Changed Lives
1 Since 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. 2 From now on, then, you must live the rest of your earthly lives controlled by God's will and not by human desires. 3 You 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. 4 And now the heathen are surprised when you do not join them in the same wild and reckless living, and so they insult you. 5 But they will have to give an account of themselves to God, who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 That 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.
Good Managers of God's Gifts
7 The end of all things is near. You must be self-controlled and alert, to be able to pray. 8 Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins. 9 Open your homes to each other without complaining. 10 Each 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. 11 Those 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.
Suffering as a Christian
12 My dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful test you are suffering, as though something unusual were happening to you. 13 Rather be glad that you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may be full of joy when his glory is revealed. 14 Happy 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. 15 If 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. 16 However, if you suffer because you are a Christian, don't be ashamed of it, but thank God that you bear Christ's name.
17 The 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? 18 As the scripture says,
“It is difficult for good people to be saved;
what, then, will become of godless sinners?”
19 So 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.
1 Kad nu Kristus ir cietis miesā, tad apbruņojieties arī jūs ar to pašu prātu, jo tas, kas ir sācis ciest miesā, ir mitējies no grēka, 2 tā ka viņš miesas dzīvē atlikušo laiku vairs nedzīvo cilvēku kārībām, bet Dieva gribai. 3 Jo pietiek, ka pagājušajā laikā ir izpildīta pagānu griba, kad esat dzīvojuši baudās, kārībās, vīna skurbumā, dzīrēs un nosodāmā elku kalpībā. 4 Par to viņi brīnās, ka jūs nepeldat līdzi tanī pašā posta dzīves straumē, un zaimo jūs. 5 Tiem būs jādod atbildība Tam, kas drīz tiesās dzīvus un mirušus. 6 Jo tādēļ arī mirušiem ir prieka vēsts sludināta, lai tie kā cilvēki būtu tiesāti miesā, bet dievišķā veidā dzīvotu garā. 7 Bet visu lietu gals ir tuvu klāt pienācis. Tad nu topiet sapratīgi un modri Dievu lūgt. 8 Par visām lietām lai jums būtu sirsnīga mīlestība citam pret citu, jo mīlestība apklāj grēku daudzumu. 9 Esiet viesmīlīgi cits pret citu bez kurnēšanas. 10 Kādu katrs dāvanu saņēmis, ar to kalpojiet cits citam kā labi dažāda veida Dieva žēlastības namturi. 11 Ja kāds runā, tad kā Dieva vārdus, ja kāds kalpo, tad kā ar to spēku, kuru Dievs piešķir, ka visās lietās Dievs tiktu pagodināts caur Jēzu Kristu; Viņam pieder gods un vara mūžu mūžos. Āmen! 12 Mīļie, nebrīnaities par bēdu karstumu jūsu vidū, kas nāk jums par pārbaudījumu, it kā jums notiktu kaut kas neparasts. 13 Bet, tā kā nu jums ir daļa pie Kristus ciešanām, priecājieties, lai jūs arī, Viņam godībā parādoties, varētu līksmoties un priecāties. 14 Ja jūs nievā Kristus Vārda dēļ, svētīgi jūs esat! Jo apskaidrošanas un Dieva Gars dus uz jums. 15 Jo neviens no jums lai necieš, būdams slepkava vai zaglis, vai ļaundaris, vai kā tāds, kas jaucas svešās lietās. 16 Bet, ja kas cieš, kristietis būdams, lai netur to par kaunu, bet pagodina Dievu ar šo vārdu. 17 Jo noliktais laiks ir klāt, ka sods sākas pie Dieva nama. Bet, ja papriekš pie mums, kāds gals būs tiem, kas neklausa Dieva evaņģēlijam? 18 Un, ja taisnais tikko tiek izglābts, kur nonāks bezdievis un grēcinieks? 19 Tātad lai arī tie, kas cieš pēc Dieva gribas, labu darot, nodod savas dvēseles uzticīgajam Radītājam.
