Keep Fervent in Your Love

4 Therefore, since ^[a]Christ suffered in the flesh [and died for us], arm yourselves [like warriors] with the same purpose [being willing to suffer for doing what is right and pleasing God], because whoever has suffered in the flesh [being like-minded with Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [having stopped pleasing the world], ² so that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living for human appetites and desires, but [lives] for the will and purpose of God.

²² strengthening and establishing the hearts of the disciples; encouraging them to remain firm in the faith, saying, “It is through many tribulations and hardships that we must enter the kingdom of God.”