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The General Epistles of Saints James, Peter, John, and Jude, Part 6: I Peter 23:18 - 4:19
Talk by Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen)
January 30, 2024

Topics include:
(1) On Hades and Christ's preaching to the spirits therein: What is Hades? Who is there? Who responds to Christ's preaching there? 
(2) On patiently bearing trials and temptations and persecutions, thereby glorifying God and partaking of Christ's sufferings, which leads to joy. It is a blessing for us to be ridiculed for believing in Christ and following His commandments. It glorifies God when we unashamedly do so; 
(3) Living according to the passions is dehumanizing, depersonifying. To be captivated by lust of any variety is a distortion of our true identity and blinds us to our true identity in Christ. Sexual morality is extremely important. We are called to put off the flesh and live in sobriety of mind. Discussion of homosexuality. Homosexuality (or any sinful passion) is NOT an IDENTITY, but a sinful obsession. Only Christ is our identity. Never define yourself according to your passions. God does not cut himself off from anyone, but people cut themselves off from God by choosing to follow their passions. We can all return through repentance and forgiveness. We are called to love all people, but don't affirm people in their sinful passions.