A Call to Holy Living

13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, q r be serious s and set your hope t completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation u of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, v do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the One who called you w is holy, x you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. y z

17 And if you address as Father the One who judges impartially a based on each one’s work, b you are to conduct yourselves in fear c during the time of your temporary residence. 18 For you know that you were * redeemed from your empty way of life d inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, e 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, f like that of a lamb g without defect or blemish. 20 He was chosen h i before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the times j for you 21 who through Him are believers in God, k who raised Him from the dead l and gave Him glory, m so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 By obedience to the truth, n having purified yourselves o for sincere love of the * brothers, love one another p earnestly q from a pure r heart, s 23 since you have been born again t—not of perishable seed u but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. v 24 For

All flesh is like grass,

and all its glory w like a flower of the grass.

The grass withers, and the flower falls,

25 but the word of the Lord endures forever. x y

And this is the word that was preached as the gospel to you.