“What kind of fruit will those who have taken root in the kingdom of God bear?”
The Apostle Peter said, “Blessed are those who suffer for righteousness’ sake.”
It suggests a narrow and arduous path that modern Christians are trying to avoid.

『Full of Fruit, Kingdom of God』, which covers the latter half of 1 Peter, is a sequel to 『Deep Roots, Kingdom of God』, which introduced the first half in detail.
In the previous work, the Apostle Peter clearly explained to the early Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor who they were.
They were people who temporarily stayed on this earth with their hopes set on the kingdom of God.
Next, the Apostle Peter tells them very specifically how they should live.
How should Christians conduct themselves in the face of seemingly imposing worldly institutions and power, in the workplace, at home, and in the relentless grind of everyday life? At a time when Christianity was still unfamiliar, when misunderstandings abounded, and rumors abounded, Christians needed the Apostle Peter's realistic advice and exhortation more than anything else.
If they knew who they were, the only question left was, 'How should we live?'
The Apostle Peter clearly teaches the answer.
It condenses and conveys the truths found in the Gospels and other epistles.
So it's short but deep, clear but rich.

That truth is still needed by Christians here today.
If you have opened your eyes to the true identity of Christians through 『Deep Roots, Kingdom of God』, now it is time for real life.
The perspective of 1 Peter on those who have just taken root in the kingdom of God is no different now than it was then.
They are proud, but at the same time, they are also worried.
Will they be able to do well? Will they truly be able to bear fruit worthy of the Kingdom of God and survive their temporary stay? "Fruitful, the Kingdom of God" revives the Apostle Peter's sincerity and the truth he preached, conveying it to us today.
Many things have changed and become different, but the task of living as citizens of the kingdom of God remains the same, then as it is now.
The same goes for the ignorance of God and the difficult reality of living.
The Apostle Peter, based on his own personal experiences, advises those who follow him to live as citizens of the Kingdom of God.
The truth that has helped those who have taken root in the Kingdom of God for a very long time has now arrived here, breaking through the voices of the world's architects.

『Full of Fruit, Kingdom of God』, which covers the latter half of 1 Peter, is the fourth book in the 'Reading the Bible through the Kingdom of God' series, following 『Deep Roots, Kingdom of God』, 『Disaster Again, Kingdom of God Again』, and 『Kingdom of God in the City』.

At that time, the Roman emperor was considered to have absolute authority, but the Apostle Peter tells us to treat him with equal respect and respect from everyone.
This does not simply mean submitting to power, but rather a new perspective that respects all people equally as God's creation.
What is even more surprising is that when we consider the entire contents of the letter, we see that the “all people” that the Apostle Peter spoke of included not only ordinary citizens but also women, slaves, and foreigners who did not even have basic rights at the time.
In the Roman Empire, which was a thoroughly hierarchical society, the recommendation that the emperor and slaves be treated with equal respect was an extremely radical idea.

--- p.38

Doing good in a secular society is a very strange thing.
Most people do good only to the extent that it benefits them.
But the good that the Apostle Peter advises us to do is different.
It is done while enduring injustice and suffering.
But when you do good deeds like that, people look at you with suspicion instead of applause.
In secular society, it takes a long time for the motive and sincerity of good deeds to be recognized, and sometimes they are never recognized at all.
But when we are suffering unjustly and are in sorrow, we come to our senses and remember that this is why God called us.

--- p.66

It is very important to teach that the pure behavior of submissive wives comes not from fear of their husbands but from reverence for God.
This is the core idea that runs through the entire Epistles of Peter. Wives who follow in Christ's footsteps fear only God, and from that fear, pure conduct naturally follows.
The reason Christ suffered and set an example for us was to do good.
Likewise, wives who follow Jesus also pay a price to achieve good in their homes and relationships with their husbands.

--- p.100

Women's and men's bodies are naturally different, and differ greatly in many ways.
However, the gender differences that have been formed and accumulated over a long period of time in a patriarchal society are also significant.
So we live in a time when we have to ask ourselves again what true manhood is.
There's a lot more to research and reflect on, but the first thing we need to do is open our minds to the fact that our stereotypes about men may be long-standing socialized beliefs.
Then the Apostle Peter's teaching to husbands to live "with their wives according to knowledge" and to treat them as precious, as "the weaker vessel" and as "joint heirs of the grace of life" becomes clearer.

--- p.142

What will remain in the places we leave behind as temporary residents? It is God's clear will that there should be goodness, peace, and love, not misunderstanding, hurt, anger, and conflict.
If a life of faith confined within the chapel is solely for one's own benefit, leading to constant conflict within the church, and if, moreover, worldly values ​​permeate the church, then this is not pursuing the values ​​pursued by the Apostle Peter and the early church.
It's not about following Jesus.

--- p.176

Why do we insist on living as Christians? How important is "doing good" among those reasons? During the Reformation, in reaction to Catholicism's excessive emphasis on works, the teaching of "salvation by faith alone" was emphasized, and this emphasis continues to this day. Consequently, the importance of "doing good," as clearly taught in Scripture, has been diminished.
We must now focus on and rediscover that good works are not the means to salvation, but the goal of salvation.

--- p.182

Despite our constant emphasis on the closet, the inner world, and personal spirituality, we have failed to develop a market spirituality that manifests itself as salt and light in the world.
We may not know whether the church has created giants through various church-related activities, but we have seen countless instances of these giants becoming powerless the moment they enter the world.
The Apostle Peter's teaching, "Do good in the world and do not be afraid when trouble comes," is urgently needed in our lives today.
In fact, when we live according to our calling while suffering in this world, our identity grows into an 'established identity.'
--- p.260

Throughout his letters, the Apostle Peter tells us that doing good cannot avoid difficulties.… There is always a price to pay when trying to live a good life in this world.
When we seek to bear witness to Jesus Christ through our lives and words, and even more so when we seek to live as “living stones” and “priests” who build together the house God is building, there is a price to pay.
If you are experiencing any kind of inconvenience, disadvantage, or loss, you are walking along His path.
It's okay if you don't get applause from people.
If, on the contrary, you are experiencing the joy of doing good, even while going through hardships, you are no longer one of those who belong to the house built by the world's architects.

--- p.305

The church looks like a majestic procession.
It is a procession of people following Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ walks in front, and the spiritual elders of the church community who believe in Jesus as the true shepherd and follow him follow him.
Behind them walk the sheep, some of whom “proclaim the praises of him who called them out of darkness into his marvelous light” (2:9b), and others of whom are spiritual children who have heard the word and have just entered into that light.
Everyone is walking and following Jesus.
I walk while looking at the back of the shepherd walking in front, and at the same time being aware of the sheep following me.
What a beautiful and majestic procession!
--- p.365

The Apostle Peter saw right through the heart of spiritual warfare.
Knowing how important it is to be sober, alert, and steadfast in your faith, I strongly urge you to do so.
In doing so, he tells us that spiritual warfare is not about finding and fighting our enemies, but rather about relying completely on the God of grace, the God who called us.
Yes, that's right.
We are not fighting against the enemy.
When we rely on God and are loyal to Him, victory comes naturally.
Why is this so? Because God, whose power is eternal, has already won the spiritual battle and will complete that victory when He returns in glory.
Because of what Christ accomplished on the cross, we are free from all the temptations and threats of the enemy.
The hope of the kingdom of God that He will bring to completion keeps us steadfast and unwavering.

--- p.404