As one of the twelve who walked with Jesus for the years of his ministry, Peter had a unique view of the kingdom. We don’t know the exact year when he dictated the letter of I Peter to Silvanus (I Peter 5:12), but he shared insights about the church that help us see what God has in mind for us to be.

Peter uses metaphors, similes, and simple descriptions to describe this amazing kingdom established by Christ:

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation — if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

I Peter 2:2-3, ESV

In contrast to the qualities Peter has just mentioned (malice, deceit, etc.), newborn infants are pure and innocent. Infants crave milk above all else and Peter says that should be our focus as we take in God’s Word and grow in the salvation we found in Christ.

You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house.

I Peter 2:5, ESV

The church was becoming, in Peter’s lifetime, the place of true worship in contrast to the earthly temple. When we come together, we are the spiritual house where God’s Name will dwell.

“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Through Christ, God has made a new kingdom of priests who will advance the new covenant. We have been chosen by God to be a unique people – holy and set apart – that will carry the light of the gospel into the world.“ I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

I Peter 2:11, ESV

Peter helps us understand that we should never grow too comfortable here since the world to come is where our true citizenship lies. While we are in this life, we face opposition from forces that want to drive us out of this beautiful new kingdom. We are at war and the stakes are eternal.

This is the high view of the church we come to grasp from just one chapter in God’s Word. May we be inspired to live as God designed us to be – His holy people striving to gain ground and longing for home.