|
Chapter 1
This comes to you from Rocky, one of the very first friends of Jesus,
God's Chosen. It's for those people who've been forced to seek asylum in
countries far from home. [see footnote 1] They're very special to The
Loving God. They've been trained by God's Spirit to be loyal followers
of Jesus, and to share his new life. May your lives be full of God's
beauty and peace!
(3) What a wonderful God we have in the Parent of our Leader, Jesus, The
Chosen! This God has shown us great understanding and given us a second
chance. There's a bright future ahead because Jesus, who died, has come
back to life. You have a firm guarantee of life that nothing can destroy
or spoil, in God's New World. In return for your trust, God is looking
after you. One day, when history comes to an end, you'll be the complete
people God intends you to be. So you can be happy, despite the various
hardships you're having to put up with for a short while. It's as if
your sincerity is being put to the test, in the same way as gold is
tested in a furnace. You're worth more than gold, and there'll be a lot
to be proud about and to celebrate when you see Jesus. You've not seen
him yet, but you love him all the same. You've put your trust in him,
and you're amazingly happy. You're feeling more confident and at ease
with yourselves every day.
(10) God's speakers in olden times spoke of the new prospects for
humanity. They thought hard and long about the way God would act on your
behalf. As they tried to imagine how it would all happen, they foresaw
the sufferings God's Chosen would have to go through and the rejoicings
that would follow the completion of his work. They realised they were
saying things that applied, not to their own situation, but to yours.
Now that messengers, inspired by God's Spirit, have brought the Good
news to you, it all makes sense. Those in the close presence of God are
watching with keen interest as the story unfolds.
(13) So keep your heads clear and stick to a healthy routine; centre
your hope on that great present of love Jesus will have for you when you
see him. Be like children who are grown up enough to guard their
emotions, not like babies who can't control what they do. Just as God is
not to be compared with anybody else, so you should develop a
distinctive life-style others can look up to. According to the old
books, God says, "I'm different, so you must be different too." [see
footnote 2]
You've given your loyalty to a God who appreciates people for what they
do, not for what race they belong to. So respect the people you live
among as refugees. Remember how you've been made free from the hang-ups
and prejudices of your ancestors. A big price was paid for your freedom.
No amount of money could buy it. The payment was made in blood, the
blood of Jesus, a wonderful person, all goodness through and through. He
was God's ideal, in God's mind and heart even before this world came
into existence. You were the lucky ones, living at the time Jesus came.
It's only because of him you've come to trust God. God brought Jesus to
life again after he had died, and made him famous. That's why you trust
God and are full of hope.
You are changed people since you accepted the truth. You're learning the
true meaning of love. Now you must love one another with honesty and
enthusiasm. You've begun a new life. Now what makes you what you are is
not the personality you inherited from your natural parents, but the new
personality you've been given by God, your eternal Parent. As one of the
old books tells us,
"Our human flesh is as the grass
Which withers and grows pale;;
Unlike the loveliest flowers on earth,
God’s words will never fail."
The 'words' referred to in those verses is the 'Good News' which has
been given to you.
Chapter 2
So get rid of all evil plans, every intention to play dirty tricks or
deceive, the desire to out-bid others or bring them down by talking
behind their backs. You must be like babies who've just been born. Like
babies who feed naturally from their mother's breast, you must think of
God as your mother and seek God's nourishment. Then you'll grow to a
full and complete life. Have you tasted how good God is?
Make Jesus the foundation of your lives. He was like the first brick to
be laid in a building. Although rejected as a misfit by the people of
his day, God thought him ideal for the job! Model yourselves on him.
Come alive! Be part of the new movement. Together with Jesus you can be
the sign of God's presence, the meeting point where people encounter
God. Remember what God says in the old books?
"With skill I fit a cornerstone,
-A feature for all time;
Whoever trusts my expertise,
Will like that marble shine!"
So for those of you who trust God's skill, Jesus is the base on which to
build. But for those who don't trust God, I would quote some other
words:-
"The stone the builders think quite useless
Is God’s choice to take the stress.
They leave it lying in the way
To cause an accident someday!"
Those who don't follow the architect's plans are sure to come to grief!
But you are God's hand-picked team, expert and fully qualified. You can
tell people about the splendid work God has been doing and how you came
to see it. There was a time when you were nobody special, but now you're
God's friends. In those days you were no-hopers, but now that God's
befriended you, you've got a reason for living.
(11) My dear friends, you must adopt a different life-style from those
around you. Because they are so selfish, they cannot live God's way. If
you treat people who differ from you with tolerance and consideration,
then instead of pointing the finger at your shortcomings, they'll notice
the good things you do. Then they may be prepared to welcome the God
they have seen shining through you.
You'll be a good advert for God if you obey the law and respect local
customs. Look up to the head of state and the government's
representatives in your district. Their job is to restrain those who do
wrong and commend those who do right. God wants you to be good citizens
in order to correct the wrong ideas some people have about you. Because
you're members of God's staff you're free to make your own choices. But
your freedom must not be an excuse for bad behaviour. Treat everybody
with respect. Show special love to your Christian sisters and brothers.
Worship God and honour the head of state.
(18) Those of you who work for others should recognize what you owe to
them and give them due respect, not only those who treat you well but
also those who make life difficult for you. It gives you credit, as
friends of God, if you put up with hardship and unfair treatment without
whingeing. If you accept a telling off when you've done something wrong,
what's so special about that? If you don't deserve the criticism but
take it without moaning, God is pleased with you. You can show your
difference from other people in that way. Remember that Jesus, God's
Chosen, suffered for your sake. He's your example. Try to be like him.
He did things God's way and always told the truth. When people shouted
abuse at Jesus he didn't respond in kind; when he received rough
treatment he didn't threaten to get his own back one day. Instead Jesus
put himself in God's hands. Only God is in a position to judge fairly.
Jesus took the weight of our wrongdoing on his own mind and heart when
he was hung up to die. He longed for us to live a new and unselfish
life. Through his suffering you've been given a fresh start. You'd
completely lost your way, just like sheep, but now you've come back to
the shepherd, the one who knows what's best for you.
Chapter 3
You must treat your life-partners with honour and dignity. Then, even if
they don't share your beliefs, they may be won over by the way you put
your beliefs into practice, and impressed by your sincerity and respect
for others. Your partner will be influenced more by your good nature
than by smart clothes or the latest hairstyle. That's what counts with
God, too! Some of our ancestors long ago behaved with grace and beauty
in their relationship with their partners. Sarah, for example, treated
her husband, Abraham, like somebody special. We are Sarah’s descendants
as long as we stick to what's right and don't give in to intimidation.
You men should be particularly sensitive and understanding of your
women, especially during their monthly periods and before and after
giving birth. They are on an equal footing with you, since only together
with them can you receive God's gift of children. You can't talk freely
with God unless you talk freely with one another. Work towards a common
mind; think and feel together- that's the mark of true love. Always be
kind, and don't try to be the one in control. Don't return a wrong with
a wrong; avoid shouting matches. Try answering a hurt with a loving
gesture. Your task is to make the world a better place. That way, life
will be better for you as well. What does our old song say?-
'If you want a happy life,
Keep your tongue from words of strife;
Thought of evil deeds must cease;
Set your mind on seeking peace.
Such are those our God will hear
When they bring their needs in prayer.'
(13) No harm is likely to come to you if it's obvious your intentions
are good. But if you do get into trouble for doing the right thing, it's
to your credit. Don't give in to bullies- they're just very insecure
people. Keep uppermost in your minds the truth that Jesus is your
Leader. Always be ready to explain to anyone why you have such a
positive view of life. But you musn't be pushy in the way you do it. You
must respect the other person's right to their opinion. Don't have any
secret vices, so there'll be nothing your critics can bring against you
when they seek to rubbish your good work for God's Chosen. Yes, it's
much better to suffer for doing the right thing, when God's plan
presents no other option, than to suffer for doing the wrong thing.
Wrongdoing caused the suffering of Jesus. He was a good person,
suffering for the benefit of bad people. His aim was to make you God's
friends. Although his body died, his spirit still lives.
(19) Do you remember the story of Enoch, one of our ancestors? He went
preach to the people who'd been drowned in the Great Flood. Those people
had refused to listen to the voice of God, despite the fact that, while
Noah was building his big boat, God waited patiently for them to see
reason. Noah's boat enabled eight people to survive the flood. [see
footnote 3]
That old story has a meaning for us. You are going to be dipped today.
Like God's people of long ago, you're going to come through a watery
experience to a new life. It's not the water that gets rid of your dirt,
but the promise you make to God in sincerity of heart. You're going to
come to life again with Jesus. Jesus is now in the presence of God and
has the place of highest honour. All God's agents and key-workers have
had to give way to him. [see footnote 4]
Chapter 4
Jesus had to put up with physical violence, so you should be ready for
it. It's a good treatment for selfishness. When your selfish motives are
under control, you'll be free to live the rest of your life on earth in
the way God wants. You've had a great time living it up like pagans.
You've tried it all- one big round of self-indulgence. Your former
companions are surprised you no longer want to go to their wild parties,
and now make you the target of their foul language. One day they'll have
to give an account of their behaviour to the one who is the judge of
those whose lives are worthwhile and those whose lives are destructive.
The Good News is for all. This means that those who lead a selfish life
get a chance to realise where they've been going wrong, and may choose
to live God's life instead.
(7) There's not much time left, so put to best use what time you have.
Make sure you set aside enough time to talk with God. Most of all, pile
on the love for one another. Love makes up for many shortcomings. Don't
just open your homes to one another, but make sure whoever comes in
feels at home. God has given you what you have for a purpose, so use
your talents and possessions for the benefit of one another. Are you a
good communicator? Use your charm to get God's message across. Are you
gifted with your hands? Use the abilities God has given you, in all your
tasks, to give God a good name. Jesus was a skilled worker- he'll
inspire you! His skill and artistry will last forever!
(12) My very dear friends, you shouldn't be surprised at the hard time
you're going through as if it were the last thing you expected to happen
to you. Be happy at the thought that you're suffering just like Jesus.
One day when you get to meet him you'll experience a happiness you've
never known before. If people call you names because you're friends of
Jesus, count it a big plus. God's Spirit is in charge of your reputation
and she'll be especially close to you at such times. But she cannot
guard your reputation if you get into trouble because you've broken the
law, whether with a serious offence such as murder or stealing, or a
minor offence such as being a nuisance. There's no disgrace in suffering
as a Christian. You should be proud of the title and thank God for the
opportunity to say who you belong to. It looks very much as if God is
sorting out us Christians first. If God's judgement is hard for us, what
will it be like for those who reject the Good News? As the old books
say, "If it's a struggle for good people to achieve the full life God
intends for us, how much harder it must be for those who refuse God's
help and have no desire to be good." So then, those of you who are
suffering because that is what God wants of you, must put yourselves
completely into God's hands and be determined to do what's right. God
has made us and can be trusted to see us through.
Chapter 5
I want to say something to those who have special responsibilities
within your group. I speak as a leader myself, one who was there when
Jesus was being tortured. I share with you the bright hopes we have for
the future. Look after the people God has put into your care. Think of
it as a privilege, not a chore. Don't do it for a reward: Do it eagerly,
out of love! Don't be a control freak- lead by example! Jesus is our
Leader. You'll meet him one day and he'll congratulate you on your work.
That will be enough reward to last all eternity! Those of you who've
only recently joined the community should allow those with more
experience to guide you. All of you should give way to one another.
Remember the words we sing about God upsetting the plans of the arrogant
and giving honour to the modest? [see footnote 5] So have a modest
opinion of yourself. You're nothing compared with God. God will give
whatever honour is fitting for you at the proper time. Let slip all
those worries from off your shoulders and allow God to carry them. God
cares about you every moment of the day. Make careful use of your time
and energy, and be aware of what's going on around you. Evil is a
powerful enemy and often gets the better of us when we least expect it.
Stand firm; hold on to your trust. Remember your Christian sisters and
brothers all over the world are having it just as bad as you. It's not
going to last long. God will bring your suffering to an end, give you
new strength and help you build on the experience. God is in charge now
and for always. That's a fact!
(12) Silas has been helping me write all this down. He's a reliable
friend. I hope my words will encourage you and that you'll realise they
bear the true mark of God. Keep a tight grip on reality! Your Christian
friends in the big city send their kind regards. Mark also sends his
greetings. He's a like a son to me. Give one another a big kiss every
time you meet! I send my own best wishes for the peace and happiness of
all of you who are friends of Jesus. [see footnote 6]
Footnote 1 ‘refugees’. The Greek locates them in areas now in Turkey.
Footnote 2 This translation may come as a surprise to those not
aware of the basic meaning of holy (‘hagios’) – different.
Footnote 3 We follow the view of Moffatt, Rendell Harris, Barclay
and others, that the Greek of v.19 ‘en ho kai’, traditionally translated
‘in the which’, should read ‘Enoch’. (There were no capital letters or
spacings in the original Greek text) There was a belief that Enoch did
not die but went to preach to the victims of Noah’s flood. Rocky uses
the story as a picture of baptism to make the point that an awakened
conscience is the central element in the rite. This translation makes
more sense than the notion that Jesus went to preach to those in hell
but is unpalatable for those who rely on the traditional translation to
provide a scriptural basis for the so-called ‘Apostle’s Creed’.
Footnote 4 Here we have the evidence that this letter was
possibly based on a sermon intended for baptismal candidates. It is also
appropriate for Easter, a period when baptisms often took place in the
early Church.
Footnote 5 It’s interesting that Rocky (or Silas) seems to know
the song Mary sang for her cousin Lisa. Mary’s song was base on the song
of Hannah, but this quote is closer to Mary’s variation.
Footnote 6 ‘big city’, literally ‘Babylon’, probably a euphemism
for Rome. It is either a device for maintaining secrecy or a description
of Rome as a centre of evil.
|