on to explain and encourage his readers, providing rich doctrinal truths, telling them, and us, that through all these trials, each of us is to be without spot or wrinkle.

He assures us that we have purified our souls:

in obeying the truth by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever.

1 Peter 1:23.

Instead of excusing those bedlievers who, out of fear of worldly persecution, might be tempted to deny Christ, Peter goes on speaking of our obligation to lay aside….

all malice, and all guile; and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings.

1 Peter 2:1

In other words, we Christians are not to follow the practices of the unsaved and sinful world that persecutes us, because “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.”

Perhaps, because you’re a Christian, you’ve already been a victim of spiteful behavior. But you can scarcely begin to imagine the grace and spiritual strength that were exhibited by Erika Kirk—widow and mother—to tell to her young husband’s assassin, “I forgive you.” Yet, this is the behavior that Peter is telling us that God requires of all believers.

Indeed, when Jesus was in agony, and at the point of death, he asked his heavenly Father to forgive those who murdered him without reason::

Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

Luke 23:34

And, why? Peter tells us that we Christians are a singularly remarkable group. We are the “called out,” the “body of Christ,”

“a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praise of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

1 Peter 2:9

Peter again makes an appeal, not simply that we won’t quit following Jesus in the face of adversity, but that we will purify ourselves, to…

“abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.”

1 Peter 2:11

It is by this means that we keep the line of communication open between ourselves and God, that in our most desperate hour, we can cry out, and he will hear and answer, for we must have his answers in order to endure.

Peter then, remarkably, told his audience to submit themselves to the very rulers whom Nero had appointed to persecute them.

that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”

1 Peter 2:15

This doesn’t mean that you cannot exercise the rule of law to contend with those who violate the laws of the land, as Daniel and his friends were to declare that God’s law is higher than man’s law. They were willing to surrender their lives in defense of God’s laws, and on behalf of others who might also be persecuted. Peter goes on to speak of our marital obligations, and then continues to assure us that all in the body of Christ should…

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

1 Peter 3:8

We are to realize that the body of Christ, the Church, is our new family. We chose to join it through exercising faith in Christ. Paul, too, warns us to offer loving care to even the most pitiful among us, that we should care for them as we cherish every part of our own fleshly bodies. Peter’s argument for our faithfulness is simple:

“For Christ also hath suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.

1 Peter 3:18

And after again explaining that “Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh,” (4:1), Peter again makes the appeal that, no matter what evil seems to be overtaking us in this world…

the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer. And above all things, have fervent charity among yourselves, for charity shall cover a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:7-8

“Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are part of Christ’s sufferings.

1 Peter 4:12-13

If the end of all things is at hand, and Christ is soon to return for his Church, have you determined to follow him? Do you plan to be among those destined for glory, or among those on whom the doom of the Lord falls?

Peter provides an argument for willingly and even gladly being “reproached for the name of Christ” (4:14).

If you have obeyed Christ’s command–confessed his name, repented of your sins, followed him obediently in water baptism, and taken up your cross of crucifixion to follow and serve him—you are already dead to this world.

In a mere instant of time, whether you pass quietly in your bed, or are thrown to lions, there is laid up for you a crown.

But which of the ways we might pass on brings the greater glory to God and to you?

Last Sunday, hundreds of thousands attended a young man’s funeral. One-hundred million people streamed the funeral proceedings on their phones, tablets, computers, and television sets. And the president of the United States—along with many other dignitaries, honored the memory of that young man who was taken in the flower of his life. And because he died, others have been revived. His life and death testify to the glory of God. So Peter writes:

“But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

1 Peter 4:13

It may not be Peter’s final argument for us to persevere, but it is a powerful one:

“If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.”

1 Peter 4:14

Peter then hints at the great divide between those who persecute us and we who are saved. It’s the great divide that separates us, one to eternal life, the other to eternal hellfire. It’s based simply on whether an individual’s personally and unequivocally decides to follow Christ. To remain silent is to commit the fallacy of decision by indecision, and determines whether a person will be among the quick or the dead; whether they will dwell in eternal bliss or outer darkness; and whether they’ll spend all eternity in heaven or hell. It’s an awesomely important question that many ignore until it’s too late to make it. Which are you?

“…on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”

1 Peter 4:14

And here’s the sobering warning:

“And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

1 Peter 4:18

“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

1 Peter 5:4

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Copyright 2025, Frank E. Becker