MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD 1 PETER _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 4 LIVING FOR GOD v1 Christ suffered while he was in his human body. Each one of you Christians must be ready to suffer as he did. If you suffer as a Christian it shows that you do not want to *sin any more. V2 You will do what God wants for... [ Continue Reading ]
Peter now continues what he started to say in chapter 3:18. Christ is the model. He lived to do what God wanted. Christians must do the same, even if they suffer for it as Jesus did (chapter 1 Peter 2:21-23). They will change the way they think and feel too. When people suffer as Christians, it show... [ Continue Reading ]
Peter is writing this letter to *Jews and Gentiles who have become Christians. ‘Gentile’ is the name that the *Jews gave to anyone who was not a *Jew. The Gentiles did not know about the only real God, nor his laws in the *Old Testament. Instead, they *worshipped many false gods. As a result, they l... [ Continue Reading ]
When people become Christians, their lives change. This happens because the Spirit of Jesus is now in them. They give up their evil behaviour. Now they *worship God, who is the Father of Jesus Christ. People who are not Christians cannot understand why their former companions have completely changed... [ Continue Reading ]
Peter’s readers knew that Jesus would return. They expected this to happen before they died. But many people had already died. It does not matter whether people are dead or alive when Jesus returns. That is when God will judge what every person has said and done.... [ Continue Reading ]
In the beginning, God created Adam. Adam *sinned. God judged Adam’s *sin and punished Adam with death (Genesis Chapter s 2-3). All people die because of Adam’s *sin (Romans 5:12). But Jesus came to this world. God punished Jesus for people’s *sins. Every person’s physical body still dies. But God gi... [ Continue Reading ]
Peter writes, ‘The time is near when all things will end’. He wrote these words almost 2000 years ago. We do not know when the end will come. But one day it will. It may happen while we ourselves are still alive. So we must always be ready. All Christians should think clearly about their daily behav... [ Continue Reading ]
This kind of deep love is God’s kind of love (see chapter 1 Peter 1:22). It is more than just good feelings that last only for a time. Christians should continue to love one another deeply, even when it is difficult. ‘Love hides many *sins’ (Proverbs 10:12). Christians should not tell everyone when... [ Continue Reading ]
One way that Christians can show their love is to invite people into their homes. It may involve hard work. But they should be happy to help other people and should not complain. They should do this even if the Christian is a stranger. He may have travelled from a different place. Remember that God... [ Continue Reading ]
God has made everyone able to do something. This is your ‘gift’. Often God gives people more than one gift. There are various gifts. The *Greek word for ‘various’ means ‘of many colours’. Together, God desires the gifts to produce a beautiful pattern. Christians should not be selfish, because God w... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Dear Christian friends’. Peter loves and cares about the people to whom he is writing. Again, he says that Christians should not be surprised when they have painful troubles. The *Greek word for ‘painful’ means ‘burning’. Painful troubles are like the fire that tests the gold of *faith (see chapter... [ Continue Reading ]
When people suffer because they are Christians, they can have joy. They know what will happen in the future. They suffer as Christ did when he was in the world. When he returns, they will have a share in his *glory. Then they will be full of joy.... [ Continue Reading ]
God blesses Christians when people curse them. Peter calls the Holy Spirit ‘the Spirit of *glory and of God’. All Christians have the Holy Spirit in their lives. When Jesus returns, all Christians will have a share of God’s *glory. But those who suffer because they are Christians have special help f... [ Continue Reading ]
Christians know that it is wrong to murder or to steal. These are among the 10 commands that God gave to Moses (Exodus 20). It is also wrong to ‘make trouble in other people’s lives’. That means being too interested in someone’s personal affairs.... [ Continue Reading ]
Not everyone will suffer as a Christian. If you do, that is no reason to be ashamed. Philippians 2:9-11 says that, in the end, everyone will have to agree that Jesus Christ is *Lord. Christians can thank God now that Jesus Christ died to forgive their *sins and to give them new life. They are happy... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Judgement’ is the act of judging. God will judge people by his standards of what is right and wrong. Then he will reward or punish each person. It is not easy to live a Christian life. God wants Christians to be pure. He allows them to have troubles. These troubles test their trust in God and make... [ Continue Reading ]
Christians cannot always understand what God allows to happen. However, they must continue to trust him and to do what is right. God created the whole world and everything and everybody in it. So he has very great power. God is ‘loyal’. This means that he will use his power to care for all who put t... [ Continue Reading ]