CHRISTIAN LIVING AMONG OUTSIDERS

3 Remind them to submita to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentlenessb to all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passionsc and pleasures,d living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,e 5 he saved usf—not by works of righteousness that we had done,g but according to his mercyh—through the washing of regenerationi and renewal by the Holy Spirit.j