1 Peter 4:2

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

So then, you should no longer live the rest of your lives [to satisfy] the sinful desires of your body, but to do what God wants.

Cross References

1 Peter 1:14

As obedient children, do not pattern your lives after the evil desires you formerly had when you were ignorant,

Ephesians 6:6

Do not serve them only when you are being watched, just to gain their approval, but as slaves of Christ, doing what God wants from your heart.

Romans 6:11

So, you [too] should consider yourselves dead to sin [i.e., no longer under its power], but [spiritually] alive to God, in [fellowship with] Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:15

And Christ died for all people, so that those who are alive should not live for themselves anymore, but for Him who died and rose again for their sakes.

Ephesians 2:3

All of us [Jews] also once lived among such people, fulfilling the improper cravings of our physical being and doing what our bodies and minds desired. In this natural [unconverted] state we were deserving of [God’s] wrath, just like the rest [of mankind].

Romans 6:2

Certainly not! How can we, who died to sin [i.e., stopped living under its power], go on living in it [i.e., practicing it] any longer?

Ephesians 4:17

So, I tell you this, and insist [on it] by [the authority of] the Lord: Do not continue to live with worthless thoughts as [unconverted] Gentiles do.

Romans 14:7

For none of us lives for his own benefit [only], and none of us dies for his own benefit [only].

1 Peter 2:1

Therefore, you should put out of your lives all malice [i.e., bad attitudes], and all deceit and hypocrisy, and all envy and unwholesome talk.

John 7:17

If anyone [really] desires to do what God wants, he will know whether my teaching comes from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority [only].

Mark 7:21

For from within, out of people’s hearts, proceed evil thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, extramarital affairs,

Mark 3:35

For whoever will do what God wants, that person is my brother, and sister and mother.”

1 John 2:17

And the world, with its [physical and material] desires, is passing away, but the person who does what God wants will continue to live forever.

James 1:18

It was God’s purpose to bring us into being [spiritually] by the message of truth, so that we could become a kind of “first fruits” of those He created. [Note: “First fruits” here suggests either that Christians are the best of all of God’s creatures (Num. 18:12), or that they were the first to be converted, with many more to come].

Hebrews 13:21

equip you with every good deed for doing God’s will. [May He] work in us [to accomplish] what is very pleasing in His sight through [the power of] Jesus Christ. May there be praise to Him forever and ever. May it be so.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Thank [God] for everything, for this is what God wants for you in [the fellowship of] Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1:9

So, this is why, since the day we heard about these things, we do not stop praying for you and requesting that you people be filled [by God] with the knowledge of what He wants [for your lives], and with spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Ephesians 5:17

Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Romans 12:2

And you people must not be conformed to [the values and standards of] this age, but you should become transformed [i.e., changed in attitude and action] by having your mind renewed [i.e., to think in a totally different way]. Then you will be able to determine [and practice] God’s will, the thing that is good, and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 7:4

Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law [i.e., were released from its binding requirements] through the body of Christ [Note: This seems to refer to Christ’s death on the cross, but some think it refers to becoming a part of the church], so that you could belong to someone else, [namely] to Christ, who was raised from the dead in order that we might live spiritually productive lives for God.

John 1:13

[Such people] were born of God, not of blood ties [i.e., from physical descendants], nor of the will of the flesh [i.e., merely from a sexual desire], nor of the will of man [i.e., from a husband’s desire for offspring].

Matthew 21:31

Which of these two sons did what his father wanted?” They answered, “The first one.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes [will] enter the kingdom of God ahead of you.

Matthew 7:21

“Not every person who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but [only] that person who does what my Father in heaven requires.

Colossians 4:12

Epaphras, who is one of you [See 1:7; 4:9], a slave of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always struggles in his prayers on your behalf so that you will remain mature and be fully convinced [that you are living] by all that God wants [for your life].

Colossians 3:3

For you died [with Christ, See 2:20], and your life is [now] hidden with Christ in [fellowship with] God.

Matthew 20:4

He said to them, ‘You men also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So, they went to work.