Since Christ suffered in his body, protect yourselves by having the same attitude that he did, because anyone who suffers in their body is finished with sin.
God planned that those he already knew ahead of time would become like his Son. In that way, Christ would become the first and most honored among many brothers and sisters.
There they strengthened the disciples, encouraging them to remain faithful to what they’d been taught. “We have to go through many hard times to enter the kingdom of God,” they explained.
Christ also suffered once for sins. Someone who did right suffered for those who did wrong, in order to bring you to God. Jesus was put to death in the body, but he was made alive in the Spirit.
If someone does something wrong to you or insults you, don’t do the same thing to them. Instead, respond with kind words. This is what God wants you to do so that you can receive a blessing.
“I’ve told you these things so that you can have peace because of me. In this world you’re going to have trouble. But be encouraged! I’ve already defeated the world.”
They won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by speaking the truth about Jesus to others. They didn’t love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
God, who made everything, wanted his many sons and daughters to share in his glory. He chose Jesus to be the one to lead them into their salvation, and he made him perfect through suffering so he could accomplish that.