In the Gospels, we saw that Peter wanted the kingdom of God to come immediately and without human suffering. Now in his first epistle, Peter writes about our heavenly hope—the kingdom of God which will come after the saints’ suffering for their faith. He proclaims that the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary becomes the pattern for Christian living and service in this life. Suffering is not represented as an exception, but as the rule for true believers. While Peter encourages the church to live a holy life, different from the world, he also comforts those who are suffering by reassuring them of their identity and purpose. Peter exhorted his readers to turn to one another in love, and to strengthen one another.