Study Desk

But if you suffer because you are a "Christ-follower," don't be ashamed. You should praise God for that name.

It is time for judging to begin. That judging will begin with God's family. If it begins with us, then what will happen to those who don't accept the Good News of God?

"If it is hard for even a good person to be saved, what will happen to the one who is against God and full of sin?"

So if God wants you to suffer, you should trust your lives to him. He is the one who made you, and you can trust him. So continue to do good.

take care of the group of people you are responsible for. They are God's flock. Watch over that flock because you want to, not because you are forced to do it. That is how God wants it. Do it because you are happy to serve, not because you want money.

Young people, I have something to say to you too. You should accept the authority of the elders. You should all have a humble attitude in dealing with each other. "God is against the proud, but he is kind to the humble."

Yes, you will suffer for a short time. But after that, God will make everything right. He will make you strong. He will support you and keep you from falling. He is the God who gives all grace. He chose you to share in his glory in Christ. That glory will continue forever.

Silas will bring this letter to you. I know that he is a faithful brother in Christ. I wrote this short letter to encourage you. I wanted to tell you that this is the true grace of God. Stand strong in that grace.

Greetings from Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. To all of you who share in the same valuable faith that we have. This faith was given to us because our God and Savior Jesus Christ always does what is good and right.

Grace and peace be given to you more and more, because now you know God and Jesus our Lord.

Jesus has the power of God. And his power has given us everything we need to live a life devoted to God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus chose us by his glory and goodness,

through which he also gave us the very great and rich gifts that he promised us. With these gifts you can share in being like God. And so you will escape the ruin that comes to people in the world because of the evil things they want.

to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God;

If all these things are in you and growing, you will never fail to be useful to God. You will produce the kind of fruit that should come from your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

My brothers and sisters, God called you and chose you to be his. Do your best to live in a way that shows you really are God's called and chosen people. If you do all this, you will never fall.

Jesus heard the voice of the great and glorious God. That was when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice said, "This is my Son, the one I love. I am very pleased with him."

No prophecy ever came from what some person wanted to say. But people were led by the Holy Spirit and spoke words from God.

These false teachers only want your money. So they will use you by telling you things that are not true. But the judgment against these false teachers has been ready for a long time. And they will not escape God who will destroy them.

When angels sinned, God did not let them go free without punishment. He sent them to hell. He put those angels in caves of darkness, where they are being held until the time when God will judge them.

And God punished the evil people who lived long ago. He brought a flood to the world that was full of people who were against God. But he saved Noah and seven other people with him. Noah was a man who told people about living right.