Peter begins his letter by making it clear that the believer has a wonderful privilege: they share in a faith of equal standing with the apostle. Even though they have not seen Jesus, walked with him, or spent time in his presence when he was on earth, they have the same standing as the apostles who experienced all of that. They are not second-class Christians.

The reason their faith is of equal standing is because it enables them to have peace and fellowship with God just as the faith of the apostles enables the apostles. Though they are people deserving of hell, they can know God’s grace and peace through faith in Jesus Christ. They are made right in God’s sight on account of what Christ has done.

Practically this means that we should not pretend that some Christian believers have a higher standing in God’s church compared to others. Office-bearers are not more important than laity. New Christians are not less important than those who have served Christ for many years.