HOW TO GET ON WELL WITH GOD.
"How to Get on Well With God" is based on the
first letter Peter wrote about A.D. 60. Chapter
references and our comments are in brackets.
(God runs the universe by a Law of Love and
Justice. This requires us to genuinely love Him
and others. He leaves us free to live by His
law or go our own way. We all choose to go our
own way, breaking His law. The penalty is
spiritual death. In the person of Jesus
Christ , God showed how much He loves you by
paying your penalty and dying in your place at
Calvary. It's as if you are a convicted
prisoner being offered an undeserved pardon
from a death sentence.
You have the choice of:
- Rejecting the pardon and paying this death
penalty yourself - for God's justice will be
done,
- OR
- Accepting the pardon by genuinely turning to
and trusting in Jesus Christ.
If you want to do that, then tell Him in
words like these: I'VE GONE MY OWN WAY BUT
NOW I WANT TO TURN AND GO YOUR WAY. I
BELIEVE YOU WILL FORGIVE MY PAST SINS AND
GIVE ME A NEW LIFE AS A MEMBER OF YOUR
FAMILY. I BELIEVE THE WAY TO DO THIS IS
THROUGH TRUST IN YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST.
THANKS FOR ACCEPTING ME.
From here on, what we say assumes you have
turned to Jesus and become a member of His
family).
God the Father has chosen you, and God the Holy
Spirit is helping you get rid of sin, so you
can live obeying Jesus Christ. This makes you a
stranger to the world's way of doing things, as
you experience God's undeserved goodness and
peace.
Praise God for these things, for new
(spiritual) birth and the certainty of your
place in heaven through Christ's resurrection.
Meanwhile, through faith, you are being
protected by God's power until Judgment Day.
Because of this you can greatly rejoice
even if, for now, you may have to suffer grief
in all kinds of trials. These prove your faith
is genuine and will bring praise, glory and
honour when you meet Jesus. Though you haven't
seen Him, yet you love Him, believe in Him and
have inexpressible and glorious joy that He
saved you.
So prepare your mind for action, be self
controlled and certain of meeting Jesus. Be
obedient to Him and don't conform to the evil
desires you had before you met Him. There is no
sin or impurity in Jesus. He is set apart for
God the Father's use. You must be the same in
all you do.
God will judge your life justly, so live with
real respect for God, knowing your permanent
home is in heaven, not on earth.
God ransomed you from the devil's control not
with money, but with the "precious blood of
Christ", who was chosen before the creation of
the world (for this purpose). Through Him you
believe in God,who glorified Him, so your faith
and hope are in God.
Purify yourself by obeying Jesus and love
others deeply from the heart. You have been
born spiritually through the living and
enduring word of God which stands forever.
(Chapter 1)
Therefore, rid yourself of all malice, deceit,
hypocrisy, envy and slander. Hunger and thirst
for God's word so you can grow spiritually.
Come to Jesus the living stone, so He can
likewise make you part of a spiritual house, a
holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Trust
in Him and you'll never be put to shame.
To those who don't believe, Jesus is a "stone
that causes them to stumble", because they
disobey His message.
Together with other believers, you are chosen
people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
people belonging to God so you can declare the
praises of Him who called you out of darkness
into His wonderful light. Once you were not a
people and had not received mercy, but now you
are the people of God and have received mercy.
So live as an alien and stranger in this world.
Abstain from desires which war against your
soul. Live such a good life among unbelievers
that, even if they accuse you of wrong, they
may see your good deeds and glorify God on
Judgment Day.
Submit to human authorities for the Lord's
sake. Live a free life but don't use it to
cover evil up. Live as a servant of God.
Respect all, Love believers, fear God, honour
rulers.
If you are a worker, submit to your boss with
all respect, even if he is harsh. If you can
take unjust suffering because you are conscious
of God, it is commendable. Follow in Christ's
steps. He was insulted but did not retaliate,
suffered, but made no threats. Instead, He
entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. He
bore your sins in His body on the cross, so you
might die to sin and live to righteousness. By
His wounds you have been healed. You were like
a sheep going astray but now you have returned
to the shepherd and overseer of your soul.
(Chapter 2)
If you are a wife, submit to your husband. If
he's not a believer he may become one as a
result of your pure and reverent behaviour.
Your beauty should not be external due to
grooming or clothing, but internal, the
unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is of great worth to God, as without
fear, you do what is right. If you are a
husband, live considerately with and give
respect to your wife as the weaker partner and
sharer of the gracious gift of life. Then your
prayers will be effective.
Live in harmony with other believers, loving
them, being sympathetic, compassionate and
humble. Don't repay evil with evil or insult
with insult - instead give and receive
blessings.
To love life and see good days don't speak
evilly or deceitfully, turn from evil, do good,
seeking and pursuing peace.
The eyes of the Lord are on those who live
justly and uprightly and His ears are open to
their prayers, but His face is against those
who do evil.
You won't usually be harmed for doing good but
if you are, fear not, you'll be blessed.
Set Christ apart as Lord in your heart. Always
be ready to explain this to others with
gentleness, respect and a clear conscience.
Then those who speak against your good
behaviour in Christ will be ashamed.
If it's God's will, it's better to suffer for
doing good than doing evil, after all Christ
the righteous one died for you, the
unrighteous one, so as to bring you to God.
After being saved by believing in Jesus Christ
(who, being resurrected, is at God's right hand
in heaven with angels, authorities and powers
submitting to Him), water baptism signifies the
washing away of sin and a good conscience
toward God.
(Chapter 3)
Christ suffered bodily to defeat your sin. Arm
yourself with His mind and cease from sin. So
live the rest of your earthly life doing God's
will instead of giving in to evil human
desires.
You wasted enough of your past life doing what
pagans do, indulging in outrageous behaviour,
lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and
worshipping false gods. They abuse you now for
being different, but they, like everyone else,
will have to finally account to God the judge.
The end is near. Be clear minded and self
controlled so you can pray. Love others, for
love covers a multitude of sins. Be
lovingly hospitable. Use the abilities God
has given you to serve others and pass on God's
undeserved favours. When you speak, speak
God's words. When you serve, do it in God's
strength, so He will be praised through Jesus
Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for
ever and ever.
Don't be surprised if you have to suffer
because you believe in Jesus Christ. Instead,
rejoice that you share in Christ's suffering
because you'll be overjoyed when you meet Him.
If you're insulted because of Christ, you'll
be blessed, for the spirit of glory and of God
rests on you. So, if you suffer according to
God's will, commit yourself to your faithful
creator and continue to do good.
It's time for judgment to begin with God's
family. If believers only just make it, there
will be no hope for unbelievers.
(Chapter 4)
If you are a man with a leadership role among
believers, be a good shepherd of the flock. Do
it willingly, eagerly, not for money, not
lording it over people but being an example.
When you meet Christ you'll get an unfading
crown of glory.
If you are a young man, submit to those who are
over you.
Be humble towards others under God's mighty
hand and He will lift you up in due course.
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares
for you.
Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy, the
devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking
for someone to devour. Resist him, standing
firm in the faith. Believers everywhere in the
world undergo this suffering.
"And the God of all grace, who called you to
His eternal glory in Christ, after you have
suffered a little while, will Himself restore
you and make you strong and firm and steadfast.
To Him be the power for ever and ever."
This is God's true grace; stand firm in it.
Peace be to you who are in Christ.
HERE ARE SOME MAIN POINTS FROM PETER'S FIRST
LETTER:
1. God has chosen you and is helping you get
rid of sin, so Christ can live His life
through you. This will mean suffering but
it will be for your good.
2. Christ (through the Holy Spirit within you)
will live a life of practical love through
you. Sinners down and out on the streets
will get practical help and real hope. Non
believers will say you're "nuts" but they'll
be challenged by the goodness of your
actions.
3. The above transforms all your relationships,
whether as an employee, husband, wife etc.
You'll live in harmony, loving others and
pursuing peace.
4. Look at life from God's perspective. The
fact is that everyone must account to Him on
judgement day. Believers will "only just
make it", unbelievers will have no hope
then. So Jesus will be seeking and saving
the lost through you.
5. The devil is your enemy. His mission is to
try to destroy you. But you have the power
to resist him. Cast him from you in Jesus
name and he must leave.
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