^Pet4:1Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh [his body], arm yourselves with the same way of thinking [attitude], for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin [is done with sin], ²so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh [his earthly life] no longer for human passions [evil desires] but for the will of God. ³The time that is past suffices for [you have spent enough time in the past] doing what the Gentiles [pagans] want [choose] to do, living in sensuality [debauchery¹], passions [lust], drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties [carousing⁶], and lawless idolatry. ⁴With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join [plunge with] them in the same flood of debauchery [dissipation⁴], and they malign⁵ [heap abuse on] you; ⁵but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. .... ⁷The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. ⁸Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. - ESV

^1Jhn2:18Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that [the] antichrist is coming, so [even] now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. ¹⁹They went out from us, but they were not of [did not belong to] us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. ²⁰But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge [know the truth]. ²¹I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of [comes from] the truth. ²²Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This [such a man] is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. ²³No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses [acknowledges] the Son has the Father also. ²⁴Let [see that] what you heard from the beginning abide [remain(s)] in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. ²⁵And this is the promise that he made to us [what he promised us] --eternal life. ²⁶I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you [lead you astray]. ²⁷But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything--and is true [real] and is no lie [not counterfeit], just as it has taught you--abide in him. ²⁸And now, little [dear] children, abide [continue] in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. ²⁹If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure [you know] that everyone who practices righteousness [does what is right] has been born of him. - ESV

^Rm13:7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. ⁸Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. ⁹The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." ¹⁰Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. ¹¹And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹²The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery^1a, not in dissension and jealousy. ¹⁴Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. - NIV

^1Pet4:7The end of all things is at hand [near]; therefore be self-controlled and sober[clear]-minded for the sake of your prayers [so that you can pray]. ⁸Above all, keep loving one another earnestly [deeply], since love covers [over] a multitude of sins. ⁹Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of [faithfully administering] God's varied grace [grace in its various forms]: ¹¹whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles [the very words] of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified [praised] through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion [power] forever and ever. Amen. - ESV

^2Pet3:3First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. ⁴They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." ⁵But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. ⁶By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. ⁷By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. ⁸But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. ⁹The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. - NIV

^2Pet3:11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹²as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. ¹³But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. ¹⁴So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. ¹⁵Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. ¹⁶He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. ¹⁷Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. ¹⁸But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. - NIV

1 - debauchery: indulgence in pleasure that lacks moral restraint, extreme indulgence in sensual pleasure.   1st ref: ^  1a: ^

4 - dissipation: spending or using up wastefully or foolishly, causing to spread thin or scatter and gradually vanish. ^

5 - malign: have or show intense or vicious ill will. ^

6 - carouse: a drunken revel, intense pleasure or satisfaction taken while drunk. ^

Faith   and   Love

Challenge:  True Life

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