New Living Translation

New King James Version

Living for God

So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.a

1

Christ’s Example to Be Followed

Therefore, since Christ suffered [a]for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

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You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

2

that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

3

You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy — their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.

3

For we have spent enough of our past [b]lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles — when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

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Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you.

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In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.

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But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead.

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They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

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That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now deadb — so although they were destined to die like all people,c they now live forever with God in the Spirit.d

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For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

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The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.

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Serving for God’s Glory

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

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Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

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And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

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Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

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Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

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God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

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As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

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Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

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If anyone speaks, let him speak as the [c]oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the [d]dominion forever and ever. Amen.

12

Suffering for Being a Christian

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.

12

Suffering for God’s Glory

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

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Instead, be very glad — for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

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but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

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If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of Gode rests upon you.f

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If you are [e]reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. [f]On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

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If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs.

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But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a [g]busybody in other people’s matters.

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But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

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Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this [h]matter.

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For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?

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For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

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And also,
“If the righteous are barely saved,
what will happen to godless sinners?”g

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Now
“If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

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So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

19

Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Parallel

New Living Translation

New King James Version

1 Peter 4

1 Peter 4