1 S ince Christ has suffered in His body, we must be ready to suffer also. Suffering puts an end to sin.

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

2 Y ou should no longer spend the rest of your life giving in to the sinful desires of the flesh. But do what God wants as long as you live in this world.

so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

3 I n the past you gave enough of your life over to living like the people who do not know God. You gave your life to sex sins and to sinful desires. You got drunk and went to wild parties and to drinking parties and you worshiped false gods.

For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.

4 T hose who do not know God are surprised you do not join them in the sinful things they do. They laugh at you and say bad things against you.

In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you;

5 R emember, they will give an answer to Him Who judges all who are living or dead.

but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

6 F or this reason, the Good News was preached to the dead. They stood in the flesh before the One Who judges so they might live in the Spirit as God wants. Love Each Other

For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

7 T he end of the world is near. You must be the boss over your mind. Keep awake so you can pray.

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

8 M ost of all, have a true love for each other. Love covers many sins.

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

9 B e happy to have people stay for the night and eat with you.

Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

10 G od has given each of you a gift. Use it to help each other. This will show God’s loving-favor.

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

11 I f a man preaches, let him do it with God speaking through him. If a man helps others, let him do it with the strength God gives. So in all things God may be honored through Jesus Christ. Shining-greatness and power belong to Him forever. Let it be so. Stay True During Suffering

Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Share the Sufferings of Christ

12 D ear friends, your faith is going to be tested as if it were going through fire. Do not be surprised at this.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;

13 B e happy that you are able to share some of the suffering of Christ. When His shining-greatness is shown, you will be filled with much joy.

but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

14 I f men speak bad of you because you are a Christian, you will be happy because the Spirit of shining-greatness and of God is in you.

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

15 N one of you should suffer as one who kills another person or as one who steals or as one who makes trouble or as one who tries to be the boss of other peoples’ lives.

Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;

16 B ut if a man suffers as a Christian, he should not be ashamed. He should thank God that he is a Christian.

but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

17 T he time has come for Christians to stand before God and He will judge. If this happens to us, what will happen to those who do not obey the Good News of God?

For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

18 I f it is hard for a man who is right with God to be saved, what will happen to the sinner?

And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner ?

19 S o if God wants you to suffer, give yourself to Him. He will do what is right for you. He made you and He is faithful.

Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.