Study Desk

But what the Lord has said will stand forever." Our good news to you is what the Lord has said.

Come to Jesus Christ. He is the living stone that people have rejected, but which God has chosen and highly honored.

You are followers of the Lord, and that stone is precious to you. But it isn't precious to those who refuse to follow him. They are the builders who tossed aside the stone that turned out to be the most important one of all.

But you are God's chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done. The Scriptures say,

You are free, but still you are God's servants, and you must not use your freedom as an excuse for doing wrong.

Servants, you must obey your masters and always show respect to them. Do this, not only to those who are kind and thoughtful, but also to those who are cruel.

You don't gain anything by being punished for some wrong you have done. But God will bless you, if you have to suffer for doing something good.

The Lord watches over everyone who obeys him, and he listens to their prayers. But he opposes everyone who does evil."

They had disobeyed God while Noah was building the boat, but God had been patient with them. Eight people went into that boat and were brought safely through the flood.

Those flood waters were like baptism that now saves you. But baptism is more than just washing your body. It means turning to God with a clear conscience, because Jesus Christ was raised from death.

But they will have to answer to God, who judges the living and the dead.

But you deserve to suffer if you are a murderer, a thief, a crook, or a busybody.

Don't be bossy to those people who are in your care, but set an example for them.

All of you young people should obey your elders. In fact, everyone should be humble toward everyone else. The Scriptures say, "God opposes proud people, but he helps everyone who is humble."

But you must resist the devil and stay strong in your faith. You know that all over the world the Lord's followers are suffering just as you are.

But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That's why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm.

But if you don't grow, you are like someone who is nearsighted or blind, and you have forgotten that your past sins are forgiven.

You are holding firmly to the truth that you were given. But I am still going to remind you of these things.

When we told you about the power and the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not telling clever stories that someone had made up. But with our own eyes we saw his true greatness.

But you need to realize that no one alone can understand any of the prophecies in the Scriptures.