4Since Christ suffered physically, you too must strengthen yourselves with the same way of thinking that he had; because whoever suffers physically is no longer involved with sin.G3767G5547G3958G5228G2257G4561G3695G5210G2532G846G1771G3754G3958G1722G4561G3973G2662From now on, then, you must live the rest of your earthly lives controlled by God's will and not by human desires.G1519G980G3371G980G1954G5550G1722G4561G1939G444G235G2307G23163You have spent enough time in the past doing what the heathen like to do. Your lives were spent in indecency, lust, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and the disgusting worship of idols.G1063G5550G3928G979G713G2254G2716G2307G1484G4198G1722G766G1939G3632G2970G4224G2532G111G14954And now the heathen are surprised when you do not join them in the same wild and reckless living, and so they insult you.G1722G3739G3579G5216G4936G3361G1519G846G401G810G9875But they will have to give an account of themselves to God, who is ready to judge the living and the dead.G3739G591G3056G2192G2093G2919G2198G2532G34986That is why the Good News was preached also to the dead, to those who had been judged in their physical existence as everyone is judged; it was preached to them so that in their spiritual existence they may live as God lives.G1063G1519G5124G2097G2532G3498G2443G2919G3303G2596G444G4561G1161G2198G2596G2316G4151
Good Managers of God’s Gifts
7The end of all things is near. You must be self-controlled and alert, to be able to pray.G1161G5056G3956G1448G4993G3767G4993G2532G3525G1519G43358Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins.G1161G4253G3956G2192G1618G26G1519G1438G3754G26G2572G4128G2669Open your homes to each other without complaining.G5382G1519G240G427G111210Each one, as a good manager of God's different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God.G2531G1538G2983G5486G1247G846G1519G1438G5613G2570G3623G4164G5485G231611Those who preach must preach God's messages; those who serve must serve with the strength that God gives them, so that in all things praise may be given to God through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and power forever and ever. Amen.G1536G2980G5613G3051G2316G1536G1247G5613G1537G2479G3739G2316G5524G2443G2316G1722G3956G1392G1223G2424G5547G3739G2076G1391G2532G2904G1519G165G165G281
Suffering as a Christian
12My dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful test you are suffering, as though something unusual were happening to you.G27G3579G3361G3579G5213G4451G1722G1096G4314G3986G5213G5613G3581G4819G521313Rather be glad that you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may be full of joy when his glory is revealed.G235G5463G2526G2841G5547G3804G2443G1722G846G1391G602G5463G2532G2114Happy are you if you are insulted because you are Christ's followers; this means that the glorious Spirit, the Spirit of God, is resting on you.G1487G3679G1722G3686G5547G3107G3754G4151G1391G2532G2316G373G1909G5209G2596G3303G846G987G1161G2596G5209G139215If you suffer, it must not be because you are a murderer or a thief or a criminal or a meddler in other people's affairs.G1063G3958G3361G5100G5216G3958G5613G5406G2228G2812G2228G2555G2228G5613G24416However, if you suffer because you are a Christian, don't be ashamed of it, but thank God that you bear Christ's name.G1161G1487G5613G5546G153G3361G153G1161G1392G2316G1722G5129G331317The time has come for judgment to begin, and God's own people are the first to be judged. If it starts with us, how will it end with those who do not believe the Good News from God?G3754G2540G2917G756G575G3624G2316G1161G1487G4412G575G2257G5101G5056G544G2098G231618As the scripture says, "It is difficult for good people to be saved; what, then, will become of godless sinners?"G2532G1487G1342G3433G4982G4226G5316G765G2532G268G531619So then, those who suffer because it is God's will for them, should by their good actions trust themselves completely to their Creator, who always keeps his promise.G5620G2532G3908G3958G2596G2307G2316G3908G1438G5590G1722G16G5613G4103G2939